THE MOVIE MYSTIC
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For this issue, we are doing things a bit differently. Stephen Simon does not always submit movie reviews on a regular basis - probably because there aren't that many new films coming out that qualify as "spiritual cinema." So we turn to Plan B. Stephen is a co-founder of the program called Spiritual Cinema Circle - www.spiritualcinemacircle.com. It's a program whereby members join for a fee and are sent several spiritual movies per month in DVD form. Below are reviews (not by Stephen) from movies that have been part of this summer's Spiritual Cinema Circle offerings. They are a bit tricky to find, but I found them both on Netflix (as of mid-July, Blockbuster does not have them yet). Kudos to Netflix! BROKEN HILL Review by Jeff Vice By Hollywood standards, a feel-good tale such as BROKEN HILL probably seems hopelessly old-fashioned - if not corny and quaint as well. And to be honest, the film has silly and cornball moments. Among them is a fantasy sequence at the start that may get a few unintentional chuckles. Still, for all its flaws and despite the limiting premise, this music-themed drama works better than it should. Screenwriter/director Dagen Merrill (the son of Academy Award winner Kieth Merrill) works wonders with a small budget, and he certainly could have done worse than this film, his second major release. The gorgeous Australian settings and a good cast of mostly fresh-faced actors certainly help in that regard. Aussie television actor Luke Arnold stars as Tommy McAlpine, a teen who has big dreams of a classical music career. He's hoping to get into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, though his father (Timothy Hutton) is hoping Tommy will continue working with him on the family sheep station or perhaps have a career as a professional Australian football player. Tommy might not have any choice in the matter. He runs afoul of the law - thanks to a rebellious classmate, Kat (Alexa Vega), who involves Tommy in some vandalism and teen misbehavior. The two are lucky to avoid jail time, though the incident might ruin Tommy's spotless record. So he agrees to do community service at a local prison, where he teaches music to the inmates. Even the most inattentive of audiences will be able to figure out where this film goes next and what happens to these characters. Also, a subplot about Tommy's wheelchair-bound pal (Rhys Wakefield) seems a little exploitative and unnecessary. Yet there's some appeal here, a lot of which has to do with the cast. Arnold and Vega (the SPY KIDS movies) are both natural and give unforced performances. Hutton registers as Tommy's gruff father, though his less-than-convincing accent sounds like he's been studying too many Paul Hogan tapes. * Stephen Simon recommends this film as a spiritual cinema pick. It has heart, hope, and speaks to recognizing the beauty and passion in the human heart and soul, and not letting go of that. PLAY THE GAME Review by Eldercarecafe.net While searching for a movie to watch that had something to do with aging, elder care, or living the senior life, I found a marvelous show staring Andy Griffith. PLAY THE GAME is a romantic comedy centered on Grandpa Joe (Griffith) who is currently residing in a nursing home. Grandpa Joe's grandson David successfully works in his father's car dealership and often visits his grandfather. The plot basically is about the young David who is a ladies man and is trying to teach his successful dating tricks to his lonely widowed grandfather so his grandfather can find himself a woman. David has come up with five steps in how to meet and "get" a woman. The five steps include identifying the target, approaching the target, getting her interest, following through, and the Groucho effect. Watching how David explains these steps to his grandpa will have you laughing out loud. In the meantime, David is trying to play his best mind games in his own attempts to find his dream woman, suddenly with little success. The best part of the action during the movie centers on the fact that the tables are turned - Grandpa Joe starts having great success with the women while his grandson flounders. The cast is a joy to watch. David is played by Paul Campbell and his dream woman is played by the beautiful Marla Sokoloff. Besides casting Griffith as Grandpa Joe, the second best casting choice was Doris Roberts from the Everybody Loves Raymond (1996-2005) television series. Andy Griffith, of course, is best known for The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968) and Matlock (1986-1995). There are a number of other wonderful supporting and character actors in the movie who add to the over all enjoyment of PLAY THE GAME. The movie was written and directed by Marc Feinberg and released in August 2009. His filming style made the movie fun to watch. There is always something going on in the never-a-dull-moment life of the senior crowd at a nursing home or in David's life as a slick car salesman on the hunt for the right woman. While I watched this movie on live stream through Netflix.com, a website where you can rent DVDs sent to your home or watch instantly online, PLAY THE GAME is also available for purchase at Amazon.com. PLAY THE GAME is a thoroughly enjoyable movie with a great cast who keep the plot moving swiftly to the inevitable feel-good finish. The fun is watching how everyone arrives at the end. SPIRITUAL CINEMA CIRCLETIME TRAVELER Film rights to "Time Traveler" by UConn physicist DR. RONALD MALLETT with Bruce Henderson - the inspiring memoir by one of America's first African American Ph.D.'s in theoretical physics who has discovered the basic equations for a working time machine - have been acquired by director SPIKE LEE's production company, Forty Acres & A Mule Filmworks, Inc. The Emmy-winning and Academy Award-nominated Lee will co-write the script and direct. "Time Traveler: A Scientist's Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality" is the compelling and touching story of a man whose deep childhood trauma - at age ten the sudden death of his father - drove him on a quest to build a time machine in an attempt to go back in time to save his father. In telling his story, Mallett explains the physics that makes time travel possible based on Einstein's theories of relativity and offers an "actual blueprint for a time machine." (phys.uconn.edu/~mallett/main/book.htm) LIVE BEYOND THE EDGE: A Short Film Series Often we find ourselves feeling limited, boxed in, dissatisfied, and looking for more in many different ways...but temporary solutions don't seem to address the core issue. After a while, we begin to sense that none of the old paths work anymore, and we are called to confront ourselves. The purpose of this series is to question the nature of this core dissatisfaction, and if there is a real and lasting answer. Art, religion, spirituality, and other approaches have tried to address this throughout history. But today, much of this has gotten dusty and less approachable. It is clear that at this point in time, around the world, people are reaching the same timeless revelations, unusual circumstances, and shifts that have happened in the past. The first 2 short films in the series have been released and can be viewed online. There will be more to come. You can view the films at www.livebeyondtheedge.com. The first showing of the films took place this May at Clearpoint Center in Stafford, CT. This showing with photos is discussed at livebeyondtheedge.com/news. 2012: TIME FOR CHANGE "2012: Time for Change" presents an optimistic alternative to apocalyptic doom and gloom. Directed by Emmy Award nominee Jo‹o Amorim, the film follows journalist Daniel Pinchbeck, author of the bestselling "2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl," on a quest for a new paradigm that integrates the archaic wisdom of tribal cultures with the scientific method. As conscious agents of evolution, we can redesign post-industrial society on ecological principles to make a world that works for all. Rather than breakdown and barbarism, 2012 heralds the birth of a regenerative planetary culture where collaboration replaces competition, where exploration of psyche and spirit becomes the new cutting edge, replacing the sterile materialism that has pushed our world to the brink. (2012timeforchange.com) METAPHYSIA 2012 "Metaphysia" documents the story of writer/director Sean M. Fisher's journey into the metaphysical subcultures of the United States. His journey is motivated by very serious life questions, when he wakes one morning to realize that the world he once took for granted is not at all as it once seemed. He begins to ask questions which probe the very depths of our New Century predicament: a world caught in the midst of unprecedented development, filled with extreme experiences and dire circumstances. These questions drive him beyond the borders of convention into the realm of Metaphysia, the mysteriously arising culture of all things alternative and metaphysical, as he seeks for fresh answers. The major focus of the film is to uncover the truth and wisdom behind the many cross-cultural prophecies for the year 2012. The film aims to bring global awareness about how to participate in an entirely new and positive future together. (metaphysia.net) SOPHIA RETURNING In this fascinating DVD, John Lamb Lash, comparative mythologist, offers an examination of the truths hidden deep within the ancient Gnostic sects of Europe. Two thousand years ago, the Pagan religion of Gnosticism was one of the world's largest religious belief systems. The Gnostics held a deep reverence for the earth in all its wonder and beauty. In contrast to the teachings of the patriarchal and monotheistic religious traditions, the Gnostic creation mythos was centered upon the compelling story of the Wisdom Goddess Sophia. This knowledge, which offers us new insight into the power of the earth as a vital living being, has been brought forth today as a fundamental part of the Gaia theory. The Gnostics had many beliefs that were considered heretical by the emerging Christian populations of classical Europe. Lash acquaints us with their unique perspective on the nature of human experience and the destructive power of the mysterious beings they called the Archons whose dark influence has led to the fear-based, chaotic character of the times in which we live. By assisting us in comprehending the Gnostics' vast knowledge of nature, the Earth, and the intimate relationship between the Goddess Sophia, and we who are her creation, he reconnects us with our ancient heritage and offers a sacred path toward the future. The Spiritual Cinema column is written by Jon Roe, who can be reached at (860) 875-4101 or Jon.Roe@comcast.net. He publishes the Conscious CT website (www.consciousct.org), which focuses on holistic activity East of the River in the Hartford area. The website includes a Spiritual Cinema section (www.consciousct.org/spirituality/movies.htm) with information that supplements this column. |