BRING THE HOPE

Find Your Own Voice

I've always been a fan of the movie "Dead Poets Society", and there is one scene that makes the movie for me. It's the one where John Keating (played by Robin Williams) steps up on his desk and encourages his students to look at the world differently and to find their own voice. He says...    

"Boys, you must strive to find your own voice. Because the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all. Thoreau said, "Most men lead lives of quiet desperation." Don't be resigned to that. Break out!"

I think that's great advice. Look at the world differently, find your own voice, and find a way to bring the hope. Check out the clip from the movie. It goes for approximately 75 seconds before it continues into another scene. Have a great day.

 

 

Frank Capra Brought Hope to the Big Screen

According to The New York Times, "Frank Capra, the American motion-picture director whose portrayal of the common man and American democracy endeared him to millions, was born on this day in 1897."

You might know Capra's work from one of the three Oscar-winning films that he directed: "It Happened One Night", "Mr. Deeds Goes to Town," and "You Can't Take it With You." But, the odds are pretty good that you know Capra best from what he once cited as his favorite film: "It's a Wonderful Life."

I love that film and it really seems to embody the hopeful and optimistic approach Capra brought to his life and his work. Capra's NYT obituary from Sept. 4, 1991, said that his "...movies were idealistic, sentimental and patriotic." The obit goes on to say that Capra once wrote about his view on life saying, "I always felt the world cannot fall apart as long as free men see the rainbow, feel the rain and hear the laugh of a child."

Some criticized Capra as being naive and too sentimental. But, I'm glad that he stuck to his guns. Looking on the bright side doesn't equate to being naive or out of touch about what's happening in the world around you. It just means that you choose to focus on the positive aspects of life. Cheers to Capra for showing us the way.

The Soloist

Is anyone else out there geared up to see The Soloist when it opens on April 24th? I've seen the trailer a few times in the theater and it just popped up on TV too. This film, starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr., has the makings of something special.

According to the film's web site, the movie is based on a true story about the powerful friendship that was formed when Steve Lopez wrote about a homeless musician, Nathaniel Anthony Ayers, and his mental illness in a series of columns in the Los Angeles Times.

During the film, Downey describes what Lopez experienced when he found friendship in a place he wasn't looking. He says, "A year ago, I met a man who was down on his luck and I thought I might be able to help him. I witnessed his courage, his humility and the power of his art. Being his friend will carry you home."

I'm looking forward to seeing this film. Cheers to Lopez and Ayers for their inspired friendship and for all of those behind the film who are bringing us this story. I hope the film is as moving as the trailer.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Need Versus Greed

I finally got around to seeing Slumdog MIllionaire over the weekend. I thought that it was an outstading and thought-provoking film. But, no else in my group really enjoyed it. When I probed to see how my friends felt about it, they said, "it was too disturbing to see all those people living in the slums of India."

I'm with them on that sentiment. I found the slum scenes to be disturbing as well. But, I focused more on the story of triumph that showed how a "slumdog" can overcome ridiculous obstacles to find love, happiness and a small fortune.

I like those kind of stories and I found that the movie reminded me of how good we all really have it. Yes, the economy is a drag. Yes, unemployment is too high. And yes, we are living in very trying times. But, we all have so much for which to be thankful. When you think of the heart-wrenching poverty that exists in the world, it's embarassing to think that we would even think of complaining.

As the Father of India, Mohandas Gandhi, once said, "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."

The Juno Soundtrack Brings The Hope

I was flipping around the radio yesterday and came across a funky little song that always makes me feel good. You might know it too. Do you remember the closing song in the Academy-Award-winning film, "Juno"? It's the one that Juno (played by Ellen Page) and Bleeker (played by Michael Cera) sing to each other while strumming on their guitars.

"Juno" was all the rage last year and I found a lot of edgy hope in this story written by Diablo Cody. In an interview about the movie, Cody said, "You can look at it as a film that celebrates life and celebrates childbirth, or you can look at it as a film about a liberated young girl who makes a choice to continue being liberated. Or you can look at it as some kind of twisted love story, you know, a meditation on maturity."

I am with Cody on this one. I found "Juno" to be a twisted love story that celebrates life. And I still love the line Juno's Dad (played by J.K. Simmons) delivered when trying to describe love to his teenage daughter. I think we can all take something away from McGuff who said, "Look, in my opinion the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what-have-you. The right person is still going to think the sun shines out of your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with."

Is Hope A Dangerous Thing?

The Academy Awards are roughly 60 hours away. There are lots of nominees, but only a handful will win. Such was the case in 1994 when Shawshank Redemption was nominated for seven Oscars. Do you recall how many awards that movie took home? The answer is, none.

But, one of the best scenes in movie history comes from Shawshank. Here is the set up. Andy Dufresne (played by Tim Robbins) plays a soaringly beautiful song over the prison's public address system. He ends up spending two weeks in solitary for his insubordination. But, he claims it was all worth it because it made him feel human again and brought him hope. Red (played by Morgan Freeman) tells him that, "hope is a dangerous thing."

If you know how the movie ends, you know that Red ultimately changes his mind about hope. I've always enjoyed this scene and I hope you enjoy seeing it too. Have a great weekend.

"Remember, Red. Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies." - Andy Dufresne

And The Oscar Goes To...

The 81st Annual Academy Awards will be held this Sunday at the Kodak Theatre. Hugh Jackman will host the telecast and it will all get started at 8 p.m. ET.

Several talented actors, directors, writers, musicians and more will compete for top honors. And the biggest prize of the night will go to the winner in the best picture category.

This year's nominees for best picture include: 1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; 2) Frost/Nixon; 3) Milk; 4) The Reader, and 5) Slumdog Millionaire.

The winning picture will join an impressive group of previous winners in this category. But for my money, the coolest list to be on is the Top 10 "Truly Moving Pictures" as voted on by a national survey of film critics.

That list, published by the group that puts on the Heartland Film Festival, includes: 1) The Best Years of Our Lives; 2) Chariots of Fire; 3) Glory; 4) Grapes of Wrath; 5) Hoosiers; 6) It's a Wonderful Life; 7) Schindler's List; 8) The Shawshank Redemption; 9) Tender Mercies, and 10) To Kill a Mockingbird. 

Many of these movies feature stories of hope and overcoming great adversity. I like those kinds of stories. Cheers to all the great movie makers for entertaining and enlightening us.

NAACP Top 100 Films of the Century

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People turns 100 today. The organization helped bring the hope during the last century and the group says it will "celebrate its 100th anniversary by shifting its mission from achieving civil rights to attaining human rights for all."

That's cool. And I also like another thing the NAACP is doing this year in partnership with Blockbuster. According to a news release, the two groups are "...teaming up to present NAACP Top 100 Films of the Century: 100 Years, 100 Films (1909-2009). Now through April 27, people can rate films by, for or about people of color that have significantly impacted our culture and society." The top 100 will by announced this June.

Some of my favorites include: The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh, Crash, Radio, Seven Pounds, Roots, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Shawshank Redemption, The Great Debaters, Remember The Titans and more.

"Now, as the NAACP turns 100 this year, we feel there couldn't be a more ideal time to examine and commemorate how people of color have helped to shape and change our nation through film," said Vicangelo Bulluck, executive director of the NAACP Hollywood Bureau.

If you want to help pick the Top 100, go to the online rating site to make your voice heard.

Change of Seasons Brings The Hope

The holidays are now behind us. So, it seems fitting to start an official countdown regarding when our calendars will hit March 20, 2009, and give us the first day of spring. For those of you keeping score at home, we now have 76 days to go.

Like most good Midwesterners, I enjoy living in a region that gets to experience all four seasons. But, I'd be lying if I told you that I didn't wish the cold and dark winter months of January and February away a little faster than most.

Thanks to a great video -- "One Year in 40 Seconds" -- posted last week by Eirik Solheim, we can now imagine what winter would be like if it only lasted about 10 seconds. Cheers to Solheim for bringing the hope.

It's A Wonderful Life

It's that time of year again. So, I spent part of last Saturday night watching Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life. That movie never gets old. And I love the message about bringing the hope to others.

I'm guessing that many of you watched the movie on Saturday night too. But, I'm posting a YouTube video of the ending below just in case you missed it.

Dear George,

Remember no man is a failure who has friends.

Thanks for the wings!

Love,

Clarence