American Addict: A Movie Review

Okay. What you need to know up front is that this is not a bunch of hippies trying to convince you to eat organic. If you were to tally the number of years spent in higher education by the interviewees of this documentary, I am certain it would be a total worthy of your attention.

Every American should watch this movie.

Did you just read that? I said every American.

We all want to complain about socialized medicine and how we just keep getting sicker and sicker...but here is the proof as to why. The doctors, psychiatrists, addiction therapists, lawyers, drug reps, and researchers that collectively shed light on the tragic state of our medical system have one common thread throughout the film: There is something tragically wrong when a government agency, charged with being the "watchdog" for an industry is itself mostly funded by the industry they are supposed to watch. 

That's just the tip of the billion-dollar iceberg.

Are you aware that in the U.S., we are only 5% of the world's population, yet we consume over 80% of the anti-psychotic drugs in the world?

Are you aware that we are one of only three developed nations that allow direct-to-consumer advertising? Those E.D., low T, and other like commercials that pervade my football viewing aren't only embarrassing with my son by my side...but if I lived in almost any other country in the world...they would be illegal too.

Are you aware that when a new drug comes out for a new "disease", there is a direct correlation in the increased diagnosis of that "disease"? (i.e. Restless Leg Syndrome)

Are you aware that the number four highest cause of deaths in the U.S. is adverse drug reactions? Yet, Ebola deserves a banner on my Facebook feed after one death and a handful of infections. How about a fundraiser to sue the pants off of the companies that are killing us and causing more health problems as they supposedly fix the ones we have.

Are you aware that to be prescribed an over-the-counter drug that has been FDA approved for a specific disease, let's say schizophrenia, and is used for anything else, let's say situational depression, is called off-labeling...and is illegal?! Yet up to 50% of anti-psychotic drugs that are prescribed in our country are for just such a purpose.

I struggled with whether to post this review or not because I know we all get very up in arms about our doctors and our medicines. But today, when an article popped up in my Facebook feed that states Robin Williams had been prescribed an anti-psychotic medication for his depression and it was known to have suicidal tendencies as a side effect...I felt compelled to speak up.

We have to stop abdicating all control for our health to someone else...even our physicians. The recommendations made in this film are spot on. Be aware of possible side effects; ask if there is an older, less prone to side effect medication that will accomplish the same purpose; and always ask your physician if the drug you are being given has been FDA approved for the diagnosis you have received.

The most profound take-away for me from this film was what one psychiatrist poignantly said about what it means to be "human". We will at times be sad. We will at times have pain. [For an example of what life looks without these, watch the movie or read the book The Giver.] This doctor points out that some of the medications we are being prescribed are to curtail our pain and remove all inconveniences that make us who we are and begs us to ask the question Why are we here?

I may not know much, but I do know my purpose isn't to remain anesthetized and emotionally disengaged with humanity. Watch the movie, currently available on Amazon Prime and I'd love to hear what you think.

Fury- A Movie Review

I'll give you my rating first: B (on a typical school letter scale)

Now, I'll confess that I had high hopes for this film. That it did not meet those high expectations is only partly why I give this movie a B rating. Lest you think, "But a B is still above average"...whilst true, you should now that World War II is one of my two favorite time periods in modern history. You should also know that simply having WWII as its subject matter will almost always warrant an A rating from me. All that would remain to be seen is if the A is + or -.

So why would I give Fury what is equivalent to a subpar rating for me? I hope there are no spoilers in what I divulge, but the story takes place within the final two months of the European portion of the war. Some seasoned pros are showing the "newbie" the ropes. Okay, that's the premise.

You can easily denote from this premise that the four veterans would be battle-hardened (to say the least). Watching their behavior (that is not much better than the Germans they are killing) does nothing to endear them to me later when their lives are at risk.

Let me put it in terms of Saving Private Ryan so that I don't spoil anything for you in Fury. We care about the men who are on the special mission to save Pvt. Ryan because we've travelled with them. We see them laugh, fight, cry, and FUBAR their way across Normandy. The only depth we receive from the characters in Fury are some stories about what happened since North Africa as Shia LeBouf works up some well-timed tears.

To be fair, this is most likely a more accurate portrayal of soldiers in the trenches and tanks of war. As much as I want redemption, closure and beauty to be portrayed...some guys are quite simply colossal jerks and there are no excuses for their behavior, no matter how pretty you try to paint it. The depravity of war only enhances and exacerbates our inherent ugliness.

This is a Rated R movie, so do your homework if you're going to take your children. My 16 year old son went with me, but there are a plethora of F-bombs and violent special effects. I actually jumped twice in my seat. As we headed into the theatre, I joked with Noah that we were really there to see the new Nicholas Sparks chick-flick. "But I thought you were the cool mom that takes me to see action films?" he replied.

I do like action films. As I've processed why this movie didn't resonate with me, when most superhero and war films do, I could only point to two things:

1. The story was just too weak to help me engage with the characters, and 

2. As if seeing 4 and 6 year old-ish boys with their families in this film wasn't bad enough, the dad and his six year old son calling out "Ooh", "Aah", "Boom!", "Look at that!" accompanied by laughter and guffawing, had me nauseous within the first 30 minutes. It's the first time I've ever seriously contemplated approaching someone about keeping quiet during a movie. Given their attitude toward the violence being portrayed on the screen, I knew they could have no compunction at verbally berating me, so I remained silent. 

I don't think I've ever been so repulsed by the behavior of other human beings. It was like they were watching a video game instead of an accurate depiction of the horrendous nature of war. That being said, I will watch Fury again...on DVD. Who knows...maybe the absence of  a clueless parent and his violent-son-in-training, the film may prove to be worthy of a bump or two up the ratings scale.

Ragamuffin- A Movie Review

Although it may not be Oscar-worthy, this movie is inspiring nonetheless. If you've ever had more than just surface conversation with me, you'll know what an impact Brennan Manning and his writings have had on my life. The Ragamuffin Gospel was truth, grace and Love that also spoke to the heart of Rich Mullins, one of contemporary Christian music's greatest gifts.

Mullins was talented, but so are a lot of other people. What set Rich apart was his abhorrence of fame, wealth and his passion to simply live like Jesus. At one point, Mullins specified to his accountant that he only wanted to be paid a salary equivalent to the average wage for an American worker...the rest was donated to churches and charities. The trappings of this world did not entice him. 

Instead, what he passionately sought after was the Love of his Savior. This movie chronicles a broken soul that only wanted to stand in the Presence of his Abba and know that he is loved. This is a message that is timeless, yet desperately needed in our culture today.

Mullins found that Love, he also discovered acceptance for whom he was and forgiveness for the failings of himself and others. I'm not promising miracles if you watch this movie. And although the actors are unknowns, their performances are pretty good for a "Christian" movie (always one of my biggest pet peeves!) But if Christians could continue to produce quality, honest, yet hope-filled movies like these...we just might see some barriers between "us" and "them" miraculously come tumbling down.




**Ragamuffin can currently be seen on Netflix or Amazon**

The Great Debaters- A Movie Review

I recently read a blog post titled something like "The 10 Best Movies Regarding Racism in America"...which I can not for the life of me locate right now. Ugh! Although it left off some movies that I would have chosen, I still had seen five of the ten and had this movie already in my Amazon Prime queue. 

I had hesitated to watch The Great Debaters, because there is a lot of violence portrayed in films that I just cannot stomach anymore. Knowing it was set in the Jim Crow South of the 1930s didn't do much to bolster my hope that it wouldn't include violence. I can (without revealing any spoilers) share that although some horrific things in our nation's past are dealt with, graphic violence is not acted on film. (I hope that makes sense!)

The Great Debaters stars Academy Award winners Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker who are, as usual, phenomenal in their roles as mentors to the generation that would be in the forefront of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

What I find interesting is that in His always impeccable timing, God intersected my Journey with this movie at the same time I am wading through Martin Luther King Jr's compiled autobiography and a reading list I am excited to delve into that Abbey will be studying during her Mission Year. Most of the books on that list pertain to race, reconciliation and injustice for the poor and marginalized of our society. Is it coincidental that I also had Lee Daniels' The Butler on hand to watch with a friend Friday night?

Racism is not a new concept for God to be drawing out of me. His work in that area began in college, long before I had even experienced the leading of His Holy Spirit within me. I confess, I'm not only excited to see where Abbey's Mission Year takes her...I'm also bubbling over with anticipation at how God will grow me in the areas of race reconciliation and injustice for the poor of our inner cities.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

Ever since I watched the documentary Trouble the Water, I have been intrigued by the accounts of Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath as represented by sources other than our mainstream media. I vividly remember the descriptions of what was taking place and the sensationalistic nature of a city where all hell had broken loose and it seemed that people had reverted to animalistic behavior, as detailed on the incessant news coverage.

Enter director Spike Lee and others like him who have given a more realistic and humane version of the events.

There seems to be a consistent theme to all of these documentaries and first-hand eyewitness accounts: It was not our government that stepped in to aid the people who desperately needed rescuing. No, it was the neighbors, first responders and surrounding community members who had also lost everything that were floating refrigerators filled with children, busting holes in rooftops and wading through chest high, toxic muck to save each other.

And this is what I always come back to when I hear stories like these. Our media feeds us a constant and steady diet of racially degrading and demeaning stories like gang violence and the fear-mongering that accompanies such hype. But in the inner city neighborhoods of some of our most beautiful U.S. locations, when the chips are down and even the government that we have been taught to place all of our hope in doesn't show up, and because they consistently have lived a life knowing they can't depend on anyone but themselves...our inner city communities put we suburbanites  to shame when it comes to taking care of each other.

Even in the midst of the worst natural disaster our country has ever seen...hope, compassion and love swam through the streets of New Orleans. 

And it wasn't trucked in by FEMA.

******************************************

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts can now be seen on Amazon Prime.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier- A Movie Review

Being the Superhero Geek that I am, I can't explain why it took over two months to get me to the theatre to see this one.

Sure, I saved money by seeing it at the second-run theatre, but Captain America is my favorite Avenger. And yes, I knew from the early trailers...and the IMDB.com cast list...what the big "surprise reveal" was going to be. But still, why wait so long to get my Marvel fix?

Oh, that's right...my daughter...who is not a superhero geek, led me to believe this movie was not that good.

What?

Okay. So I realize that all of these extra Marvel movies are only to keep us happy until the Avengers 2 comes out and I seriously have some doubts about "Antman" (heaven, help us in our desperation)...but come on! Captain America is still my favorite Marvel Avenger. He's earned it, I think!

It's refreshing to see a hesitant love interest and faithfulness to the memory of someone he loved long ago. And this is a superhero movie, based off a comic book series...I wasn't exactly expecting Oscar-worthy performances or scripts here.

But what I expected (fast-paced action and witty banter plus a good vs. evil plot) and hoped for in this classic good guy, was well-received by me.

Am I happy to have saved money by waiting this late to see the film? Sure. But next time, I think you can plan on meeting me at the theatre opening weekend.

The LEGO Movie- A Review

I know I'm a little late to the party, but this movie is adorable!

In our home, we love all things LEGO. Noah played with them for years and still likes to collect any Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings or Hobbit kits he gets for gifts. The kids and I have all enjoyed playing the Lego Wii versions of the Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones and Star Wars games that have come out. Sometimes the best part of the game is the movie vignettes. We have laughed at them and sometimes been amazed at the creativity.

Needless to say, almost a year ago when we saw the first trailer for The LEGO Movie, we got excited. Well I did, and my kids indulged me. But we don't get to the theatre very often anymore. It hasn't been a conscious choice to avoid the cinema, but it seems like the magic combination of funds and time happens most infrequently. 

Over the weekend though, Leah and I were looking for a movie on Amazon Prime and this was the choice. Again...we laughed and sometimes were amazed at the creativity.  

It's refreshing to know that Pixar/Disney and Dreamworks aren't the only creative voices out there. [PLEASE no one ruin my momentary illusion by revealing to me that this movie was somehow connected to one or both!] As I stated...I know I'm late to the "Everything is Awesome" party, but just in case you've been wondering if it's worth your Redbox, Netflix or Amazon Prime rental bucks...why Yes...yes it is!

The Book Thief: A Movie Review (Book Review too!)

A few years ago, my husband highly recommended that I read this book. I did. To say it wasn't my favorite would be an understatement. I mean, it was good...and I did greatly enjoy reading about World War II from a German citizen's perspective...but I have read so many accounts of this, one of my favorite historical time periods, that it simply didn't stand out as the phenomenal book it was reviewed to be.

I was intrigued though when I learned that a movie was being made. Somehow I thought the book could translate visually for me much better. The whole Death-as-a-narrator-thing was unsettling to me in the book, but I have to admit, it worked well in the movie. He was much more subdued and it was easier to understand precisely when He was speaking. That was the greatest hindrance to me in the book...the flip-flopping of Death's narration versus dialogue...was a bit confusing for my limited intellect.

Thrown in to the movie mix one of my favorite actors, Geoffrey Rush...combined with solid performances from Emily Watson and Sophie Nelisse...and I have to admit, I'm glad I held out hope for the movie.

Every once in a very great while, there is a film that supersedes the original written work. For me, The Book Thief, is one of those rare occasions. It is currently available from Amazon for digital download or, like us, you can rent it from Redbox. With a PG-13 rating for mild violence and thematic material, it's also one of the few offerings for a historical drama that you can watch with your children too.