101 Dalmatians: Behind the Scenes

Posted on February 9, 2015 at 8:00 am

The Pick of the Week is a Disney animation classic: 101 Dalmatians, which has a gorgeous new Diamond edition. For some behind-the scenes info about the film, check this out.

Movies for Black History Month 2015

Posted on February 4, 2015 at 3:27 pm

Every family should observe Black History Month and movies like these are a good way to begin discussions and further study. Start with “Selma,” the brilliant film now in theaters, about Dr. Martin Luther King and the march for voting rights. Scholastic has some wonderful DVDs for the whole family.

1. Glory The true story of the US Civil War’s first all-black volunteer company, fighting prejudices of their own Union army and battling the Confederates, with brilliant performances by Denzel Washington (who won an Oscar), Morgan Freeman, and Matthew Broderick as the white officer who truly believed all men were equal.

2. Something the Lord Made The obstacles to education and professional advancement kept Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) from medical school, but he was a pioneer in heart surgery.

3. Roots Writer Alex Haley told the story of his own family going back to the capture of one of his ancestors from Africa to be sold into slavery in this historic miniseries.

4. Amistad A slave rebellion led to an historic Supreme Court case that addressed fundamental notions of personhood and inalienable rights.

5. With All Deliberate Speed This documentary about the Brown v. Board of Education case that transformed American schools and culture has interviews with lawyer Thurgood Marshall (who later became the first black Supreme Court justice) and others involved in the case.

6. Malcolm X Denzel Washington is mesmerizing in this story of the incendiary leader and his journey from complacency to activism to understanding.

7. Eyes on the Prize This PBS documentary covers the Civil Rights movement from the murder of Emmett Till to the march in Selma. There is also an excellent sequel.

8. The Rosa Parks Story Angela Bassett stars as the Civil Rights activist whose refusal to give up her seat on the bus electrified the nation.

9. The Loving Story The name of this history-making couple was really Loving. Their inter-racial marriage led the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn the laws against miscegenation in 1967. When the lawyers asked Mr. Loving what he wanted them to tell the Court, he said, “Tell them I love my wife.”

10. A Great Day in Harlem This documentary tells the story of photographer Art Kane’s 1958 iconic photograph of all of the great jazz musicians of the era.

And more: Nine from Little Rock: Pioneers of Desegregtion, Hoop Dreams, 42, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, and Wilma

List: Movie Snowmen

Posted on January 4, 2015 at 3:37 pm

The movies have included some memorable snowmen. Here are some of my favorites.

The Snowman This exquisite wordless story about a boy and a snowman is bittersweet (their time together is limited) but exhilarating.

Frozen Olaf is the most adorable movie snowman ever, with a disposition that can only be described as sunny.

“Frosty the Snowman” A classic song inspired a classic animated story about the snowman who began to dance around when that old top hat was put on his head.

Knick Knack This charming short by Pixar shows what happens when a snowman tries to escape his snowglobe.

“The Snowman in July” This 1944 short is about a snowman who, like Olaf, wants to see summer.

After You’ve Watched White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, and A Christmas Story…..

Posted on December 13, 2014 at 4:57 pm

I love the Christmas classic movies and watch as many as I can every year. But there are many great Christmas films that don’t get mentioned as often and I like to remind families that these are worth making time for as well.

1. The Nativity Story This sincere and respectful story is a good way to remember that Christmas is about more than presents and parties. “Whale Rider’s” Keisha Castle-Hughes has a shy but dignified and resolute air and she glows believably as the very young woman who is selected as the mother of Jesus. And “Drive’s” Oliver Isaac effectively conveys tenderness, doubt, courage, and transcendence as Joseph.

2. A Christmas Memory Truman Capote’s bittersweet memory of his childhood Christmas making fruitcakes with his elderly cousin, the only relative who cared about him is beautifully filmed with the magnificent Geraldine Page and Capote himself reading the narration.

3. Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas The California Raisins guys put together this Christmas special, with the highlight the funniest-ever performance of “Carol of the Bells.”

4. Come to the Stable Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are French nuns trying to raise money to build a hospital. Their faith and goodness transforms those they meet.

5. Little Women “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” is the first line of this classic novel based on the loving if sometimes tumultuous family of author Louisa May Alcott. The movie opens with an important Christmas lesson about the joy of giving.

6. Christmas with a Capital C This is a movie about a small town squabble about whether there will be Christmas decorations in the town square has one of the sweetest resolutions of any faith-based film I’ve seen.

7. This Christmas I love this movie about a family with five adult children who return home to celebrate Christmas with their mother and youngest brother. The outstanding cast includes Regina King, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, and Chris Brown. Be sure to watch through the credits to see a great dance number.

8. Desk Set Before Google, companies had human beings to track down information. Katherine Hepburn plays the head of the all-female research department for a television network and Spencer Tracy is the engineer who is installing the company’s first computer, which takes up a whole wall and uses punch cards and vacuum tubes. Sparks fly — and not just in the equipment.

9. Die Hard Bruce Willis plays a cop visiting his estranged wife at her office Christmas party when the building is taken over by bad guys led by Alan Rickman in this action-movie classic.

10. The Bishop’s Wife Loretta Young plays the wife of a clergyman (David Niven) who has become caught up in the struggle to raise money for a new cathedral and lost sight of what really matters. A mysterious new assistant named Dudley (Cary Grant) shows up to remind both the bishop and his wife of the importance of faith, love, and simplicity over show. The remake is The Preacher’s Wife with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington.

11. Home Alone This comedy smash hit stars Macauley Culkin as a little boy who is accidentally left home when his family goes away for the holidays and has to take care of himself and guard the house from a couple of inept thieves. The slapstick is over the top but the message of Christmas is surprisingly touching.

12. The Ref Not every Christmas gathering is merry and bright. Denis Leary plays a jewel thief who hides out with a couple who have taken bickering to new depths of toxicity, played by Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis. Their bitter, competitive, and completely dysfunctional relatives include Christine Baranski and Glynis Johns.

Family DVDs for Hannukah

Posted on December 10, 2014 at 8:00 am

When all the world is caught up in Christmas, it can help to have some movies on hand to explain that some people celebrate a different holiday at this time of year, especially when the stories and songs are told by familiar friends. Here are some of the best:

Lights: The Miracle Of Chanukah Judd Hirsch, Leonard Nimoy, and others tell the story of the Macabees in this 1987 animated story.
Lambchop’s Chanukah and Passover Surprise Sheri Lewis and her puppet Lambchop bring a sense of curiosity and wonder to the celebration, and a sense of fun, too as they sing while they make latkes.
Rugrats Chanukah This is a charming introduction that includes some historical context and prayers as well as the usual Rugrats silliness. It is available on Amazon streaming.
Chanuka & Passover at Bubbe’s A nice introduction to the history and traditions of the holiday.
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There’s No Such Thing as a Chanukah Bush, Sandy Goldstein This is a rare movie that frankly and sensitively portrays the pressure on kids to conform and how it feels to be left out of a celebration that seems to occupy the entire world in December. It gives families a way to acknowledge and even share the celebrations of others while feeling pride in their own traditions.
A Taste of Chanukah A delightful concert performance with Theodore Bikel.