Two East German families make a daring escape to the West via a homemade hot-air balloon. Based on a true story. [ Balloon credits: Dir: Michael Herbig/ Friedrich Mücke, Karoline Schuch, David Kross/ 125 min/ Action-Adventure, Drama, Family, Foreign, Thriller/ Escape From Socialism/ Germany/ 2020] Now available on Amazon streaming. External Reviews "Balloon revels in … [Read more...]
Lord Jeff | Film Review
An orphan boy is saved from a criminal gang and reformed by a private charity. [ Lord Jeff credits: Dir: Sam Wood/ Freddie Bartholomew, Mickey Rooney, Charles Coburn/ 85 min/ Family, Drama/ Voluntarism/ 1938] No trailer available. Lord Jeff is a delightful, uplifting classic film that also highlights one of the greatest private charities of all time: the “National … [Read more...]
Billy Elliot (2000)
A young boy overcomes the cynicism and macho character of his working-class surroundings to become a great ballet dancer. [ Billy Elliot credits: Dir: Stephen Daldry/ Jamie Bell, Gary Lewis, Julie Walters/ 110min/ Musical-Dance, Drama/ Britain/ Individualism] There is something so universally appealing in the story of a talented dreamer overcoming the odds, that even if … [Read more...]
October Sky (1999)
Four high-school students overcome the odds to build a series of working rockets and win first prize at the National Science Fair. Based on a true story. [ October Sky credits: Dir: Joe Johnston/ Jake Gyllenhaal, Chris Cooper, Laura Dern/ 108 min/ Drama/ Creator as Hero] The Soviet launch of Sputnik in 1957 set off the space race. It also captured the imagination of … [Read more...]
The Winslow Boy (1999)
When a young cadet is accused of theft and expelled from a government Naval Academy, one of England’s great barristers fights for his right to a fair trial. Based on a true story. [ The Winslow Boy credits: Dir: David Mamet/ Nigel Hawthorne, Jeremy Northam, Rebecca Pidgeon/ 104 min/ Drama/ Law & Liberty] This film has much in common with the 1948 cinematic version of … [Read more...]
Antz (1998)
An individualist ant saves his colony. [ Antz credits: Dir: Eric Darnell, Tim Johnson/ (voices of) Woody Allen, Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman/ 87 min/ Animated, Action-Adventure/ Individualism] Ants are collectivist by nature. Throughout their lives, they work and die for the colony, mindlessly sacrificing themselves for the greater good. However, the protagonist ant at the … [Read more...]
Yertle the Turtle (1992)
Desire for greater power drives Yertle the Turtle, "king of the pond," to elevate himself on a tower made of his turtle subjects. Based on the Dr. Seuss story. [Dir: Ray Messecar/ Narrator: John Lithgow/ 8 min/ Power corrupts] Long before Theodor Seuss Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, wrote childrens' stories, he was a political cartoonist. His early cartoons mocking fascism … [Read more...]
After the Promise (1987)
A naive Depression-era widower who applies for welfare is robbed of his family by state child protection bureaucrats. Story inspired by actual events. [ After the Promise credits: Dir: David Greene/ Mark Harmon, Diana Scarwid, Rosemary Dunsmore/ 93 min/ Drama/ Abuse of Power, Incompetent Government] “We are here to help. Our only concern is with the children’s … [Read more...]
The Girl Who Spelled Freedom (1986)
A young girl escapes the killing fields of Cambodia, immigrates to America, and four years later becomes the U.S. national spelling bee champion. Based on a true story. [ The Girl Who Spelled Freedom credits: Dir: Simon Wincer/ Wayne Rogers, Mary Kay Place, Jade Chinn/ 90 min/ Family, Drama, Biography/ Pro-Immigration, Voluntarism, Escape from Socialism, Democide] No trailer … [Read more...]
Tank (1984)
An Army sergeant uses his own Sherman tank to rescue his son from a corrupt local sheriff and make a run for the state border. [ Tank credits: Dir: Marvin J. Chomsky/ James Garner, G.D. Spradlin, C. Thomas Howell/ 113 min/ Action-Adventure/ Corrupt Government, Second Amendment] Tank is an upbeat story of one man and his weapon resisting state injustice. Certainly no … [Read more...]