Beirut

The 1983 Beirut bombings serve as a setting for the movie BEIRUT, starring Jon Hamm and Rosamund Pike. In 1972 Mason Skiles (Hamm), a United States diplomat to Lebanon is living in Beirut with his wife Nadia (Leila Bekhti) and a 13-year old Lebanese boy they care for named Karim (Idir Chender). When Nadia and Mason are having a party, Nadia is killed during an attack when Karim is abducted by his brother Rami (Ben Affan). As a result, Mason leaves Beirut.

Ten years later Mason is approached to give a lecture in Lebanon. After the tragedy of losing his wife, he is hesitant to return to Beirut, but accepts the offer. When Mason arrives in Beirut, he meets State Department officials and discovers the real reason he was summoned. He agrees to work with CIA agent Sandy Crowder (Pike) to negotiate the release of his friend, CIA officer Cal Riley (Mark Pellegrino), who was recently abducted.

BEIRUT is a spy thriller with remarkable performances and wonderful direction by Brad Anderson. Tony Gilroy's screenplay provides a credible connection to the Beirut bombings of 1983 when President Ronald Reagan kept a U.S. military force in Lebanon. The constant fear residents are living in is apparent, as they are persecuted for their beliefs and explosions abound. The destroyed buildings are evidence of a war atmosphere and city of unrest.

BEIRUT is currently playing in theatres. The official Web site is https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/beirut.

The Post

THE POST is directed by Steven Spielberg and stars Meryl Streep as Kay Graham, a Washington D.C. newspaper heiress, and Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the editor who works for her at The Washington Post.  The movie is set in the 1970's, and features the real story of journalists at The Washington Post attempting to publish an article titled The Pentagon Papers, which consists of classified documents never released about the involvement of the United States (U.S.) government in the Vietnam War.

THE POST makes journalism look exciting and basically highlights Amendment I of the U.S. Constitution, which grants freedom to the press.  Even though this movie is set during the 1970's, its release is timely.  We are living in a time when freedom of the press is being threatened, because some people question the integrity of most publications and news broadcasts. A common expression often used is 'fake news.'  Many people are concerned about this, and the audience I watched THE POST with clapped at the end of the movie. It is fair to assume the crowd supports the Constitution.

THE POST is currently playing in theatres.  The official Web site is https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/the-post.

I Am Not Your Negro

The documentary I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is based on writer James Baldwin's manuscript, Remember This House. This insightful film explores the history of racism in the United States of America. It is astonishing how words Baldwin spoke over 40 years ago are still relevant today. Director Raoul Peck masterfully blends current events with segments about civil rights leaders Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Medgar Evers, and Malcolm X.

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO is narrated by Samuel L. Jackson and currently playing in theatres. The official Web site is http://www.iamnotyournegrofilm.com/.

Comrades in Dreams

The documentary, COMRADES IN DREAMS, follows four theatre owners from four different parts of the world: Korea, India, United States, and Faso. Each of them love movies and share that passion with their communities. The theatre owner in Korea is the only woman in her country to work in cinema and the theatre owner in India is only 25 years old, and actually runs a moving tent theatre, taking the movies to various villages. The theatre showcased in the United States is owned by a lady, who lives in a very small, rural town, and the theatre in Faso is operated by three friends who dedicate much of their time to maintaining it; in the movie, their families express how they wish the men would spend more time at home.

I recently watched COMRADES IN DREAMS on the Sundance Channel. It received a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. This documentary reminded me of how important it is that people, including me, make movies because every person revealed the impact films have had on their lives.

New President

It is a new day in the U.S.A.! Barack Obama is the 44th President.