Standard Operating Procedure

First Hit: Almost felt too slick to be a documentary film about a severe black mark on the US Military and our government’s actions.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think all documentary films need to have a low budget feel nor do they need to be roughly created; however the slickness in which this was put together along with the flavor of the interviews left me with the feeling that something was glossed over and no one wanted to take responsibility for the treatment of the prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

There is a lot of buildup in the interviews of how tough it was with the fear of being bombed or shot each day and having been in Vietnam I understand this feeling but this isn’t an excuse for the treatment they imposed upon the prisoners.

The film is graphic in recreating some of the scenes depicted in the pictures and provides a timeline and a historical perspective of how the pictures came to be. The interviews are what disturbed me the most. I felt like General Janis Karpinski who was the commander of Abu Ghraib abdicated any responsibility as well as many of the other guards and military police. The interviews created a sense that they were all victims. What made it worse was that the only people who were punished were the lowest level people which points out how irresponsible our government is towards its own actions.

Overall: This was an interesting film but the ability to probe and place some responsibility for the behavior was left hanging.

Dhamma Brothers

First Hit: A very moving documentary about the power of Vipassana meditation with hardened prisoners. This film explores the power of meditation in an overcrowded maximum security prison deep in Alabama. Most of the people in this prison aren’t going to get out of prison, they may move to another prison but they aren’t going home. For a deep in the Bible belt prison to be the first prison in America to offer an official 10-day Vipassana (Vipassana means: Seeing things as they are.) meditation is an amazing story. The prisoners who participated were self selecting and many of them were skeptical to say the least. However, the guards and some of the other prison officials were more skeptical. One major concern was how this could effect primarily Jesus believing prison community. The retreat was set up so that the prisoners sat, ate, and slept in the gymnasium. They did not leave or speak for 10 days. The film chronicles the retreat and used interviews with some of the prisoner’s stories of what crime they committed and their history.

Having sat numerous retreats, including a 90-day silent retreat, I was very aware of the process the prisoners were going through during this retreat. It was fascinating to sense and feel the difference in these men from before the retreat to after. It made a difference in each of them. To sense their embracing the power of meditation and just being with themselves is a beautiful and touching story. That the program was stopped because a clergyman said people were turning away from Christ and towards Buddhism was simply a fear based belief that was untrue. Later, the program was re-instituted and continues to grow.

Overall: A beautiful story of how simply being with one’s self can make all the difference in the world.

Young@Heart

First Hit: Although this could easily have been made strickly for the emotional pull, it wasn't and it does deeply touch one's feelings. I was profoundly touched by how important this group is to these seniors.

From a documentary perspective it isn’t a deep film, only darting into the lives of a few of the singers; however the point of this film is living life now and therefore the lack of depth is more than made up for by its breadth.

What a wonderful experience for these senior citizens to meet, travel and sing together. The film begins preparing for a one night only concert in their base home town of Northampton MA. As the film opens they are being introduced to 7 new songs that range from R&B (Yes We Can Can) to a Rock and Roll ballad (Fix You).

Interspersed with their practices and some scenes from previous performances (singing the Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” is so fun), there are interviews with some of the members and former members who are being asked back to perform one last time.

Along the two month journey of preparing for the show, life and all its complications happen. The show must go on.

Bob Cilman is the musical director and his strong and deft handling and love for this group of people is magnificent. There is also a pre-concert, concert at a nearby prison and the faces on the prisoners is absolutely priceless.

Overall: Just as the audience is touched by the performances of these senior singers so will you – enjoy this film.

Shine A Light

First Hit: Amazing film about one of the most storied rock and roll groups of our time.

I loved the first 15 minutes of the film because Martin Scorsese (the Director) is trying to get The Rolling Stones, more specifically Mick Jagger, to provide the song list for the concert. Martin even sends Mick his list as a way to prompt him.

Mick doesn’t totally ignore Martin’s request but isn’t ready to finalize it yet. In between these little flashes are some facts and interviews of The Stones.

There is meeting Former President Clinton and family, there are some old newsreel clips. All the while we keep going back to Martin getting more panicky about the set list. In his homework Martin has camera shots laid out for many of the songs and you see these piles of paper of this preparation.

Finally Martin gives up and says fine, all I need is the name of the first song so that I know where to start; either Keith on guitar, Charlie on drums, Ronnie on guitar, or Mick singing.

However, Mick tells him nothing. Martin is fit to be tied. As former President Clinton finishes his opening remarks to introduce The Rolling Stones, a man rushes into the control room and hands Martin a piece of paper indicating the opening song.

Martin yells out the camera and opening shot of the concert and from that point on we (the audience) are on our way.

The Rolling Stones came out when I was in my mid-teens, so I’ve grown up with them. I’ve listened to them through all the different genres of music they have tried. But in the end The Stones are about Rock and Roll. Their catalogue is immense and they could have done 10 of these concerts, played different songs in each of them and all of the music would all have been recognizable and a classic. On IMAX Mick (and The Stones) is big, way big. But it doesn’t really capture how much and how big of an influence they’ve been to rock and roll music. They are a working band. They play music in front of people and with all of them in their mid to mid-late 60’s, it continues to fascinate me how tightly knit and yet so independent their personalities are. The Stones brought in three others to do a song each with them. Jack White was forgettable and truly out classed, he didn’t belong. Christina Aguilera held her own and actually added to the performance and had some fun. Buddy Guy, however, was right there with them and when Buddy looked straight at the camera silent for about 30 seconds, he sent a message – I am here.

Overall: Besides being deeply touched how these four men stayed together, played together, and supported each other through a lot of ups and downs; the love and respect they have for each other is humbling. Martin did an outstanding job of bringing you The Rolling Stones. And even if you don’t really like their music, if you see the film you will experience an amazing event of togetherness with Mick having more energy than any man I’ve met that is under 70 years of age. It is simply amazing.

Taxi to the Dark Side

First Hit: Another powerful film detailing the criminality of the Bush lead White House.

This film starts and ends with the case of an Afghan taxi driver (Dilawar) beaten to death while in U.S. custody in Afghanistan.

New York Times reporter Carlotta Gall begins her investigation of his death and in-turn starts to mine the depth of US Military prison abuses in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The film interviews a former Guantanamo Bay prisoner along with other US officials and military prison guard personnel. It is obvious that the US Government, under the direction of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, and others directed systematic torture techniques to force confessions from prisoners, many of these confessions were lies just to stop the beatings.

Beating people to support our governments presuppositions is demeaning to our countries founders and its current citizens. I left the theater shamed that our government knowingly defied Geneva Conventions and tortured these prisoners.

This film was well done and systematically puts its case to the audience. It is up for an Oscar and this is a deserved nomination.

Overall: This is a must see as providing a good basis and understanding as to why people in other countries want to kill US Citizens. Our current governments stupefying arrogance is shameful.