The Great Debaters

First Hit: Despite a lousy title this is a very strong, wonderful and powerful film.

This film, based on a true story and is very well acted and directed by Denzel Washington.

Supporting Denzel (as Melvin Tolson) in this film are powerful performances by Forest Whitaker (as Dr. James Farmer Sr.), Nate Parker (as Henry Lowe) Jurnee Smollett (as Samantha Brooke), and Denzel Whitaker (as James Farmer Jr.).

This 1935 drama is based on the true story of Mr. Tolson, a professor at a small Texas college called Wiley, and how he inspired this all black debating team to beat Harvard University the best white debating team in the country.

Complicating the team’s difficulties, Melvin was also involved in developing a small farmer's cooperative which caused problems for both him and the team.

The strong acting was supported by even handed direction in moving this inspirational story forward on the merits of the debaters learning how to accept, support and trust each other.

Reflective of the time period and geography, audiences are shown scenes of the divisive prejudices, cruelty, and violence that still existed and permeated much of the Southern United States. The act of defeating Harvard University was a strong statement on the idiocy of baseless prejudices.

Overall: One of the best films I’ve seen all year because I was deeply touched.

The Savages

First Hit: Very strong performances especially by Philip Seymour Hoffman in a film about a difficult subject.

This film provides some insight towards family and sibling dynamics when an aging parent needs day-to-say assistance.

Laura Linney plays Wendy Savage the younger sister of Jon Savage play by Hoffman and although it is apparent they have spoken to each other over the years, they are not close nor have they resolved and moved on from old childhood patterns. 

The film begins when their father, Lenny Savage (played by Philip Bosco) is ousted from Sun City because his common law wife dies. Jon and Wendy trek out to Arizona to figure out what to do with their father. Jon finds a assisted living place which has an open bed for his father and is near the college where he is a professor.

Wendy dislikes the place because it seems so institutional and tries to find a more warm and loving place. However, they fail to obtain a bed in this other facility and, over time, Wendy sees that it is more about what she and Jon put into their efforts towards their father and themselves as brother and sister.

The dynamics between Jon and Wendy reflect how siblings grow apart holding on to old patterns and behaviors and that is is possible to overcome these issues to learn, see and accept each other.

What is takes is an openness and a willingness to share their truths.

Overall: Strong film with strong performances, yet Laura Linney’s characterization seemed incongruent at times.

Charlie Wilson's War

First Hit: A very good (not great) film giving viewers a small look of how owing and being owed favors moves our government along even on a worldwide stage.

I must have had my head in the sand when these events of the early 1980s happened because I don't recall of ever hearing of Charlie Wilson.

Charlie Wilson was a drinking, schmoozing, and fun loving congressman from a small district is Texas. His fondness for a rich Texas socialite leads him into finding a way to funnel weapons and money into hands of the Mujahedin of Afghanistan who are attempting to dislodge the Russians who invaded their country in 1979.

By creating a long list of favors during his time in congress he massaged and leveraged these owed favors along with committee member egos into increase funding for purchasing weapons for the Mujahedin to defeat the Russians.

Tom Hanks plays Charlie Wilson and does a fine job of being this fun loving congressman. Phillip Seymour Hoffman does an outstanding job (as usual) as Gust Avrakotos the CIA connection who makes it all happen for Charlie. The film effectively intersperses actual news footage and new film footage.

Overall: An interesting, fun, and insightful film about a colorful congressman of which there are many.

Kite Runner

First Hit: The film had some great shots of kites and kite fighting but in the end it wasn’t a strong or powerful film.

The hype of this film and the popularity of the book might have sunk this film more than the actual mediocrity of the film.

Without all the hype (publicity of the child actors' fate), I think the film might have been seen and judged more on its own merits. The plot is about an Afghan named Amir (played by Khalid Abdalla) who, after living much of his life in the United States, returns to Afghanistan to help out his childhood friend Hassan.

Much of the motivation for this trip is guilt from not helping Hassan when he witnessed him being raped by a older boy. Arriving home he learns that his childhood friend has a son who has been left in an orphanage. He decides he must help this boy and bring him back to the United States.

When attempting to rescue this child, he finds out that the child has been taken by a Taliban official who is sexually abusing the child. The twist is that the person abusing the child is the same person who abused Hassan (The boy’s father), Amir’s childhood friend.

I did not read the book and felt that the telegraphed plot and ending took away the power of the film and for those who read the book I am sure that film added nothing new.

Overall: A mediocre film of a strong story.

Juno

First Hit: An excellent, wonderfully funny, poignant well acted film.

Ellen Page (Juno) continues to amaze me with her acting.

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of watching this young lady in a very powerful and impactful 2005 released film called Hard Candy.

The characters she plays in these two films are very different and in Hard Candy she brought the kind of intensity and directness that Reese Witherspoon brought to Freeway.

In this film she plays a thoughtful, eclectic, smart, and self directed high school student. 

Juno gets pregnant by a young man who adores her. Paulie Bleeker (played by Michael Cera) is a kind, sweet, and sensitive young man who thinks the sun rises and sets in Juno. In her caring for Bleeker, Juno decides to make love with him in a specific chair.

This initial interaction sets up the premise for the film, a pregnant Juno. After some funny scenes in a local drugstore where Juno discovers her pregnant status, she decides to tell her Dad and Step-mother. In the dialog with her parents you "get" that this is going to be a thoughtful yet funny film.

Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman play the couple who put in an ad in a Pennysaver to adopt a child. They have been through this scenario before and it has failed so Jennifer is sceptically hopeful and Jason appears to be somewhat reluctant.

During Juno's interview with this couple with her dad at her side the stage for this film is fully set. The lessons the characters learn as we travel through this wonderfully directed and poignant film are: The adoptive couple learn they have different wants and needs, Juno learns more about being an adult, commitment, and how to make choices, Paulie learns to stay within his truth and trust, and Juno’s parents see that they have brought up a wonderful daughter.

Overall: This was a very entertaining and thoughtful film and I highly recommend it. There will be awards for this film.