ellyt Reviews

Mozart and the Whale (2005)

Mozart and the Whale is Excellent

[10/10 · 17 December 2006]

We waited in anticipation for the release of Mozart and the Whale for 2 years. We kept writing the company and asking when it would be released. We met Jerry Newport at ASA 2 years ago (my son, Josh, aged 11 has Asperger's Syndrome) and wanted so much to see the story of him and Mary. As an aside, I wish you could have heard the conversation between Jerry and Michael John Carley on the various Beethoven movements...it was the most amazing impromptu music theory talk I have ever heard.

At any rate, Mozart and the Whale was in limited release and so we waited for the DVD to be out. Finally it is!! And we watched it last night. We were not disappointed. It was wonderful. There was so much truth in it. We saw the range of autism in the group that Donald formed. Then there was the quirkiness of the various people. But it showed the love and caring that can form among any person, no matter what the diagnosis. We loved Izzy's laugh...that HA! We know kids with Asperger's who can't modulate their sounds and sound way loud in their approach to life.

I also loved the sequences about his living style. This is so much like my son....the stacks of stuff...the collections....the freaking out when his stuff is moved around....this is all real folks. And it is portrayed with a sensitivity and humor that can't help but to make you smile and/or laugh....not at Donald and Izzy, but with the cherishing of the moments that parents feel when they experience the familiarity of the moments.

But to me, the big question was what would Josh (my son) think of how Asperger's was depicted. Now, remember, he met Jerry and really thinks he is COOL. Josh said "see mom, that means that I can meet someone and get married too, so don't worry anymore". This movie gives me hope that a life of independence and companionship is possible for Josh.

Yes, we adore Jerry Newport. He knows a lot...he shares some of it with us in this film. Do yourself a favor...get this DVD and let's hope that Sundance will show the world that Mozart and the Whale is a film that needs to be shown.

Akeelah and the Bee (2006)

Akeelah excellent on lots of levels

[10/10 · 9 May 2006]

This is an excellent movie that works on many levels ...for all ages. It is about excellence, about feeling different, about being supported, about earning support and mentorship, about loyalties, about working hard towards a goal, about loss, about gain, about competition, about selflessness, about love, about growth, about tolerance, oh yes, and also, as an aside, about spelling :>}

Akeelah is an adorable little girl, bright, but not obnoxious. She wants to be in the National Spelling Bee after seeing it on TV. It is obvious that she has an uphill climb to get there. She is a girl from a poor part of Los Angeles and must find the resources to achieve her goal.

Through the belief of her teacher, principal, coach, friends, neighbors, and family, she has a chance to make it.

Akeelah and the Bee is one of the best movies I have seen.

Men of Honor (2000)

Excellent Portrayal of a Real Life Hero

[10/10 · 27 June 2005]

I had never heard of Carl Brashear, but the movie was so well-done with fine acting from DeNiro and Gooding. I have watched the movie 3 times in the last 3 days and would sit down and watch it again. I am not an avid movie goer, but this movie made me love (and hate) watching the real life events of Carl Brashear. The women who played Billy's wife and Carl's wife were both beautiful and incredibly talented. Real life characters of Mr. Pappy and Banks were well acted and I will be looking them up as a result of watching this true story. This movie is an essential one for those interested in an historical perspective of African Americans in the 50's and 60's. I lived through that time as a suburban middle class student. I would be ashamed to have been part of the people who would have people such as Mr. Brashear treated as they were. Carl Brashear is and always will be my hero.