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Reviews
Rain Man (1988)
Excellent character growth acting
The critics' response to Rain Man tended to focus on Dustin Hoffman's gifted portrayal of the autistic brother, leaving Tom Cruise's performance a bit unnoticed and under-appreciated. Yet it is Cruise's character whose emotional growth we witness. His acting shows deep understanding of his own and Hoffman's characters.
The intimacy the brothers achieve - insofar an autistic is capable of emotions and intimacy - is what makes Cruise's character human, and that is what marks a happy ending. The beautiful music score illuminates the brothers' journey with a leitmotif so distinct it feels like its own character.
She's So Lovely (1997)
Surreally amazing
This film keeps one feeling slightly off-balance while remaining entirely believable and genuine. This mirrors perfectly the focus on the intense love between Robin Wright Penn's and Sean Penn's characters that struggles to survive the man's severe mental illness. Despite his deep commitment to his wife, he cannot protect her from violence, poverty, and social embarrassment.
I have seldom seen acting as heartbreaking, surprising, and gifted as Robin Wright Penn's here, and her husband's performance is very moving as the childlike adult who is unable to succeed in the modern urban world.
John Travolta plays a wealthy, square suburban dad who falls for and tries to "save" Wright Penn after her husband is compelled to leave her. He manages to break through the stereotype and is sympathetic and real. The audience can't help but be painfully split in its loyalties to the two men in love.
"She's So Lovely" is disturbing and uplifting, gritty and beautiful - a truly unique movie that grabs you on the inside and leaves you feeling changed, though you may not know how. Don't miss it.
Omar & Pete (2005)
amazing insight into psychosocial hurdles of reentry
This documentary illustrates the silent yet inescapable psychosocial aspect that presents as significant a barrier as any logistical impediment to reentry. Even those well informed on the topics of recidivism and community corrections will be moved by the profound inner struggles, beliefs, and buried emotions captured here.
Omar's inner enemy is introduced as a 35-year addiction to drugs. Despite unflagging faith that all he needs is treatment, the state-sponsored rehab programs last between a few days to a few weeks only, not nearly long enough to establish a healthy lifestyle. Relapses mean technical violations of parole and the threat of returning to prison.
What makes this film so compelling is that the audience recognizes what Omar doesn't and yet experiences what Omar does.
Omar believes he could reach all his goals were it not for his addiction. Once clean, he is convinced, he will live in a land of empowerment - lead a satisfying life and provide a model for young people straying from the good path.
Pete - with whom Omar shares a prison history - resurfaces in Omar's life as the caretaker of a transition house. Despite best intentions, the decades of incarcerated friendship subtly affect their new relationship. In Omar's desired escape from a destructive past, he faces unexpected and barely perceptible hurdles.
Ali (2001)
Exhilarating
Seriously fantastic. Especially interesting - given the current atmosphere in the US - was the depiction of Ali's refusal to be drafted to Vietnam and getting branded as anti-patriotic. No surprise, of course, but still sickening to watch how Ali was identified for methodical destruction by the US government, and how the Nation of Islam used him and dropped him when convenient.
Terrific soundtrack and cinematography. I wish there had been a little more coverage of his falling out with Malcolm X and his second wife.
Jamie Foxx was outstanding and deserves big recognition for this role.
Go see it!!
Coming Soon (1999)
a sweet and kooky nostalgia trip
Coming Soon went a long way in illustrating how weird and awkward sex can be for budding women. Stopped significantly short of encouraging or even addressing masturbation as a way to explore sexuality, however, which is too bad. Also too bad is that it played in debutante elite circles in Manhattan - seems like movies with honest or controversial subjects have to play against perfect backgrounds to be seen.
Altogether a cute movie but not quite the revolutionary breakthrough in propelling female sexuality into the mainstream eye that I had hoped to see.