"Not Easily Broken" - The Definite Winner of 3 "Marriage Crisis" Features

Comparing "Not Easily Broken" with the "white" version of a similar, "Marriage gone bad finds redemption" we watched recently, "Fireproof," the former is definitely the winner in that it feels infinitely more like the real thing. Although "Fireproof" definitely has some lessons in it, and would urge us all to be the nice, good and clean white Christian that is portrayed as the hero of that plot, it wouldn't have much to offer to anyone who doesn't already attend the pews on Sunday mornings...

In fact, people out in the real world with real problems, and often graver ones than being attracted to internet porn or the usual materialism, superficiality or just plain horniness, probably wouldn't be able to relate to the nice, white, clean American Christian world that the makers of "Fireproof" live in.
Whereas "Not Easily Broken" comes along much less preachy, and speaks from the heart instead, and thus, to the heart.
You can relate to it, and even if you don't know anybody as well-tempered in real life as the main protoganist in this (after all, a) movie, you wish you would, and you kind of wish it was you. Probably a lot of people can relate to it and feel like "been there," and the lessons and good advice this movie offers aren't just head stuffing you can rave about with the brethren on Sunday morning.
It's an everyday type of gospel, and what's even nicer, an everybody type of Gospel that not only the chosen few can relate to.

Yet another feature on a similar theme, offering a re-encounter with "Titanic" dream-couple Di Caprio and Winslet, presents the other side of the coin, what you could probably term the atheist version, in which the marriage gone bad winds up in total disaster.
Although "Revolutionary Road" definitely has some valuable lessons to teach about the danger of compromising one's true vocation, or even staying true to himself for material gain and safety, it's a painful lesson indeed, and while the first 3 quarters of the movie are definitely promising, intellectually stimulating and challenging, the ending (spoiler intended!) is too depressing to consider it worth it, and the only thing the movie has got going for itself in the end is that you can tell your teenage daughter, "You see, that's what would have happened if the Titanic would not have gone under!"

He's Just Not That Into You

I wasn't sure at first, if I was going to include this movie on this list, because in some way it resembles the experience I had when I watched "Signs" for the first time in the theater, shaking my head at the apparent nonsense I had paid to watch, until everything finally started making sense during the last 10 minutes or so of the film.

The first and major part of "He's Just Not That Into You" is pretty much sheer, painful agony. Partly, because it's so true. Human beings are really that rotten, that motivated by cliches and Hollywood indoctrinations, and for the larger part of all that agony, you simply have to agree and understand why Jesus compared this mating game to the way things were before the days of Noah, and you come to the conclusion that our just punishment would be another flood to wipe us off the face of the earth.

But then that's where grace comes along, and plays the sweetest trick on us and gives us just what we don't deserve in spite of ourselves; and contrary to all natural expectations and calculations, love will come to you, pretty much like that wind that bloweth where it listeth, and canst not tell from whence it cometh or whither it goeth.

All in all, suffice it to say that there is a lesson to be learned from this movie, even if in a little bit of a painful way... that way it hurts when we discover a bunch of awful truth about ourselves, and it makes you feel like the only thing we'd deserve is hell, while all along Salvation and Heaven are just waiting around the corner.

Nothing But the Truth

"Nothing But the Truth" is a great movie in my opinion, but can probably only be appreciated fully by those who can relate to having to pay any sort of price for standing up for one's convictions or staying true to their principles.

It certainly isn't for those who tend to get bored if there isn't a shoot-out happening every 3 minutes in a movie, in intervals with something being blown up.

On the other hand, as I've said elsewhere, the only place we really seem to find the heroism portrayed in this film, remains the movies, since the actual story it is based on doesn't seem to be quite as clear in defining martyrdom for the truth.

Nevertheless it's a good reminder of what we all really should be: un-nudging, relentless, furious voices for the truth sticking to our convictions and principles at any cost, even though in real life those may not be working for the N.Y.Times...

One fact the movie brings out, though: Freedom of speech and of the press is, and has been, and remains a thing of the past, (and not just under the Bush Administration), embraced by hopelessly idealistic men who fought to uphold human rights and freedoms long before they were replaced by the one right we have left: the right to remain silent.

As far as tattling on your friends goes, an interesting question comes up: how far would we go to protect our friends, acquaintances or brothers-in-arms in our fight for the truth?

If the Pre-Tribulation-Rapturists are wrong (of which I'm unfortunately certain), we may all yet have to find out...

The Duchess

This one was definitely the pleasant surprise of the month. While it may not appeal to followers of the current Hollywood type of Christianity where extra-marital sex will wind you up in hell, but killing Muslims will land you in Heaven with the (former) President's personal blessing, those who have learned that the ways of God, love and life itself can sometimes indeed be mysterious and lead us beyond the confines of convention and artificial correctness, may find it quite enjoyable.

I never get into any of that stuff of how brilliant the actors were. If they hadn't done their jobs well, I wouldn't waste my time recommending this movie.
What I care mostly about in movies is the message (since I consider myself a messenger howbeit using a slightly different medium), and in this case we've got another beautiful testimony (since it's based on actual events) of how forgiveness is an integral part of love, and something we both need and need to learn to give, even if the circumstances may be less than fair and just, as well as of a time in which not everybody had the same freedoms, privileges and rights they may enjoy today, but still managed to be much happier and more fulfilled anyhow.

If you want to get a taste of how different life has been (and perhaps still is and can be in other cultures than our plastic Coca Cola culture), this movie is certainly an opportunity.