movie critic

It has been months since I have posted anything, but there are a couple of things I would like to write about. One I am going to be published! In the San Quentin News I am the outside eyes for the men. My first column compared the"Blind Side" to "Precious". I had some real issues with the "Blind Side" and thought "Precious" was the best movie of the year. I will paste my review on here.
SISTER SUZI SPEAKS(About Movies)

I feel honored to write a column about movies. It is something I have always wanted to do so it is a dream come true for me.

My love of movies started as a very young child. Movies have always been my favorite art form. They have an effect much deeper than most people realize or are even aware of. They shape our lives and our culture. They have and can be used for propaganda as Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda was very aware of. Lennie Riefenstahal’s documentary about the 1936 Olympics, Olympiad is a perfect example. Think of common phrases that are based on movies….”He made me an offer I couldn’t refuse”, “Go ahead, make my day.” It has always been a source of contention for me when people think movies are simply entertainment. They are so much deeper than that. They are a powerful art form.

Since I was twelve, I have sat transfixed by the TV writing down the winners of the Oscars—although I don’t think the best movies or actors always win. In fact, if Sandra Bullock wins this year for the Blind Side I will probably throw one of my shoes at the TV. Which brings me to what I want to write about.

Now I will acknowledge my biases and I will never say I am objective. What I wish to write about is my opinion and perception about the films this year. Since most of you have not seen these movies, I will be your “outside eyes”.

The two films I want to discuss in this column are Precious and The Blind Side. The Blind Side is “loosely” based on the story of Michael Orr who now plays for the Baltimore Ravens. Precious is based on the book Push by Saphire. They are both nominated for best movie and Sandra Bullock and Gabourey Sidibe are both nominated for Best Actress.

The Blind Side is the story of a young African American man who somehow gets into a very exclusive all white school in Tennessee. He comes from a very impoverished background. He was taken away at a young age from his crack addict mother and what happens to him after that is not really explained. He is very large for his age and completely out of place at this school. In
“typical” Hollywood fashion he is taken in by a white Republican NRA couple played by Sandra Bullock and Tug McGraw. Somehow he has very little adjustment to make and magically becomes an excellent fooball player, student and cherished member of the family. He goes on to play at “Ole Miss” and gets drafted into the NFL. As I was watching the movie I felt a growing knot of anger in my stomach. Everything was so sugar-coated it was offensive. The scene that offended me the most was one where Sandra Bullock goes back to the projects where he grew up to look for him because he has run away from home. Dressed in a skintight dress and stiletto heels,she approaches a group of young African American men. She asks them if they have seen “Big Mike”. Their answer: “No, but if you find him, tell him we want to put a cap up his a…, bitch…” She walks a few steps away, returns and says “I am a card carrying member of the NRA and I’m fully packed, bitch.” And casually walks away. Pure Hollywood pap.

Precious was one of my favorite movies of the year. It was brutally rough, hard and sometimes difficult to watch, but the emotions were real. Gabourey Sibide plays a teenage girl with two young children, by her father, struggling to figure out her life. Both parents abused her sexually but her mother, played by M’onique, abused her physically and psychologically as well. Even so, she has the spirit to want to do better. She finally gets a chance. She goes to a continuation school with other dropouts and is encouraged by her teacher to write about her life. She slowly makes some friends and she slowly begins to acknowledge and recognize her own worth. She is helped not only by her teacher, but also by her social worker, played by an almost unrecognizable Mariah Carey. It is a movie about triumph over almost unbelievable odds and a story about hope. There were times I had to look away, it was so rough. But I don’t know how anyone who saw it would not be moved. The performances were flawless. It was an example of how good movie making can be.

They were both stories about triumph over adversity, but one was genuine and one was a fairy tale.

Until next time, my blessings to you all……

Also along with the men of San Quentin on April 17th I am doing a BENEFIT for Haiti along with the men of San Quentin who are donating books art and crafts. I will post the flyer. I have had wonderful donations from the outside community. Michael Franti sent me a book. Each page is like a record sleeve and holds a record in it. Most generous. I am hosting it so we shall see. All proceeds will go to cleanwater.org partnersinhealth.org and doctorswithoutborders. Jose Neto, a fabulous Brazilian Guitarist will be playing. He is Steve Winwood's guitarist as well as having his own band. It is going to be a great event.













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