Chariots of Fire (1981)

Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers
Director: Hugh Hudson

     The true story of  two young  athletes who ran for Great Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics, Chariots of Fire crosses into the bigotry of the day and how sports and common goal can bring each out of the hate. Protestant Eric Liddell  runs to be closer  to God. Jewish Harold Abrahams runs for the love of it but is consistently taunted for his faith. Together their competitive nature forges a friendship where both ultimately race to victory to the tune of Vangelis's unforgettable musical score.


      In 1919, Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) enters Cambridge University, where he experiences anti-Semitism from the staff, but enjoys participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan club. He becomes the first person to ever complete the Trinity Great Court Run — running around the college courtyard in the time it takes for the clock to strike 12. Abrahams achieves an undefeated string of victories in various national running competitions. Although focused on his running, he falls in love with a leading Gilbert and Sullivan soprano, Sybil (Alice Krige).

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Rudy (1993)

Director: David Anspaugh

Stars: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau and Ned Beatty 

 

      Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger grows up in Joliet, Illinois, dreaming of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame. While achieving some success with his local high school team (Joliet Catholic), he lacks the grades and money to attend Notre Dame, not to mention talent and physical size. Ruettiger was much smaller than an average football player, standing just 5'6" (1.68 m) and weighing 165 lb (75 kg).

     Ruettiger takes a job at a local steel mill like his father Daniel Ruettiger, Sr. (a Notre Dame fan); he prepares to settle down. But when his best friend Pete is killed in an explosion there, Rudy decides to follow his dream of attending Notre Dame and playing for the Fighting Irish.

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The Kite Runner (2007)

     Starring: Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Zekiria Ebrahimi, Shaun Toub
     Director: Marc Forster, Rebecca Yeldham 

     Based upon the autobiographical book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, this epic story  journeys from childhood through adulthood beginning in Afghanistan pre-Taliban and ending in modern day San Francisco.  It's the story of two friends split apart by war, shame and a lie.  It's the story of a father struggling to raise his son as the world he knows crashes down around him and he suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of politics.  

     Multifaceted, heartwarming and educational this is a great family film to share with tweens and teens and discuss afterward.  Many life lessons and morality issues the end in redemption and reunification of heart, soul and family. Not recommended for children under twelve.
      In Kabul, prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, well-to-do young boy Amir and his loyal young Hazara servant Hassan are best of friends. Amir enjoys writing and literature, reading stories to the eager but illiterate Hassan. Amir's Baba (father), is contemptuous of Amir's writing and privately regards him as a weakling for letting Hassan protect him from bullies. Baba's friend Rahim Khan demonstrates interest and encouragement to Amir. Assef, a bully with rancor towards Hazaras, and two accomplices confront Hassan and Amir, but Hassan prevents the attack with a slingshot, a birthday gift from Amir. Assef swears revenge, ridiculing their relationship as mere master and servant.

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The Sawshank Redemption (1994)

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, James Whitmore
Director: Frank Darabont

      In 1947, banker Andrew "Andy" Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, based on strong circumstantial evidence. He is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine, run by Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton). Andy is quickly befriended by Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), an inmate serving a life sentence whose parole application was recently rejected. Red is known for obtaining contraband and Andy has him obtain him a rock hammer to maintain his rock collection hobby, allowing him to create small stone chessmen from rock. Andy later obtains a large poster of Rita Hayworth from Red, followed in later years by Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch.

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The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, Thandie Newton, Brian Howe
Director: Gabriele Muccino      


     If someone you know is struggling with unemployment this is an amazing film to rent for them.  

     Based upon the true story of a genius, Chris Gardner who finds himself a single dad, homeless and without a job, basically as far down as a person can get in American society.  Living on the streets, he ultimately gets back on his feet and climbs to the top of the heap as owner of his own firm in 1980s San Francisco.  Smith's own son plays his son in this film. The scene where father and son have to sleep in a public bathroom is one of the all time most memorably haunting scenes in cinema history. 

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Mr. Holland’s Opus (1995)

Starring: Richard Dreyfuss, Glenne Headly Jay Thomas, Olympia Dukakis, William H. Macy
Director: Stephen Herek 

    This is a story for anyone who has had to postpone their dreams because life gets in the way.  Glenn Holland is a music teacher frustrated by his lot in life with dreams of becoming a composer but his wife's pregnancy forces him to give up the dream and become a teacher at the local high school.  Add to this, his son is born deaf and Holland feels he has nothing in common with his child.  The ending of the movie is a testament to the power of pursuing your dreams and the bond that can develop even within adversity between a father and son.   You'll cheer, you'll cry and you'll beg for more.  

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WANTED (2008)

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Stars: Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman

      Quote: "..Insanity is being shit on, beat down, coasting through life on a miserable existence when you have a caged lion locked inside and the key to release it.." (Sloan) 

      The film is lifted from a comic created by Mark Millar and JG Jones, it is inspiring us who are confused and afraid to act. This film tells the story of Wesley Gibson, an loser employee  whose life is always governed by the people around him like a boss, his girlfriend, and his friend who was having an affair with his girlfriend. But all changed when he met with Fox, a beautiful woman who is also a professional assassin who intends to recruit him into the Fraternity (organization of professional assassins.) But not easy for Wesley to join the Fraternity, there are several exams which he must done in order to be accepted as a member of the Fraternity.

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