Race to Nowhere (1:25) 2009

Race to Nowhere was screened tonight at the North Haven High School. This documentary examines the pressures children face today. These pressures include hours of homework, pressure to obtain good grades, and overscheduling of sports and activities. Parents, mental health professionals, and students at all grade levels were interviewed. The students discussed how difficult juggling all their activities while completing assignments and homework was with  the end result was the students reporting they eventually developed health problems.One student developed an eating disorder, some sleeping difficulties, and tragically one teenager committed suicide. The film gave the audience food for thought. The drawback to the documentary was its one sided reporting. The other drawback that the students were primarily from California which has a different culture than East Coast Connecticut. All in all, I do recommend Race to Nowhere to all administrators, teachers and parents and then let the dialogue begin.

Chasing 3000 (1:55) 2007

Inspired by true events, Roger and Mickey are two teenage brothers who decide to drive cross country in time to see Roberto Clemente get his 3000th hit. The two teenagers have recently moved to California with their mother. They miss Pittsburgh and their grandfather who helped raised them after their father abandoned them. Poppi and the boys are die hard Pirates fan and are intently following Clemente's career. When the boys' mom takes a business trip and are left on their own, the boys take their mom's car, without her permission or knowledge, and start their journey to Three Rivers Stadium. Complications arise when Roger (played by Rory Culkin) becomes ill from bronchitis. Roger has M.D. so he is medically fragile and needs medical treatment. The boys have various adventures and misadventures on their journey.
The story is told by Ray Liotta, as the adult Mickey, to his children in a flashback. As much as I like baseball movies, it took me  a while to get interested in the movie. Fortunately, once the boys start planning their cross country trip, the movie was really interesting. It has a warm, sentimental, feel good ending. I recommend this move especially to baseball fans.

The Karate Kid (2:20) 2010

The Karate Kid is a remake of the 1984 popular classic. In this version, Dre (Jaden Smith) is a twelve year old whose mother has taken a position in China. Dre misses his home and friends in Detroit. Further complicating his adjustment is  Cheng, the class bully. Dre enlists Mr. Han, Jackie Chan, to train him in kung fu. Mr. Han has high expectations for Dre and pushes him to new heights. The final scene is the tournament  where Dre faces Cheng. This movie is now available from Netflix Watch Instantly. I purposely saw this movie on the big screen when I learned that The Karate Kid was the first movie to receive permission to film within the Forbidden City since The Last Emperor. The scenes inside of the city and of The Great Wall were fantastic. What I did object to was the violence. Dre is a 12 year old boy and the tournament match seemed like child abuse. The blows and kicks were intense, leaving bruises and doing real harm and injury. It seemed so unbelievable that the adults and/or officials would not have stopped the match early on. 

How Do You Know (2:01) 2010

How Do You Know is a romantic comedy starring four well known actors:  Reese Witherspoon, Owen Wilson, Jack Nickelson and Paul Rudd. Although the actors are likable and have chemistry working together, the script lacks oomph. Lisa (Witherspoon) is a professional softball player who has just been cut from the National team. Owen Wilson, a professional baseball player, is interested in Lisa but remains a womenizer at heart. George, Rudd, is being investigated by the government for fraud and has an initial dislike for Lisa. Over time, George and Lisa realize that they have a lot in common and there is a growing attraction between the two. There is also a subplot involving George's father (Nickelson) being the executive that has committed the fraud and is blaming his son to avoid prison. How do you know that this film really isn't really good? It tells you loudly, clearly, and quickly  that this is a movie misses the mark. Even as a rental, it is not worth the time. With one exception,  there is one very well written and emotional scene involving Annie and Al immediately after the birth of their son. So there is a five minute scene that is great.

Beyond the Blackboard (1:40) 2011

Beyond the Blackboard is a Hallmark Hall of Fame original film which premiered tonight. The movie is based on the true story of Stacey Bess, a new teacher whose first job is working with homeless children in 1987 Salt Lake City. Stacey doesn't teach in a school but in an old abandon warehouse with no desks, chairs, books or materials. With hard work and great dedication, Stacey eventually turns the warehouse into a true classroom. The parents and other shelter residents share their talents and lend their support to make the school environment the best it can be. Due to the transient nature of the population she serves, Stacey sees students come and go but without a doubt, Stacey makes a difference in the lives of the students she taught. I thought that the movie was at times somewhat syrupy and sanitized but at the end of the film the real Stacey Bess spoke about the importance of helping children in need. Beyond the Blackboard carries on Hallmark's tradition of quality films. It is well worth watching.

When in Rome (1:31) 2010

Beth, a career woman, flies to Rome to attend her younger sister's wedding. While in Rome, Beth takes four coins out of a fountain causing the men who threw the coins in to fall in love with Beth. These four men travel to New York City in pursuit of Beth. Adding to the confusion is Nick, the best man at the wedding, who has also fallen for Beth. Nick and the four oddballs are vying for Beth's attention. Beth does fall in love with Nick but she believes that he too threw a coin in the fountain, and he is under the same spell. Will Beth and Nick, of their own free will. end up together? This is a very predictable and goofy story. At the time of its release, When In Rome. received poor reviews and deservedly so. The main actors were likable and have a certain charm. I can't recommend this movie but it is a film that can be watched as a family.

Enid (1:30) 2009

I just watched Enid this morning on BBC America and learned about Mary Pollack, Enid's pseudonym,  a war time children's author. Enid Blyton as born in England  in 1897 and later trained as a teacher. Enid writes stories which come to the attention of  Hugh Pollock, a publisher. They marry and have two children but the marriage is not a happy one. Enid promises Hugh that in exchange for her divorcing him on the grounds on adultery, she will allow him unlimited access to their daughters. He agrees but Enid reneges on the promise. Enid remarries Kenneth, a successful doctor. She decides to send her young daughters away to school. Enid also rebuffs her younger brother Harry when he contacts her that their mother has died. Helena Bonham Carter stars as Enid and is very convincing as the self absorbed children's author. It was so interesting to see this prolific and successful writer ignore her own daughters and spends time reading to children she doesn't know. Go figure.

Moi, Van Gogh - Van Gogh: Brush with Genius (0:39) 2009

Van Gogh: Brush with Genius is an IMax film that was screened the opening night of MOMA's Van Gogh and the colors of the night exhibit. I watched this documentary on my laptop so I missed the largeness of the IMax screen. The documentary displays many of Van Gogh's paintings with the voice over of Van Gogh telling us the story of his life and death. There are also scenes of the filmmaker shooting various locations in France. It is an odd short film but there is no denying that viewing many of Van Gogh's drawings and paintings is enjoyable. I hope I do have the opportunity to see them on a IMax screen some day.

Water for Elephants (2:01) 2011

No, I didn't read the book and loved the movie. My friend Judy did read the book of the same name and also loved the movie. It is a well acted film with a storyline that moves at a good pace. Hal Holbrook is Jacob as an early man. He tells the story of the Benzini Brothers Circus in 1931 in a flashback. Jacob, while taking his final exams at Cornell to become a veterinarian, is interrupted to be told that his parents have been killed in a car accident. When he discovers his father had mortgaged everything to finance his education, Jacob leaves town and ends up hopping a circus train. Jacob takes a job with the circus taking care of the animals. He is befriended by August, the owner, and his wife Marlena, the star attraction. August, while at times charming, is also ruthless. He is cruel to the animals and heartless in many of his dealings with his employees. Naturally, Jacob falls for Marlena and her feelings are returned. When August realizes he is in danger of losing Marlena, Jacob is fired and is going to be throw off the train. Will Marlena follow her true love or stay with the man who has given her financial stability? This is a good period piece which also deals with life in the circus. I highly recommend it.

Jane Eyre (2:01) 2011

Jane Eyre is a chick flick based on a Bronte novel and this version is excellent. The movie was filmed on the Moors and hits home the desolation and isolation of the damp and windy English remote countryside. Jane is a strong woman who has experienced the harshest parts of  middle 1850s life. She falls in love with Rochester after she is hired to be a governess for his ward. Jane is heartbroken to discover, on her wedding day, there is an impediment to their marriage. Will true love conquer all? The cinematography is excellent with the attention to costumes and period pieces being phenomenal. The spookiness of the manor and its surroundings are so realistic, we all jumped when a hawk flies in front of Jane when she is walking on a forest path. Judy Dench, as the housekeeper, is her usual excellent self. The main characters, played by Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender, are wonderful together. I recommend Jane Eyre for all lovers of 19th century English period films.

Marwencol (1:23) 2010

Mark Hogancamp is a navy veteran from Kingston, NY. In 2000, Mark is savagely beaten by five men after Mark reveals he is a cross dresser. The beating results in Mark being in a coma for nine days. When he comes out of the coma, Mark's brain damage effects his ability to eat, walk, and speak. After his insurance lapses, Mark realizes he has to be his own therapist. Mark turns to his childhood hobbies of playing with GI action figures and builds sets for the action figures. He creates the Belgian town of Marwencol and scenes from World War II. He outfits GI Joes and Barbies in American and German uniforms. He poses the dolls to create various war scenes. One of the GI Joe dolls is Mark, family and friends are represented by Barbie and other action figures. Mark has created a highly detailed fantasy and safe world which allows him to come to terms with his past and his life of today. Marwencol works well for Mark until his safe world comes to the attention of a art magazine editor who approaches Mark to move his scaled model town to NYC for a gallery exhibition. Is Mark ready for Marwencol to encounter the real world? This documentary is one of the most unusual films I've ever watched. It is strange at times, heart wrenching at others. It is a enthralling look at a man's world after it  has been turned upside down after an incredible act of violence.

Source Code (1:34) 2011

Captain Colter Stevens (Jake Gyllenhaal) wakes up leaning against a Chicago commuter train's inside window. He learns he isn't Stevens but a history teacher commuting into the city. After eight minutes the train explodes and he reawakens inside a capsule. Stevens learns he is inside the Source Code and is advised he is on a mission to prevent future bombings. Stevens has to be sent back to the train to discover both the bomb and the identity of the bomber. This is a government operation with Colleen Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) as the army officer acting as his liaison. The explanation he is first given is that the brain has eight minutes after  it really dies to make connections so he is making a connection with one of the passengers, Sean, who died in the train wreck. While trying to uncover the bomber, Stevens develops a romantic interest in Michelle, the attractive passenger that sits across from Stevens. Will Stevens learn the identity of the bomber in time to save the world?  Fortunately, the explanation of the source code being  based on quantum physics doesn't bog down the plot. I was kind of concerned that the bomb explosions would be shown continuously throughout the movie but that didn't happened. It really was engaging to watch the film as suspects were eliminated, Stevens learns the reason as to why he is in the source code and the developing relationships between Stevens and Michelle and then Stevens and Goodwin unfold. My friend Judy and I both agreed that this was a different type of movie and it was well worth seeing.

The Conspirator (2:02) 2010

The Conspirator is the story of Mary Surratt, tried by a military tribunal as one of the conspirators in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Mary, portrayed by Robin Wright, was a Southern owner of a Washington, D.C. boarding house. She and her adult children were Southern sympathizers with John Wilkes Booth was a frequent visitor to the her boarding house. Booth, her son John and other Southern men had frequent meetings behind closed doors. After the assassination, Mary was arrested and imprisoned. Fred Aiken, a young lawyer and a former Union captain wounded in action, was assigned to be her defense attorney. Aiken first believes she is guilty but later changes his mind. Aiken, played by James McAvoy, realizes that he is fighting an uphill battle. Aiken truly believes that Mary has a legal right to a trial by a jury of her peers. This is a movie for history bluffs but it does keep your attention throughout the movie. My children, Liz and Patrick, and my Aunt Irene all went and we talked about the movie the entire way home. Robert Redford is the director and this movie, while getting less than enthusiastic movie, tells a compelling story one that is just as relevant today as it was a 150 years ago.

Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg (1:30) 2009

What do Steve McQueen and Anne Bancroft have in common? They both got their start appearing on a 1950s sitcom The Goldbergs. This documentary follows Gertrude Berg's career on the radio, Broadway, and television. She brought the character of Molly Goldberg to life. Gertrude also created the Goldberg family by writing all the radio and television scripts. Gertrude paved the way for Lucille Ball and her show I Love Lucy. The Goldbergs was a top rated show in the early 50s. Molly's television husband was played by Phillip Loeb. Loeb was very active in creating unions for radio workers and involved in  social justice causes. He was blacklisted during the McCarthy era and eventually committed suicide. Gertrude, loyal to her long time radio/television husband, remained loyal to him. After her show was canceled ( supposedly due to economics), I Love Lucy moved into The Goldbergs time slot. The documentary features interviews from Gertrude's family, friends and coworkers.  My daughter and I watched Yoo-Hoo, Mrs. Goldberg. I knew that this was an early show about a New York City family who were Jewish but don't remember any of the episodes. My daughter had never heard of the Goldbergs. We both were fascinated with the workings of radio shows and later early television. The section dealing with blacklisting and his disastrous effects on actors' careers and lives should be seen by all Americans. That dark part of our history should never be repeated.

Charlie Chan: The Scarlet Clue (1:04) 1945

Charlie Chan is back with his number three son, Tommy and his assistant, Birmingham. Charlie, working for the federal government, is investigating the possible theft of radar secrets. The war is still going on and radar is helping the aircraft bombers to drop their load on targets without the crew actually seeing the target. The radar lab is in the same building as a radio and television station. This came as a surprise to me because I didn't realize that television was broadcasting in 1945. Chan investigates the actors and actresses at the radio station. There are scenes of the cast rehearsing around the microphone. Chan finally gets the murderer and the secrets of radar are again safe. This was a pretty good movie for a B movie. For those unfamiliar with the term B movie, it originated quite awhile ago. B movie is a term for a low-budget movie, they were made to be part of a double feature and are always shorter in time than the feature. The Charlie Chan movies are a perfect example of  B movies.

Bela Fleck: Throw Down Your Heart (1:37) 2008

Did you know that Bela Fleck is a famous American banjo player? Well, I didn't until I came across the title in the Netflix Watch Instantly documentaries section. Fleck tells us that although we associate the banjo with the American south, it originates in Africa. Fleck and his crew fly to Africa to play and record local Africa singers and bands. Fleck first goes to Uganda and then on to Tanzania. It is interesting to see and hear the instruments of Africa and the songs in the native languages. For many Africans, they are seeing the banjo for the first time. While in Tanzania, he meets some young Masai who have come to the city to earn money to buy cows to bring back to their village. We see the Masai sing and dance in their native grab. Fleck moves on to Gambia and then Mali. In Gambia, he encounters a ngoni which is the three stringed ancestor of the banjo. His last stop is Mali, which according to Fleck, is the mother lode of African music. He plays with and records an acoustical guitar player and a famous woman singer. I enjoyed all the songs and music. The words of each song was subtitled in English, many of their songs are about poverty and loss. I later read that his album Throw Down Your Heart was nominated and received Grammy awards. The term thrown down your heart originated long ago during the slave trading period. When Africans was captured by slave traders and taken to the Tanzanian shore to be put on ships, they would throw down their heart because they knew they would not be coming back.

Charlie Chan in The Chinese Cat (1:04) 1944

Charlie Chan and Number Three Son, Tommy, are hot on the case. A man is shot to death in his study which is locked from the inside. The murderer, the murder weapon nor any clues are found. The investigation is closed after six months because the police have no leads. Charlie is approached by the murdered man's stepdaughter to reopen the case. A book has just been published and the author, a criminologist, is accusing her mother, the victim's wife, as the only real suspect. There is a single clue that Charlie alone picks up on, the victim was practicing chess when shot and the victim  left the bishop as the only piece standing. Much to my surprise, just like last night, I had never seen this movie. I thought it was pretty good. There was a reference to the war that was going on, and at the end, their was an appeal for the audience to buy war bonds. I did chuckle when Charlie took a taxicab ride that cost $4.90.

The Shanghai Cobra (1:04) 1945

Four people are murdered by injected cobra venom and the local bank is holding radium in a secured vault. How are these two situations connected? Charlie Chan is asked to investigate the murders. He brings along his number three son Tommy and his chauffeur/butler Birmingham. The cobra venom cases are similar to the ones that took earlier place in Shanghai. Chan had the murder suspect in custody but he escaped during the 1937 bombing of  Shanghai by the Japanese. Charlie sets a trap for the would be bank robbers which is almost foiled by his son and butler. In the end, Charlie always gets his man. This episode has a scene when a customer is paying for two cups of coffee and the bill comes to twenty cents. It also cracked me up to think that a bank was holding onto radium and Charlie would enter the vault and check the safety deposit box with a small Geiger counter checking the radiation levels to make sure the radium hadn't been stolen. As much as I have seen a lot of Charlie Chan movies, this was the first time for The Shanghai Cobra.

My Favorite Movie Detective

As I was scrolling through the Netflix list of Watch Instantly, the icon for one of the Charlie Chan movies came across the screen. Charlie Chan is a movie detective of the 1920s through the 1950s. My dad introduced me to Charlie Chan movies. These black and white movies were 20 to 25 years old when I first watched them in the late 1950s. I continue to watch them when I moved to North Haven and viewed them on cable television Boston's Channel 38 on Saturday morning. Several years ago, my son Patrick gave me a set of Charlie Chan movies for Christmas. I watch them on snow days. The question is why do I like these movies? I like Charlie and his family especially Number One son which was played by Keye Luke, later of Kung Fu fame. At this point, it is interesting to watch how things were back in the 1920s and 1930s. Since this is such a busy and stressful week for me, I have decided to have a Charlie Chan Film Festival at my house. I will be reviewing a Charlie Chan movie daily.

Thumbs Up for Ebert Presents At the Movies

I am a big fan of movie review shows. I was a long time regular viewer of Siskel and Ebert and The Movies and later At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper. I felt terrible when Ebert had to leave the show due to his serious illness. When the show was cancelled last year, I had a difficult time with filling my Sunday from 11:30 - 12:00. It was soon announced that Ebert would be back in January 2011 with a new movie review show. I finally caught up with his new show tonight at 6:30 on CPTV. Ebert Presents At the Movies is back reviewing the movies that were released this week. Arthur and Soul Surfer were two of the movies reviewed tonight. I will be catching up on past reviews by reading them on the website. I'm a very happy camper tonight.

Hairspray (1:56) 2007

I happened to flipping through the channels and came upon Hairspray. I had originally seen Hairspray during opening weekend with a packed audience and we all cheered at the end of the movie. John Travolta in a wig, dress and rubber suit, dances at the end of the move and it is unforgettable. Christopher Walken is her husband, Wilbur, the owner of a Baltimore joke shop. The star of the movie is Tracy, their overweight teenage daughter, whose dream is to appear on The Corny Collins dance show. The problem is that the wealthy beautiful girls would not consider have Tracy appear on the show with them. Tracy is given a detention and when she reports to serve the detention she meets the African American students who are dancing and having a good time. She meets Seaweed and is invited to a party at a record shop. Her new friends would also like to appear on The Corny Collins Show but due to segregation laws of the early 1960s, they are not allowed. Tracy decides to march in protest of the cancellation of "Negro Day" which takes place the last Tuesday of every month. The protest is scheduled to take place the day before "Miss Teenage Hairspray" pageant. Will Tracy realize her dream of appearing on the dance show? The entire cast of Hairspray is excellent. The high energy movie has everyone singing and humming as the movie ends. It also tastefully and sensitively deals with racial segregation, a terrible practice that I remember as a child in Hagerstown, Md. If you haven't seen it yet, make every effort.

Run Fat Boy Run (1:47) 2007

If you missed this movie the first time, it's worth checking out
Simon Pegg stars as Dennis Doyle, an overweight underachieving pizza deliveryman. Years earlier, he left his pregnant girlfriend at the altar. Dennis is now father to a five year old son and realizes he still in love with Libby. Libby has moved on and is engaged to Whit, a very successful and wealthy businessman from Chicago. Dennis is determined to win Libby back and run and complete the Nike River Marathon in London. He enlists the help of his two friends Gordon and Mr. Ghoshdastidar, his landlord, to help him get in shape and train. Dennis has never finished anything he has started so this is a herculean task for all. A further complication is Gordon has waged money on Doyle, money that he doesn't have. The bookies are not happy when they realize that Gordon may stiff them. Marathon day is finally here, will Dennis finally finish something he has  started? This is a delightful comedy, one where you will find yourself rooting for the lovable Dennis. Mr G is a lovable, funny character who takes his role as a trainer very seriously. Hank Azaria is wonderful as the hunky boyfriend and serious threat to Dennis finding happiness.

Arthur (1:49) 2011

Russell Brand is Arthur in this updated version of a very wealthy man who hasn't grown up. Brand continues Dudley Moore's portrayal of a lovable, fun loving, charming alcoholic millionaire who relies on his nanny as he aimlessly goes through life. Helen Mirren is just perfect as the long serving English nanny, Hobson. She is the nurturing but firm mother who has been with him since he has been a little boy. The plot of the movie revolves around his mother insisting he marry Susan, a high powered executive, who will carry on the family business. Arthur agrees to this arranged marriage but falls in love with Naomi, a tour guide. Will true love conquer all? This is a movie that is getting poor reviews but my friend Judy and I liked it. Yes, it is predictable and far fetched. I like Arthur's character development as he realizes that he is leading an empty life. Russell Brand is delightful as the Peter Pan character. Helen Mirren is priceless as the quick witted nanny with some wonderful one-liners. All in all, it is a movie about sweet people who care for each other and it is fun.

The Cartel (1:32) 2009

The Cartel is a documentary by a Bob Bowden, a former New Jersey television newscaster. The focus of The Cartel is to examine the current state of public education. Bowden focuses in on the school systems of the largest cities in New Jersey. He looks at the roles of teachers' unions and it is not a complimentary look. Bowden discusses corruption of school boards, both financial corruption and through nepotism. A large part of the documentary looks at vouchers, charter and magnet schools. A wide variety of people are interviewed including politicians, parents, teachers, administrators, education researchers and the president of the NJEA. The Cartel really slams teachers' unions and being a member of one, it was hard for me to hear. When looking at the date presented that shows huge drop out rates and low percentages of student proficiency rates in reading and math, it is easy to admit we have a badly broken education system. As a society, we are failing students but not providing them with the skills they will need to succeed as adults. All the stakeholders need to continue the conversations and put our schoolhouses in order.

The Joneses (1:36) 2009

A married couple (David Duchovy and Demi Moore) with two teenage children move into a well-to-do gated community. They are the perfect family. Except they aren't. The four members of the "unit" are employed to show off all their belongings, cars, clothes and gadgets to inspire their neighbors to "keep up with the Joneses." Steve Jones turns out to be a very nice man and has second thoughts about living a fake life especially when he falls for his "wife" Kate. This movie has an interesting concept as it looks at ultimate consumerism. The Joneses starts out as a lighthearted comedy but as the characters develop, the movie becomes much more serious. I don't think it is a great movie but I'm glad that I rented it. I liked all the characters and it was interesting watching them struggle with real life issues in their fake lives. It is worth a rental.

Life as We Know It (1:52) 2010

Life as We Know It is a year in the life of a man and a woman who are appointed guardians of their deceased best friends' one year old daughter. The complication is that Messer and Holly do not like each other, there one and only blind date was a disaster. Holly and Messer decide to move into their friends' house and take care of Sophie. The next six months are spent changing diapers, trying to get Sophie to sleep, juggling schedules and working on their careers. Messer is offered a promotion but has to move to Phoenix. When Holly finds out that he is thinking of taking the offer, they have a fight and Messer leaves. Holly gets involved with Sophie's pediatrician, Sam,  and all is going well into Messer comes for Thanksgiving dinner. Do Holly and Messer discover that the family we make is just as good as they one we are born into? This is a predictable story, very unrealistic in parts, sometimes cute with characters who are very likable. I don't think it really was very good but it was okay as a rental.

Mesrine: Part 2: Public Enemy #1 (2:12) 2010

Mesrine: Part 2 is the true story of Jacques Mesrine, an infamous French bank robber. Besides robbing banks, he is also well known for his prison escapes, three of them all together.  Mesrine: Part 2 picks up in the mid 1970s as he escapes again from a maximum security prison. He joins with another criminal Besse in the escape and then partners with him in more bank robberies. Mesrine enjoys the attention he is receiving from the press and even is interviewed by Paris Match. This further infuriates the police and they ramp up their efforts to capture him. He realizes that he will not die an old man because Mesrine is determined not to be taken to prison ever again. This is a real cop and robbers movie even though it is in French. Mesrine is a larger than life character and somewhat likable. He is known to honor his word. Please see Mesrine: Part 1 first as the story is told chronologically.

Just Wright (1:54) 2010

NCAA National Championsips Tonight

2010s Basketball Movie

Just Wright is not the caliber of Glory Road but I am a big fan of Queen Latifah and her movies. My friend, Judy, and I went in with reduced expectations and ended up pleasantly surprised. Queen Latifah is Leslie Wright, a single physical therapist who is looking for a lasting relationship with a decent man. The biggest stars of the NBA, Scott McKnight, is injured and it may end his career. Leslie works on Scott, having him do all the necessary exercises. Leslie is infatuated with Scott but Scott is very taken with Leslie's god-sister, Morgan. Scott also thinks of Leslie as one of the boys. Morgan, Scott's girlfriend, breaks off the relationship when she thinks Scott's career is finished. Now that Scott has had a rude awakening will he discover Leslie as a romantic interest? The movie is uneven and predictable but it does hold a certain charm. Leslie is a nice person and actually Scott is a decent man. If you are in the mood for a basketball movie and.or a romantic comedy, you want to think about this as a possible rental.

Glory Road (1:58) 2006

Countdown to the NCAA Basketball Championship - Tonight

2000s Basketball Movie

Glory Road  is based on the true story of  Don Haskins as he integrates the Texas Western College basketball team in 1966. When Haskins is hired as the new coach, he knows that the team has a losing record. He recruits players from around the country but because of limited scholarship money, he is unable to recruit known talent. Eventually he recruits diamonds in the rough, African American players who possess raw talent but have no or little experience with organized training. Eyebrows are raised when the Miners have starting African American players but racial hatred is shown when the team starts winning. The team has awful experiences on the road as they are targets of hate crime. Some of the scenes are extremely upsetting. Eventually the Miners make it to the finals and will play against Adolph Rupp's University of Kentucky's team. Jon Voight is so good as Rupp, so much so that you will love to hate him. Our 7th grade  went to see this movie when it was first released. Everyone in the audience really liked this movie. When you rent Glory Road make sure you watch the credits, the real members of the team are interviewed. I think this is one of the best basketball movie ever made.

Queen of the Sun (1:23) 2011

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Final Day
Queen of the Sun highlights the plight of the bee in the face of  colony collapse disorder. The documentary discusses the reasons that millions of bees are dying. Pesticides, monoculture and genetic engineering are all causes of bee distress. We are greatly dependent on bees worldwide for the pollination of 40% of our fruit and vegetables. Organic beekeepers around the world are doing what they can to offset colony collapse disorder by setting up bee sancturies. Queen of the Sun is premiering in cities around the United States this spring. Buzz on over to a neraby screening.

Transition Town Totnes (0:13) 2011

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Final Day
Transition Town Totnes is a documentary about the English transition town of Totnes. After  truckers' strike shut down the transportation of food to grocery stores and the town running short on food, the residents decide to grow food locally. Currently, the village uses their own currency that is used by the towns' shopkeepers. The topic of transition towns was highlighted in several documentaries at EFFY. It is a very interesting concept and I hope to finish one this summer.

Win Win (1:46) 2011

Win Win is excellent excellent. Paul Giamatti stars as Mike Flaherty a good family man with a struggling law business. Mike also coaches the high school's wrestling team. One of Mike's client's is in the early stages of dementia and Mike, his attorney, becomes his guardian. Even though Leo wants to say in his own home, Mike makes the arrangements for an assisted living home. Mike is surprised to see Kyle, Leo grandson's at Leo's door one day. Leo hasn't see his daughter in twenty years and is unaware he has a grandson. Kyle is taken in by Mike and his wife. It turns out the Mike was a wrestling champion in Ohio. Kyle enrolls him in high school and coaches him. With Kyle's talent and wrestling skills, the team begins winning matches. All is going well until Kyle's mother arrives in New Jersey. She is fresh out of rehab and is looking for money, and her father has plenty. Kyle is unhappy and angry to see his mother. Will Kyle self-destruct? Will Leo go back to Ohio with his daughter whom he hardly knows? Will Mike be the coach of a team that becomes state champions? I am a big fan of Giamatti and he does not disappoint. The film is entertaining and engaging, with characters that I cared about. They all have their struggles, that is what life is about. They care about each other and want to do the right thing. See it.

Edge of America (1:45) 2003

Countdown to the NCAA Championships - Day 2
Made for cable television, Edge of America is a truly inspirational story. James McDaniels plays Ken Williams, a African American English teacher who takes job to teach on the Three Nations Reservations in Utah. He arrives and experiences culture shock, Ken has never been on a rez. And the girls have never had contact with an Africa American. The girls have a basketball team and they have very weak skills. Ken is asked to coach the team. He realizes that it will be an uphill struggle but accepts because he sees the raw talent in the girls. With practice and the addition of two new players, the girls begin to work as a team and win games. By the end of season, the girls are heading to the state finals. I watched this film when I rented it through Netflix. It is a true gem of a sports movie. It is heartwarming, humorous, and emotional. Edge of America is based on true events. The scenery, as it was filmed in Utah, is beautiful because of the mountains in the backdrop. This is a must see for basketball fans especially the followers of girls' teams.

All Good Things (2:00) 2010

All Good Things is based on the true story of the disappearance of Katie Marks in the mid 1980s. Katie is a middle class young woman who has plans to apply to medical school. She meets David Marks, the son of a wealthy New York real-estate family. David freely admits he is messed up. He does not want to work in the family business, he is a disappointment to his powerful father, and as a young boy, he witnessed his mother's suicide when she jumped off the roof. Over time, Katie, although well taken care of, realizes she really doesn't  know David and wants a divorce. She disappears and her body is never found. Twenty years later, a long time friend of David writes a novel with the subject of a murder of a young women. The police take an interest in the book and reopen the missing person case on Katie. Was David responsible for his wife's murder? This movie gave me the creeps, Gosling was perfect as the mentally unstable husband. Frank Langella was David's father, a wealthy businessman with many shady dealings. I don't think this movie was in the theaters for very long and received poor reviews. On some level I agree but Gosling, Dunst and Langella's performances are worth the price of a rental.

YERT: Your Environmental Road Trip (1:28) 2010

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - World Premier
Ben, his wife Julie, and their friend Mark embark on a year long road trip to answer the big question, "Are we doomed?" They plan to visit each of the fifty states, forty nine by driving 45,000 in 365 days. They vow to accomplish this while meeting certain challenges. A big one was that they would reduce their carbon footprint by keeping all their trash with them in the car using two rubbermaid type containers. They also decide on goofy challenges like one of them eating only corn or corn products for a week while they are in Iowa. On the road, the trio visits a wind turbine farm in West Texas, an Ecovillage in Ithaca, a large farm market in Wisconsin. There are some worrisome visits, in Alaska we witness the melting of the permafrost and in West Virginia, strip mining mountaintops for coal. When Ben and his wife decided to take the year long trip, they mentioned that they were having fertility problems and a pregnancy was not a likely hood. Well, about three months into the trip, Julie tires easily and is also very hungry, and much to their surprise, Julie is pregnant with the due date of July 4th, the official end date of the trip. This is a humorous look at a very serious issue. At the end of the screening, Ben, Julie and Mark were available for a Q & A. The audience gave them a greatly deserved standing ovation.

Wee Wise Words (Northern Ireland (0:05) 2010

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Day 6
Wee Wise Words is a short film - animation about young children's ideas about the environment. It is type of  kids say the darnest things with an ecology twist. It is simply delightful and charming but at times the brogues can be difficult to understand. The good news is that this BBC episode has been uploaded to youtube.com.

When the Water Ends (USA 0:16)

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Day 6
Nomadic tribesmen, referred to as pastoralists, depend on the waters of the Omo River and the lake to which its flows, Lake Turkana. The lake is located in two bordering African countries, Kenya and Ethiopia. Due to lack of rainfall, the lake is drying up with most of the lake now located in Kenya.The nomadic tribesmen are now on the move needing to be near the lake. The tribes are now having frequent conflicts with the men arming themselves. The documentary also mentions that the Horn of Africa has been experiencing drought for forty years. The world's humanitarian response is not well thought out. The example given was during a drought, crops fail so we send maize to feed the suffering. Well, maize can not be eaten raw, water is needed to cook the maize. Unfortunately, drought will continue to be a problem and will also grow to include many more areas.

11 Degrees (Scotland 0:08) 2009

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Day 6
11 Degrees is a documentary about a Scottish ski resort that is experiencing the impact of global warming. Skiers are filmed getting on the lift to go to the top of the run and then they are filmed skiing down the hill single file on a swatch of snow. The owner of the ski resort speaks about a booming business in the 1980s with  lessening snowfalls beginning in the 90s.

The Absent-Minded Professor (1:37) 1961

I was ten years old when this black and white film hit the big screen. I remember seeing this movie at a Hagerstown, MD drive-in theater with my family. And I absolutely loved it. Fred McMurray plays the absent-minded chemistry professor who accidentally discovers flubber, a substance which bounces higher and higher with each bounce. Professor Brainard has difficulty commercially promoting his new substance so he puts flubber on the bottom of each basketball players' sneakers. During the next game, each player jumps higher scoring more points and winning the game. Brainard has adventures and misadventures including winning back the woman  who is the love of his life. In its time, was a great family movie. Todau it remains  a classic family movie.

NCAA March Madness

Every year at this time people across the United States go mad. For those readers living outside the United States, I refer to the NCAA (College Basketball) Championship and all the games that take place leading up to the Finals. Tonight is the Final Four games and Monday night the championship game will be played. Although my brackets were busted going into the Elite Eight, I will honor this yearly tradition with four reviews of my favorite basketball games.

Made in Dagenham (1:53) 2010

Released on DVD this week
Made in Dagenham takes place in 1968 England. Sally Fowler is Rita O'Grady, a Ford factory worker who makes less than her male counterparts. The women workers are finally fed up with less pay walk out and go on strike. Within a short period of time, the entire Dagenham factory shuts down since the women are no longer making the seat covers. During this strike, emotions and tensions run high. Marriages are being effected, there is strife between the laid off male machinists and the female workers. The government is being pressured by the Ford Corporation to to end the strike. This is very interesting because the British have a Labor Party. This is a terrific real life accounting of ordinary women taking extraordinary action to change the unequal pay standard. Women around the industrailized world now have careers and jobs with equal pay. From the bottom of my heart - Great Big Thank You, Ladies!

Bag It (1:14) 2010

Environmental Film Festival - Day 5  Connecticut Premiere
Bag It  follows Jeb Berrier as he pledges to stop using plastic bags. Jeb travels to several countries examining their bans on plastic shopping bags in stores. The documentary continues to look at the legislative battles to either tax plastic bags in stores or ban these bags. San Francisco has led the fight in having stores stop giving plastic bags to customers which in turn has led to other communities prohibiting the use of single use plastic bags. Jeb takes a look at the environmental impact of plastic by taking a trip to the Great Plastic Patch in the Pacific as we watch as dumpsters full of plastic being scooped out of the ocean . Bag It also looks at the negative impact on sea animals like turtles and the fish population in general as they ingest plastic.
The film then turns its attention to the effect that plastic is having on humans especially in the early development of children. This was very sobering and chilling. Bag It reinforces many of the messages of an earlier reviewed film titled Tapped. Green cloth shopping bags and glass containers here I come!

The Majestic Plastic Bag (USA 0:04)

Environmental Film Festival at Yale - Day 5
Whatever you need to do to see this short film, do it. It was the best film four minutes, not only of the festival but of movie going in general. Jeremy Irons, in a traditional British accent and tone, is the narrator of this mockumentary. The four minutes is spent in tracing the plastic bag's migration to the Great Garbage Patch in the Pacific Ocean, just in the way of an endangered animal. This was a big hit with the audience. One of the most clever of short films.