Hostiles

There was a the day, not so long a go, where many of us will remember that the Western ruled the box office, whether it be a smash hit at the theater , a Saturday matinee or even a program on television. The Western was a format that looked at the old west in America, (sometimes in other countries) and the story featuring the old west incorporated the challenges of either settling the west, bank robbers, or battles between Cowboys and Indians or gunslingers trying to kill someone. There were the black hat Cowboys who were always bad and the white hat Cowboys which were always good. In the simplicity of some of those Westerns we could watch John Ford movies and enjoy the pop-corn; then there was popular director William "Wild Bill " Wellman who gave us Westerns like The Ox Bow Incident that ended up being a full course steak dinner. While some always put Ford in  pop-corn category he also did meaningful Westerns that were like a fine meal ordered at a fine restaurant with tons of social commentary along with a great story such as The Searchers. Unfortunately, over the last number of years, while there have been Westerns released on the big screen, some quite good such as Tombstone, Unforgiven, Dances with Wolves and Open Range among others, those are rare and few between.  All of that said, thankfully, a new classic, one that could also be considered epic, has just entered the genera. That movie is directed by Scott Cooper from Crazy Heart fame is Hostiles.

Hostiles opens with a masterful, cinematic image of a homestead in the wild frontier of New Mexico. The homestead faces the potential of an Indian attack from a brand of Comanche whom have not given into the treaties which placed them under supervision of the United States who had moved them onto a reservation in Montana. The homestead is attacked in a brutal way and we see the hostility and hatred these Indians have for Whites and other settlers in the area. We jump next to a scene of Fort Berringer in New Mexico. where Captain Joseph Blocker, played brilliantly by Christian Bale, has captured some Apache up risers and is taking them back to the fort. Shortly after his return he discovers that he, along with some of the soldiers who have served with him for years are given the orders to escort Comanche dying war chief, Yellow Hawk, played brilliantly by Wes Studi and his family to Montana where his people liveand call home. One thing is clear from the directives given and Berringer's response, he hates Indians, especially Yellow Hawk. While reluctantly following orders under the pretext of losing his pension, he ultimately agrees to provide the escort as long as he can pick the solidiers of his choosing to go along with him. 

The journey of Blocker and his crew escorting Yellow Hawk and his family ultimately has him meeting up with loan survivor of the attack on their homestead, Rosalie Quaid, also played brilliantly by Rosamund Pike. We see her struggles with her own PTSD and the response given toher by not  only the soldiers escorting her, but also Yellow Hawk and his family. One thing both groups understand is the grief and loss of someone like her and the struggles she is going through as a result of such suffering.  Here, you can see influences from directors like John Ford from movies like The Searchers, but Hostiles delivers as much as The Searchers and a whole lot more.

This movie is beautiful to watch and while seeing the opening on a early late night release, ending way after midnight, I was never bored, never tired, and not only entertained but challenged to think throughout the duration of the movie. My wife, a Western buff who had several hours in college graduate studies on Westerns was also entertained while watching the incredible, well crafted story portrayed on screen before us. There were a number of things that made this movie even more incredible for us.

Not only is the story well told in Hostiles but the imagery on screen is also incredible. I have seen most of the Oscar Contenders for the year 2017/18.  Of all of the movies I have seen this last year, if in the same awards categories, this movie would have garnished my vote in numerous categories including, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Screenplay, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Make-Up and Hairstyling, Directing, Actress in a Supporting Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Best Actor, and Best Picture.  This movie is that good, and that deserving. It is as excellent as anything on screen during the 2017 Movie year, and frankly, one of the best Westerns ever made in my, (in this case) not so humble opinion.

There are several aspects of Hostiles that I was blown away with, not only is there an entertaining story over the 2 hours and 14 minutes of the film, there is ample social and spiritual commentary throughout the film. We see a strong religious connection between many of the characters in the movie, likely, the strongest men of faith in the film are the soldiers on the escort. There are poignant scenes where there are discussions about such themes as where is God?  How does one grow in their faith and life despite tragedy? There is much more but we also see portrayed in a powerful way, the power of forgiveness and what it means to be a brother or sister to someone. I haven't seen a movie that shows the power of forgiveness as strongly as this one in several years. The possibility that exists from getting to know your enemy, learning to love them as opposed to always hating them and finding a way to hate is powerfully portrayed. One of the beautiful things about Hostiles though is this is portrayed in the simplest of ways, yet, it is in that simplicity that we ultimately see the power of these themes. In the end, we discover all men and women are capable of evil, and in many ways, have done evil. We also see though that God loves all and that we have the potential to love all people, whether they be red or yellow, black or white. These are not just realities regarding God though, they are possible for humanity. Not only are these things possible amongst those who have loved or hated little, they are available for those who have loved and hated much.

The Bible reminds us of such themes, that all are accepted to God in many areas, we can read for example that illustrate this such as Colossians 3: 10 - 14: 

Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient. Put up with each other, and forgive anyone who does you wrong, just as Christ has forgiven you.  Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together.

These words, these themes are played powerfully in the movie Hostiles. I for one am glad I was reminded of them, of the need to live them and better yet, challenged to learn to love, even those I may have perceived in the past who have been my enemies.

On a scale of 1 - 10 for the letters in the "rare nature" of me to call a film epic, of which I call this movie, an Epic film and among the best Westerns ever, I give a rare and deserving 10.  

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Ben-Hur, 2016

There are movies that are classics, and then there are classics that will seemingly endure forever. The story of Ben Hur has been told in numerous movies and scripts dating back to 1907. The most respected version of the story is the 1959 version starring Charlton Hesston. This rendition of the film is certainly in the top 25 films of all-time by virtually every film critic and reviewer on the planet.  It is for good reason Charlton Heston is outstanding and the cinematography and story, along with direction and cast is nothing short of exceptional.

So it is, justifiably so, that one would be critical from the outset at trying to explain why there would need to be a remake of this outstanding film. It would seem as if a remake would be doomed from the start from the criticism that would come about from fans of the 1959 film. I would remind folks, though, that even the 1959 film is itself, a remake of earlier versions of the story. So it is, with some understanding that I understand, the reasoning for a remake.

Ben Hur, 2016, is brought to us by producers Roma Downey and Mark Burnett among others. These two have delved into religious-themed movies in recent history, some good, some not so good and all thought provoking. So it is with the new version of Ben-Hur starring Jack Huston as Judah Ben-Hur, Toby Kebbell as his adoptive brother Messala and numerous others including Morgan Freeman as Ben-Hur rescuer and mentor Ilderim.

The story takes place in Jerusalem during the time of Christ. Ben-Hur and Messala are best friends who are like brothers. Ben-Hur believes in the way of peace while Messala understands the need to become a part of the Roman Empire. Messala ends up joining the Roman forces while Ben-Hur stays at home in Jerusalem. Many of the Jews in Jerusalem join the Zealot Movement to try and overthrow Rome, Ben-Hur believing he should befriend all people harbors a Zealot who later on brings his house under the swift and judgmental sword of Rome. As a result, tragic events happen under the eye of those in power and Ben-Hur's life long friend and brother Messala. Ben-Hur is placed into slavery aboard a warship.  Later he regains his freedom but is still wanted for acts against Rome and comes under the protection of a wise mentor, Ilderim who takes him under his wing and trains him to race chariots. The story along the way is the story of Ben Hur that so many are familiar with, and this rendition stays quite true to the intent and concepts of the other films.

I have to say, there is not what I would consider any outstanding leads or bits of acting in this film. It is good but does not compare to the classic 1959 version which one can't help but think about. That said it is still told quite well with the script doing a good job at showing the influence of a young Jewish carpenter named Jesus. We see the role of Jesus in a background sort of way have an impact on Ben-Hur and the characters around him, including his wife, Esther, played by Nazanin Boniadi.  We see the impact and teachings of Jesus certainly come into play in regards to the spiritual freedom he emphasized in a country that was occupied by Rome, especially so when so many Zealots and others fought for religious freedom. Whether by intent or not, the movie helps illustrate in many ways the life-changing impact of Jesus, even in a political climate that seems to be in opposition to all things related to faith. The freedom provided is an internal freedom as opposed to a political freedom. In this manner, the direction provided by Timur Bekmambetov is quite exceptional as it tells an exceptional story and weaves in quite nicely the impact of Jesus not just individuals around him, but the culture of the time.

Ben-Hur tells quite nicely a story that shows the power of redemptive change but along with that concept, the power of forgiveness. I was quite pleased, and moved at how the movie weaved in these messages, not that they haven't been told before, they have and even in an exceptional way, but the reminder of these themes is still needed in today's world, and it is in this vein that I can recommend the movie even though it is not a great movie as is the 1959 Classic, it is still a story worth watching and I believe many will see the story for the first time because it is on the big screen. Hopefully, though, it will also inspire people to go back and see the earlier versions, especially the classic 1959 version. I know it did me as I want to return to the classic to compare.

Now the special effects in this are quite incredible, especially the chariot race towards the ending of the film, many will and are talking about those scenes, but again, for me, I can't help but go back to the 1959 classic film to think about and realize, while there were some special effects and stunt actors used in that film, there was no CGI.

All in all, this is again, a good movie, that doesn't make it a classic or great movie, though, I found the first 30 minutes or so of the film quite boring, almost at times amateurish, but it picked up and the last two-thirds of the film were actually quite good and entertaining and, as the story came together, quite meaningful.  I am going to recommend this movie, on the big screen for those reasons. It is a movie that revisits the themes of today's world that seem to exist in society as a constant, yet, it also shows the power of Jesus to change lives, and, the message on forgiveness and the power it can have is as relevant today as it ever was.

So on a scale of 1 - 10, while it may not seem like a great score, it is still a movie I highly recommend seeing, for the letters in Ben Hur, I give a somewhat, perplexed 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BmeR9GYdDU

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Super 8

It’s been a long time since there was a movie that was powerfully driven by a young cast. Some may say it has been since ET; that is until this summer. With a wonderful new story in the Steven Spielberg camp we have such a movie. Super 8 is a cross between Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Aliens, and ET. With the benefit of living in one of the top movie towns in America I just had the chance to see the film on the largest IMAX Screen in North America. It was perfectly entertaining and was driven with as much an enjoyable experience as I have had the honor to partake in for a movie in some time.

JJ Abrams noted for the television series Lost has written and directed one of the best new stories in some time. As per the norm with Abrams there is attention to story which is done in an entertaining, thought provoking way. In Super 8, we see a family impacted by the death of a mother in a drastic way that has an impact on two different families. The Lamb family has lost a mother and the Dainard family is impacted in a way we are not quite sure of until later in the movie. There are two single dads, raising children and facing the difficulties on dealing with teen children.

Young Joe Lamb and his friends are into making movies. It is while making a zombie movie with a Super 8 camera; they involve the girl of their dreams, Alice Dainard. More than one of the boys in the group have a crush on her and while she makes a perfect cast member in the movie they are making, she also brings a level of conflict that contributes to the tension in the movie.

One night while filming near an old train depot outside of town there is a horrific train crash. The train is an Air Force train and is carrying a strange cargo. It doesn’t take long for the military to get involved. Strange things start to happen around the town and the young filmmakers know more than they let on with the town that starts to have strange occurrences. Of course there is a lot more they don’t know then there is they don’t, but that is for us to discover as the movie progresses.

Technically Abrams has done his best work in a feature film as of yet. From a taught script to incredible special effects, a great sound track, and unbelievable set and prop design. I normally don’t comment on this but there is such a good job of replicating the late 1970’s including the things a young man would have in his room I had to make mention of it. I lived during this time and it is as it was. Even the soundtrack and movie starts with the music of my favorite bands of all time, Electric Light Orchestra with the song Don’t Bring Me Down.

One of the magical attributes of Super 8 is the cast and development of characters. To think that two of these young actors, in lead roles, has never been in a motion picture before gives credit to Abrams on his ability to do one of the most difficult things in movies, direct and get quality results with children. The children in this picture, virtually every one of them are magical. I adored every single one of the primary cast, especially those in the lead roles, Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney. I especially enjoyed Riley Griffiths as Charles a young heavy weight child, with a deep friendship for Joe Lamb. Griffiths also carries off quite well the temperament of a young movie director. Abrams starts developing the characters from the very opening scenes and that development continues until the completion of the film. We get to know what drives them and their innermost thoughts. Not since Stand By Me with River Phoenix has there been the potential in a young cast that we have in Super 8.

Abrams does such a good job in his direction that there are multiple themes addressed in the movie, none as important as the themes of forgiveness and learning to let go of past mistakes and moving on. The concept of being able to forgive is critical to the need to let go and move on in the themes here. It is also the formula that allows love to take place when one may not have expected love, whether with a friend or a parent. For many, it is only when they come close to losing the things they love most before they realize the importance of forgiveness and moving on. We see that many are held hostage to their situations because they are unwilling to forgive. Sometimes the bitterness that exists in ones heart is there for unfounded reasons but we won’t know that until we take the step to forgive. This can create conflict that lasts for years and impacts others around us that we love. Some would rather die with an attitude of hate or bitterness than to experience the freedom and liberties that can come about when we forgive those we believe have done us wrong. Super 8, from the very opening scenes until the closing scenes drive these themes home in a way to force us to contemplate on their own need to forgive others.

I loved Super 8! It is without a doubt one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. I loved the tributes in the film by Abrams, not only to Stephen Spielberg but to the great Zombie creator, George Romero. It is a modernized, more sophisticated film than any child cast film since Stand By Me. It is fun, entertaining, with a wonderful message. It is frightening at times with a number of jump out of your seat moments. The only negative I would even dare to bring up, was it could have been longer as I liked the characters so much I wanted to see more of them. I suspect there will be some that don’t like the negative portrayal of the military, but I honestly don’t think that is any thing intended by the makers of the film. I have stated in the past that it would be hard to imagine many films better than this one this summer. While I have been wrong before, and may be again here, it is still hard to imagine a better film this summer. I suspect that word of mouth will have Super 8 making its 45 million it cost to make returned this weekend and from there, it will be one of the hits of the summer. I honestly don’t think you can go wrong here unless you take very small children to the theater. It is appropriately rated PG-13 but families will enjoy seeing it together. I know I enjoyed it and I fully expect to see it again before the end of the summer.

On a scale of 1 – 10, for the 9 letters in the name Spielberg who has once again, produced magic, I give a very enthusiastic 9

To see the video posted below, click on the video, if the video doesn’t appear or appears in distorted form, click on the following link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCRQQCKS7go


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Amish Grace

Sometimes truth makes incredible story, sometimes, true faith brings about incredible life lessons. I remember being mesmerized regarding the Amish Tragedy in Pennsylvania a few years ago. Being Mennonite myself, and having studied some of the materials of the author of the book, Amish Grace, How Forgiveness Transcends Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, I was somewhat interested to see how the Lifetime Television Network did with their made for TV movie now on DVD.

Amish Grace is the story of a milkman Charlie Roberts, played by John Churchill who lives in an Amish community in Pennsylvania. He is distraught after the death of his daughter at birth. He blames God and figures the way to get even with God is to go to an Amish school and kill the children. Based on true events, the story explores the forgiveness offered to the wife of Charlie who is left with three children. In the process of forgiveness within the Amish community, one of the mothers, Ida Graeber, played by Tammy Blanchard, struggles with forgiveness, especially when her faith community has banned, ‘shunned’ (a term used within the religious community) her own daughter for leaving the community and marrying outside of her faith.

Amish Grace is unfortunately, an obvious made for television movie. Missing are the typical top actors, and certain film techniques. The good news is, that while many made for TV movies and series as of recent have been quite exceptional, this isn’t quite up to par too many of those shows. It is however a quite good, well acted, mesmerizing story, and one that is actually quite good for a Cable Network like Lifetime. One of the surprising and appreciative aspects is the respect given to the Amish Community in the filming of the movie, while not compromising some of the appropriate questions about their faith concepts.

The direction provided by Greg Champion is quite good as is the editing by Anita Brandt-Burgoyne. In their work the story evolves quite well, and the truth is, the DVD feature is likely superior to the television story, if for no other reason, the ability for the story to move along without commercial interruption. While there are some questions and some holes in the plotline, they are eventually answered and clarification is given.

The journey involves two women who were impacted by the events. It is here the film causes this reviewer to reflect on a number of issues. Amy, the mother whose husband killed the children at the Amish School, and later killed himself, and Ida an Amish mother whose daughter was killed in the shooting are both women whose faith are important to them. One doesn’t know how one could forgive, and the other doesn’t know why she should forgive when she has been hurt so much by her own faith community. Their journey to discover their own answers to their faith ultimately brings them together, to a place that isn’t easy to arrive at, and a place where most viewers will appreciate. One of the enjoyable things about watching this movie is the progression of the characters and the honesty of how the story is presented. While we see conflicts of faith, and conflicts of belief, we see them in a way where the good and the bad are presented.

One of the things we see presented in Amish Grace in a beautiful way is the complexity of a concept like forgiveness. It is a concept that when truly offered is offered out of love, a love that not many will understand. We also see it presented in a way where we realize it isn’t always easy. The question of who deserves and doesn’t deserve grace and forgiveness is asked in a real and unique way. While many would say that a murderer doesn’t deserve grace we learn to understand that sometimes the lack of grace and forgiveness may have more of an impact on the innocent than we realize.

Amish Grace is one of the best spiritually themed television programs to come about in a long time. The DVD is well worth the retail purchase price and deserving of an audience. One shouldn’t expect to see a top notch theatrical release because that isn’t what this movie is. What it is though is a thought provoking presentation of a people who live by peace, but also at a cost. It searches out in an honest way not just the highlights of their belief system and family oriented communities, it also explores the beliefs that seem to be inconsistent to much of their teachings, especially in the areas of how shunning impacts not just those intended to help, but those who are having to offer the practice. What transpires however in Amish Grace is a discussion and presentation of honesty. One I appreciated and could recommend.

In a world where so many want to condemn and judge, we see a movie where forgiveness and grace are ultimately offered, even to those seemingly not deserving of that love and grace. The amazing thing about what we see is that most of us won’t have an excuse to not try to exhibit this behavior though, because the story is true, and the events all too real. Sometimes those stories, despite them being on television as opposed to the big screen can be just as powerful. That is if given the chance, and Amish Grace is certainly worth giving a chance.

To see a video of the news coverage regarding the shooting click on the following video, if the video don’t appear, click on the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjJt3wKXdRc


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