Movies Of The Spirit - Page 18 of 20 -

HIDDEN FIGURES

(l to r) Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) , Mary Winston Jackson (Janelle Monáe), and Dorothy Johnson Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) are hired by NASA for their mathematics ability.

HIDDEN FIGURES

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

After just five minutes of watching “Hidden Figures,” I was hooked into rooting for these three Black women, who somehow during the 50’s and 60’s, managed to get hired by NASA as mathematicians.

Trying to keep a critical eye, I have to say that the subject matter of this film has the same time frame as other films in this year’s crop, like “Jackie” and “Fences.” The characters in each of these films have the pictures of Martin Luther King, Jr. and John F. Kennedy up on the walls of their home.

Even though segregation was still an issue during this time period, these women, Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) , Mary Winston Jackson (Janelle Monáe) , and Dorothy Johnson Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) somehow managed to get a hands down great mathematics education under their belts.

Let’s face it, even today, in 2017, the United States is 29^th in math and science on the world stage.

So, what did these women do at a time when women were not even encouraged to educate at all?

After a little research, I discovered that each of these women were educated in an all-Black University. So, they did not have to deal with the pressure to be subservient or less than what they were capable of being.

One other observation was that, they were each light-skinned, straight-haired in appearance, which also removed a few other barriers in a world that sees the dominant group through this lens.

Mathematics is not boring in this film.

Katherine kills it with her mathematical demonstrations.

Mary wins in court, when she applies to take an all-White, all-male Engineers course.

And, Dorothy made me laugh with her rationalization for taking a book that she needed out of the Whites-only section of the library.

Kevin Costner as Al Harrison, the director of the Space Task Group is convincing as the color-blind, fair-minded leader, who fixes the coffee pot situation and the bathroom sign situation, all while beating the Russians in the space race.

I have to hand it to these women, they are all geniuses when it comes to balancing marriage, children and careers.

They all were also teachers before being hired by NASA.

Dorothy was especially alert to the quickly shifting computer oriented times.

I lived through these times, but from the White privilege perspective. This was a time when many Whites became allies to Blacks. It was also an important time of the women’s rights struggle.

Sad to say, but many of the male protesters did not want male privilege to change. Thank you NASA for employing some enlightened male employers and leaders.

Taraji P. Henson as Katherine G. Johnson, a mathematician who calculated flight trajectories for Project Mercury.

Biography of Katherine Coleman Goble Johnson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katherine_Johnson

Biography of Mary Winston Jackson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jackson_(engineer)

Biography of Dorothy Johnson Vaughan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Vaughan

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1/30/17 Hidden Figures

MISS SLOANE

Jessica Chastain demonstrates female intelligence as a successful lobbyist.

MISS SLOANE

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

“Miss Sloane” is all about being a successful lobbyist, being a confident woman, living as a wounded soul, and self-sacrifice in order to create some meaning in one’s life.

The mention of lobbyists has been batted around in the last few elections, without any real understanding of what they do. “Miss Sloane” fills in all the blanks and then some.

The most recent election over-shadowed this film, because it deals with some of the hot topics, like gun control and female leadership. No one is ready for either, especially as entertainment. But, entertaining it is.

Jessica Chastain carries this film with elegance and strength. This is what strong, intelligent women look like, how they behave and how they think. She is not an anomaly.

Her character, Miss Sloane, shows us what women need to do in order to be successful in a man’s world. She needs to sacrifice marriage, emotional health, physical health, having children and trust. A very high price to pay.

If it were a woman’s world, she could let her guard down, she could express her feelings about things, she could trust others not to stab her in the back, and she could form lasting, win-win relationships.

It would be a nurturing, warm and friendly environment. Marriage and children would definitely be a priority.

Being a lobbyist is depicted here as being almost as ugly as our last election process.

There are some good men in Miss Sloane’s world, however. Rodolfo Schmidt (Mark Strong), who is head of a law firm opposing the National Rifle Association proposals, throws her a life raft to work for him, instead of for the NRA.

Mark Strong also played opposite Chastain in “Zero Dark Thirty,” as George, a senior CIA supervisor.

Miss Sloane finds herself forming emotional attachments to male escorts. Jake Lacy plays Forde, who is sexy, compassionate and, means it, when he says that he does not reveal his clients.

The other women in this film are also wounded souls in many different ways.

Director, John Madden, who directed the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” films and “Shakespeare in Love,” makes this film hard to second guess. Every second is engaging, surprising, entertaining, and educational, with an excellently assembled cast.

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1/13/2017 – Miss Sloane

MOONLIGHT

Growing up in the “Moonlight” by the ocean.

Alex Hibbert as Child Chiron , Ashton Sanders as Teen Chiron and Trevante Rhodes as adult Chiron.

MOONLIGHT

Film Review By Marlene Ardoin

Based on the play “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue” by Tarell Alvin McCraney, the film, “Moonlight,” is told in three parts about growing up Black, gay and masculine in America.

I don’t think that the masculinity of Black men has ever been examined in quite this way.

The film poses the question that if half the black young men are in prison, who is left to be the male role models for their young, male children? This film answers the question in a very poetic way.

Growing up in a racist society, as young children, we pick up on subtle clues that Black is somehow less than, inferior, not capable, and easily bullied. Being female is viewed in much the same way.

On top of all that, what if you are Black, gay and fatherless. How does a young male, who is discovering his sexual identity, survive, let alone, thrive in such an environment?

Until Barack Obama came onto the scene, the Black success stories were the drug dealers. They had the smarts, the money and the tough, masculine example of success.

Since Chiron did not know Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Tiger Woods, or any Black Power members, but he did know a few drug dealers, he ends up modeling himself after the drug dealers.

This film is getting a lot of critical notice, and I think that it deserves to receive it.

Another aspect of this film which stood out for me was the ocean as an environment, which becomes a poetic character in the film. The fresh, ocean air becomes a symbol for freedom, love, vulnerability, romance and caring.

Chiron learns to associate the ocean with pleasure and the freedom to express his sexuality. We discover that Chiron is a romantic, with his own ideas about love. He associates the ocean with love.

This film’s gay youth, Chiron (Alex Hibbert), grows up with his mother, Paula (Naomie Harris), who is sometimes caring, but most of the time, she is escaping or surviving.

Paula is a tragic figure, but she has somehow managed to provide a home for her child, in spite of her meager resources.

She and her son, Chiron, are not homeless, which, under the circumstances, has very little meaning, but it did provide some stability for her fatherless son.

Paula does love her son, which is what saves him. Had Chiron been abused or exploited, this story might have had a very different outcome.

As a child, Chiron is bullied by his peers. And, thanks to the drug dealer example, he learns how to stand up for himself. His tormentors discover that they have a tiger by the tale. Chiron develops a sense of pride, grit and self-worth.

I really loved the ending to this film.

“Moonlight” has Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali, the crack dealer, Best Supporting Actress for mother Paula (Naomie Harris), Best Screenplay and Best Original Score.

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1/3/17 # Moonlight

JACKIE

The Kennedys arrive at Dallas Love Field November 22, 1963

Natalie Portman (right) mirrors Jacqueline Kennedy in the film “Jackie.”

JACKIE

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Jackie Kennedy (Natalie Portman) was just 34 years old, when her life was turned upside down forever.

The film, “Jackie,” points out that she was the third youngest first lady at that time. (And, at 42, JFK was the youngest elected President at that time.) Ready or not, Jackie manages to be the wife and mother that we all admired.

This film is very timely in an election year. I think it puts things in perspective, too. As full of strife as our current election has been, it pales in comparison to what was going on during the JFK term in office.

John F. Kennedy was in office 2 years 9 months before he was assassinated. Jackie was left to pick up the pieces, with two young children in tow.

Caroline was 6 years old and John was about 2 years 9 months old, born just two weeks after JFK was elected in a close race with Nixon.

I am not quite sure Portman totally captures the light of Jackie’s complex personality. From a Catholic family, her parents divorced when she was 10, then her mother remarries giving her many step-siblings.

Jackie spends her junior year of college in Paris, where she masters French, and on graduation from college, aspiring to be a writer, she takes a job as a photographer at the Washington Times-Herald newspaper.

About a year after college, she also marries JFK. And, duly noted, at the end of Jackie’s life, she does become a publishing editor. Jackie was in no way a dumb brunette.

The whispery voice, which she shared with Marilyn Monroe, was how intelligent women masked their intelligence then, in a male dominated world.

JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. Jackie had just experienced a miscarriage in August of the same year. This gives us a little perspective of just how deeply Jackie needed to reach into her own emotional and character reserves to handle such a horrible experience of witnessing and dealing with her own husband’s assassination.

JFK was known for having extramarital affairs with many women, including Marilyn Monroe, who died August 5, 1962. (This was just three months after singing Happy Birthday to JFK on May 19, 1962.) Also, JFK, reportedly had an affair with Jackie’s press secretary, Pamela Turnure.

January 15, 1962, Jackie taped her famous White House tour, with the help of her press secretary, Pamela Turnure. Jackie’s intention was to restore the White House with its historical artifacts.

This was the first time the public was invited inside the White House, on TV, which was in black and white then.

Needless to say, Camelot had a few cracks. Portman does manage to portray a young mother, who is aware of being surrounded by secret enemies.

The White House, and her temporary home, on being rushed out of the White House, all look like they were carved out of ice.

Rumors surround JFK’s assassination with references to a CIA plot. Some even go as far as to say that George W.H. Bush, who became head of the CIA, was involved in the plot.

Texas was not a safe place to be for the Kennedys. Bush was reportedly in Dallas that day and Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson was also a Texan. No sympathy from a place that could only gain by her husband’s death.

Portman does effectively communicate how women immediately lost their status as soon as their husbands are out of the picture. In “Jackie,” the young widow is told to just disappear, for her own safety.

I feel that Portman, as Jackie, does help us to see how Jacqueline Kennedy did change the landscape for educated First Ladies in the United States.

I am guessing the she and her husband were too educated and too idealistic for their enemies and for the people they lead. But being natural encouragers, both JFK and Jackie inspired the world to rise to the challenge.

Jackie’s depression and anger were channeled into bravery. Jackie’s idea for JFK’s funeral procession was steeped in historical significance, and was seen around the world.

For those who witnessed the funeral procession, it did provide closure, not only for Jackie, but for everyone.

The Kennedy’s will be remembered for bringing out the best in Americans and for bringing out the pride in being an American.

President Kennedy arrives Dallas Love Field November 22, 1963

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbEfgcriXvo

John F. Kennedy Funeral November 25, 1963

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_ZWGRA5I-M

Jacqueline Kennedy: White House Tour – Documentary Film:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbFt4h3Dkkw

Jackie Kennedy’s Biography:

https://www.jfklibrary.org/JFK/Life-of-Jacqueline-B-Kennedy.aspx

John F. Kennedy’s Biography

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_F._Kennedy

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12/26/16 # Jackie

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston) has the Hermione role and Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) has the Potter role as a defender of Magical Beasts.

FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

The “Fantastic Beasts” magical clan in New York does not have the warmth of its English, “Harry Potter” counterpart.

It does not feel like 70 years back in time, rather like 70 years ahead of time. The United States does not have the castles and New York definitely does not have the English countryside. I think it should have started in England, just for reference.

Eddie Redmayne staring as Newt Scamander has the Potter role as a defender of Magical Beasts. In 2014, he starred as Stephen Hawking in “The Theory of Everything” and in 2016, Redmayne starred in the biographical drama “The Danish Girl,” which I could not get out of my mind while I was watching this movie.

What I would have liked to see was Newt capturing those beasts, in England and in other countries, then going to New York. It is not clear why he is going to New York. Why not just go straight to Arizona to release his creatures?

Katherine Waterston staring as Tina Goldstein, has the Hermione Granger role, but is a sorry version of her. Tina is a failure as an auror. She lacks the intelligence, pluck and inventiveness of a Hermione. She looks less powerful and she is less powerful. I would have liked to see her blossom into her power.

I found it hard to believe that Tina could have held onto Newt, without his polite co-operation. This is a very lop-sided partnership.

Turns out, Tina has a sister, Queenie Goldstein (Alison Sudol), who usurps all the sex appeal, beauty and heart, in her role. Too bad she prefers non-magical folk as possible suitors, Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler).

Queenie seems to appreciate Jacob’s appreciation of her cooking. Okay, this is playing it too traditional. They keep Jacob around because he is so likeable?

Toward the end of this story, the magical beasts lose the focus. Now, we need to pay attention to magical children who have been abused by non-magical folk. Harry Potter was abused, but he never became a monster.

To tie this story together, Newt could have tamed this child, just like he does his magical beasts. That would have tied this story together better for me.

Are they a magical clan in New York, or vampires in New York? I was left with a very cold, disappointed feeling.

Screen-writer, J. K. Rowling, seems to suffer under the pressure of trying crank something out. I like it when she is adventurous and really knows and loves her territory.

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11/28/2016 # Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

DOCTOR STRANGE

The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) separates the spirit from Doctor Strange’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) body.

DOCTOR STRANGE

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

“Doctor Strange” (Benedict Cumberbatch) learns the hard way that following the dark side is not the way to go.

As a successful, talented, young surgeon, with a photo-graphic memory, everything seems easy to him in the beginning. Until, of course, things start to get hard. And, in spite of his over-confidence, I found that he did possess a moral compass.

Our surgeon attracts loyalty, because, like attracts like. Rachel McAdams plays Christine, his love interest, who stands with him to the point of being a door mat.

When things go really bad for him, she is his point of light that keeps him sane. He leans heavily upon her for support. She is a friend/wife/muse figure in his life.

My one criticism of this story is that too much emphasis is given to the dark side. And the whole film lost me when the dark side was depicted as a male face in the universe.

What about the idea of drawing power, strength, eternality from the light side? I thought it was going in this direction with the depiction of Dr. Strange’s spirit being separated from his body.

Our surgeon tries to make a case for the light side when he says, “I heal people. I cannot kill people.”

He is described as arrogant, for humiliating another surgeon, who was ready to body wrap a patient. Should Dr. Strange have just agreed with this surgeon’s opinion, and not saved the patient? Sometimes, it takes moral courage to use one’s special abilities.

His humility is on full display in Nepal, where he seeks healing from the Ancient One, a sorcerer, played by Tilda Swinton. The scenes of his training and self-healing is very satisfying. I just could not take the face in the sky part or the part where everyone is using the dark powers to survive.

And last, but not least, the humor in this story is fantastic. Doctor Strange’s levitation cape has the kind of sass that was missing in his love life.

11/15/2016 # Doctor Strange

MR. CHURCH

Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy), Marie (Natascha McElhone) and Charlotte (Britt Robertson).

MR. CHURCH

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

“Mr. Church” is not a tragedy, rather it is more about love and compassion. Eddie Murphy elevates this niche, but every time he attempts a drama, he is ignored.

This film’s theme focuses on the predicament of being poor in America, and about how it gives us the opportunity to nurture each other in its finest sense.

The story features a single mom, Marie (Natascha McElhone), who has one daughter, Charlotte (Britt Robertson as the older Charlotte and Natalie Coughlin as young Charlotte).

Mr. Church (Eddie Murphy) was hired by Richard, Marie’s deceased, married, ex-lover, to cook for her for six months, by which time, Marie is expected to die of cancer.

In return, Mr. Church will not have to worry about his finances for the rest of his life, receiving a lifetime salary.

The little girl, Charlotte, is not provided for in Richard’s will.

By taking this role, Murphy is sure to offend everyone. The racist white will not want him to care for two white women, and the racist Black population will not understand why he would even consider such a subservient Black role.

I get why Murphy’s serious acting is ignored. Except, everyone who sees this film, comes out enthralled by the amount of love that is displayed by every single character in this film.

Little Charlotte grows up to make her own mistakes, coming to the realization that Mr. Church is the only family she has.

Charlotte does pull her moral weight in this story. A poor, white young man, Larson (Christian Madsen) finds that she is his only friend, and allows her to pull him out of his deepest despair.

Mr. Church has his own demons, but through service to others (not just Charlotte and Marie), he redeems himself.

This story rings true. Having been raised by a single mom myself, I found that I could really relate.

We live in a country that worships riches above all else. This can really play havoc on the self-esteem of those who do not make it in such a world.

You usually do not get asked to the prom. You may remember, who cared enough to teach you how to drive a car. And, the belief that you are not worthy of love is hard to shake.

The truth is that we all matter in each other’s lives. We all matter, and we all have the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Mr. Church is a 2016 American drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Susan McMartin that is well worth the price of admission. Hopefully, it will be out on DVD soon

10/24/16 # Mr. Church

THE ACCOUNTANT

Dana (Anna Kendrick) watches in amazement as the accountant, Chris (Ben Affleck), solves a complex problem.

THE ACCOUNTANT

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Ben Affleck breaks the geek mold in “The Accountant” as an autistic, mathematics savant. If you know anything about high functioning autism, you may find this an interesting human study.

One of the things that doctors are very careful not to suggest in autism is that it is not caused by poor parenting. This film, however, is very politically incorrect.

In this film, our main character (Ben Affleck as Christian “Chris” Wolff) and his normal brother (Jon Bernthal as Braxton “Brax”) are deserted by their mother, and their colonel father has child abuse badges on his uniform.

The accountant, Chris, has the typical autistic focus and detail orientation, which suits him to a career as an accountant. And, thanks to his father, both brothers develop exceptional abilities in the self-defense arts.

Autistics are famous for feelings disconnect, so it is not surprising that Chris and his brother, equally share this quality, when it comes to killing or hurting others.

Chris’s skillset suits him for working with some pretty shady and powerful types. The world he creates for himself is as a loner, who needs to recover from human interaction and who can disappear at a moments notice.

Autistics are blunt and honest to a fault, and so is our accountant, Chris. His blunt communication style gives rise to many humorous moments in the film. The climax of this film is also such a moment.

His odd behavior is accepted by a sweet, Mid-West couple, who are very grateful for his tax help. They humorously discover his other skills, when he takes up their invitation to come to their property to shoot.

There is romance in this film. Anna Kendrick, of the Twilight film series, plays an accountant, Dana Cummings, who discovers a discrepancy in the books. Chris is called in to track it down. She expresses amazement of his focus and skill.

Our accountant, Chris, responds to kindness. Because of his tendencies, I found their relationship very similar to the vampire series, Twilight, very romantic and very dangerous. I loved the scene where Chris slowly closes the door, as he watches her sleep.

After doing a little research on autism, I discovered that many famous individuals and NFL players have autism. Amadeus Mozart, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, Michelangelo, Andy Warholl, and Albert Einstein, were all famous autistic adults.

And, famous autistic athletes include Michael Phelps, Terry Bradshaw, Pete Rose, Bruce Jenner, Magic Johnson, Jackie Stewart, Babe Ruth, Michael Jordan, Nolan Ryan, Jason Kidd, Greg Louganis, Andy LaRoche, Alex Trevino, Derek Lowe, Scott Eyre, and Tom Gorzelanny.

I found “The Accountant” to be very thought provoking and entertaining.

Famous autistic people:

http://autismmythbusters.com/general-public/famous-autistic-people/

Diagnosis, Causes & Symptoms of autism:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit/diagnosis-causes-symptoms

10/18/16 # The Accountant

THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK

Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and John Lennon.

THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK

By Marlene Ardoin

Having lived through the Beatle’s phenomena, I cannot believe that it only lasted for four years, 1962 to 1966. This documentary, “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” beautifully captures their evolution as artists and as leaders, growing up before our eyes.

In the beginning, they appeared to be light-hearted and fun loving. As they traveled the world, 166 concerts in 15 countries and 90 cities, they bumped into existing moral dilemmas.

In the South, there was the question of segregation at one of their concerts, a war in Vietnam was raging and a very large generation of baby boomers were trying to come to terms with their own sexual repression.

By the end of their four years of touring, The Beatles were spent, exhausted and no longer light-hearted. They express sympathy for Elvis. “He had to do it all by himself, at least we had each other.”

In this documentary, they are compared to Mozart in terms of the sheer number of great songs that they wrote during the course of their career. Ringo Starr was the anchor, and each of the three guitarists, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and George Harrison, took turns writing songs. Their songs are timeless and were a reflection of the era in which they lived.

At the end of the documentary, we are treated to the 11 song live concert at Shea Stadium 1965.

The Beatles were the first performers to perform at a sporting arena. After the Ed Sullivan show, the crowds that they attracted were unprecedented. We even get to see their final concert in San Francisco 1966.

A big thank you to director Ron Howard, who completed this film in spite of the lawsuit over Shea Stadium performance.

10/10/16 – # The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years

SNOWDEN

snowden-real-and-unreal

Edward Joseph Snowden – Real and unreal (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

SNOWDEN

By Marlene Ardoin

What stayed with me after seeing “Snowden”, was the fact that he did not finish high school and that his moral sensibilities were deeply offended while working for the U.S. government.

I am reminded while listening to a radio show, that so many lower income youths join the services to fix their teeth, have a place to live and to get an education. The caller pleads that the government does not have the right to ask them to go against their moral beliefs.

After looking into the reason for Snowden not finishing high school, I discover that his whole family worked for the government, and it just involved the family being relocated and a bad case of mononucleosis.

Snowden chose not to return to high school. He passes the GED test to get his diploma. He has a very high IQ. And, at this point, he decides to take online college courses from Britain, instead. This is not at all the impression I got from the film. In fact, his whole family is missing from this film.

Filmmaker, Oliver Stone, does a good job of playing at our heart strings in his most recent film, “Snowden.” I received the impression that the young Edward Snowden was a victim of circumstances.

As far as his moral beliefs go, he listed himself as a Buddhist, when he enlisted in the Armed Services. So, this is not your normal Ten Commandments kind of a moral upbringing. How could Stone explain this to the American public in his film?

I can relate to the real Snowden, but I wonder if it was decided that the truth may not be sympathetic enough. Stone appears to be on a mission to make Snowden heart-wrenching.

The broken legs, the epileptic seizures and the offending surveillance scenes really do make him worthy of sympathy. I for one, will never have a computer in my bedroom after seeing this film.

There are victims depicted in this film. Edward Snowden may not be one of them.

“Citizenfour,” which won the Oscar for Best Documentary, is recommended as a more truth filled source.

Wiki biography of Edward Snowden:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Snowden

Preview of “Citizenfour”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKkF-X4QLB4