Greetings again from the darkness. Every year this is one of my favorite categories. Typically, these filmmakers are committed to a subject and have very little money to work with, making their work easily categorized as passion projects. This year is no exception, and once again we are amazed at the wide range of topics and subjects covered: the transformation of an angry war veteran, true love at an elephant sanctuary in India, a profile of a key player during the Watergate era, the effects of climate change on walruses in the Arctic, and a father-daughter video project covering 16 years. Below is my breakdown of this year’s nominees:
THE ELEPHANT WHISPERERS
Director Kartiki Gonsalves introduces us to Bomman and Bellie, indigenous Kattunauakans working together to care for Raghu, an elephant rescued as an injured orphan in Tamil Nadu, India in 2019. The elephant preserve where they live and work is run by the Forest Department, and Bomman’s hut is right next to the stall where Raghu sleeps.
The love they share for Raghu soon develops into a romance between Bomman and Bellie. They talk to Raghu, train him, feed him, bathe him, play with him, and even tuck him in bed at night. Later when they also become caregivers for 5-month-old Baby Ammu, we can see the similarities to raising human children. Both elephants make it into the wedding day pictures of Bomman and Bellie, but when Raghu is re-assigned to other caregivers, we witness the grieving of the couple, as well as that of Ammu, who has lost a friend and role model. The 41-minute film serves to show how animals and people can live off the same forest and share a love.
HAULOUT (UK, Russia) 25 min
For the first few minutes, we aren’t sure what we are watching. Maxim is huddled in a rustic cabin on the shore of the Russian Arctic. He eats canned good (from the can), boils his water, and recycles his cigarettes. One morning he awakens to the grunting and groaning noises occurring outside. What follows is a stunning and spectacular shot of tens of thousands of walruses huddled on the beach by his hut.
It turns out Maxim is a Marine Biologist, and he spends 43 days observing this annual ritual of walruses as part of a 10 year study. Although the walruses show up every year, the effects of climate change are obvious. There is no longer ice for them to rest on during the trek. This exhausts the creatures, causing the death toll to increase each year. Co-directors (and brother and sister) Maxim Arbugaev and Evgenia Arbugaeva deliver a beautiful (considering the harsh conditions) 25-minute film, and a stark reminder of how animals are being forced to adapt to the changes.
HOW DO YOU MEASURE A YEAR
We must admire Jay Rosenblatt’s foresight as a father. It’s a simple idea, yet brilliant in it’s lasting impact. Beginning on his daughter Ella’s second birthday, Mr. Rosenblatt maintained a tradition of videotaping an “interview” with her each year. This tradition, or ritual, continued through her 18th birthday. The result bounces between predictable, stunning, sad, joyful, and touching … all in a condensed 29-minute run time.
To watch the progression of a precocious two-year old and three-year old toddler obsessing over a lollypop and make-up to a poised eighteen-year old on the brink of independence is fascinating. As a parent, we recognize the many stages … some so cute, others so challenging … each to be treasured.
Dad’s questions include: What do you want to do when you grow up? What are you afraid of? What is power? What are dreams? What is most important to you? You get the idea. He wants to document her progression as a person and as a thinker. In addition to the lollypop and desire to wear make-up, Ella’s singing voice develops beautifully as she grows into a 12-year-old who has learned sign language, and a 13-year-old fresh off her Bat Mitzvah. We see her with braces on her teeth, and as a 14-year-old toting the burden of her age. It’s those last couple of years that really give us hope for Ella’s future, and an insight into what the project has meant.
As a teenager, what would you have told your 25-year-old self?
THE MARTHA MITCHELL EFFECT
Fifty years have passed, yet the Watergate scandal continues to provide us with stories. Co-directors Anne Alvergue and Debra McClutchy turn their attention to one of the fascinating figures of the era in this 40 minute short. Martha Mitchell was the wife of Richard Nixon’s campaign manager and subsequent Attorney General, John Mitchell. Outspoken Martha was a colorful personality and characterized as “a menace” by Nixon himself.
The directors utilize archival footage and news reels to show how Martha became a media darling during one of the most closed-off administrations in recent history. Reporters such as Helen Thomas and Connie Chung bring a media perspective, as do the numerous newscast clips shown. However, things took a pretty dark turn for this charming lady, and her story provides a stark reminder of just how corrupt and extreme the Nixon administration became.
Once news of the Watergate break-in hit the news, Martha seemed to vanish from the public eye. Her story is that she was held captive, basically kidnapped, as the administration advanced a public character assassination on her. When the secret tapes were revealed, and Martha discovered her husband had conspired with Nixon on the break-in, she became a high-profile whistleblower, After Nixon’s resignation, Martha became a celebrity, frequently seen on talk shows. Cast by many as a ‘crazy’ lady, the “Martha Mitchell effect” became the description for those whose ‘delusions’ turned out to be true. The recent TV miniseries “Gaslit” also focused on Martha Mitchell, who died in 1976 from a blood disease.
STRANGER AT THE GATE
Should you ever doubt that kindness and understanding can make a difference, please watch this film from director Joshua Seftel (WAR, INC, 2008). The 29 minute run time may just rejuvenate your faith in human beings to change their attitude and be accepting of those they once distrusted.
As a Marine, Richard “Mac” McKinney was trained to hate and kill Muslims. He was informed that they were terrorists out to destroy his country, and September 11, 2001 was all the proof he needed. A simple question from his young daughter Emily convinced him he needed to act, so he plotted to bomb the Islamic Culture Center of Muncie (Indiana). So this former Marine, a trained killer and hater, headed to the mosque to obtain the “proof” he needed to convince his daughter that his actions were righteous.
A funny thing happened. Mac was treated kindly by the folks there. They asked him questions and guided him to a better understanding. Now this didn’t happen overnight. A shift in beliefs never occurs quickly. However, their treatment of Mac not only (unknowingly) saved their own lives, it saved his as well. He may have been trained to not think of his war targets as human beings, but he found them to show him more humanity than he’d ever known. It’s chilling to see Emily ponder what it would have been like to have a mass murderer as a father, and mostly we are inspired to see good people work so diligently at accepting someone who initially showed them nothing but hatred. Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is one of the producers of the film.
Posted by David Ferguson 
Yes, I finally got around to compiling my best of 2022, and you can find the page at this link:
“I could have danced all night”. That felt like the sentiment enveloping the audience as the curtain dropped on last night’s performance at Dallas’ Music Hall at Fair Park. It was the second performance of the show’s stop on Broadway Dallas, and nostalgia filled the air as many were singing along to the familiar songs and laughing oh-so-slightly ahead of the famous punchlines. Watching live stage shows of beloved material is always a bit confusing. We usually have actors and voices ingrained in our memories, and it can be a bit uneasy to experience a different style.
Greetings fellow movie lovers! Today’s entry is no movie review. In fact, this much-too-long composition includes only a couple of minor movie blips. Instead, it’s a recap of the recent two-week, epic road trip vacation where Mary and I drove a total of 3713 miles through 18 states. For you mathematicians, statisticians, and data analysts, that’s 37.5% of the 48 continental states recognized by Rand McNally. I’ll admit this recap is over-the-top indulgent, however, it’s being written for two specific reasons. First, we want a travel journal-type remembrance of the trip, and secondly, we wouldn’t mind inspiring a few others to hit the road and experience some of the wonders (natural and otherwise) offered by our country.
Our hotel was just a couple of miles down the road from the 
There was little doubt that we were the only tourists, as well as the only first-timers. Multi-colored metallic floor-to-ceiling ribbons served as the backdrop for a single-microphone on the corner stage. Since we couldn’t locate the schedule for upcoming performers, we finished our lunch and drove on to Birmingham, Alabama. Once there, we checked in to the historic downtown Tutwiler Hotel, which opened in 1914. We walked a couple miles to the newly renovated Uptown area, which includes a Convention Center and the shiny new University of Alabama Birmingham football stadium. Across the street are multiple restaurants and bars. We chose the Southern Café, which was a typical sports bar exhibiting none of the character we had experienced earlier that day at Klondyke. Beginning mileage 52,622, Ending mileage 52,905
After a quick hotel breakfast, we walked down the street from The Tutwiler to the 
This was Day 4, and we finally turned north … you know, the general direction of Cooperstown. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, we waltzed across the 
We lollygagged this morning and were a bit slow departing Knoxville (fortunately unrelated to the previous evening’s dinner platter). We drove for a while just enjoying the scenery (other than the big rigs) and ended up enjoying exquisite cuisine at 
We walked to the nearby Valley Mall Diner and had the single best breakfast of our trip. My ‘over-medium’ order for eggs actually came out over-medium. That NEVER happens! From the outside, this place was sterile like an old Blockbuster Video, but the service and food were top notch. And we didn’t even get booted out after a misfire of a squeezed lemon for tea hit our waitress in the face. After reflecting on how we had two outstanding meals in two days, we headed back on the road to Hershey, Pennsylvania where we took in the 
was definitely the right call. An octopus on the roof, a pirate at the door, and the place was jam packed with all types of memorabilia, plus offered Scranton’s best gift shop dedicated to Dunder Mifflin and “The Office.” The seafood was excellent and we spent an inordinate amount of time perusing the gift shop and laughing. It should also be noted that Cooper’s had the best restrooms we saw on the trip. Elvis pictures and music filled the ladies’ room, while The Beatles took over the men’s. It was 6:00pm when we arrived in Binghamton, New York – our final stay before Cooperstown. Beginning mileage 53,725, Ending mileage 53,996
It was but a short drive to Cooperstown and we arrived by 10:00am. Downtown is a picturesque throwback with many shops, cafes, and other small businesses. We parked by 
After a tasty breakfast at the Cooperstown White House, we headed toward Niagara Falls, which took us through Syracuse. We arrived at the park around 1:30pm and immediately noticed the drop in temperature and increase in wind. It was quite chilly as the heavy mist from the falls mixed in, and since we missed a boat departure by one minute, we spent 45 minutes trying to find a proper blend of enjoying the majestic sight of the Falls while trying to maintain a life-sustaining body temperature. Once aboard the 
Back on the road this morning as we head south/southwest through Buffalo and towards Cleveland. It was only a week after our trip ended when the tragic shooting in the Buffalo supermarket occurred. Our mission on this day was the 
that includes not just the house where Ralphie lived, but also the Bumpus house, a huge gift shop, and a museum with artifacts from the film. Additionally, both houses are available for overnight stays and are frequently booked. Ralphie’s “official Red Ryder, carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time” is on display in the museum, and the gift shop is stocked with new models … in case you want to warn your kids not to shoot their eye out. The “Fra-Gi-Le” shipping case and the infamous lamp are on display, as is a bar of Lifebouy, should you happen to mutter … “Fuuudge”. We also saw the actual school blackboard with A++++ scrawled across. The movie has long been a holiday favorite, and it was enjoyable to experience this. After the tour, we continued south to Mansfield/Ontario to get a jump on the next day’s driving. Beginning mileage 54,340, Ending mileage 54,637
Today’s drive took us through Columbus, Ohio and Cincinnati. We spent very little time in either on our way to Louisville. Yes, it was ‘Derby Week’ and we arrived in Louisville just a few days before the scheduled Kentucky Derby. We don’t gamble, follow horse racing, or wear elaborate hats, so our attention turned to the 
of the all-time greats like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, and Hank Aaron. It’s the factory tour that makes this a must-see as we got to walk through and witness firsthand where the bats are formed, including explanations of how wood is divided into two categories – that used for major league bats, and that used for the rest of us mere mortals. Now I understand why I was never able to hit like Stan Musial – his bats were made from better wood! Still a family business, legend has it that the first bat was made by a young Bud Hillerich in 1884 for Pete Browning (nicknamed the Louisville Slugger). In 1916, the company name was changed to Hillerich & Bradsby, and many of us are familiar with seeing that company name on Louisville Slugger bats. Serving the country during WWI and WWII, the company made gun stocks for the troops, though they never stopped bat production. It was fascinating to learn that the old equipment used to form the bats has been out of production for decades, and has been re-purposed for one thing – making bats. The giant bat in front of the facility makes a unique landmark and photo opportunity, and the racks of bats in the shop are awaiting shipment to their final destination. It was in Louisville where we splurged for one of our few luxury hotel stays. The first 
views of downtown. As a tribute to the Kentucky Derby, Mary ordered a Mint Julep. You can imagine her disappointment and shock when the bartender explained they had not yet received their shipment of mint. My gardener wife got a kick out of this, describing mint as little more than a weed that grows uncontrollably. So, we settled on wine of such quality that one glass was sufficient. On the bright side, our view of the river from our room was simply spectacular – we could also see the Muhammad Ali Center next door. Beginning mileage 54,707, Ending mileage 54,922
This was mostly a driving day, and our highlight was stopping in downtown St Louis for lunch at 
once ran right through Springfield. They claim to be the birthplace of Route 66, but when you question that, they quickly admit that Chicago was actually the beginning. Regardless, the area offers some travel history of long-ago days, when Route 66 was a key throughfare for those traveling across the Midwest. We ate dinner at the “World Champion” BBQ spot called 
over. After proclaiming that most truck drivers are “extremely smart”, he dazzled those at his table with tales from the road, stopping periodically to mix in jokes that were, at best, politically incorrect, and often racist or sexist or both. The man had no filter. One final note regarding Springfield: as we drove through the downtown area, we were struck by the dozens of parked trailers at the events center. Upon closer inspection, Mary noticed that folks were setting up displays for the taxidermy festival. Stuffed animals were everywhere – only not the kind you typically gift a toddler. Sadly, we couldn’t find the time for 
A short drive took us to Bentonville, Arkansas … yes, the home of Wal-Mart. Five or six years have passed since our last trip to the area, and we were stunned at the growth and development that has occurred over that span. Having been away from home for two weeks, we were craving Torchy’s queso, and Rogers, a neighboring town to Bentonville and another booming area, has recently opened the largest Torchy’s we have seen. After our queso fix, we headed to 
many hours over many days enjoying the free sites. Some of the trails feature large scale sculptures, and the varieties of plants and trees and flowers seem endless. After a few hours of culture and nature, we headed to the hotel to prepare for the evening. We were so excited to see our friends Regan and Jeanne. It was the wedding of their youngest daughter that last brought us to Bentonville, and this time it was simply a reunion of the two couples who first took a Caribbean vacation together approximately 35 years prior. We met at their beautiful home for champagne and appetizers. Catching up on family developments was enlightening, and what stood out was how quickly we all fell back into a conversational comfort zone. Regan is perhaps the most upstanding man I’ve crossed paths with in my entire life, and I regret that we haven’t visited more often over the years. The four of us jumped in the car and took a backroads journey to make our dinner reservations at 
For years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been working to punch up the Oscars broadcast in an attempt to appeal to a wider audience. Who knew that Will Smith would take that mission literally? We just thought announcing the wrong Best Picture winner at the 2017 ceremony was a low point in Oscar history, but Will Smith punching/slapping comedian Chris Rock across the face on stage after a joke directed as Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, has again lowered the bar for Oscar.
My BEST OF 2021, including my personal TOP 10 … and a whole lot more … is now live! 
Greetings again from the darkness. “Entertaining” isn’t the usual description we think of for movies set during the Pearl Harbor attack. The Japanese-United States joint effort for 
The first image most think of when this film is mentioned is the iconic kiss on the beach between Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, as the ocean waves crash around them. Most war movies don’t have a smooch as their most memorable moment, though to be fair, until the bombing, this film is mostly about the daily lives of those living on and around Hickam Field in Hawaii in the days leading up to December 7, 1941.
Prewitt’s only real buddy in the film is Angelo Maggio, played by Frank Sinatra, in a role that won him the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor over Eddie Albert (
Burt’s Sgt Warden also happens to be having an affair with the base commander’s wife, Karen Holmes, played by Deborah Kerr. This affair leads to that iconic sandy beach kiss mentioned previously. She received one of her six Oscar nominations for this film, but lost to Audrey Hepburn in 
Donna Reed won the Best Supporting Actress (in her only nomination) for playing Prewitt’s love interest, Lorene/Alma, a hostess at The New Congress Club. The other nominees were Grace Kelly (
Now any respectable movie lover would be in awe with a cast that includes Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, and Donna Reed. But this is no ordinary movie, and neither is the supporting cast. Philip Ober stars as Captain Dana Holmes, the base commander and husband to Kerr’s Karen, and the one putting a bit too much emphasis on getting Prewitt back in the boxing ring. You’ll recall Mr. Ober as Lester Townsend in Hitchcock’s classic 
Movie Reviews from the Dark 