The Path - No Room For Doubt

Hulu has come up with some very good programming. The most recent addition is The Path. An outstanding series about a religious cult. This series is an organic look at human behavior. It explores how humans are attracted to faith structures. There are so many dynamics to this series that expose our own insecurities, and why we seek out the unknown.

The story has many layers. There is a spiritual leader that has inspired the cult. Yet he is sick in Peru, and many believe that he will be saved by a miracle. In the United States exists a charismatic leader that believes that a miracle most likely will not happen. In fact, he thinks that lack of a miracle could lead to people becoming non-believers and the religious order disbanding. Thus lies the many story lines that are too numerous to discuss.

What makes this series incredibly special is the sub plots. Many of the characters become victim to the religious order. There are subtle explanations to religious cults, but also the dangers of organized religion. The trust we think we have within a religion is cleverly disguised as power and control. Too often, the flock can not recognize the manipulative nature that exists to ensure people stay within the box.

Another theme that is a dark exploration of faith is trauma informed decisions. The Meyerists (Cult) attract people who have trauma as a background. Trauma provides opportunity for new members. Often times, the victims of trauma blame their family and find comfort in the religious order. This is a great example of art imitating life. This theme is common in modern religion. Often times, religious outreach involves trauma involved care. For example, the trip to Guatemala to help a remote village can be masked as a recruitment trip. The goal of the trip is to trade care for Christendom. Not all faiths use this practice, however it is very common place in our modern religious outreach.

Another story line to pay particular attention to is the role of the community. People are led to believe that non-believers should not be a part of the family structure. So true in Protestant communities that are evangelical, I found these scenes to be quite powerful. Finally, a series explores how public education is the enemy to religion. It is the role of the children to recruit the non-believers in such an institution.

If you come from a family that is agnostic or mainstream, you will especially enjoy this series. It is you, that is under constant attack by organized religion. If you have had a conservative sect take over your city or town, the connections to this series can be down right haunting.

Sexual dysfunction is another story line that is dealt with in this series. Sex is an interesting sub plot. Those with trauma fall victim to a charismatic leader due to sexual dysfunction and abuse. The leader of the cult can prey on such dysfunction. This is the darkest example of power and control that the series has to offer viewers.

Religious orders often work with teenagers. They will reach out to their vulnerabilities to make them feel a part of the faith community. In the minds of the religious leaders, the parents are the enemies of faith. It is their "godless" living that led to teenage problems. It is up to the cult to fix things and make things right. If you have ever experienced such problems within your family, you will identify with this part of the series. In fact, it might hit very close to home.

Often times, Eddie Lane repeats to his family that their is no room for doubt. This is the basis for his struggles to see the light. A powerful metaphor that has several key moments in this series.

Some story lines hurt the series. The conversions happen to fast in some situations. The FBI is too inconsistent when it comes to the intent and impact I feel the storyline could have had on the show. However, these storylines are in my mind diversions, and not necessarily too harmful to the series.

The Path is a great series that opens our minds and our hearts to challenge what we believe is truth. For Cerebral Cinema viewers, it does not get much better that this series.

Hush

The United States has a fascination with serial killers. We believe in many myths presented to us by the media. Serial Killers are a small portion of our society. Any given year, there are only 25-50 active serial killers and they account for less than 1 percent of the 15000 homicides a year. Generally, they are not the psychopaths we see in the movies. The live within our community and often blend in with their peers. This makes them hard the catch and elusive to the police.

There is a movie that explores a serial killer that is very good. Hush is a movie that has a unique concept. What if the serial killer stumbles upon a victim by accident that could provide for them a unique experience compared to previous kills? In this case, the victim has lost her hearing and survives in an environment for the hearing impaired. Thus lies the conundrum. Can a serial killer adapt to a world new and unfamiliar to them? Will this new thrill be sufficient enough to satisfy their appetite for power and control?

This movie is a great thriller that examines the unique world all to familiar to our culture. And it was directed with such authenticity. The acting is superb. Because we enter the world of silence, this movie has very little dialog. Unbeknownst to the viewer, you enter that world without realizing you have transformed universes. And at times, the world on the non-hearing can provide a haunting environment for the hearing. You feel the vulnerabilities as the plot develops. You also can experience a transformation of weakness to strength, which I feel is the most compelling part of the story.

The movie's mood is dark. It provides for that edge of your seat feeling that thriller/horror movies rarely capture any more. Pop outs are more the norm compared to being on edge from suspense. You forget how important foreshadowing is until you watch this movie. A great concept for a thriller and I highly recommend it for cerebral cinema viewers.

Author's note: Hush is available on Netflix

Concussion

Concussion is a powerful movie on many fronts. I would recommend it for cerebral cinema for a couple of reasons. The movie is a great example of profits versus people. It also serves as a reminder that professional sports is putting demands on the human body that are extremely dangerous and hidden from the fans. And finally, watch Will Smith's performance and learn why African Americans protested the Oscars. His performance was truly worthy of a nomination.

From an educational point of view, the movie recreates the carnage caused by concussions in football. The story leaves little doubt about the medical problems that exist in the NFL. The powerful part of this story is the impact exposing a story can have on a person's life. Whistleblowers generally are attacked and misaligned by powerful forces. Honesty and transparency can be difficult when money is involved. During the time of the concussion connection to football, the NFL clearly wanted the information suppressed. The NFL is a billion dollar industry and concussions are a threat to the bottom line.

Concussion offers an honest glimpse into power structures and how they work in the United States. The systems of justice, clearly can be impacted by money. Corporate lawyers know how to deal with liabilities that impact the bottom line of the corporations they work for. Clearly, it is an uphill battle to fight for the truth and transparency.  Justice can have a blind eye, and Concussion is a great example how professional sports can be unjust.

Only The Dead See The End Of War

The Iraq War was a disaster. A poor foreign policy decision. The United States destabilized a region that had a ripple effect that we should never forget the consequences of our actions.

There are many very good documentaries on the war. In fact, I have reviewed one many years ago about the corporatizing of the war. Recently, I found a documentary that will serve for years as an archive how the war fell apart. The documentary, Only The Dead See The End Of War is a carnal, raw view of the war's progression into chaos.

An Iraqi Time's Magazine correspondent documented the unravelling of systems that led to chaos. I literally watched in aw as a nation of hope quickly transferred into a sectarian mess. We lacked the resources and competency to keep the nation from falling into chaos. Mission Accomplished was an embarrassment as President Bush declared the war a success.

I also could not help but judge our current President for his actions. We had a responsibility to restore order, and we abandoned the country again in 2009. While this was not a part of the movie, you can make a correlation that our leaving did leave a vacuum for ISIS. We had to have known this was a possibility, considering the well documented actions of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. He literally provided a blue print for ISIS to exists and prosper if the nation were to be plunged into chaos again.

This documentary is not for the faint of heart. Even with some digital protections, the movie provides a rare insight into what our veterans of the war went through from 2003-2007. While the media did cover the problems, we were protected from the raw videos you see in this documentary. If we saw these images, instead of the sanitized 30 sec clips given to us every night, I actually think we would have stayed to help keep Iraq stable. I think our government felt like we would have done the opposite.

Generations will look back at the historical archives such as this documentary, and not look very kindly on our decision to invade Iraq. We see the consequences all around us today. Every action, has a reaction, and we made a serious foreign policy mistake by invading Iraq. One last thing about this movie, the courage displayed by this journalist makes this documentary special. I am pretty confident most journalists would not have travelled the roads this journalist did to bring us the most authentic accounting of the unravelling of Iraq.

11.22.63

Netflix opened the door for independent movie and series a few years ago. Since inception, similar services such as HULU have produced series and movies. One that just finished up on HULU that was exceptional was 11.22.63. Based on the Stephen King novel, the series stars James Franco. This is probably one of Franco's best efforts since Planet of the Apes.

The series is based on parallel time travel. As in previous reviews, I have stated that a parallel universe has infinite possibilities for story telling. This series is a great example of the possibilities. If fact, this is the first series to reach to the level of the Twilight Zone. King cleverly tackles so many nuances, that you almost have to watch the series more than once.

Many things make 11.22.63 a great series. The authenticity of time travel is brilliant. I have studied the Kennedy Assassination, and see many original clips and pictures. JJ Adams and Stephen King create a portal in time. I literally felt like I was in Dallas in 1963.

Without spoiling the series for you, I will share that the Kennedy assassination is brilliantly woven into the story line. The last episode is an emotional cliffhanger. You are never quite sure how the series is going to end throughout the first 7 episodes. Franco, and the entire cast are part of the success of the series keeping us uncertain. They manage to give you the impression they do not know how their actions will impact history.

Plot twists abound in this series. Well written and directed, with a few adjustments from the book. From start to finish, the acting and writing is outstanding. The ending in itself,
 is truly thought provoking. I highly recommend 11.22.63.

Room

When movies are inspired by books, the results can be mixed. The toughest critics at times are the people that read the book. Higher expectations from readers are difficult to meet, because movie directors and screen writers are charged with the responsibility to make the transition smooth from paper to cinema.

One movie accomplishes in my mind the transition with striking detail. Room, which is based on the book is a very good movie. I strongly believe (I have read the book) that people watching the book will find themselves doing what I did throughout the movie, and that is thanking the producers and directors for staying true to the story.

I also found the casting was outstanding. The movie was spot on regarding each character from the book. It was as if I closed my eyes and opened them to what I would imagine the character to be like on screen.. One of the worthiest transitions I have ever witnessed. This is the kind of story that casting could be a make or break a movie. The characters are rich, and the depth of the story has a critical point of change that requires strong acting.

If you failed to read the book, spoiler alert. Room brings you into a world we can hardly imagine. The darkest depths of humanity is represented in this movie. What I loved about the book is that it touches my soul, as I hear of stories similar to room in the news. How does one transition to what we perceive as "normal." The answer may just be hope. Rent or buy room, and you decide for yourself.

From Rocky To Creed - The Legacy Continues

Rocky on a cerebral cinema blog? Of course! However this s a documentary about the evolution of Rocky. And, quite a good one. You will learn how art imitates life. Sylvester Stallone's life is quite similar to the original Rocky.

This documentary gives us insight in the evolution of Rocky as a franchise. Not all that glitters is gold in this documentary. It is about the fall from grace as much as it is about the success of the franchise.

Surprisingly, it also comes full circle with the movie Creed. The coming of age of Creed is hauntingly similar to the original Rocky. Stallone had closed the door to such an idea. Similar to the movie executives in the early 70s, the concept of Creed had to overcome some big obstacles. It took Stallone over a year to consider the concept.

For fans of Rocky, you learn a lot about Stallone. The development of the character is just part of the story. With a small budget, new innovations in production were used to save money. In a sense, less was more back then.

Stallone opens up to discuss his personal life when the first Rocky was in development. I enjoyed learning that his personal life was paved by hard work and resilience. A great lesson for kids to also learn. Check out Creed. Well worth the look. (Available on Epix and Hulu)