From the ads on TV you might think that this movie is about 9/1/1. I think it's more of a movie about a child finding himself and finding his father and mother. Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn) "loses" his father in the Twin Tower tragedy and is devastated as he listens to his father's voice on the answering machine on what Oskar calls the "most horrible day."
When he eventually looks through his father's stuff he finds a mysterious key and sets out to find the lock that this key opens. In doing this he encounters all sorts of individuals and they minister to this reluctant boy and he "records" their visits on his psyche and on a camera inherited from his father. As his search continues he enlists the help of an aged boarder who lives with his grandmother (Zoe Caldwell). Max von Sydow plays this mute character who ends up having a key link with Oskar's father (Tom Hanks). This character helps Oskar deal with some of his fears--especially his fears of public transportation and enclosed places...obvious reactions to the 9/1/1/ tragedy.
Oskar is also very angry with his mother (Sandra Bullock) who desperately tries to allow her son to grieve and search and question. As Oskar tries to connect with his father he ends up connecting with her.
What Oskar eventually "finds" with the key is not what you expect. The movie is straightforward and sober and reflective with just enough humor to make you smile from time to time. The movie draws you in and you just can't stop watching. If and when it is shown on TV I suspect that commercial and station breaks will ruin the rhythm.
At the end of the movie everyone in the theater just sat there for a while. You couldn't really stay but you just weren't ready to leave. Oskar and the rest of the survivors would be OK and you will be OK too. However, you will be changed forever! That's what such tragedies do.
Friday, January 27, 2012
The Book of God
This is a brief book review of "The Book of God" by Walter Wangerin Jr. The book itself says that it is "The Bible as a Novel." I started reading this in October and finished it today (January 27). It proved to be very satisfying and, like the Bible, approached the different narratives in many different ways. Usually it was written as a straight forward account but sometimes it included first person readings or songs or character reflections. Notable unique approaches included the Song of Solomon, the temptation of Christ, and Simon Peter's struggles with his tongue.
The Bible is presented in chronological order beginning with Abraham with the Creation accounts and poetic psalms being presented as "flashbacks" or in similar reflections. Wangerin is not preachy but the law and the Gospel constantly emerge as the narrative unfolds. It would be a wonderful tool to get the reluctant Bible reader to understand the scope of the Scriptures.
I confess that I wish that he went beyond day of Pentecost but he only spends a few paragraphs on the work of the Early Church. Perhaps he meant to write a second volume based on Acts-Revelation. Or perhaps the 850 pages that he did write would make including the "rest of the story" a bit too ponderous.
Used copies of the book might be available at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. That's where I got my copy. No matter how much you pay for it, I think you will be very satisfied when you take the time to read it. The pages of the Bible literally come alive!
The Bible is presented in chronological order beginning with Abraham with the Creation accounts and poetic psalms being presented as "flashbacks" or in similar reflections. Wangerin is not preachy but the law and the Gospel constantly emerge as the narrative unfolds. It would be a wonderful tool to get the reluctant Bible reader to understand the scope of the Scriptures.
I confess that I wish that he went beyond day of Pentecost but he only spends a few paragraphs on the work of the Early Church. Perhaps he meant to write a second volume based on Acts-Revelation. Or perhaps the 850 pages that he did write would make including the "rest of the story" a bit too ponderous.
Used copies of the book might be available at Goodwill or the Salvation Army. That's where I got my copy. No matter how much you pay for it, I think you will be very satisfied when you take the time to read it. The pages of the Bible literally come alive!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Book - 11/22/63
I have a separate book review blog but I have decided to combine this with my movie blog.
The book 11/22/63 is by Stephen King. I confess that I have never before read a Stephen King book and have never seen a complete Stephen King movie. This title and the dust jacket, however, intrigued me greatly and I had to read this book since I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination and various conspiracy theories and resolutions of these theories.
Stephen King writes horror books and the dust cover suggests that the book if "terrifying." I would have to disagree. It is an interesting and good book but far from terrifying It has the hero Jake Epping following the lead of his friend, Al, in entering and trying to alter the past through a portal which has him emerge in 1958. Al wants to prevent the Kennedy assassination by killing Lee Harvey Oswald. That premise is interesting, to say the least, but the only struggle I had with Jake (who disguises himself as George Amberson) is really capable of killing anyone.
He falls in love with a teacher named Sadie and again and again he finds that the past is "obdurate" and resistant to change. All sorts of things get in his way time and again until he finds himself rushing on November 22, 1963, to prevent this terrible day in history.
The book is very good and may very well be adapted to a movie or TV movie, though there are so many sub-plots that it would be impossible to really bring the entire book to the screen. My son says that a book always has an "unlimited budget" when it comes to our imagination. How true this is. I found myself quickly turning the pages when "we" finally after 700 pages get to the key date.
I like the book but don't always appreciate the street language that invades the pages. King manages to make us sympathize just a bit with Oswald and paints an incredible picture of what life was really like in the late 1950's. Just reading about restaurants, movies, music, and dances fills one with nostalgia. I remember this stuff!
Hey...if you want to read an 850 page book, read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed...especially if you like Kennedy assasination reading.
The book 11/22/63 is by Stephen King. I confess that I have never before read a Stephen King book and have never seen a complete Stephen King movie. This title and the dust jacket, however, intrigued me greatly and I had to read this book since I have always been interested in the Kennedy assassination and various conspiracy theories and resolutions of these theories.
Stephen King writes horror books and the dust cover suggests that the book if "terrifying." I would have to disagree. It is an interesting and good book but far from terrifying It has the hero Jake Epping following the lead of his friend, Al, in entering and trying to alter the past through a portal which has him emerge in 1958. Al wants to prevent the Kennedy assassination by killing Lee Harvey Oswald. That premise is interesting, to say the least, but the only struggle I had with Jake (who disguises himself as George Amberson) is really capable of killing anyone.
He falls in love with a teacher named Sadie and again and again he finds that the past is "obdurate" and resistant to change. All sorts of things get in his way time and again until he finds himself rushing on November 22, 1963, to prevent this terrible day in history.
The book is very good and may very well be adapted to a movie or TV movie, though there are so many sub-plots that it would be impossible to really bring the entire book to the screen. My son says that a book always has an "unlimited budget" when it comes to our imagination. How true this is. I found myself quickly turning the pages when "we" finally after 700 pages get to the key date.
I like the book but don't always appreciate the street language that invades the pages. King manages to make us sympathize just a bit with Oswald and paints an incredible picture of what life was really like in the late 1950's. Just reading about restaurants, movies, music, and dances fills one with nostalgia. I remember this stuff!
Hey...if you want to read an 850 page book, read it. I don't think you'll be disappointed...especially if you like Kennedy assasination reading.
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