Carolyn Hastings

Blast from the Past

June 7, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Yeah! It’s Summer; sunshine, long lazy days and a tall glass of lemonade. And when the sun finally goes down, you get to curl up on the sofa and watch a movie that is pure fun…pure “light”! May I suggest a favorite…Blast from the Past.

In 1962, Calvin Webber (Christopher Walkin) was a brilliant but somewhat paranoid scientist living with his perfect wife, Helen (Sissy Spacek), in Los Angeles in the midst of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It was during a cocktail hour with their neighbors that a news flash came on TV somehow triggering Webber’s paranoia. Certain of an attack, he sends the neighbors home and scuttles the wife into the bomb shelter. What he doesn’t realize is that the loud noise he heard was a military plane crashing in his backyard…on top of the bomb shelter.

Mistaking the blast for the “big one,” the Webbers settle into their elaborate bomb shelter to wait out the radio-active fallout. In the shelter, now a sort of time capsule, Calvin and Helen conceived and raised their son Adam (played as an adult by Brenden Fraser). Calvin had created a replica of their home below ground.

For 35 years, Adam was raised on Jackie Gleason, Perry Como and stories about life on the surface. Calvin taught his son about science, baseball, and communists while Mom taught Adam about dancing, good manners, and charming young ladies. Just in time, too, as Adam is sent to the surface to gather supplies and find a wife, preferably a nice, non-mutant girl from Pasadena with which to repopulate the world.

Let loose in a world that he can hardly envision, Adam falls prey to the first guy he tries to do business with. He’s rescued by the street savvy Eve Rustikov (Alicia Silverstone) and his adventure begins. Completely lost above ground, Adam enlists Eve’s help to navigate his new world and find the supplies on his list.

Eve has had her hopes chipped away by a long line of dead-end jobs and loser boyfriends. When the throwback Adam enters her life with his sunny disposition, seersucker jacket, and his pure joy at seeing the sky, she can’t help but fall in love.

I watch Blast from the Past periodically just for the pure escapism. The Walkin-Spacek duo are amazing. Both are truly talented actors. While this film was probably below their talent level, they both literally “knocked it out of the park.” Brendan Fraser and Alicia Silverstone play off each other very well and Brendan is so endearing, it makes you just to pinch his cheeks. I even found something interesting this time, if you watch closely you’ll see one of my favorite TV show actors, Nathan Fillion of ‘Castle’ fame playing Eve’s ex-boyfriend.

If you are old enough to remember the Cold War you will especially like Blast from the Past but it is good family fare and I think will get a good laugh from the young ones as well, as they get a glimpse into how the ‘old people’ used to live! So, gather up the kids or the grandkids and bring in the popcorn, its movie night!

As always, I would love to hear your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com

The Book Thief

May 8, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I’m a voracious reader, so I was assuredly sucked in by the title. I wanted to see The Book Thief while it was still in the theaters but it must have caught me at a busy time because it came and before I knew it, it had left. My Granddaughter read the book and loved it so my desire to see it had not waned. The moment I got my little Netflix notice, followed quickly by Redbox, I carved out the time.

Nazi Germany during World War II was a horrible place. The Book Thief treats it lightly. I’m not saying that they gloss over anything but the book was written for a preteen to teen audience. If you are looking for gore you aren’t really going to find it here. After it was over, I realized I was more than okay with that. I’ve seen Schindler’s List, even the Disney film, Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, and though I believe everyone needs enlightenment, The Book Thief probably falls short of bringing that to the table.

Liesel (Sophie Nelisse) is a young girl who is sent to live with new parents. On the way there her younger brother dies on the train and is buried in a field. Liesel finds a book and hides it away. Though she cannot read yet, this begins a journey of a love of reading. The war takes her through death and loss, fear and distrust to love and endurance. As she moves from reading to storytelling and on to writing she found that words can be used for both good and evil.

Hans, her new father is as kind, gentle and loving as her new mother, Rosa is hurtful, brash and hard. Played by Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson, the two prove to be the seasoned pros they are. There are two other pivotal players. Max, played by Ben Schnetzer, is a young Jewish man who was the son of an old friend of Hans and Rosa. He shows up on their doorstep near death and at great risk to the family, they take him in and hide him. Max encourages Liesel in her reading and writing, always asking her to describe things to him; teaching her to not just look but observe. The other is Rudy (Nico Liersch), literally the boy next door. He befriends Liesel as soon as she arrives at her new home and doesn’t let go. They forge a great friendship that changes her life.

Death is the film’s omniscient narrator. He says he rarely gets involved in the lives of those he ultimately takes but does take an interest in Liesel and her circumstances. World War II saw many acts of unheralded courage of Germans helping Jews. Liesel’s was a testament of the endurance of a spirited and courageous young girl.

The Book Thief is the telling of a horrific event as seen through a child’s eyes that would not only be appropriate but enlightening for the whole family. There is also a Discussion Guide on the film’s website, if you want to make it a learning experience.

Delicately done. Elegantly simple. Readily available. I approve. Send me your thoughts and comments at chastings@rockcliff.com

Miracle

April 2, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

“I went to a fight and a hockey game broke out.” We’ve probably all heard that old saying but it may just be more truth than fiction. From what I can see, the kids, and often adults, who play the game are just plain tough!

We’ve just finished up with yet another amazing Winter Olympics. It was back in Russia again this year. The Canadians won the gold again in Men’s Hockey. It is usually either the Russians or the Canadians. The Canadians are our friends but there seems to be a fierce competition between the United States and Russia when it comes to most things but none more obvious than Hockey.

The year was 1980. The place was Lake Placid, New York. The Soviets had won the Gold for the last four Winter Olympics. But… in 1960 the United States team took the Gold for the first time ever, and Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) was left sitting on the sidelines watching. Having trained with the 1960 team for months, he was the last one cut from the roster. His dream of winning never faltered, so when asked to coach the team he was ready. He truly believed he could coach this scraggly bunch of college boys to victory. With no Gold Medal since 1960, no one else believed in his dream.

The first hurdle was picking the team. When questioned about his choices, he said that he wasn’t looking for the best players, he was looking for the right players. In the midst of his year-long training, he was told over and over again that he was working the boys too hard. Many held grudges against their fellow players for tactics in past games. Many were young and didn’t quite want to work that hard. Many just didn’t believe it could be done. It was his almost impossible task to mold them into a winning team.

Miracle is a David and Goliath story in a time when it was badly needed. The Cold War was a cold fact. The world was hurting. The USSR had invaded Afghanistan just a few months before. The Communist way of life threatened the very fabric of the lives of freedom-loving people around the world. Evil was alive and well and rearing its ugly head. This win was more than just a Gold Medal; it was symbolic of victory over our enemy, without a fire being shot.

I loved the poignancy of the wall in the locker room covered in telegrams from well-wishing Americans…even the one that said, “Beat those Commie Bastards”. Like I said before, in 1980, this was more than a hockey game for many. The average age of players on our team was 21. Most of the well-seasoned USSR team had been playing together for 15 years, but as Coach Brooks said, “Great moments are born from great opportunity.”

Throughout their training, Coach Brooks would occasionally ask a player, “Who do you play for?” They would say the name of their school. When he finally asked the question to one young player and heard the reply, “The United States of America.” He knew he had his team. They learned that the name on the front of the jersey was more important than the name on the back. Coach Brooks gave them not just a chance to dream, but to believe.

Miracle is a great family movie. You can watch it with your kids, your grandkids or alone. Alone might be best, that way you won’t be embarrassed when you jump out of your seat, pump your fist in the air and yell “GO USA.”

As usual, you can email me at Carolyn@rockcliff.com

Grace Unplugged: A Movie Review

March 1, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Elvis Presley. Whitney Houston. Miley Cyrus. Justin Bieber. They all have one thing in common—they were raised in the church. Good kids, no doubt.

Gracie Trey (AJ Michalka) was a good kid, too. She was raised by parents who cared for, nurtured and brought her up, not only in the church, but on the “platform” (church word for stage). John Trey (James Denton), alias Johnny Trey, had been a superstar, at least for a little while. He rose like a shooting star and crashed back to earth again, broken and spent. He finds God in the midst of his mess and never looks back.

John gave his six year old daughter her first guitar and from that day forward Grace and her Dad were inseparable. Their love of music was their bond and they were both really good at it—“naturals,” some would say. Along the way, Grace picks up the piano as well as a lot of “stage presence.” John leads the worship band in their church and Grace is his right hand. But somewhere along the way, Grace starts to dream of stardom.

It’s every parent’s dilemma. There is something embedded in us that we want more for our children; more than we had and more than we’ve achieved. We might want them to take over our family business and take it to new heights, or just maybe it’s the next hit single. But John had been there and barely survived, he knew well the pitfalls of Hollywood and that is the last thing in the world he wanted for Grace. He knew she wasn’t safe out there and he, above all, wanted her to be safe.

Let’s go back to Justin or Miley and their predecessors, who are many. Whether it’s getting an inheritance at eighteen or being “discovered” at 12, kids do not have the maturity to go down that road alone. I remember when Miley Cyrus was interviewed by Barbara Walters in the beginning of her career. Her father, Billy was there and the crux of the conversation was about her being a good girl, raised right and not about to stray from her Christian values. If you are even living in the same country you know how that has turned out. We have the same story for Justin Bieber. It makes you wonder what these kids are thinking. The fact is, probably, they aren’t. They either turn 18 or amass enough money where their parents no longer have any influence over them. Money can be a blessing or a cruel taskmaster and for the most part, these kids don’t know the difference until it’s too late.

Grace Unplugged is a wonderful, well written and acted film. It’s a great movie to watch with your kids or your grandkids. It may be just the thing that keeps them from over glamorizing stardom. I highly recommend it even if you aren’t there for the faith aspect. It’s easy to rent and well worth the buck thirty! I look forward to your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Searching for Bobby Fischer: A Movie Review

January 31, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I don’t play Chess. I’ve never played Chess. I’m not sure why, I just never knew anyone willing to teach me. I’ve never really felt like I had this huge void in my life, until maybe now. I’m sure the feeling will go away after a few days.

There are so many different vantage points from which I could approach this film, but maybe I’ll stick with what I know. I have raised two awesome children and now I have the privilege of participating in the lives of my four amazing grandchildren. All four of them have vastly different personalities, strengths, weaknesses and yet the potential I see in each of them is unlimited. My kids still get a kick out of teasing me about how I used to tell them they could do and be whatever they chose. My son even reminds me occasionally that he was full grown before he realized he was not tall enough to dunk a basketball.

Back to Searching for Bobby Fischer…for those of you who do not know, Bobby Fischer was a world champion chess player who one day just walked away. Many said he was ultimately consumed with madness. Our film today was inspired by the life of chess prodigy, Josh Waitzkin and written by his father, Fred Waitzkin. Josh (Max Pomeranc) is just a typical American boy interested in baseball when one day he challenges his father (Joe Mantegna) at chess and wins. Showing unusual talent at the outdoor matches at Washington Square in New York City, he quickly makes friends with a hustler named Vinnie who teaches him speed chess. Josh’s parents hire a renowned chess coach, Bruce Pandolfini (Ben Kingsley) who teaches Josh the usefulness of measured planning. Along the way, Josh becomes tired of Bruce’s system and chess in general and throws a match, leaving the prospect of winning a national championship in serious jeopardy.

Chess is a lot like life. At one point Josh tells his father that he’s afraid of losing, “Maybe it’s better not to be the best, then you can lose and it’s okay.” His friend, Vinnie tells him you have to risk everything, always going to the edge of defeat. During one day of lessons, Bruce tells Josh you have to hate your opponents because they hate you. Josh’s mother, Bonnie (Joan Allen) throws Bruce out and he tells her to put a child in a position to care about winning and not prepare him in wrong. Hmmm, where is the balance?

Later in life, Josh Waitzkin went on to apply his focus in other areas besides chess, also becoming a champion in martial arts. A champion at whatever he chooses!

Everyone I asked about Searching for Bobby Fischer absolutely loved it! Great family movie, great moral values. I will just tell you up front: If you want to see this movie, you might as well go online and buy it. Shop around because it is priced all over the place. Netflix has it but it says ‘very long wait’ next to the title. I am going to leave it in my queue just to see how long, “very long” really is. One thing I can tell you is that it is worth whatever you have to do to get it. As always, I welcome your comments at Chastings@rockcliff.com

About Schmidt: A Movie Review

January 2, 2014 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Hmmm. Another year. Where did this last year go? About Schmidt is the perfect example of a life lived year to year, paycheck to paycheck, never changing.

When insurance actuary Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson) retires he pretty much believes his life is over but as the scene unfolds it’s clear that in many ways his life never started. Scene one has him sitting in his corner office, belongings all boxed up, briefcase in hand, waiting for the clock to hit 5:00 pm. As it strikes, he gets up, pushes his chair in, walks to the coat hanger and puts on his coat. His career at Woodman Insurance is done. Now what? At home he continues rising early and getting dressed up to find he has no place to go and a relationship with his wife that just isn’t working and maybe never did. Then she dies.

He finds himself never getting out of his pajamas and bathrobe, watching TV at random hours, dirty dishes everywhere. Late one night he encounters a “Save the Children” program and decides to sponsor a young Tanzanian boy. His solitary life is now one to share. Ndugu is favored with Warren’s monthly checks and his tale of woe. Warren’s therapy is pouring out his life to his young friend who probably can’t even read the letters.

Warren’s only daughter (Hope Davis) is living in another state, marrying a man (Dermot Mulroney) he can’t stand so he decides to get in the motorhome he and his wife purchased for retirement and head to Denver. He thinks that if he goes early enough for the wedding it will give him time to talk her out of marrying the guy. The wonderful Kathy Bates plays his daughters mother-in-law to be, a free spirit who sets her sites on the rigid Warren. If you don’t blink you may even get to see Kathy naked in the hot tub with Warren.

Writer-Director Alexander Payne’s has created a thought-provoking and often funny drama about isolation. Jack Nicholson is marvelous in this cuttingly funny, moving portrayal of a man searching for meaning in his unremarkable, unmemorable life. All in all, I really liked About Schmidt. There is a real lesson to be learned about living our lives on auto-pilot.

So, how is your search for significance coming along? Do you have a handle on leaving some kind of legacy? I’m not talking money, I’m talking influence. You can leave a major inheritance behind and have your heirs forget you the minute the money is gone, maybe before. What Warren was missing was living his life outside of himself…living with intentionality.

Ndugu saved Warren, Warren didn’t save Ndugu. The moment he wrote his first check, his life started to change. The size of his world changed. No longer was it the size of Omaha, it reached all the way to Tanzania.

I’m not saying you have to sponsor a child, although that is amazingly rewarding but there are unlimited opportunities, both large and small awaiting those who will step outside of their comfort zones. You have another new year just waiting for you to expand your borders. So, watch this thought provoking movie and start looking forward to an amazing New Year! As always, I enjoy your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

White Christmas: A Movie Review

December 5, 2013 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Okay, the Holiday Season has officially started. No, it’s not the pre-Halloween decorations in the stores and it’s not the Peppermint Hot Chocolate at your favorite coffee place. It’s that I have dusted off my favorite Christmas movie—White Christmas! If I watch it early enough in the season, I get the joy of watching it again closer to my favorite holiday.

White Christmas is a 1954 masterpiece. Post World War II, this film is nothing short of amazing. Let me tell you why. Number one: Bing Crosby. This man was made for the 50’s favorite movie genre, the big screen musical. He has a voice that simply soaks into your being and wraps itself around your heart. Close your eyes, can you hear him singing White Christmas? I can. Number two and three (not sure in what order): Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye are the perfect co-stars. Number four would be the ultimate dancer, Vera-Ellen.

White Christmas’ music and lyrics were the genius of the one and only, Irving Berlin. I wonder if he had any idea how his song, Sisters, would be pure magic for me and my sisters, Jane and Kelly, or even my daughter, Laura, and her daughters, Emma and Sophia. Kelly and her four daughters have even used it for their phone ringtones. Well, I guess I could go on with the sister-thing but I think you get the picture. While I’m at it, I suppose I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Bing Crosby, who is no longer alive, has sold over 100 million copies of the song, White Christmas, while another 300 million have been recorded and sold by other artists. It is the most recorded song of all time! Let’s see, then there is Snow, Mandy, Count Your Blessings (instead of sheep), When You’re Dancing and Love, You Did Me Wrong. You may not remember these songs until you’ve watched the movie again, but I guarantee you’ll be humming them through the season.

I just love the full orchestra, beautiful costumes and yes, the cheesy sentimentality. The war is still fresh and the free world is full of patriots. America and their allies have saved the world and life is great… so, let’s sing and dance!

Unbelievably small-waisted and tiny Vera-Ellen is the only real dancer in the lead cast and she has mind-boggling talent. She has a scene where she does this toe tapping thing that is so fast you can hardly see her foot move. I have no idea how she managed to dance the way she did in stilettos. Vera-Ellen is not as strong as a singer but definitely carries her weight (pun) in the cast.

Rosemary Clooney was at her pinnacle. They almost didn’t cast her because she was not a dancer, but her vocals more than made up for the maneuvering that had to be done on set. An incredibly talented and sexy woman, she had a long and illustrious career. Modest and tender hearted Danny Kaye was the perfect complement to Bing Crosby. Danny had a great voice and was an amazingly good dancer. He was also a UNICEF Ambassador for over 33 years.

White Christmas is a movie for the whole family from the youngest child to the oldest grandpa or grandma. This is definitely going to be a family Holiday favorite for years to come so you might as well buy the DVD instead of renting it! As always, let me know what you think at chastings@rockcliff.com

The Ultimate Gift – A Movie Review

November 3, 2013 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I reviewed The Ultimate Gift in my column six years ago, and guess what? You’re getting it again. Not because I’m lazy, but because The Ultimate Gift is just that good. I’ll admit right up front that this movie is just a dab “preachy,” but if you’ll trust me, you’ll be inordinately pleased. The Ultimate Gift is a movie you’ll probably buy after you spent the four bucks to rent it. Now how silly is that? The reason I say that is that I know of at least four people who have, just like I did. Why? Because the message is just so good that you will think: now who could I loan this to?

Jason Stevens (Drew Fuller) is a spoiled young man who’s never had a job, lives off his trust fund, and has a shallow but pretty girlfriend. When Jason’s rich businessman grandfather, Howard “Red” Stevens (James Garner), dies Jason doesn’t really care, as he feels the man ruined his life. Nevertheless, Jason’s interest is piqued when Red’s business associate and friend, Mr. Hamilton (Bill Cobbs), along with his associate, Miss Hastings (Lee Meriwether), inform him that he’s set to inherit “the ultimate gift,” if he can pass a number of tests previously arranged by Red.

He reluctantly agrees to the challenge presented by his grandfather through a series of taped statements. His initial bad attitude makes you want to dislike him, but somehow you just can’t—even from the beginning. Here begins the episodic journey during which Jason learns about poverty, compassion, friends, death and yes, spirituality. Jason is ultimately instilled with a character that makes him give back more than he gets.

This twelve-step crash course on life takes Jason down a path that will change him forever and answer the ultimate question: “What is the relationship between wealth and happiness?” At this point you may be thinking that you’ve already seen Pursuit of Happyness, but this is a very different movie.

Along the way, Jason encounters work-ethic Gus (Brian Dennehy), a little girl Emily (Abigail Breslin) whose sharp wit and tongue manifest wisdom that leads to the bonding of Jason and Emily’s mother Alexia (Ali Hillis), and a host of other characters in the various parts of the world where Jason’s journey takes him. The end result is an examination of life that is told with enough humor and realistic dialog that it works. Jim Stovall wrote the best selling novel that features an all-star cast, including Golden Globe winner and six time Emmy nominee, Brian Dennehy, Academy Award and Golden Globe nominee James Garner, and Academy Award nominee Abigail Breslin. The film is the winner of the Heartland film Festival’s Crystal Heart Award.

The storyline is not just the story of some rich, arrogant, indulged, spoiled man. It speaks to the very essence of the human spirit—what it takes to be a truly unique, caring individual whose inner soul really understands the gifts we are all given. If you pass by this DVD because you fear it is just another sappy lecture, you will miss the pleasure of entering the realm of tender communication delivered with style and sincerity. And we all need that, especially now.

Thanksgiving is coming. The Ultimate Gift would be the perfect ending to a wonderful day spent with family. I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Bed of Roses: A Movie Review

October 4, 2013 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

Baggage, we’ve all got it. Sometimes we push it down so deep, we almost forget about it. It’s the kind of thing that comes out when you’re sitting on the sofa with a sibling at 2:00 AM. Whether you call it baggage or just history, it’s there. In some ways we are who we are because of it…or in spite of it. None of us are a clean slate.

Lisa (Mary Stuart Masterson) is a successful business executive who has gotten used to being alone but doesn’t like it very much. Abandoned by her birth parents, she then spent most of her life being raised by Stanley (S. A. Griffin). Stanley was her abusive foster father who never really loved Lisa after her adopted mother died. One day Lisa is on an important business trip and gets a call that Stanley has died. At first she doesn’t feel much. She goes about making arrangements and visiting the grave almost by rote, but she comes home exhausted and finds her pet fish dead as well. The dam bursts and Lisa releases years of emotion in racking sobs. Lewis (Christian Slater) is taking another of his nocturnal walks and looks up to see Lisa through a window. Christian is so moved by her grief that he follows her to work the next morning, finds out her name and delivers a beautiful arrangement of flowers to her office. Lisa has a boyfriend (Josh Brolin) who is just as self-absorbed as she is and their relationship is primarily one of convenience. Mary becomes obsessed with finding out who sent the flowers since her boyfriend didn’t, and goes on a mission to find the giver. She eventually finds Lewis and a relationship begins.

Lewis has baggage of his own. He owns a florist business…for a reason. He loves to deliver his flowers just to see the happiness on the faces. Of course, as in any good romance, Lewis is not a schlock. He is educated and had been very successful in another life, the self-absorbed life he lived before his own tragedy. He understands Lisa.

Bed of Roses is a beautiful story about letting go and living. It’s one of my all-time favorites in the romance category even though it was released in 1996. Mary Stuart Masterson and Christian Slater are both amazingly talented. They are also believable because they are a bit quirky, and relatable because they’re not necessarily considered two of the Hollywood “beautiful people.”

So when the weather starts to turn chilly and a fire in the fireplace sounds appealing, make some popcorn and curl up on the sofa for a wonderful evening of entertainment. It won’t knock your socks off but it just might let you have some pleasant dreams.

My hope is that you’ve all found someone in your life in which you can trust your “baggage.” As always, I invite your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

Bully: The Movie

September 1, 2013 by Carolyn Hastings Leave a Comment

I cut my hair for ‘Locks of Love’ last week. Twelve inches pulled back into a pony tail and snip, it’s on its way to a child who may not be able to afford a wig after treatment for a devastating illness. I look at hair like I look at blood: A renewable resource.

While having my hair cut, my hairdresser mentioned that she was leaving for the 2013 NO BULL Teen Video Awards as a volunteer hair and make-up artist. Okay, she had me hooked and I wanted to learn more from this selfless woman.

Directed by Sundance and Emmy award winning filmmaker, Lee Hirsch, Bully is a beautifully cinematic, character driven documentary. At its heart are those with huge stakes in this issue whose stories each represent a different facet of America’s bullying crisis. Bully follows five kids and families over the course of a school year. Stories include families who have lost children to suicide and a mother awaiting the fate of her 14-year old daughter who has been incarcerated after bringing a gun on the school bus. With an intimate glance into homes, classrooms, cafeterias and principals offices, the film offers insight into the often cruel world of the lives of bullied children.

I truly cannot say that I enjoyed this film. But once in a while I need to see films like Bully. We all do. Without someone or many someones bringing issues like this to the surface, where would we be? Social injustices buried deeper and deeper? By my very nature I am a “solution seeker.” I watched Bully, intently. I came to the conclusion that it is less of a checklist for eliminating abusive behavior than an emotionally powerful wake-up call for a society too long in denial.

I wondered why this powerful movie was filmed from the perspective of the victims. I did not find any real insight into the Bully. They prey on the small, the weak, the disabled, too smart, too dumb, too ugly, too beautiful, too rich, too poor, sexual orientation or maybe just a different color skin—but why? What makes a Bully be a bully? Does it start small in kindergarten and end in high school by killing someone or driving them to suicide? I found more questions than answers. What does a bully look like? I don’t know, but I do know they are on the school grounds and on the school busses. I have four beautiful grandchildren and that scares me, for they are faceless enemies.

So, what is being done about this national crisis? The Bully Project is an all-out war on the problem. To start with, over 2 million kids in schools all over America have screened Bully since it was released in 2012 and it doesn’t stop there. If you have a few moments go online and check it out! You can even view the winners of the 2013 NO BULL National Education Conference and Teen Video Awards. I watched them and was amazed at the talent and conviction of these teens. I am inclined to stand back and let these kids find the solutions. One high school slogan: ”The bystander stops the bully,” is right on target!

School is back in session. Let’s raise our awareness of this diabolical issue. If everyone becomes part of the solution, we may not need a sequel to this eye-opening film. As always you can voice your opinion by emailing me at Chastings@rockcliff.com