The Pig Turns Movie Critic

I don't do film reviews. There's already enough guys out there peddling important opinions. But I do do recommendations if they fit into the general theme of the Pigsty. What? You didn't know there was a theme?

First - Amazing Grace, which Patrushka and I saw yesterday. An amazing, powerful film about William Wilberforce, who fought the British parliament for thirty years to outlaw slavery. He didn't give up for thirty years and he WON! It's the story of how he did it. OK, it's marred by a corny subplot about a nice old couple who are trying to fix him up with raving red haired beauty Romola Garai. And I don't like the marketing campaign which is trying to make it into a Christian movie. It's not. It's a movie about a guy who is a Christian. The movie's about standing up to fight to end slavery against all odds - and winning. I came out inspired, revved up - thinking I'll never give up either! If its playing in your town, go see it and then check in, okay? Highly Recommended.

Second is The Lives of Others. A German film about a little man, a functionary in the East German secret police, who grows up into a big man at the cost of his career. It ain't pretty - but it's beautiful. Emotionally exhausting. I staggered out of the theater completely drained. Had to hie to Starbuck's and sit in a stupor till the caffeine kicked in. After seeing it, I thought, "Thank God for Glasnost. Man, the world really did change for the better." Highly recommended. And hurray for AMC Theaters, who brings movies like this to a parochial burg like Spokane!