Something the Lord Made
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Movie Reviews of Something the Lord Made
Movie Review: Thoughts of a x-Blue Baby.
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this movie for two reasons. The first because, I myself had a right sided Blalock-Taussig shunt operation performed on me back in July of 1972, when I was about 16 months old. This allowed me the strength and oxygen needed to stick around until Nov. of 1976, when a complete repair of my tetralogy of Fallot complex was carried out.
Seeing the history and background of this operation hit me, as you may imagine, on a very personal and emotional level. It's also a little humbling to know that, basically, ALL open-heart surgery performed today, saving so many lives, is related to the surgery designed fix the condition; I came into this world with. Thereby, breaking the convention of not messing with the heart.
Thing is, I had thought this movie had a great impact on my emotions, which it did. But, that was nothing compared to watching this movie with my mother. Whenever the focus was on blue babies in particular, she about fell apart. While she was interested in the truths and history portrayed in this film, she was unable to complete watching the film. The names, the symptoms and the babies, just rang to true and real for her to handle.
So, I guess I would caution parents of a child that has had to go through this that, you may want to think twice about watching this movie. I would however, recommend that if said child is old enough to understand, you should buy them a copy of this movie. I think I will help them understand what a wonderful gift they have been given.
The second reason is because, of the historical value of this film. They way people treated each other then was just so... While better today, I still think there is a ways to go. I think watching this, can show the current generations were we have come from, and hopefully, help them understand there is still a ways to go. A little ambitious maybe, but then again, I should not be around today, to be typing these words either.
Finally, I would like to thank Mos Def and Alan Rickman for there stunning performances in this film. Awesome, just awesome.
Movie Review: A Look at Two Men
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is a perfect illustration of what Shelby Steele describes as the two responses black people made to white oppression. One, the bargainer, works within the white-dominated system, attempting to succeed by playing within the rules. The other is the challenger, who demands that the rules be changed.
For most of his life, Vivian Thomas was a bargainer. He didn't even attempt to change the `girl's name' his mother gave him, so making a frontal assault on white discrimination in the Old South wasn't a part of his mission in life. His interest was medicine and in the field of surgery he was a genius, able to envision solutions to the complexities of heart surgery at a time when the heart was considered off-limits to surgeons.
That natural talent provided the basis for his relationship with Dr. Alfred Blalock, an ambitious physician who wants to do what no surgeon has done before. The latter soon discovers that his success depends on the natural talents of Vivian, and their relationship is at the heart of this film, both the stormy clash of wills that is inevitable between two talented men and the warm respect each has for the other's ability.
Watch this film at least twice, once with the film's dialogue and once with the commentary on. The commentary will give you the `back story' to Vivian's life, including a brother who was a challenger rather than a bargainer, taking on the fact black school teachers were payed less than their white counterparts. It will also leave you impressed with the amount of HBO-funded research that went into this film.
Those who'd like to understand the bargainer/challenger distinction better might want to read two books by Shelby Steele:
The Content of Our Character: A New Vision of Race In America
A Bound Man: Why We Are Excited About Obama and Why He Can't Win
Movie Review: A Look At African American History And Medical History
Summary: 5 Stars
People like Adrianne of "America's Next Top Model" want to do away with Black History Month and anything centering around honoring Black people regardless of all of the holidays, streets, buildings, and stamps that honor those of other cultures. However, what she does not seem to realize is that without months like these, it is much harder for the African American community to be able to learn about the lesser known heroes in African American culture in an educational environment. I went almost 25 years without knowing Vivien Thomas' name, and it took a trip to a Jena 6 rally in simple conversation to even hear about this film. I'm disappointed that Hollywood would not take this movie to major theaters for others to find out, specifically potential African American surgeons who are students now. The fact that this movie could not reach broader audiences by being a major film is disappointing, but I applaud HBO for embracing it enough to let the movie be seen on their station.
This movie is about a young, aspiring African American male, Vivien Thomas, who would like to become a heart surgeon and practice medicine some day. Because a bank is closed, for whatever reason, he was never able to get the money he'd saved for over a decade to go to medical school. Taking a maintenance position with a well-known White doctor, Alfred Blalock, the two team up to become very successful at the first heart surgery for "blue babies" in the middle of Jim Crow law days. Movies like this are essential in African American culture, and I was very impressed by how the movie was written, produced, directed, and acted. I loved Mos Def's role because I love him as an artist but moreso because I think he has turned out to be a phenomenal actor. I hope the Board of Education takes movies like this into consideration during February and any other month of the year so maybe Adrianne can get her wish to celebrate American history and African Americans can get their wish to see more of themselves in history books and onscreen in positive roles.
Movie Review: Fascinating, Inspiring & Humbling
Summary: 5 Stars
Based on the true story of Dr. Alfred Blalock, a surgeon from Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his assistant Vivien Thomas. (Alan Rickman & Mos Def.) Surounded by prejudice, discrimination & racism; the two men learned to respect, and to ultimately benefit from their differences for the good of all. They developed the heart surgery shunt technique to prolong life for 'blue babies.' Although that's what the plot is about, it's not what the story is...
I shouldn't have liked this - not a fan of HBO 'original' movies, nor rap stars turned actors. Great movies are made by studios or independents, not networks. Great actors come from the world of acting; not singing, photography or sports. But the description sounded interesting, so I gave it a chance... WOW.
Excellent story, very fine acting, authentic looking cinematography, compelling and well-developed screenplay; and a real zing for your heartstrings. The particular subject matter is interesting enough, but the real story is the human relationships, both within/among the characters & American society. As we travailed through the growing pains of integration and striving for equality whether by race, gender or social class distinction; the story of how we coped and progressed has seldom been depicted with such artistic clarity.
Also, a real Believe In Yourself, Do What You Love, Don't Give Up kind of story. Not a perfect film, might seem a bit slow-paced at times for some, but very engrossing. Along with the lead actors who portrayed their characters wonderfully, Kyra Sedgwick also turned in another fine appearance. Watching it unfold it was easy to become involved, by the end I was very pleasantly surprised to be reminded that the brilliant young leading man was Mos Def. I certainly didn't expect such a performance, but gladly admit he's most definitely a fine actor. Glad to see it'll be available on DVD, definitely a MUST-SEE.
Movie Review: Garnered a well-deserved 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie
Summary: 5 Stars
We don't get HBO and, in general, don't watch a lot of television. So, the excellence of this production (it took home the 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie) may have passed us by were it not for the fact that we make it rule to see everything Alan Rickman does. You never know when you might miss Rickman's droll underplaying winning the day in delightful surprises like Blow Dry or Bottle Shock.
Now, we can add 'Something the Lord Made' to that category of delights. This stirring film captures the unlikely, real life partnership between Alfred Blalock (Rickman) and Vivien Thomas (Mos Def). The two - and the movie's point is that it was The Two, not just Blalock - invented the entire discipline of cardiovascular surgery. [In one of the film's sly and informed moments, Blalock addresses a student - 'Dr. Cooley.' This would be Dr. Denton Cooley, a pioneer in the field himself, but depicted here as learning at the feet of Blalock...and Thomas.]
I love the moment at the end of film in which hung portraits of Blalock and Thomas (renderings of 'retired' Rickman and Mos Def done for the movie) give way to the real-life portraits of the two men which hang in the halls of Johns Hopkins. It's then you realize that this is one movie where the events weren't overplayed. This is a true tale of triumph and friendship.
This film is yet another quality effort from HBO Films. The just-released 'Taking Chance' (featuring Kevin Bacon as Lt. Col. Michael Strobl) maintains those high standards. Maria Full of Grace is another personal favorite.