Lion will break your heart and then warm it

Movie Title:    Lion

Grade:  A-

Rating:   PG-13

In a Nutshell:  Adapted from the book A Long Way Home: A Memoir , this inspiring true story will break your heart and then warm it.  

Most people missed this film when it came to theaters (including me), but now that it has received 6 Academy Award nominations, everyone is talking about it (including me)!

Uplifting theme: 

• What incredibly selfless love people give when they adopt children, especially the street children from poor countries.  Over 80,000 children go missing in India each year.  You can learn more about the movement that has started because of this movie at www.lionmovie.com
• Determination, love, courage, home, family, blood, bonds, heritage, adoption

Things I liked:

• Beautiful cinematography.  Greig Fraser (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and Zero Dark Thirty) uses a child’s perspective to film surrounding areas and provide a sense of wonder.
• Three cheers for Google Earth!
• The love of Sue (Nicole Kidman) and John (David Wenham) for their adopted children was so sweet.  I got teary eyed almost every time Sue was with her sons.
• You don’t learn the touching reason why the movie is called Lion until the very end of the movie.
• Dev Patel plays the grown-up Saroo with the absolutely adorable Sunny Pawar playing the young Saroo.
• What makes the movie even more powerful is knowing that it’s a true story.  You get to see real footage of when Sue meets Saroo’s biological mother just three years ago in 2014.
• As an instructor at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College, I thought it was fascinating that it was food that suddenly brought memories back to Saroo about his childhood.
• I enjoyed learning more about India and its culture. We also get to visit Australia in the movie.

Things I didn’t like:

• SPOILER:  It made me so sad that no one would help Saroo in the train station.  Poor thing.  I just wanted to hug him tightly and give him something to eat.
• The beginning and end were really great, but it starts to drag in the middle when Saroo grows up and gets depressed and mopey before taking action.
• Some of the editing was choppy.
• When you first see Nicole Kidman in that wig, you think, “What the heck?”, but then, when you see the real Sue at the end of the movie, you think, “Oh, Ok.”

Interesting lines:

• “You weren’t just adopting us, but our past as well.” – Saroo
• ‘I really hope she’s there.  She needs to see how beautiful you are.” – Sue 

Tips for parents: 

• There are subtitles in the first half of the movie and again in the end.
• Pre-marital relations.
• Your children will see some extreme poverty and, hopefully, be grateful for what they have.

@trinaboice 

The Letters honors Mother Teresa's humble service

Movie Title:    The Letters

Grade:  B-

Rating:  1 hour, 54 minutes

In a Nutshell:    This inspiring bio drama is narrated by a priest whose task it was to research and petition for the canonization of Mother Teresa in the Catholic Church.  While she still has not received full sainthood status, her “missionaries of charity” have grown from just a handful to thousands today.  The movie features her humble journey from nun to a world icon of hope and service.  The title refers to letters she wrote to the leadership of the Catholic Church, expressing her private worries and admission of loneliness during her struggles.

Unfortunately, the movie spends a lot of time on the red tape involved in the Church’s various decisions that affected Mother Teresa’s ministry, but it was still fascinating to learn more about her life’s work.  It made me want to be a better person.  It was interesting to learn that she felt so abandoned by God while surrounded by people who were blessed by her God-like service and love.

Uplifting theme: 

• "A little bit of God's love...that's all we can do." - Mother Teresa
• “It’s not my work.  It’s God’s work.  I’m just a pencil in God’s hand.” – Mother Teresa     (Oh, that we could all be as effective in God’s hand as she was.)
• St. Francis of Assisi is attributed to writing this prayer, which inspired Mother Teresa, as well as many others still today: “Lord, make me a channel of thy peace.  Where there is hatred, let me sow love.  Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.”

Things I liked:

• Juliet Stevenson did a great job honoring Mother Teresa.  I have always liked her body of work.  Mother Teresa was from Albania, so Juliet tried to do her best eastern European accent. 
• I thought the contrast between Mother Teresa’s sweet, peaceful spirit of humility and that of Mother General’s jealous attitude was interesting.
• It was sweet to hear the vow the nuns took to care for the hungry, naked, homeless and crippled.  Their desire to serve the lowest in India’s society was very touching and humbling.
• For just a brief moment, you get to see a bird’s eye view of 1949 New York City, which is pretty cool-looking.
• It was nice to see Rutger Hauer, who usually plays a bad guy in movies, as a thoughtful priest in this film.
• Did you know Max von Sydow has won tons of acting awards from various countries?  He added a distinguished air the film.
• I really love the movie poster.  

Things I didn’t like:

• Even though Mother Terea wasn’t supposed to be that old in the movie, Juliet Stevenson slouched over a lot, making her look oddly older.
• The film jumps forward and back, which can be a little confusing at times and make the story feel a bit disjointed.
• Isn’t it ironic that the Hindus, who abandoned their temple, threw rocks at it because Mother Teresa was inside helping people not of their faith?  They said it was sacred to them, yet what she was doing inside was truly divine. 
• Terrible actors, but authentic extras.
• The film shows Mother Teresa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, but doesn’t mention the other awards she received over the years.
• The music tried to be inspiring, but sometimes its sweeping dramatic score didn’t quite match what was being shown on the screen.
• It could have been epic, but it is very simple...just like Mother Teresa.

Interesting lines:

• “She possesses depths of holiness far deeper than any of us imagined.” – Priest  
• “We pray.  We trust in God.  God will give us an answer.” – Mother Teresa
• "The greatest suffering is to feel unloved, unwanted, alone." - Mother Teresa

Tips for parents:   

• Whenever your kids complain about having to sweep as a chore, have them watch the scenes where the nuns sweep the floor with a few twigs wrapped together!
• Sobering images of death and suffering.
• Parents may need to explain to their children about the caste system in India.

NEW UPDATE (as of 12/19/15)

Pope Francis on Thursdayapproved a decree recognizing a second miracle attributed to Mother Teresa, paving the way for the Roman Catholic nun to be made a saint next year. The miracle involved the alleged healing of a man who was suffering from multiple brain tumors, according to Avvenire, the official newspaper of the Italian Catholic bishops conference. Mother Teresa died in 1997 at the age of 87 and was beatified, which is the first step toward sainthood, in 2003. The second miracle is required for canonization. The paper reports that the pope would likely hold a canonization ceremony for the Nobel Peace laureate in early September. A Vatican spokesman said he had no information about the report.

Second Time's a Charm with The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Movie:   Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - O.S.T.

PG, 2 hour 2 minutes

Grade:  B+

In a Nutshell:  The cast is charming and fantastic: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Dv Patel and even Richard Gere. 

If you liked the first movie, this one will feel like you’re spending a couple of hours with good, old friends...."old" being a key word.  I guess I'm showing my age when I say that I really enjoyed both movies... While the target audience is an older crowd, younger viewers will see some of their favorites from Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

As a stand-alone movie, it’s ok, but it’s MUCH better if you have seen the first movie made in 2012, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel , in order to fully appreciate and understand the growth of the characters, as well as know what’s going on.  In fact, it’s very satisfying to see “the rest of the story.”

Uplifting Theme:

·         “Water doesn’t flow until you turn the tap on.” – Madge (Celia Imrie)    In other words, don’t sit around waiting for your life to happen. Make it happen.

·         Judy Dench’s character asks herself “How many lives can we have? But then I thought…as many as we want!”

·         “In the end, it’s all very simple: to look into someone’s eyes and to say ‘yes, it’s what I want’ and for them to say ‘it’s what I want too and there’s nothing to fear.’” – Douglas (Bill Nighy)

·         Maggie Smith’s character (Muriel) says “There’s no present like the time.” Indeed.

Things I liked:

·         If you liked the first one, you’ll enjoy this sequel.

·         Sonny’s quips are fast and funny throughout the entire movie.

·         I had a friend get the Henna hand art tattoos just for fun, but in India, brides get it done for their wedding.  I think it’s really pretty.  Speaking of weddings, I thought the Indian wedding scene was beautiful with so many colors, flowers, and interesting traditions.

·         In the movie, Richard Gere plays a man who is 64 years old, but in real life, he’s actually 66!  While Hollywood is filled with plastic celebrities, Richard Gere seems to be growing old quite gracefully.  Younger viewers may not realize that he was actually named the “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine.

Things I didn’t like:

·         Some of the story lines end a bit vaguely.

Funny lines:

·         “You’re nineteen days older than I am.” – Muriel

“Nineteen days is the life span of a wasp.” – Evelyn

·         “While her language is salty, it has great economy and pith.” – Sonny talking about Muriel

·         “You’re probably thinking I’m a bit young to be staying at the Exotic Marigold.” – Lavinia (Tamsin Greig who has fantastic biceps)

“Either that or your plastic surgeon is a genius.” – Sonny

·         “I’m 79 years old!”   Evelyn

“We don’t mind if you don’t.” – Susan

“Nobody checks out until…they ultimately check out.” – Sonny

·         “You have bedrooms?” – Sonny

“For when our members get tired…or fortunate.” – Viceroy Club concierge

·         “I must apologize.”  - Sonny

“You already apologized.” – Sunaina (Tina Desai)

“I mean it more now.” – Sonny

Interesting Lines:

·         “Sometimes it seems that what we want and what we fear is the width of an eyelash.”   Evelyn

·         “Coincidence is just another way of saying we cannot see the whole plan.” – Sonny

·         “There’s nothing I admire more than those who plant trees under whose shade they may never get to sit.” – Ty Burley (David Strathairn)

·         “There’s no such thing as an ending…only the place where you leave the story.” – Muriel

·         “Let go.  That’s where the fun starts.” - Muriel

Tips for Parents:

·         Some sexual innuendos.

·         Some British profanity like “bloody”, “bollocks”, etc.

      Young kids will be extremely bored.  Teens may only be mildly entertained, but watching the  
      film together might be a catalyst for talking about their purpose in life.