Reviews

I love this movie for so many reasons. First and foremost it helped me understand my kleptomania. I too was ridiculed as a young child for overstepping my boundaries in thinking I was "entitled" to the same things the little white girls in my class had. It took me a very long time to understand that I rebelled by pilfering little things. It gave me a sense of "pride" that I could sneak something and it was mine and no one could say I didn't deserve it. Luckily, I was not as far gone as "Nancy" who was in denial to the point of delusion. Or was she? Laraine Day played this role so brilliantly that when the locket was put around her neck as a bride, she seemed euphoric - like she'd just taken a drug. But if she was so delusional how did she know the locket was in play as an heirloom in the family of the man she was marrying? This movie was well ahead of it's time and still conveys a timeless message about society and all it's shortcomings.

When Ellis is awoken by the sound of splashing come from the pool, and he finds a contrite team wearing their uniforms for the first time ready for practice - not a single word of dialogue was spoken, yet their faces, their acting - spoke volumes! So moving! I was moved to tears, as much as Terence Howard's Ellis was. When he wipes the tear from his eye, I believe that was Terence Howard's - the actor's, teardrop, not the character's. That sequence alone makes PRIDE a noteworthy film. ALL of the actor's performances are so damn real. Perfect casting. I was moved throughout. The storyline was uniquely accurate having come up in the 70's and the experience of getting a community pool in the black neighborhood. Life is a constant challenge and PRIDE expertly depicts what Pride, Determination & Resilient IS~

I was so moved by Mrs. Chapman's "prayer" in the church. So many people suffer like she has but are afraid to express their anger when hopes and prayers fall through the cracks. I praise the script writers of this episode for having the nerve to let her Mrs. Chapman curse God out and in a church! I know its taboo for most people to "talk back" to God but how many of us have felt the same frustration? I know I have, then watching & hearing Mrs. Chapman let God have it, made me clap my hands!!! Because when you've done all you can do and STILL get ignored by the Lord, how else are you supposed to handle it??? I cannot wait to see how the next episodes of GRANTCHESTER turn out~

RAGTIME has great actors, but watching this fully for the first time in 41 years since it's release, I can't believe how ridiculous the storyline is! RAGTIME casted some really good actors from CAGNEY to SAMUEL L. JACKSON. It obviously was a high-dollar production, buy they shirked on creating a believable script! I do not care how lofty their intentions were, who in the world came up with the idea of a gang of black men bombing the streets of New Rochelle over some "horse crap" in a car?? Who would think to have a black woman go wave down a presidential train over some "horse crap" in a car? Then how do all of the disjointed storylines justify bringing in decrepit Cagney's character to lead a bunch of Keystone cops facilitating the return of the crap-less car? (There's no way in the world Booker T. Washington would have been pulled into such shenanigans!) Mockery is what comes to mind. And the only reason ELIZABETH MCGOVERN was nominated for an Oscar was for her 4 minute topless, simpleton-like portrayal of Evelyn Nesbitt. Just weird.

The more I've watched this classic, the more it irritates me. The young and beautiful Gene Tierney character was put with the decrepit Clifton Webb character who was 30 years her senior. The storyline depicts how he literally took her to the "right" hair salon, clothes boutique, restaurants, parties, etc. Then when he could no longer control her, he stalks her and threatens any potential beau she might have. So when she chooses someone else over him, he murders her (or who thinks is her). So it goes to show how long Hollywood has imprinted this mindset of "grooming" upon generations of men and vulnerable girls/women. I don't intend to tear down a classic noir film, because Gene Tierney's character ends up with Dana Andrew's character, someone who is closer in age but who does violates all kinds of privacy as he "falls" in love with her.

This series was so captivating! It is a must see in my book. I related so much to Emily Watson's character, which she portrayed so very well. This story is about the "gray" shades of life, not everything being "black or white". And this a story about self esteem, secrets, lies, truths....what's real and what's not real. Take the journey, its a real ride this movie~