Monday, September 8, 2014

Unusual people in history marathon



Tonight's marathon is about experiencing the journeys of three highly unusual and influential men who not only grew up to make their marks on history, but also inspired and changed the lives of the people around them. These men were considered outsiders for their time periods because of their abnormal characteristic traits, whether aging backwards starting old then dying young, or having a low IQ but possessing a great heart, or an African American Butler who is the undisclosed caretaker for numerous US Presidents who manages to alter the outcome of historical events through his tenure in the White House. Tonight's marathon is about experiencing the journey of three men who went on a path wanting to make a mark on history and find out their true purpose in life. We have on our menu for this evening.

        The Curious Case of Benjamin Button 2008, Forrest Gump 1994, and Lee Daniels Butler 2013

What all three of these films do so well in executing is making us care about these characters and make us feel what they feel. Leave it to David Fincher to make you empathize with a man who is born old but grows backwards. A man who learns to sail, learns to love, and ultimately learns the true meaning of life. Leave it to Tom Hanks to take you on an emotional journey and make you care so much about a man who may not be the sharpest color in the box, but in the end, he is going to be there to save your life whether you're with him in Vietnam, or on a sailboat as first Mate. Forrest Gump is an amazing film about a man who just wanted acceptance in his life, and to win the heart of the woman he loved named Jenny. Benjamin Button was in the same boat with Cate Blanchett's character. Forrest Whittaker's character Cecil Gaines romances with Gloria Gaines while doing his tenure at the White House. Butler has several star studded cameos ranging from Cuba Gooding Jr and Terrence Howard to Robin Williams, Live Schreiber, Jane Fonda, and Alan Rickman as former presidents and friends of Cecil. With a star studded cast such as the likes of this, how did this movie not get a single Oscar nomination in the last Oscar ceremony.

All three of these movies are about self discovery and hope. The hope that the wonderful people in these stories get what they so desperately wanted in life such as love, happiness, contentment, and acceptance. It is one big emotional journey and an experience that makes the audience stop and reflect on what their needs and desires are in life. Bravo to a great marathon.

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