Movie Review: "Away From Her"

This is a slightly disjointed story of a retired university professor, Grant, whose wife, Fiona, develops Alzheimer’s Disease. The movie slowly develops a complex marital relationship involving elements of infidelity, retribution, devotion and self-sacrifice. The subject of past and current infidelity is complex and not clear until the story’s end. The ending is somewhat muddled by Grant simultaneously performing a selfless act of love, but still serving his own needs. Julie Christie masterfully portrayed an aging Fiona through the initial and final stages of dementia. Olympia Dukakis’ performance was above average and reminiscent of her role as Clairee Belcher in Steel Magnolias.

Movie Reivew: "Miss Potter"

This is the story of thirty year old single authoress Beatrix Potter in Victorian England who wrote many children’s books- including “The Tale of Peter Rabbit.” The movie chronicles her struggles with her parvenu pseudo-aristocratic parents, romances, friendships and writing. This film refreshingly details true romance and courtship of Miss Potter in the confines of staid 19th century English society. The awkward relationship she has with her suitor- who is also the publisher of her books- is at times complicated by the unique friendship she has with her suitor’s sister. This is probably the ultimate “Chick Flick” but I was pleased to finally see a film that portrayed healthy strong friendships between women and a wholesome, deep, meaningful search for love between a man and a woman in a society with some moral and social boundaries.

Movie Review "The Ultimate Gift"

This movie is based on the best-selling book "The Ultimate Gift" by Jim Stovall. The plot centers around a totally self-absorbed delinquent trust fund baby, Jason Stevens. His estranged billionaire grandfather leaves only a small portion of his vast fortune to his children. Grandson Jason is given an opportunity to redeem himself and in the process potentially inherit his grandfather’s fortune. Jason changes in a stepwise fashion to discover self-denial and the joy of giving.

The basic tenets of the plot are mostly Christian-friendly. Christ and faith in a transcendent God are briefly mentioned in the course of Jason and his intimates’ struggles.

The supporting actors, James Garner and Bill Cobb, performed better than the star, Drew Fuller. The central theme was noble, but the details of the plot were sketchy and camp.

It won’t be nominated for any awards, but would be worth viewing with the family.

Review of "Amazing Grace"

"Amazing Grace" is a biographical film of 18th century English Christian leader, MP and social activist William Wilberforce. This film, by Hollywood standards, is a fairly even handed portrayal of Wilberforce's conversion, life struggles and prolonged battle to eliminate the slave trade in the British Empire. The film allows enough time to develop the complex relationship between Wilberforce, his wife, Prime Minister William Pitt and the ex-slave trader John Newton. The writer interestingly weaved aspects of the central characters that would appeal to both Evangelicals and political liberals. Wilberforce's dominant Christian belief is never explicitly voiced in the film, but is implied by his passions and way of life. John Newton is brilliantly portrayed by Albert Finney. In the most moving scene of the movie, a blind John Newton declares to a troubled and dismayed Wilberforce "I am a great sinner, but Christ is a great savior."

More on the movie can be viewed at the following link: Amazing Grace

Movie Review: Breach

Based on a true story, FBI upstart Eric O'Neill enters into a power game with his boss, Robert Hanssen, an agent who was ultimately convicted of selling secrets to the Soviet Union. The central dynamic of the movie is the double deception of aging master spy, Robert Hanssen and underling FBI agent Eric O’Neill. Hanssen is a devout Roman Catholic who betrays his country. O’Neill, a lapsed catholic skeptic, is assigned to “spy on the spy.” The acting by Chris Cooper is absolutely superb. Throughout the drama, trust is intermittently won and lost by both characters. As per Hollywood usual, there is Catholic-bashing a plenty. In the end, the young skeptic takes the moral high ground by doing in his boss.

Review of Rivers, Sea & Shore: Reflections on Water at The Dixon Gallery & Gardens

50 paintings are featured in the exhibition, RIVERS, SEA AND SHORE: Reflections on Water, which are traveling under the auspices of the Trust for Museum Exhibitions in Washington, D.C. This exhibit includes paintings of all manner of waterscapes- both oceans, lakes and rivers from the early 19th century up to mid 20th century. The earliest works feature primarily images of sailing ships, followed by steamships of the mid to late 19th century. Also included are scenes of previously prosperous Northeastern river cities such as Mystic , Noank and Old Lyme Connecticut. The late 19th century and early 20th century works are mostly Impressionist works.

Also featured are the works of Memphis native William Nowland Van Powell (1904-1977). Mr. Van Powell worked most of his life as an architect. Due to failing eyesight, he abandoned his architectural practice and produced a large number of marine paintings depicting moments in American maritime history. The collection is interesting. This exhibition is generously sponsored by Jane Maury Lovitt in memory of Lloyd B. Lovitt,Jr.

Lawyer Leffler Review of "Pursuit of Happyness"

The Pursuit of Happyness:

Life is full of temptations to cut corners. Maybe a nip and tuck hereand there on the tax return. Or pocketing the overpayment of change froma purchase rather than setting the record straight. Depending on thenature of the corner to be cut and the nature of the person cutting it,the temptation can run from manageable to overwhelming. The moredesparate the person, the more they will see the temptation asoverwhelming. But the poet Robert Browning said: "Why comes temptation,but for man to meet And master and make crouch beneath his foot, And sobe pedastled in triumph."The Pursuit of Happyness, based on a true story, concerns a man who,against all odds, mastered those temptations and found his pedastle oftriumph. Will Smith plays a hard working entrepreneur who hits hardtimes when his wife gets tired of living on the financial edge. Sheleaves him with their 5 year old son (played by Smith's actual child)and Smith faces even higher hurdles. He loses his home and the sale ofhis medical devices that he plowed all of his money into goes stale. He happens to meet a stock broker who suggests that Smith apply for theprogram run by his brokerage for new salesmen. He gets into the program(which only offers one of the many participants a position with the firmupon completion) while juggling the demands of a single father who hasthe added burden of being homeless and needing to find a place to keephimself and his son each night.There are numerous chances for him to cut corners. Chances that most ofus probably would have seized since the damage to others would have beennegligible. But the message of this uplifing movie is that doing thingsthe right and honest way pays dividends despite how hopeless thesituation may appear at the time.