The Tillman Story (Amir Bar-Lev, 2010): USA
Reviewed by Byron Potau. Viewed at Regal Cinemas as part of the 2010 Los Angeles Film Festival.
Anyone who watches ESPN will be familiar with most of the events of The Tillman Story. Others may have caught part of it on their regular news channels as it was very big news. For those that know nothing of Pat Tillman this film will likely have a greater impact than for those for which this film is simply filling in the gaps of what they already know.
Professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals, Pat Tillman gave up a multimillion dollar contract to serve his country after the events of 9/11. The press praise Pat as a hero for his unselfishness, but Pat would just assume be treated like everyone else. When it is reported that Pat is killed in a fire fight in Afghanistan the press again praise Pat for making the ultimate sacrifice for his country. However, it comes out over the next several months that Pat was actually killed by friendly fire and there was a high level cover
Eat Pray Love (Ryan Murphy, 2010): USA
Reviewed by Kathleen Amboy. Viewed at Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA.
Suffering first a nasty divorce from husband Stephen (Billy Crudup) and then a painful breakup with her lover David (James Franco), Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) is miserable and searching for a deeper meaning to life. She sets out on a quest to let herself go, be at one with God, and to find herself in Eat Pray Love.
Gilbert’s first stop is Rome where she befriends Sofi (Tuva Novotny), a traveler from Sweden, who introduces Liz to a language instructor named Giovanni (Luca Argentero). As they hang out together, eating their way across Rome, Liz learns the meaning of familia.
Liz’s next stop is India, for cleansing of her mind and spirit through meditation. She is befriended by another American named Richard (Richard Jenkins), who teaches her to accept, let go and forgive (mainly herself). Liz also learns an important lesson of selflessness from a local Indian girl.
Her sojourn ends in Bali where she pursues ancient truths from elderly guru Ketut Liyer (Hadi Subiyanto). Gilbert crosses paths with a charming Brazilian named Felipe (Javier Bardem) and they find themselves in a whirlwind romance.
Based on the memoirs of writer Elizabeth Gilbert,
