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This Month's Movie: "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"
Please join us in the Sanctuary on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at 8pm ET/6pm MT to discuss and share your thoughts and inspiration after watching, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. This movie discussion will be facilitated by Rev. Kelly Barber.
Lloyd Vogel is an investigative journalist who receives an assignment to profile Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers. He approaches the interview with skepticism, as he finds it hard to believe that anyone can have such a good nature. But Roger's empathy, kindness and decency soon chips away at Vogel's jaded outlook on life, forcing the reporter to reconcile with his own painful past.
This Month's Movie: "Somewhere in Queens"
Please join us in the sanctuary Sunday, July 23 at 8pm ET/6pm MT to discuss your thoughts and spiritual insights after watching, Somewhere in Queens." This month's movie discussion will be facilitated by Rev. Jacquelyn Eckert.
In the bustling neighborhood of Queens, where dreams intertwine with reality, there exists a heartfelt tale of parental devotion embodied in the character of Matthew Russo. Somewhere In Queens revolves around the life of Matthew and his father, Leo, who yearns for nothing but the best for his beloved child. He is willing to go to extraordinary lengths to ensure his success in every aspect of life. Despite their differences, Leo persistently encourages Matthew to embark on a path that diverges from his own. Yet, as the layers of Leo’s motivations unfold, we are left wondering: Is Leo truly acting in Matthew’s best interest, or does he seek peace within himself?
- Overview by fugitive.com
This Month's Movie: "Revolver"
Please join us in the Sanctuary Sunday, August 27 at 8 pm ET/6 pm MT to discuss your thoughts and spiritual insights after watching, "Revolver."
Synopsis
Revolver centres on Jake Green (Statham). Released after seven years in solitary incarceration, he gambles his way to a small fortune. He thence seeks to exact revenge on Macha (played by a delightfully overstated Ray Liotta) – a power-hungry casino owner who was the cause of Green’s unjust imprisonment. Green duly humiliates Macha, only to subsequently fall foul of a mysterious disease that leaves him with only three days to live. Meanwhile, Macha orders a hit on Green and executes his entourage. This forces Green to enlist the services of two mysterious loan sharks, Avi and Zack, who promise him safety in exchange for all his money, along with his unquestioning compliance with their demands. We watch Green’s turmoil through the supposed last few days of his life as he loses all control. As director Ritchie remarked in an interview, “there’s nothing quite like death looming on the horizon to precipitate events.”
Key Themes
Four key quotations appear during the opening credits of the film, and appear as themes throughout the film, through the explicit presentation of the quote, the paraphrasing of the quote by a character, and the repetition of it both explicitly and implicitly. They are: “The only way to get smarter is by playing a smarter opponent” (The Fundamentals of Chess, 1875); “There is no avoiding war, it can only be postponed to the advantage of your enemy” (Niccolò Machiavelli, 1502); “The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you would ever look” (Julius Caesar, 75 BCE); and “The first rule of business, protect your investment” (Etiquette of the Banker, 1775).
These quotes can be grouped under two sub-headings: The Ego and Self-War.
-Overview by Philosophy Now
This Month's Movie: "How to Train Your Dragon"
Join us in the Sanctuary Sunday, September 24th 2023 at 8pm ET/6pm MT to discuss this month's movie, How to Train Your Dragon. Bring your thoughts and insights to the group for spiritual exploration and the value this movie has for you. Joy Bedford will facilitate this discussion group.
Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) is a Norse teenager from the island of Berk, where fighting dragons is a way of life. His progressive views and weird sense of humor make him a misfit, despite the fact that his father (Gerard Butler) is chief of the clan. Tossed into dragon-fighting school, he endeavors to prove himself as a true Viking, but when he befriends an injured dragon he names Toothless, he has the chance to plot a new course for his people's future.
This Month's Movie: "The Fundamentals of Caring"
All are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary, Sunday October 22, 2023 at 8pm ET/ 6pm MT for the discussion of this month's movie The Fundamentals of Caring. Come and share what you noticed as valuable and meaningful as this movie invites you to look no deeper than at your own Self. Rev. Kelly Barber will facilitate this discussion group.
The movie is an adaptation of the book with a similar title, The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving written by Jonathan Evison. It is a heartwarming comedy with light and dark humor while addressing topics such as disability, depression, fear, love and heartbreak.
The Fundamentals of Caring tells the story of Trevor who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and caregiver Ben. They both have their own demons so to speak and decide to set out on a road trip together that sees them build a friendship that they never knew they needed.
Throughout the road trip, they stop off at some of the country’s lamest roadside attractions, including the biggest bovine, with the overall aim to visit the world’s largest hole in the ground. On the way, they meet teenage hitchhiker Dot (Selena Gomez) who Trevor is instantly attracted to.
Dot pushes Trevor to overcome his fears and to live life outside the four walls of his home he has spent most of his life. Having only ever ventured no more than an hour away from home, this road trip is life-changing for Trevor as well as Ben and Dot.
-Overview by Simply Emma
This Month's Movie: "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
This month's discussion of the movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas, will be facilitated by Rev. Anne Blanchard on Sunday, November 26th at 8pm ET/6pm MT.
Anne has invited all to join in the Sanctuary to watch this classic Christmas animated movie together in "real time," and then share what arises in you from this experience.
Anne suggests to consider these questions as you watch the unfoldment of this timeless Christmas story:
- What if this classic children's tale is really a very deep Truth teaching in disguise?
- What if this too is an example of the consistent wisdom in the universe which, once one opens their heart to it, appears everywhere by the hand of universal grace?
- What unique inner guidance is here for us to discern in this timeless holiday standard that helps us live more in tune with our true nature, awakening to one True Self?
If you would like to watch the movie in advance, you can find it on, dailymotion.com
This Month's Movie: "Mr. Nobody"
This month's discussion of the movie Mr. Nobody will be facilitated by Joy Bedford and Pieter van Proooijen, on Sunday, January 28th at 8pm ET/6 pm MT. Please join us and share what you found helpful or meaningful as you experience this movie.
It is the year 2092. Nemo Nobody is 118 years old and is the last remaining mortal human on earth, as, due to medical advances, all other humans are immortal. He is being interviewed in order to document his life, but the stories he tells seem to run parallel to each other. How could he be in several places at the same time, living, as it were, multiple lives?
-overview by grantss
This month's Movie: "Phenomenon"
All are welcome to join us in the Sanctuary, Sunday February 25th, 2024 at 8pm ET/6pm MT to discuss this month's movie, Phenomenon. Bring your thoughts and insights to the group for spiritual exploration and share the meaningfulness this movie has for you. Kelly Barber will facilitate this discussion.
Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Phenomenon is a deeply satisfying movie directed by Jon Turteltaub that celebrates the bounties and the mystery of the human spirit. On his 37th birthday, George (John Travolta), a mechanic in a small California town, is knocked over by a flash of light from the sky. He then discovers that he can't sleep at night, has telekinetic powers, can reads four books a day, and is able to sense pre-earthquake activity. George's amplified brain power confounds Doc (Robert Duvall), his surrogate father, and Nate (Forest Whitaker), his best friend.
A prank with a nearby Air Force base draws out the FBI which labels George "a security risk" after testing his mental acumen. Soon the townsfolk turn against him believing that he is either an alien or a wacko. George's diverse interests in foreign languages, cryptology, organic gardening, and solar heat are a threat to them. In addition to Doc and Nate, the only one in town to stand by him is Lace (Kyra Sedgwick), a single mom he's courting. In the end, George's transformation into a wunderkind is superseded by an even bigger surprise that reveals him to be a deeply spiritual man who demonstrates selfless love, sees clearly, serves others, and honors the connections between all things.
-From Spirituality & Practice
This Month's Movie: "A Man Called Otto"
Please join us in the Sanctuary Sunday, March 24th, 2024 at 8pmET/6pm MT to discuss this month's movie, A Man Called Otto. Bring you're spiritual insights and contemplative thoughts to share with the group. This discussion will be facilitated by Connie Poole.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With people finding it hard to like him, grizzled widower Otto Anderson has earned a reputation for being the neighborhood's irascible, unbearable old grump. But what do they know? And then, just when life seemed to have lost its meaning, sunny new neighbor Marisol and her family move in across the street, interrupting the short-fused curmudgeon's secret plans to go out with a bang. And as the undaunted newcomer's generosity and compassion wear down the frigid misanthrope, melting his ice-cold heart one act of kindness at a time, a question emerges. Is Otto the grumpiest man in America?
-overview by Rick Reganas
