Music Within

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Starring: Rebecca De Mornay
Rated: R (Restricted)
Type: DVD
Directed By: Steven Sawalich
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
Release Date: 2008-04-08
Ron Livingston delivers the performance of a lifetime in this acclaimed film based on the incredible true-life story of Richard Pimentel. Deafened by a bomb blast in Vietnam, Richard (Livingston) returns home and discovers his life's calling: helping others with disabilities, including his fellow veterans. Along with his bestfriend Art (Michael Sheen), a wheelchair-bound rebel with a wicked wit, Richard fights for the rights of those whose voices can't always be heard. Music Within is a powerful and inspiring journey that every American should take.

See People Not The Differences
What an amazing, enjoyable movie. It's a small film, with a wonderful message - don't see the handicap, just see people.

This movie reminded me of a comment I heard on Canadian radio, there is this whole myth that we were somehow much more polite and had manners in the 60's, 50's and earlier. But those wonderfully mannered polite people mistreated people who were different, race, gender, ability, and age. Those polite people enacted an "ugly law." There's nothing polite or proper about all that. Today we may be rude to eachother with cell phones, and imperfect manners - but nobody today would even think of an "ugly law." You see a very similar message in "Mad Men," the television drama about 1950's Madison Avenue advertising men, and their treament of women.

I loved the message of this film. I bought the characters, every one of them. I am very happy I spent an hour and a half with this film.

Although this film does have some faults. It loses steam just after Richard comes back from Viet Nam. There's some missteps very near the end with Christine, where the film loses it's way. But over all, a totally enjoyable film, with some minor flaws.

By the way, having the subtitles on, is actually a big help with this film.

The Movie is Never as Good as the Man!
I've had the privilege of meeting Mr. Pimentel and hearing him tell his own story with great humor, energy, self-deprecation and panache. They say that people are put into each others lives for a purpose. Thus, Art and Richard were the spark that ignited the original Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, offering accommodations in public buildings and the workplace to those for whom opportunity had previously been abysmally absent.
Over time, the Supreme Court and appointed EEOC regulators, emasculated the purpose of the act by too narrowly drawing the definition of disability. In many circumstances, merely taking prescribed medication, regardless of its effectiveness, would be sufficient mitigation to deny the existence of disability. Episodic or relapsing-remitting conditions (such as, seizure disorders or MS) would not be considered disabling because of their lack of constancy, despite their unpredictability. And those simply 'perceived' to have had some illness and then not hired, could not claim they were discriminated against.
But, Richard Pimentel again returned to the drawing board and in September of this year, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 was signed into law. It goes into effect 1/1/09, clarifying the 'Broad' definition of Disabilities, the reassertion of rationality into the decision making process regarding mitigation, episodic conditions, body systems, activities of daily living and communication. In essence, the intent of the ADA has been resurrected. And, hopefully for all the Richards and Arts of this country, those who seek the old fashioned 'outright intentional exclusion' will have had their last hurrah.

Well meaning, but ...
You can admire the source material and respect a tough battle won without actually appreciating the end result (ie, the film). There is just too little material and stretched to the limit. The sensation of been there, seen that is just too strong.

A Must View for the Disabled!
Wonderful movie about the ADA and how it was started. My only regret is that it was not in descriptive video for more enjoyment by blind individuals. I was delighted that the movie took place in my home city of Portland, OR. Even after all of the hard work in putting together the ADA, the disabled community are still very much discrimintated against in employment, accessible accomodations, and equal availability to services.

How can a civilised society ever legislate an Ugly Law?
I have the same disability as Art (cerebral palsy), so I watched this movie from that perspective. The story was one that needed to be told. I live in New Zealand and have never been arrested because I have cerebral palsy. I was shocked that Art and Richard were arrested. I wanted the waitress to be arrested.

How can any civilised society legislate an Ugly Law?

I loved Art's sense of humour, and the close friendship he developed with Richard. I thought Micheal Sheen played the character of Art very well, but I think it's about time that actors with cerebral palsy were chosen to play these roles. It's a film everyone should see.

Allyson Hamblett