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channahsorah
Reviews
Till (2022)
WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ANY OF US, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAD BETTER BE THE BUSINESS OF US ALL.
"TILL" was powerfully and extraordinarily done in terms of actors, accuracy, and such. The movie captures reasonably accurately and precisely what occurred, and does an honorable job of capturing and conveyed this horrific episode in history. What happened to Emmitt Till in 1955 in Mississippi has haunted me for years and years... It was and is very important to make this very well known to persons across the country and the world, including in the form of this greatly-done movie. (There were a couple of detailed things I had not known, such as the touching fact that Emmett gave his Mom his wrist-watch before getting on the train.)
As careful research of facts has revealed, the initial horror is then added to by that cashier-female person's total manufacturing of lies about what Emmitt really did and said in the store. What we do know is that he 'whistled' at her outside the store. Maybe while alive that shop-girl person will publicly tell the truth about what Did and what Did Not happen. She owes that to the family, the nation, and the world at large.
And then the so-called "jury" renders a not-guilty verdict. Horror is added to horrors again and again over time as the murderers openly admit their crimes AND GET PAID FOR DOING SO!
Some of the other offenses are left out in interest of time and pacing, such as how, after Emmitt's brutal torture and murder, Emmitt's Dad's military record was grossly misrepresented by the southern Caucasian crowd in order to undermine what was done to Emmitt Till.
The way African Americans were (to some extent still are?) referred to and regarded in "Mississippi," and how such courageous and gracious people are referred to with name-calling and such was and is stingingly horrific. -- in 1955 it was, and still is done by small tiny-minded persons who were bred, fed, and indoctrinator in these prejudiced ways and mind-sets. (This poisonous 'treatment of' and name-calling of Black fellow human beings is part of the reason for 9 stars instead of 10, even though it was historically accurate -- I just couldn't stand it or abide it.)
One of the most profound and powerful statements in the whole film was the quote of what Emmitt Till's Mom so aptly said: "WHATEVER HAPPENS TO ANY OF US, ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, HAD BETTER BE THE BUSINESS OF US ALL." - Emmett Till's Mother, Mamie - her revelation after the incident and trial.
Lucy and Desi (2022)
A Meaningful, Beautiful, Intriguing Film and Tribute
Well I almost did not watch this - for the "I Love Lucy" portion of Desi and Lucy's lives we sometimes (maybe sort of 'often') watched those as re-runs as kids. ... (For me, since slapstick was never my jam even as a child, other things were more compelling; however, my sister and i sometimes/usually watched it when it came on.) ... As it is, I am grateful to have watched this documentary and that Amy P. Directed and 'curated' this beautifully-done documentary. ... It shows a huge range and many sides of the lives of Desi and Lucy starting from before they even met through their deaths, and after their deaths... Yet it is not dry and "academic." ... Rather, it is compelling and even though it was late at night I watched it all the way through. ... The film is comprehensive, touching, and soulful. ... Plus it delves into the various hard-times and difficulties the couple had later in their family-life. ... The interviews add a lot to it and every aspect of footage is quintessentially perfectly placed and timed. ... I am aware of the amount of WORK and TIME this took to do! ... And personally, I learned a *lot* of things about their lives that I never knew--things that are worth knowing. ... Also, in a short digression, I will mention that it reminds me of our parentals, who became good friends with much mutual reverence and grace after their divorce--they'd exchange books to read and such--as dear old friends. (And they were thespians when they met actually! -- did not think of that similarity until just this moment...) .... // Back to our regularly scheduled "Lucy and Desi" review, I totally, fully endorse and recommend it for everyone to watch. ... As others have mentioned, the ending tribute is extremely fitting, poignant, and touching. ... "Desi and Lucy" really is a gem.
// --A Child of Lanny and Vee.
Miss Virginia (2019)
BEAUTIFULLY DONE - Based on Virginia Walden, the real person
Wow. "Kids Come First!" ... Ashay and Amen.
Until today I did not know about Virginia Walden and the work for kids' EDUCATION that she has led, coordinated, and facilitated. ... Am *thankful* to have somehow come across this movie, "Miss Virginia." ... This extraordinary person began a huge uphill battle overcoming massive barriers for K - 12 education for resource-poor families in DC. She is still working for quality education for school kids in concrete and measurable ways, such as scholarships to proper, high-quality schools.
The movie has Class-A top-notch Actors, so spectacular that you cannot "see" the acting, i.e., it's not "fake" or "pretend." It is Heartfelt and Real. Watching it we can tell it was truly a Labor of Love. ... This includes the high caliber of the little kids, teens, and all the adults. ... Please see this film. -- You will Love it.
Love & the Constitution (2022)
Excellent and Insightful
"Love and the Constitution" is insightful, touching, poignant, inspiring, intriguing, and heartbreaking (the heart-wrenching segments will be obvious)...
In addition to being an "on the ground kinda days in the life of Congressman Jamie Raskin," this is a comprehensive, and detailed look behind-the-scenes of the life of and lives of legislator(s). // It includes weighty and Mission-Critical legislative matters as well as very personal ones... And it lets you in and through the doors of challenges, struggles, barriers, and also triumphs of Representative Raskin and others as well. //
...Yet this is not a 'dry' documentary; it is engaging as well as informative, and includes cute, humorous, and truly fascinating moments, including doggies in the picture! ...
I highly recommend investing in seeing this - it reveals a lot about Jamie and his many colleagues over a recent span of time, and it is engaging to watch and listen to. (Really apt and splendid title too.)
The Capote Tapes (2019)
Capote: his own glorious, brilliant, and tragic character
This was a good idea to conduct the interviews both on audio tape and video and then turn it into a movie (documentary). Relevant photos, clippings, and such are displayed during the audio recordings. The interviews really do add to the depth and breadth of perceptions of the person of Truman Capote. Interviews include Dick Cavett, Lauren Bacall, and many others; in fact several segments of Cavett's and Johnny Carson's interviews of Truman are shown. ... Intriguing. ... The film is well done and excellently curated.
// As is well-known, near the end of his life (and of the film) Truman basically undermines himself and then gradually self-destructs. (As an aside, from having seen the 'authentic' and well-done film of Truman's life, "Capote," this documentary, "The Capote Tapes" confirms that the movie (with Philip Seymour Hoffman as Truman), "Capote," is highly on-point and accurate.)
You learn about aspects and significant persons in Truman's life that you might not have known about at all. Also, seeing this much more fully explained the early end to Truman Capote's life. // A few stars missing from the stars-rating since it perhaps could have been a two- or three-part limited series to be even more comprehensive and in-depth.