Seeking with Groans

In his article “Seeking with Groans: The moral universe of film noir” Thomas Hibbs explores the cultural and moral implications of the detective movie genre in Books & Culture, March/April 2007, pages 41-43. If you are interested in movies or crime dramas, this is an excellent article to give you a fresh perspective. There is no consensus on a unifying definition of film noir. One of the main features of film noir is its pessimism that is a counter to the optimistic, progressive vision of postwar America that turns the American dream into a nightmare. It also counters the Enlightenment vision of the city as the locus of human bliss, where human autonomy and rational economics combine to satisfy human desire. In film noir, however, the city is dark and foreboding that frustrates the fulfillment of human desire.

Noir films focus on characters who try to live decent, peaceful, domestic lives until some chance event pulls them back into their dark past and the history of violence repeats itself, engulfing the protagonist. Traditional detective fiction provides a clear sense of public justice and offers a clear solution to the struggle between the detective and the criminal. In film noir, however, there is no clear sense of justice and presents a “puzzle of character” and the struggle is between the detective and himself. The city becomes not a place of light and pleasure but the tall buildings block out the light and trap the characters in a labyrinth that frustrates their desires. Film noir offers no clear way out of the trap.

Hibbs sees film noir offering the main character a type of redemption, not in the sense of cheap grace, but offers an “authentically penitential” path of “difficult spiritual growth.” The end of the film tends to combine physical brutality with the lingering possibility of love and fidelity, suggesting that even in a corrupt world, a certain kind of integrity is still possible and that in certain circumstances, defeat can be victory. The protagonist discovers that he must live by some other code than brute force in a world with a loss of clear moral codes. When a character tries to violate the limits of the human condition, it is rarely successful. And redemption, while present, is usually partial, yet personal. Film noir, then, seems to be an attempt to discover the lost moral code while truthfully speaking about eh human condition. While it repudiates old-fashioned American optimism, it doesn’t succumb to nihilism, but, in Pascal’s words, “seeks with groans” looking for redemption.



You can read this article at: http://www.ctlibrary.com/43011

Passage to India

E.M. Forster’s novel, A Passage to India, made into a movie in 1984, tells the story of two women visiting India and the cultural tensions they experience. The movie follows the book closely and does an excellent job of portraying the ethos and the essence of the novel.

The main tension in the story is the clash of the British imperialistic culture and the Indian culture. While most British looked down on the Indians, most Indians despised the British while feigning to be obsequious. Mrs. Moore, the mother of the British magistrate of Chandrapore, and Adela Quested, his fiancée, are enchanted by India and become upset at how the rest of the British treat the Indians. The only other Briton who treats the Indians fairly is Mr. Fielding, a professor at the University. The three become friends of an Indian doctor, a Muslim named Dr. Aziz.

Dr. Aziz meets Mrs. Moore by accident in a Mosque at night and the two become friends, both being deeply impressed by the other. Mrs. Moore introduces Adela to Dr. Aziz and she makes a cultural blunder, accepting an invitation to his home, so Dr. Aziz comes up with an alternative, a picnic at the Marabar Caves. The date is set and provisions are made by Dr. Aziz with the help of his friends.

When the train leaves for the caves, Mr. Fielding is late and misses the train, leaving Dr. Aziz alone with Mrs. Moore and Adela. At the caves, Mrs. Moore becomes claustrophobic and leaves Dr. Aziz alone with Adela. Adela, confused about her relationship with her fiancé commits another cultural blunder by talking about love and marriage with Dr. Aziz. Dr. Aziz becomes uncomfortable and takes a short break away from Adela, who ventures into a cave alone. After becoming uncomfortable, Adela runs down the hill, scraping herself badly and gets a ride back to Chadrapore from the governor’s wife. Everyone back in Chandrapore concludes that Adela has been raped by Dr. Aziz, who is arrested on his return.

Tensions between the British and the Indians escalates during the trial and a riot threatens to break out. Finally, Adela confesses that she was not raped by Dr. Aziz. Dr. Aziz is set free and Adela is shunned by the British. Mrs. Moore had already departed and died on the ship taking her back to England, so Adela is all alone. Fielding helps Adela, alienating him from Dr. Aziz.

Fielding returns to England and writes many letters to Dr. Aziz, none of which he reads. When Fielding returns to India to find Dr. Aziz, he brings his new wife, the daughter of Mrs. Moore. Dr. Aziz is ashamed because he assumed Fielding had married his enemy Adela. The two embrace and the friendship is restored.

Racism is ugly because it dehumanizes the other person. Those who chose to treat all men equally are often ostracized and marginalized. Treating all men with love and justice requires that we see all men as equal and treat them as valuable human beings. While being submerged in a foreign culture it is difficult to completely shed one’s prejudices and just as difficult to be fully accepted by those of the other culture. Racism is usually a two way street and it takes courageous individuals on both sides to break down the walls and stereotypes. Care must be taken not to jump to conclusions about others who are different than you, especially when some injustice, or perceived injustice, has taken place. Patience and careful analysis must prevail over emotions and snap judgments.

This story also illustrates how jumping to conclusions can also destroy relationships and diminish one’s life. It is always better to confront people and find out exactly what their motives were instead of assuming you know, or projecting your own motives on the other person. Much heartache could be avoided if we simply gave the other person the benefit of the doubt and assumed the best, imputing the highest motives for their actions.

Great Expectations

The 1998 movie rendition of Great Expectations, starring Ethan Hawke, Robert De Niro, and Gwyneth Paltrow, succeeds in setting Charles Dickens’ classic novel in modern times, portraying the power of love, acceptance and forgiveness.

The story traces the life of Finn Bell, who falls in love with a rich girl, Estella, and spends his life trying to win her love. His love for Estella inspires him to begin drawing and painting. When Estella walks out of his life without even saying goodbye, Finn puts the pencils and paints away and buries his dreams of becoming an artist, and of marrying Estella.

The movie, and the novel, begins with Finn stumbling upon an escaped convict, Arthur Lustig, whom he supplies with food and bolt cutters to cut his shackles, and then helps him escape from the police. Lustig is later captured and that is the last Finn hears about him.

Finn lives with his sister, Maggie, and her husband, Uncle Joe. Maggie walks out on Joe and Finn, and Joe raises Finn as his own son. While on an errand to the dilapidated mansion of Ms. Nora Dinsmoor, Finn sees Estella for the first time and becomes enchanted with her. When Ms. Dinsmoor invites Finn back, he soon discovers that she is an eccentric lady who hates men. As she continues to invite Finn back to be around Estella, it becomes obvious that her hatred for men, caused by her fiancé not showing up for the wedding, is what is driving her to seek revenge on Finn by causing him to fall in love with a girl he will never be able to possess. Even though she clearly warns Finn of her intentions, he blindly falls in love with Estella, only to have his heart broken.

After giving up painting for nearly ten years, a lawyer approaches Finn with an opportunity to have a private show in New York. He takes the offer and begins to paint. While in New York he meets Estella and begins to pursue her again. She poses for him and his inspiration returns. Finn tries to break up her upcoming wedding but to no avail. As he goes to her home to plead with her he discovers that she is not home but her aunt, Ms. Dinsmoor is there waiting for him. She taunts him and reveals that she was merely using Finn to make Estella’s fiancé jealous so he would finally commit and get married. She laughs at Finn for his naivety, and rejoices in the success of her plot to break Finn’s heart. When Finn breaks down, she becomes remorseful and asks Finn for Forgiveness, which he refuses to do.

As he returns home, Finn helps an old man escape from some mobsters who are trying to kill him. In his apartment the old man reveals himself as the escaped convict, Arthur Lustig. Finn helps him to elude the mobsters but Lustig is finally stabbed on the subway. Just before he dies, he tells Finn that he was the one who sponsored his art show and bought all of his paintings because he wanted to repay Finn for his kindness.

Finn later returns to visit his uncle Joe and learns that Ms. Dinsmoor has died and that her mansion will be leveled. He goes to visit it for one last time and runs into Estella, who is now divorced, and her daughter. Estella apologizes for all the pain she has caused him, and Finn reaffirms his love for her.

In classic Dickens style, pain, misfortune, and abuse are overcome with love, forgiveness and kindness. When we are mistreated we can respond as Ms. Dinsmoor did, seeking revenge and dying lonely and bitter, or we can respond as Finn did, forgiving and loving even the one who has broken your heart. We should also be aware that even our smallest kindnesses can have far-reaching consequences. Forgiveness, love and kindness are always the right and best choices, even when it is towards those who have hurt us or don’t deserve it.

Babel

The movie Babel, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, is an intriguing story about a married couple, Richard and Susan, who are struggling to be reconciled after the Richard abandoned the family and has now returned. In order to encourage his wife’s forgiveness, Richard takes Susan on a vacation of North Africa so they can spend a lot of time together and talk through the issues.

The movie artfully weaves three other stories together to illustrate how one event is caused by another, working together to bring about the final result. First there are the two Moroccan brothers, both in their early teens, who are shepherds taking care of their father’s flock in the hills. Their father buys a rifle for them to kill the jackals before they eat all the sheep. In a bizarre twist, the younger brother, trying to outdo his older brother, ends up shooting Susan, who is riding in a tourist bus passing past the brothers’ village. The boys hide the rifle and run back home, while Richard frantically tries to find a doctor who can save Susan’s life. As the police investigate the incident, the trail leads back to the father. As they flee the police, the older brother is shot to death by the police before the younger brother surrenders and confesses.

Then there is the story of a Mexican nanny taking care of two children, a boy and a girl. Half way through the movie you begin to realize that these are Richard and Susan’s children. The nanny, desiring to go to her son’s wedding but unable to leave since Richard and Susan haven’t returned on time, takes the children to Mexico along with her nephew who drives them there.

The final story is of a deaf Japanese girl who is desperate for love after losing her mother by suicide. Feeling alienated from her father, she seeks the attention of any male she thinks she can seduce. In another bizarre twist, she seduces a young police detective who has come to ask her father a few questions. When she realizes that the police are interested in her father’s missing rifle, she tries to protect him by fabricating a story about her mother’s suicide, saying she jumped from the balcony. Later on we realize that the rifle was given to a Moroccan hunting guide by her father as a thank you present. It was this rifle that was sold the brothers’ father and which nearly killed Susan. The Japanese girl’s father tells the police detective that his wife didn’t jump from the balcony but blew her head off with a gun. It was the girl who was the first to find her mother dead. While the father emphatically claims it was suicide, we are left wondering why he gave the rifle away. Was he overcome with grief and wanted to get rid of the weapon that his wife used to commit suicide, or was he trying to get rid of the evidence that might implicate him in the murder of his wife. In either case, the giving of the rifle to the Moroccan guide was the event that eventually led up to the shooting of Susan.

The movie also shows how the shooting of Susan ultimately causes the deportation of the Mexican nanny. Since Richard and Susan couldn’t come back on time, she took it upon herself to take the children to Mexico for the wedding. On returning to the United States, the border guards realized something wasn’t right, and a chase ensues as the nephew tries to elude the border patrol. Finally, they are found and the nanny is deported for illegally taking the children into Mexico without written authorization from the parents.


This movie artfully shows how one action can affect the lives of many other people. A suicide/murder leads to a gun being illegally purchased. That leads to an accidental shooting which results in the police killing a young boy fleeing from authorities. The shooting leads to the husband and wife being unable to return home on time, leading to the nanny taking the children illegally into Mexico, ultimately ending in her deportation.

Every decision we make affects not only ourselves but others around us, and may cause a chain of events that touches the lives of people we will never meet. The law of unintended consequences is real and must be taken into account when we make decisions. While we can’t know what result our actions may have, we can be sure that when we make wrong choices we will end up hurting someone. There are no victimless crimes and when we choose to do what is wrong or foolish, we will eventually have to answer for the pain and suffering it caused others.

In the end, the whole sequence of events resulted in the reconciliation of Richard and Susan. This reminds us that God works all things together for the good. Even negative circumstances can work good in our lives. So, even though we can’t choose the consequences of our choices, God can still override our ignorance, foolishness, and sinfulness for his glory. The key is to seek forgiveness and reconciliation.

One caveat needs to be made: this move has some explicit sexuality and portrays some negative behavior, so it isn’t for everyone.

Flags of Our Fathers

While I liked the premise of the movie Flags of Our Fathers, I thought it was a little convoluted, taking away from the overall impact of the movie. The movie focuses mainly on John Bradley, a Navy medic and two of his comrades, Marines Rene Gagnon and Ira Hayes, three of the six men in the famous photograph of the lifting of the flag on Iwo Jima. The movie focuses on how the U.S. Government used these men to sell war bonds to fund the war effort, despite the facts that the photo was of the second flag going up and one of the original flag-raisers wasn’t mentioned.

Several themes predominate in the movie, one being that heroes are made by those at home and not by those on the battlefield. The men on the battlefield are too conscious of their own shortcomings and lack of courage, and many felt that they were just doing what anyone else would have done in their place. Most “heroes” feel awkward at being singled out and labeled for special treatment. The movie shows how the image of the heroes was created by the press and the government and then manipulated and used for the war effort. While the movie tended to be cynical and judgmental, it also tried to show how such hero worship is essential in times of war.

Flags of Our Fathers also demonstrates how powerful the media is in shaping our perceptions of war. One photograph changed the mood of the nation and rallied support for the war. In a similar way, though with an opposite effect, one picture of a South Vietnamese officer shooting a prisoner in the head turned American sentiment against the war in Vietnam. Recently, the photos from Abu Ghraib prison turned American sentiment sour on the war in Iraq. In addition, the constant reporting of suicide bombings in Iraq has caused the approval rating for the war in Iraq to plummet. What is happening in the media today is very similar to what happened 35 years ago. Even though we were winning the war in Vietnam, public perception was radically shaped by the media and political leadership, causing many to see the war as hopeless and meaningless. This is happening today as well, as the media and certain political leaders are turning victory into defeat.

Much of what is said in the media is either misleading or incomplete. Americans live on sound bites, making a coherent explanation and understanding of a complex military operation impossible. We don’t have the patience to dig in and find out what is really going on, so we just blindly believe what the news media and politicians tell us. Much of the rhetoric being thrown around today is pathetic and ultimately harmful to the United States. Wars today are lost, not because our military is weak, but because our media and political leaders are morally weak and misguided.

I am not writing this to defend the war in Iraq but merely to point out that the current mood and public discourse is clouded and misguided. My challenge is not to support the war or call for withdrawal but to stop listening only to the media and allowing your perceptions to be shaped by the news and political sound bites.

300

If you are squeamish and don’t like violence, then don’t see the movie “300”. Three fourths of the movie is dedicated to all-out warfare, brutality and gore. And the added sexual content doesn’t make it any easier to watch. Decapitation, severing of arms, legs, hands and other body parts flood the screen in stylized battle scenes shot in stop-action, slow motion and choreographed with dance-like moves. And then there is blood spurting all over with plenty of dead bodies hung up, stuck on posts, made into walls and just lying around.

But beside the gore, there are some good features to 300. First, courage and bravery reign supreme. This movie is about Sparta and the elite fighting force that culture produced. Leonidas, the king of Sparta, illegally takes 300 of his elite personal guard to defend Sparta from the million man Persian army, composed of armies from 100 nations. Brutally bred and trained as professional soldiers, Spartans feared nothing and were willing to sacrifice their lives for their city. Facing overwhelming odds, Leonidas and his 300 warriors don’t flinch but actually look forward to the battle. One Spartan hopes out loud to perhaps find one warrior out the million who would prove to be worthy of his death. Queen Gorgo tells Leonidas, “Come back with your shield or on it.” Wimping out is not an option.

Second, Spartans work as a unit, so that one’s strength is found in one’s companion. Leonidas says, “A Spartan's strength is the warrior next to him.” Spartan military strategy depends on coordinated defense and offense, so victory depends entirely on the whole army working together as a single unit. Leonidas is selfless and willingly puts himself in the thick of the battle to aid his comrades. In contrast, Xerxes, the Persian emperor, watches from a distance and doesn’t take part in the battle but merely sends army after army into battle without regard for their lives.

Third, Spartans believe in freedom and are willing to die for it. “Freedom is never free,” says Queen Gorgo. King Leonidas is ready and willing to lay down his life so that his city might remain free from the tyranny of Xerxes and the Persians. There are many times that Leonidas and his captains remind the rest that they are fighting for freedom. Leonidas refuses to bow to Xerxes, even after Xerxes offers to make him the warlord of all Greece if he would merely bow before him. In the end, Leonidas pretends to bow but only so that he can get a final chance to throw a spear at Xerxes.

While Sparta’s bravery and fighting prowess are impressive, there were some major drawbacks to Spartan culture. First, it was cruel, brutal and uncaring. In order to create brave soldiers many children had to be thrown away at birth because they were unfit (survival of the fittest to the max).

Second, the Spartans were incapable of sharing their feelings. Whenever you work to block out the negative emotions of fear and other weakness, you also make it impossible to feel the positive emotions of love and joy. Leonidas couldn’t even tell his wife, Queen Gorgo, that he loved her when he left for battle, nor could he relay a message of love when he sent his friend back to tell their story. When asked what he wanted to say to his wife, Leonidas replied, “Nothing. She already knows how I feel.” In fact, when Leonidas’ captain sees his son killed in the fighting he handles his grief by filling his heart with hate. Sparta might be cool and macho, but most intelligent men wouldn’t want to live there.

Third, Sparta didn’t develop much of a culture. In contrast, Athens developed one of the richest cultures of the ancient world. Athens’ philosophy, art and writings still influence us today, but very little of Sparta’s culture affects us today. A culture built around war cannot produce much of lasting value.

There are some similarities between king Leonidas and Jesus. Leonidas willingly laid down his life for his brothers. One soldier says, as he lies dying, “It is an honor to die at your side.” Leonidas replies, “It was an honor to live at yours.” Leonidas would rather die with his men than betray them and his city for his own personal gain. Xerxes tempts Leonidas by offering to make him the warlord of all Greece if he would simply bow down to him. The scene echoes Satan’s temptation of Christ in the wilderness, where Satan offered all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus would simply bow down and worship him. The temptation of power and glory at the expense of truth, virtue and obedience to God confronts many men even today. It takes strong character and values to withstand this temptation, especially if the alternative is personal loss, pain or even death. To Leonidas’ credit, he refuses to accept personal gain at the expense of his values.

Amazing Grace

William Wilberforce is powerfully portrayed in the movie Amazing Grace. Wilberforce’s unrelenting attack on the slave trade is one of history’s greatest inspirations. The movie is expertly scripted, skillfully acted and perfectly edited to create a balanced, attention holding, inspiring story that you should see.

The story also touches upon Wilberforce’s Christian faith and the inspiration of his old pastor, John Newton. Newton was a slave ship owner who accepted Christ, gave up the slave trade, and became active in the abolitionist movement in England. After his conversion, he wrote one of the most familiar hymns in history, Amazing Grace. John Newton’s hymn, testimony and encouragement were instrumental in Wilberforce’s struggle to abolish slavery in England.

Wilberforce worked incessantly against slavery, until his health gave out after he was charged with sedition as war with France took center stage. Wilberforce retired to the country a defeated man and vowed never to speak against slavery again. However, he could not remain silent, and at the urging of his new wife and after reading his old pastor John Newton’s memoirs on the horrors of slave trade, Wilberforce returned to parliament and renewed the fight.

The courage, passion, and tenacity of Wilberforce inspired me. It is impossible to see Wilberforce’s dedication without evaluating your own. It also reminded me how important it is to keep on encouraging one another because it is impossible to keep fighting against evil without the support and encouragement of others. We all need someone to help us through the discouragement and failure, especially those who seem to not need it.

I highly recommend this movie. It has not been publicized as much as most other films; nevertheless, it is one of the best movies of the year so far. This is a “must see” movie.

Breach

The movie “Breach” was well made and Chris Cooper put on one of his best performances ever. It is based on the true events of the greatest security breach in American history. Robert Hanssen had been selling vital U.S. secrets to the Soviets and other enemies for nearly 25 years, causing untold damage to our national security and the lives of agents and informants around the world. The story centers around Hanssen’s capture, aided significantly by rookie FBI agent Eric O’Niell. O’Niell has been assigned to Hanssen as an aide in order to spy on him and help catch his boss in the act of passing on secret documents. O’Niell is a rookie with very little field experience and he must outwit the smartest and trickiest spy in U.S. history. The movie was edited superbly in order to maintain the tension even when the ultimate outcome is known.

Several things struck me as I watched this movie. First, it revealed how the public image of a man can be totally opposite of his private image. Hanssen was so good at projecting a righteous, loving and patriotic image, that O’Niell initially was so fooled that he actually admired Hanssen. This is a reminder that all men are fallen and hide behind masks, including ourselves. Integrity is living in such a way so that your public image is the same as your private image. Beware of power, because it often tempts you present an image that is not your true self, especially when your power is threatened.

Second, others will exploit your weaknesses in order to control you. The movie didn’t spell this out, but it is likely that Hanssen was turned by the Soviets not only by money but also because they exploited his sexually deviant behavior. Hanssen videotaped his sexual encounters with his wife and sold them to an internet site without his wife’s knowledge. The Soviets most likely threatened Hanssen with exposure if he didn’t cooperate with him. Men will do almost anything in order to keep their secret lives hidden lest their careers, families and social status be destroyed.

Third, O’Neill realized the price he would have to pay in order to become a successful FBI agent and chose not to pay that price. He saw how his assignment to spy on Hanssen nearly destroyed his marriage and decided that becoming an FBI agent cost too much. He also saw how the price the other agents had to pay to become successful and he realized that he wasn’t willing to give up the things that mattered the most to him. So after being an integral part of capturing the biggest spy in U.S. history, he had the integrity to walk away from fame and success in order to build a strong marriage with the woman he loved.

Forth, the movie clearly portrayed the guilt and shame that Hanssen had to deal with because of the choices he had made. While in public Hanssen put on a religious front that had everyone convinced he was a sincere, devout Catholic. He went to church every morning to pray, attended mass every week, and studied Catholic doctrine. Yet in the end Hanssen is tormented by guilt at confession, revealing the true inner struggle he was going through. The last scene in the movie powerfully shows O’Niell just about to enter the elevator until he sees Hanssen in it with a guard on each side. Hanssen is clearly dejected and beaten, and the movie ends as the elevator doors close as Hanssen asks O’Niell, “Please pray for me.” This is a powerful reminder that we need to pray for each other and to build strong, transparent relationships in order to help people escape their prison of guilt and find freedom from sin before it is too late.

Hades Factor

I enjoy Robert Ludlum’s books as much, if not more, than Tom Clancy’s books. Tom Clancy focuses more on the analysis of intelligence while Ludlum focuses on the gathering of intelligence. Ludlum likes to add a lot of twists and turns to his stories, so you are guessing all the way to the end who is behind the plot and which agent, or agents, are double crossing the hero. In The Hades Factor, Ludlum is true to form and weaves a story that hardly ever slows down to let you take a breath. And all the while reading the book you are keenly aware that there are terrorists right now trying to do exactly what he is describing.

I read the book last year but watched the movie last week. It was a made for TV movie that was three hours long, giving it plenty of time to add a lot of detail from the book. The movie was well made, but the last five to ten minutes just fell apart. I think they wanted to end with a big action sequence but the end was unbelievable and unrealistic. For most of the movie the script was realistic and plausible, but the end left Ludlum’s realism behind, ruining the ending.

The story is about Lt. Colonel Jon Smith, a U.S. Army doctor at USAMRID, specializing in contagious diseases. In the past he has also worked for Covert One, a highly secretive intelligence agency that answers directly to the president and has no official existence. Smith has left the agency but finds himself being drug back in when he starts following the trail of a highly contagious and lethal virus released by terrorists. The terrorists are planning a multi-pronged attack on U.S. targets, including Dulles International Airport and the Hubert H. Humphrey building.

The bio-weapon is a virus that was developed by the U.S. military and was stolen and sold to terrorists. The terrorists have infected their own men in order to transport the virus undetected into the U.S. where they collect the blood samples and make timed aerosol spray “bombs”. The events that play out in the movie and book could easily become tomorrow’s headlines. Early in the movie at a conference on infectious diseases, Smith answers a question about the possibility of terrorists using biological weapons with a chilling reply that there is no way that we can prevent such attacks from occurring. A biological attack of this sort could be far more devastating and widespread than the 9/11 attacks, with tens of thousands killed. It is imperative that our intelligence, military and police agencies work together to minimize the possibility of such attacks.

The Illusionist

The Illusionist was a well made, well performed movie with a stirring ending. It was a romantic story, with a near epic struggle between a man of ignoble birth, Eisenheim, and the crown prince, Leopold, for the love of a duchess, Sophie. Eisenheim’s strong love for Sophie drive him to use his magic in some very creative ways to fool the crown prince and escape with his life-long love. The magic he performs seems almost impossible given the historical setting, but a man with extreme ingenuity possibly could have pulled it off. The death scene reminded me more of a modern Hollywood style trick than a possible maneuver by a nineteenth century magician. The gullibility of people was much greater since they had not been exposed to so much modern special effects as we have.

In the end, the hero wins the maiden and the evil villain is thwarted, ruined and commits suicide. The death of the crown prince is portrayed in such a positive light, I found myself unconsciously applauding his demise. But after some reflection, I had to ask myself a few questions. Did Eisenheim know that the crown prince would commit suicide? Probably not. Is Eisenheim in some way responsible for his death? Probably. As a Christian, can I agree that his actions were noble and righteous? No. Would it be ethical for me to do a similar thing? No. While the crown prince was evil and threatened the happiness of both Sophie and Eisenheim, resorting to fraud and deception that ends in suicide is questionable at best.

So, I was reminded that I must be careful whenever watching a movie to evaluate my responses to the story and not just let the producer sway my thinking and feeling unchallenged. This is especially important for movies since film is such a emotional medium that has incredible power to influence our thinking. It is often not the rational arguments of teachers and preachers that shape our worldview and mindset but the popular culture, through music and videos. It is imperative that we challenge the messages we are receiving from our culture and subject them to scrutiny by the Word of God.

Gridiron Gang

I enjoyed the movie Gridiron Gang, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I thought the production was second-rate but the story was inspiring. The acting wasn’t topnotch, since most of the actors were unknowns. While I have a lot of respect for the Rock and enjoy his movies, I must admit that he is not a great actor. The movie lacked the emotional punch of other similar movies, such as Remember the Titans, where racial tensions had to be surmounted in much the same way that gang rivalries had to be transcended in Gridiron Gang. Much more could have been done with this movie to make it a top-notch production that would have more effectively promoted its inspiring message.

I was inspired by the story mainly because it was based on true events. I admire the compassion and tenacity of Sean Porter, the main character, who sacrifices and innovates to help gang members in juvenile prison develop the character and attitudes necessary to escape the dead end lifestyle of the inner city gangs.

To be honest, I was moved emotionally more by the clips at the end showing the real life people portrayed in the movie. Their comments were more powerful than the movie was. It would have been better to have watched 15 minutes of these clips than watching the movie. The real Sean Porter was much more dynamic than The Rock was able to portray him. And the young men were able to communicate the transformation that had taken place in their lives because of Sean’s tough love.

I hope that more people realize that the present system isn’t working and use this model as inspiration for creating more effective alternatives to our juvenile justice system. It would also be valuable for anyone who works with youth to inspire them to come up with more effective methods of instilling values and character.

Children of Men

P.D. James’ novel plays well as a movie. Even though it is a British production, I thought it was a good movie. It is bleak, intense at times, and does an excellent job of portraying the hopelessness, despair and anger of a doomed earth. I was drawn into the gloom and despair, making the movie work for me.

I enjoyed the movie mainly for its philosophical message. The movie basically portrays how humans would respond if all hope was lost and the end of mankind was imminent. For some unknown reason, all women have become infertile and there hasn’t been a single birth on the whole planet for eighteen years. The end of the human race is inevitable and despair sets in.

P.D. James effectively portrays man’s response to hopelessness and inevitable doom. Most humans give in to despair while a few hold on to hope. Those few find hope in Christianity, calling for repentance. Most, however, reject religion and give in to hopelessness. Some choose to peacefully end their lives by committing suicide through a government program of self-poisoning. Others isolate themselves and find refuge in drugs and music. Many, however, are filled with rage and commit violent acts towards civilians or the government.

I feel the movie accurately portrayed the chaos, despair and violence that would run rampant if something like this really did happen. In fact, these responses are seen in societies where hopelessness reigns, such as in the inner city, war-ravaged regions and poverty-stricken areas. Without hope, there is very little reason to live; and if one does live, there is very little reason to live civilly.

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl chronicles how Jews interred in Nazi concentration camps dealt with hopelessness and despair. Man cannot live a meaningful and prosperous life without hope. Take away hope, and man degenerates into violence, destruction and despair. This is why the Gospel is so powerful, because it gives man true hope, filling life with meaning and purpose. The Children of Men paints an accurate picture of what life is like without hope.

When a young girl is found pregnant, hope is injected into the story. The birth of the child brings new hope to mankind. It is hard to miss the analogy to Jesus, who brought new hope to the world when he was born. Christ is our only true hope, and when man discovers him and believes in him, life is transformed and infused with new power. Despair and destruction are replaced with hope and creativity as the new man is sent out into the world to be a redeeming influence in a hopeless world.

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith and his son put on an excellent performance dramatizing the life of Chris Gardner who fought against all odds to become a broker. After failing as a salesman, Chris seeks the position of an apprentice in a brokerage firm, fighting disappointment after disappointment just to make it into the non-salaried position with the hope of being the one selected to become a stock broker. Not only does Chris have his wife walk out on him, he gets evicted from his apartment and has to live on the street with his five-year-old son. Struggling to provide for himself and his son while competing for the brokerage position, Chris has to constantly find the courage and the will to go on each day as life beats him down.

After watching this movie, all of my problems seemed to be very insignificant, leaving me with no excuse for giving up. Everyone should watch this movie and pray that God would endow them with the same courage and perseverance that Chris Gardner exhibited. Without these qualities you will not be able to accomplish anything of value in your life. Knowing that this was a true story made the message all the more powerful: don’t give up no matter what life throws at you; do whatever you have to in order to fulfill your life’s purpose.

The Good Shepherd

Don't let the title fool you; it has nothing to do with Psalm 23 or John 10. The movie is about the beginning of the CIA and the leaks that plagued it, culminating in the Bay of Pigs fiasco. The story revolves around Edward Wilson's search for the source of the leak that resulted in one of the biggest failures of U.S. intelligence. I am not recommending you to see this movie by commenting on it (there are some intense scenes and sexual situations).

What intrigued me about this movie is its excellent portrayal of the twisted world of intelligence. The main characters struggle with loneliness and isolation because they cannot trust anyone. People are being turned by the enemy and even the most private areas of their lives are being used to manipulate and thwart them. Without trust, there can be no intimacy. This is the main theme of the movie and the script hammers it home effectively.

As a young boy, Edward's father tells him to never tell a lie, because if he does, then no one will ever trust him and he will lose all of his friends. As Edward leaves the room, his father commits suicide because he had been caught lying in his government position. Edward never forgot the moment when he found his father dead on the floor, and as a result, his final words haunt Edward the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, always telling the truth and being a spy don't go well together. Struggling to maintain his integrity in the midst of the twisted world of espionage becomes the main conflict in the movie. Edward's commitment to integrity impressed me and I truly felt his inner turmoil as he had to make one of the most difficult decisions: remain loyal to his country or to save his son. This movie pulls no punches, and the incredible price Edward has to pay to maintain his integrity is graphically portrayed.

The theme of the movie is very applicable to our daily lives, even though we are not spies. We also struggle with maintaining our integrity in a twisted world, whether at work or school or home. Often the price is just as high, and the temptation to lie and be disloyal is real and great. But God calls us to live lives of integrity in the midst of this wicked and crooked generation, so that we might be as stars in the night sky. Jesus never said it would be easy to follow him; in fact, he often warned his would-be followers of the price they would have to pay if they chose to follow him. The stakes are just as high today. Count the cost and determine to remain loyal before you are tempted to turn aside from the truth.

Much of the loneliness we face is the result of a lack of integrity. We cannot develop intimacy without trust. Unfortunately, many poeple today do not maintain their integrity, therefore they are not able to develop intimacy. Without integrity, we are like isolated islands in a vast ocean unable to make contact with each other on the deepest levels. So, listen to the advice of Edward's father and never tell a lie.

Beaten down by the world

Don't laugh, but I just saw Rocky Balboa. I laughed when I saw the trailer and expected the movie to be corny. As far as movies, go, it wasn't excellent, nor was it bad. I enjoyed it because of the motivational factor more than the asthetic factor. There were several inspiring moments in the movie that I appreciated and I thought were well done.

At one point Rocky is speaking with his son who has just complained that his life has been made difficult by Rocky being his father. Rocky turns to his son and basically tells him that winners don't blame other things or people for their failures. Winners take responsibility for their current situation and work to improve it.

Rocky then makes a powerful analogy (I can't quote him exactly): "Life is cruel and will keep on beating you down. What really matters is not how hard you can hit back but how hard you can get hit and still get back up."

I hear echoes of the apostle Paul in these words in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12:
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.”

Paul adds in Romans 8:35-37:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."

Paul suffered incredible afflictions, persecutions and setbacks yet he never gave up. After each blow he got back up and kept on serving God. Life is cruel, people are cruel, situations are unfair, but that does not have to stop us from serving God and doing what is right.

So, life will beat you down. Expect it. But when you are down, look up to Christ and you will find the strength to get back up. You can be victorious over any circumstance you find yourself in. Christ lives in you so you do not have to be a victim but He will empower you to be a victor. Get back up and go toe-to-toe with the world confident that Christ will enable you to stand firm to the end.