Tag: cancer

mr-church-family-picture

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

Miracles from Heaven - Garner & Latifa

Angela (Queen Latifah) cheers up Christy Beam (Jennifer Garner) and daughter Anna (Kylie Rogers)

Miracles from Heaven - Real family

Real family, Kevin & Christy Beam, with children (youngest to eldest) Adelynn, Anna, and Abbie.

MIRACLES FROM HEAVEN

By Marlene Ardoin

I came away from “Miracles From Heaven” feeling nourished and stimulated at the same time. This film seeks to ask questions as it relates a true story about a 10 year old girl, who is spontaneously healed from an incurable disease. She says that God spoke to her.

The girl is Anna (Kylie Rogers). She is one of three daughters, of a veterinarian and his wife (Jennifer Garner), who operate their new business out of their farm in Burleson, Texas in 2011. Financially, things are tight.

Being one of three daughters probably meant that sibling rivalry was intense, especially being the middle daughter. The question that occurred to me was why did Anna suddenly become ill in the first place? She is completely normal, then suddenly, her internal intestinal system stops communicating with her digestive system. I’m just wondering.

There is no question that she is in serious medical trouble. And, her parents have to decide what they are going to do about it. Anna has wonderful parents. Ironically, the competition is over the mother/father love, which is in short supply for all three children, especially with the new business at their home.

Anna’s father, Kevin Beam (Martin Henderson) seems firm in his resolve to do whatever it takes to manage the financial part. But, financially, things are spiraling out of control. Miracles do start happening. People and events start allowing him to do what is needed. Like the computers going down at the airport, when he is trying to take his two other daughters on a flight to Boston to visit his deathly ill daughter Anna and his wife, Christy Beam.

Christy Beam, played convincingly by Garner, abandons faith in God, in favor of personal will to help her ill daughter. She tries waiting for that specialist to call her, but cannot take the pressure to seeing her daughter in severe pain and in steady medical decline. What she realizes in hindsight, is that she is being tested. Miracles are happening for her as well, but she does not recognize them, while they are happening.

Queen Latifah plays a big-hearted Boston waitress, Angela, who really is an angel in disguise. You never know who is going to be the gate-keeper to your sanity and your well-being. Angela is an angel, the new hospital receptionist is an angel and so is the light-hearted specialist, Dr. Nurko (Eugenio Derbez). They are all Christy’s miracles.

Anna is also being tested. Her roommate at the hospital has cancer. Spoiler alert, Anna passes her test with flying colors.

Speaking of miracles, we haven’t even gotten to the main miracle, Anna’s accident, the hollow tree, the butterfly and God.

Whether you are a believer or not, “Miracles from Heaven” will leave you inspired and at peace.

4/3/2016 #Miracles From Heaven