Trumbo Review

Sometimes, when the voices of repression are gaining momentum, it takes one person with one voice to stop them.

In the recently released movie, Trumbo,  Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston) is one of the most respected screenwriters in Hollywood. He has been married for quite a few years to Cleo (Diane Lane), who has given him three children. Their life is settled and happy.

But it is 1947 and Trumbo’s membership in the Communist Party is about throw a whole lot of turmoil his way. The  House Un-American Activities Committee is investigating any citizens who have either an interest or a membership in the communist party. Dalton is one of those caught in the net. He is eventually thrown into jail for contempt of congress. After leaving jail, Trumbo finds that he and the rest of the Hollywood Ten are blacklisted. They must work under pen names to be able to earn a living. While many in Hollywood want to know who is writing these movies, the secret of who is the screenwriter must be kept under wraps.

While this movie is a bit slow at points, it is nothing short of Oscar bait. Cranston’s performance alone is enough to add him to the short list of potential Oscar nominees for best actor. Adding in Helen Mirren as famed gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, David James Elliott as John Wayne, Dean O’Gorman as Kirk Douglas  & Michael Stuhlbarg as Edward G. Robinson (who is sure to win the Oscar for best supporting actor) only makes this cast and this movie that much better. The filmmakers have also done a nice job of mixing footage from the era with the scenes from the film.

The film is also an excellent reminder of the priceless value of the bill of rights and how quickly fear can be used to manipulate and control.

Do I recommend it? Absolutely.

Trumbo is presently in theaters. 

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Ezra Schwartz

Ezra Schwartz was an ordinary 18 year kid. He had his whole life ahead him. Ezra Schwartz is no longer of this world.

Instead of going straight to college as many kids do after high school, this young man decided to take a gap year and live in Israel before returning home and going to college.

He was killed earlier this week in a terrorist attack.

The response from the White House is crickets. There is no televised speech or statement from regarding the murder of an American by a terrorist.

The silence is telling, as is Obama’s willingness to make a deal with Iran, whose intentions are clear.

It it sad and scary to me that while the world applauds Russia and France dropping bombs on Isis as a retaliation for the Paris attacks last weekend, there is only accusations and lies when Israel tries to defend her own from those same terrorists.

What I would like to remind our politicians is that we have  an election year coming up. The American people have a long memory, especially when it comes the government dropping the ball.

I hope those that seeks the Presidency in 2016 remember that when they go up to the podium and tell us that they want to be President.

 

 

On Syrian Immigration

The statistics are scary. According to a Reuters article from February, the number of civilians killed in the Syrian war was about 200,000 and growing.

The number of people who have left Syria looking for a safe haven from the violence and destruction is 4,289,792. Taking the figures from a bustle article, most of the refugees are not young men of fighting age, but women and children.

After the attack in Paris last week, there are many around the world who are questioning if opening the borders to refugees is a good idea.

Despite her flaws and her problems, I believe in America. I believe in her potential, I believe in the democracy that does not force a specific political, legal or religious ideology down the throats of her citizens, but allows them to live as they wish.

I believe in America because 100 years ago, she opened her doors to millions of immigrants who were seeking a new life and new opportunities. My relations are among these millions.

The question that has to be asked is, how can be welcome these refugees into the United States, while prevent the more radical elements from sneaking in and then replaying the Paris attack in Boston, New York, Washington DC, Los Angeles, etc?

My heart truly breaks for these people, especially for the children whose childhoods are interrupted. No one should have to experience what these children have experienced.

While I don’t have the answer to the question, I can only hope that someone who has the power to make these decision does.