Monuments Men: Preserving Culture

Hitler will forever be known as one of history's most evil people.  He manipulated others to follow him on his path in the destruction of lives who were different than him.  He down graded, slaughtered, and ruined innocent people.  Little do some know that while on his conquest, he had another mission of collecting the world's most cherished pieces of art. Why you ask?  Power, greed, and wanting to destroy a culture are just a few motivators for Hitler and his Nazi followers.  So in addition to a world war going on, there was a war of art as well.  In a war, the military is involved. In an art war, we have the Monuments Men.

The Monuments Men is a film that portrays another aspect of WWII that many may not be aware of.  I for one had no idea that Hitler stored thousands of pieces of art while killing millions of people.  These art pieces were some of the most well known pieces of art that shaped cultures to how we know them today because we have access to said pieces.  Imagine if the discovery of these pieces never happened,  or if Hitler destroyed them all as he did with some that were not rescued in time.

The protectors of art served to find missing pieces that were stored in secret places.  It was a difficult mission as it was not obvious where the pieces were.  In addition, the Nazis were on a similar mission but for the opposite reason. So you have strong and armed Nazis against Monuments Men, who were excellent at preserving and appreciating art but not so much the battles of war.  

This film did an excellent job of showing this aspect of war that occurred but in a way that most would find interesting.  I am sure some might go into this thinking it a historical movie about art....big deal.  But in fact it is a big deal.  These men risked their lives to find not just art, but a culture that almost didn't survive.  One of my favorite parts was when George Clooney's character emphasized that art isn't just a painting or scultpure, it is a representation of a civilization, a culture. 

There were funny parts as well as parts that made you break out the Kleenex.  John Goodman, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Bill Murray are just a few members of this outstanding cast that brought it all together.  You laugh with them as they find humor in an otherwise intense environment and you cry with them as they come face to face with death. It is a wonderful film you will not regret seeing. 

Labor Day: A Woman, A Boy, and a Criminal

I truly loved seeing this movie. It was a cold Tuesday night in February.  I did partake in my usual popcorn for dinner biweekly tradition and went to my favorite theater in the Lansing, Michigan area,  Studio C.  The experience was wonderful and the film made it even more splendid.

Three Souls Three Stories

Adele: A once young and in love dancer with a passionate marriage, beautiful little boy, and picture perfect life lost it all when she tried countless times to have another child.  Each miscarriage took more and more from her until she was holding her last attempt in her arms and kissing its lifeless body. This was more than she could bare, so she did the only thing she could; stay home and take care of the child she did have.   Her desire for anything else was gone and so was her marriage.  After all, how could she blame him for leaving? She had no love to give.  That is until years later when an escaped convict enters her life for 5 beautiful days in which she experiences love she didn't think herself capable of.  She loves him and he loves her and her son. They plan an escape from her present life and are set to leave Tuesday morning. That is until the police sirens sound with their packed car still in the driveway.

Henry- With only seeing his Dad on Sundays for dinner. Henry must make up for what his Dad has abandoned.  He sets his mother's tea out for her,  helps her drive to the store on the rare occasion she makes it out, and does the little house work he knows how to do.  He doesn't complain because it's his mother and he loves her.   But Henry starts to feel there is more his mother needs than her 7th grade son taking care of her.  Then Henry meets Frank, the escaped convict that will soon change him and his mother's life forever.  Henry is approached by Frank at the store and ends up hosting him for Labor Day weekend.  Frank soon begins to take care of Henry's mother in all the ways Henry used to but also in the ways his mother needs. This is new and scary for Henry.  He likes Frank and is happy his mother is happy, but also feels he is being replaced and possibly forgotten.   His faith is restored when he realizes he, along with his mother and Frank are a family in which nobody will get left behind.   That is,  until Henry leaves a note saying goodbye to his father.  His intensions however good they were, are diminished when on their final morning before leaving for their new life is stopped by the sounds of police at their door step.

Frank- A young and in love boy goes off to war and comes back to the girl who sent him letters, the girl who waited for him. They soon marry and have a beautiful baby boy.  Frank begins to see that life does not see right. His wife does not seem right, and in fact isn't.  In an intense argument where Frank finds out the baby he loves is not his, he pushes his wife harder then he realizes and she hits her head then dies. At the same time his baby upstairs whom was briefly forgotten about, drowns.   The law is not on his side and puts him away for over 20 years. After 18 years he finds his way out and jumps out of a hospital window after getting his appendix removed.   He finds his way to a small town and into the lives of two people he soon cares deeply for. Frank spends the next 5 days in love and with hope of a future with his new family.   This all comes crashing down when he hears those heart stopping words he's been fearing since his arrival. "Come out with your hands up." With no where to run and wanting to make sure nothing happens to Adele and Henry.  Frank does exactly as he is told.

Will Frank go to prison? Has Adele lost the only love she would ever have again? Does Henry overcome the anguish of what he's caused his mother? Find out and see this amazing love story.

Lone Survivor: The Bond of Brothers

I remember seeing an interview for this film with Marcus Littrell who not only wrote the book, but was among the brave men this film was about.  In all honesty, I didn't plan on seeing it. I saw parts of Saving Private Ryan and covered my eyes for the others. So when finding out about a movie being compared to it, I had made my decision to NOT partake.   How glad I am that I changed my mind.

Marcus Litrell and his fellow army brothers were sent on a mission to capture or kill one of the Talaban leaders after receiving clues to his location.   They knew the mission well and were fully prepared for the events that should occur.  Or so they thought.

Their mission seemed to be doing well as they found the location of the Talaban leader and were resting in their hiding places when villagers came by.  They were then discovered and had quite the intense interaction before realizing the villagers were safe and sent them on their way.

Their decision would soon come back to haunt them as the information of their location leaked. Marcus and his troop had been discovered and were in grave danger.  This began a spiral of event after event that would put them in life or death situations throughout the rest of their time there.  

The Talaban were in pursuit so they followed procedures and radioed for backup.  Then just when you think their is hope as you see those glorious air crafts, you are soon brought back to the severity of the situation when the air crafts are shot down and destroyed.  From here the troop fights for their lives and stick together at all costs. 

Unfortunately the only one who survives is Marcus; if you can even call it surviving.   He's been shot numerous times, his body broken from being tossed over rocks,  and his internal organs are ruined from blast after blast.  Then he finds two friends in the most unlikely place.   No, not American.  A man and his son at the heart of the Talaban whereabouts rescue Marcus and take care of him until they can find help. 

It seems as if Marcus is going to be okay,  until the Taliban find out where he is and who is hiding him. To find out what happens to Marcus as well as his faithful rescuers, I encourage you to see this film and be amazed at what humanity is capable of when we put away our prejudices.

If you aren't a big war movie buff you will still be captivated by the bonds formed by the soldiers as well as Marcus and those that helped him.  You will also be reminded just how much of a risk people all over the world take when deciding to defend their country.   Whether you are for or against war, you can still look at this through a perspective that appreciates what the human heart experiences and what loyalty looks like in its truest form.

Dallas Buyers Club: What Would You Do If You Were Told You Only Had 30 Days Left?

The 80’s.  I have a special place in my heart for this decade as I was born in 1985.  This was a time of rock and roll, big hair, and basically believing you were a rock star.  The whole “safe sex” movement didn't exist yet and unfortunately had many living ignorantly as if they were invisible.  Then it was finally discovered that you cannot simply snort cocaine, have unprotected sex with multiple partners, and not suffer the consequences.  The one consequence more severe than any would be HIV and eventually AIDS. 

Ron was a rodeo man living the dream.  He bet on life constantly.  In rodeos he did pretty well, depending on the bet.  In life, however, he lost.  After going to the hospital with a cough, he leaves with new information of having HIV.  His reaction to this?  “Are you saying I’m a queer?”  Which just shows the blatant ignorance during this time, especially in a predominantly white town in Texas (no offense Texas, but it was the 80’s and you know the south hasn't always been the most progressive).  I digress.  So after being told he had 30 days left, he did what I am sure most would given the scenario, he denied it. 

After feeling his body grow weaker and doing research.  He finally saw that it wasn't a disease for the African American, it wasn't a disease for homosexuals.  It was a disease anyone could get. His sexual encounters and drug habits had finally caught up with him.   Then a she came to terms with this and sought out help from doctors for medicine to help him cure it, he realized there was a problem.  There was no cure for HIV. 

Life seemed to get worse for Ron as his “friends” wanted nothing to do with him, he was kicked out of his home, and was no longer allowed to work as an electrician.  His life was falling apart at the seams and Ron was getting desperate.

After researching, making new friends, and finding a doctor willing to help him, he was able to fight the system that was not serving him or his fellow HIV sufferers well.  Through use of natural medicine, Ron and his team began the Dallas Buyers Club which offered as many drugs to help the symptoms of HIV and AIDS each month to any patient as long as they paid their dues of 400 dollars a month.  This may sound like another scam and way for Ron to make a profit, but you saw him transform into this person who genuinely cared for others and wanted to do right by others as well as himself.

You truly root for Ron as he fights the corrupt members of the FDA and doctors influenced by money.  What is more astonishing is witnessing just how many days he did have after his 30 day sentence and the amount of change he was able to make during that duration.  Ron was a survivor.

I have to end this by saying that the performance by Matthew McConaughey and Jared Leto (who played Ron’s close accomplice and cross dresser who looked amazing in a skirt I must add) was nothing short of beautiful.  You catch each character in some intense moments of self-actualization that leave you feeling what they feel as they get closer to death.   

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

It's a sunny day and you are sitting on a cozy bench awaiting your next college class when panick strikes.  You and your peers swarm to the nearest television and are horrified at the events you see.  It is September 11th, 2001.   What steps in life do you take next? Do you follow your original life plan?  Well, if you are Jack Ryan, that is the exact opposite of what you do.

Jack wanted to serve his country so he did what many did during this time,  he joined the millitary.  This changes the direction his life heads as his plane is shot down.  What we find out later is that not only did Jack survive,  but he carried every body off that plane with a broken back and several other injuries.   Once Jack begins to mend,  he is approached by the CIA not only for his heroic actions,  but his intelligence.   Jack is then sent back to school to finish his doctorate and once finished work for a company as a finance analysist while secretly working for the CIA and providing information that will help discover future acts of terrorism.

Working for the CIA has its problems. Especially when you are in a relationship.  Being that he isn't married, he cannot tell his girlfriend his true job.  As he is often out late and going to random places, his girlfriend becomes suspicious.  naturally.  When a development in Russia leads Jack and the CIA to Moscow to prevent the next great depression from occurring and devastating acts of terror, he must leave on short notice.  His beautiful and intelligent girlfriend (played by the talented Kiera Knightley) will not stand for this and surprises him in his Moscow hotel room.  Uh oh. Little does she know what she is about to get involved in.

Jack is in need of vital information that could stop a Russian terrorist from causing serious damage to the United States and the only way to do that is to have dinner with Mr.  Russain terrorist and Jack's girlfriend.   After all, this guy is Russain and has a thing for romance, especially with a beautiful young woman. 

The lovely Kiera is left to converse and distract while Jack sneaks to hack into the company the terrorist runs.  Dinner seems to be running smoothly until another guest appears, revealing the trap.  So now Jack not only needs to save the innocent civilians of the United States, but his lovely girlfriend who is now being held hostage by scary Russain terrorists.  

There were definitely a lot of tense scenes that left you on the edge of your seat.  I do think sone scenes jumped a bit and lacked a cohesiveness.   It was a fun to watch action movie with predictable outcomes.  I did enjoy it for what it was and think action movie goers will too.

Labor Day by Joyce Maynard: A Weekend You'll Never Forget

Well folks, Buzzfeed posted another list. It is very similar to the last in that it contains books that are becoming movies.  This list is for 2014 and the good thing is that I have read 6 of the books because they were on the previous list.  I encourage you to check out the list as it has very good reads including the first in which this post will be reviewing!

Without further ado, I give you a review on Labor Day.

Our story begins with Henry and his mother getting groceries and supplies. This sounds like a common scenario,  but Henry's mom never leaves the house.  Ever.   Her husband leaves her for another women and leaves her abandoned and outside herself. The once confident dancer who laughed, took care of things, and was just more together, now lives in isolation with her son.  Henry, beginning his 7th grade year, is extremely helpful and is definitely the man of the house.  That is until their world is turned upside down.

While at the grocery store, Henry is stopped by a tall man who appears to be bleeding.   He asks Henry if he can have a ride and although Henry doesn't know him and the situation seems alarming,  he trusts Frank.  As Frank and Henry find Henry's mother, Adelle, in the store, Frank insists they give him a ride. Both are aware this is not a question.   But there is something about Frank that reassures them he will not hurt them.

As the title alludes,  it is Labor Day weekend and the three end up spending the most pivotal Labor Day anyone could fathom.   They discover Frank has escaped from prison, and more importantly,  what got him there in the first place, which is truly tragic.  As the weekend continues,  they become sort of a family.  A family that wants to stay together, but how can this be possible with the police getting closer.

More complications arrise as a new friend of Henry's finds out the truth.  Will they be discovered? Or will they get to fulfill their plan of escaping their home to build a new one where they don't have to hide?  Frank truly saved Adelle and brought her back to who she was, but who will save him? 

Once you start reading you won't be able to put it down.   This is definitely a book you could start and finish in one weekend.  A truly great read!

August: Osage County Will Make You Laugh, Cry, and Repeat

When first seeing the trailor for this movie, I thought it had so many amazing actors that I had to see it. Ewan McGregor,  Julia Roberts,  and Meryl Streep are just a few to mention.   My second thought was that this would be a surface level comedy about the joys of a rather quirky family with an unbearable mother.  I was so very wrong.

Julia Roberts' character is needed to return to her home town in the south when her father goes missing.  Her life is in a complicated state as her husband and her are separated,  but her mother has no idea (or so she thinks).  Her husband,  daughter, and her muster the courage to pretend life is just dandy in order to be there for her mother and hopefully find her father.

After meeting her mother,  you already assume the father most likely just had to get away for awhile.   His wife, after all, is as impossible as they come.   She has cancer of the mouth,  smokes, and is addicted to prescription medication.   Not to mention she is dramatic,  offensive,  loud, self imposed,  and so many other terrible characteristics.   But no,  Dad didn't go for a walk because he couldn't take her anymore.  He killed himself.

Her daughters are left to pick up the  pieces and do at times. Her medication was flushed.....for the time being.   As time passes you begin to see the differences among the three daughters. There is Julia, the favorite who holds the mother together and runs the show, the black sheep sister who can't please mom no matter what she does,  and the middle sister who avoids it all by never coming around and is oblivious to the fact that the three aren't really connected as sisters should be.

Secrets start to reveal themselves and at risk of spoiling this for you, you just need to see it.  There are so many different complexities in this family that you never see coming.  Your jaw will drop, I promise you.

Julia's character is also dealing with her own issues of an ending marriage.  She eventually discovers that she is becoming everything that she despises about her mother.   The question is, what does she do about it?  You'll just have to see for yourself, but I do promise you will not be dissapointed.

The overall themes are what I found the most powerful in this film.  We all have back stories.   Some of us have strong family foundations with love and support while others have nothing but disfunction and turmoil.   The important thing to remember that it does not define us. We all have choices to make regarding what kind of people we want to be.   Choosing wisely will have long lasting benefits whereas the opposite of that will leave us in the same situation as Julia's mother.  Sad, dying,  and alone.