Six Powerful Movies 

that we think transcend ‘forgiveness in form’…

For discussion of true forgiveness: click here

{** denotes Christmas Movies}

1) “To End All Wars” :  Based on a true story, WWII concentration camp where prisoners use non-dualistic writers like Plato & Shakespeare  to transcend their painful existence in the prison camp (free on Amazon Prime)

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2) “The Railway Man”: Also based on a true story about ‘real’ forgiveness ($4 on Amazon Prime)

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** 3) “Joyeux Noel”  : based on true stories, WWI battlefield where two opposing sides come together at Christmas time (Paramount +)

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** 4) “Collateral Beauty” : beautifully done story about learning to forgive oneself ($5 on Prime)

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** 5) “It’s A Wonderful Life” : Frank Capra’s timeless story with Jimmy Stewart (on Prime)

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6) “Gandhi”  :  nuff said  ($4 on Amazon Prime)

Also highly recommended:

“Letters” : dramatic portrayal of Mother Teresa’s early life on Google Play

Field of Dreams on Prime

Enemy Mine on Prime

** A Midnight Clear (YouTube)

Two Movies about Beethoven:

Immortal Beloved on Google Play

Copying Beethoven on Google Play

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Stepping back and playing/joining as one ‘whole’..

A Late Quartet  on Prime

Father/Son ‘Stuff:’

The Judge on Hulu (free), $4 on Prime

Kodachrome on Netflix

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Mother/Daughter ‘Stuff:’

Ladybird on Netflix

Steel Magnolias on Prime

Stuck in… Time-Loop Movies:

Palm Springs (2020) – 7.4  (new & funny)

● Available on Hulu

Palm Springs takes the time loop concept into the romantic-comedy category when a bridesmaid, Sarah (Cristin Milioti), finds herself stuck in a time loop on the day of her sister’s wedding, where another guest, Nyles (Andy Samberg) has already been reliving the day for a very long time. While stuck in the loop, they fall in love. However, while Sarah wants to find a way out of the loop, Nyles wants to stay.

Critics praised the film for its performances and for using the time loop concept as a metaphor for relationships and marriage.

Looper (2012) – 7.4 (caution: pretty violent)

● Available on Starz

In a dystopian future, victims are sent back through time from an even worse future to be disposed of in their past. At the heart of this elaborate system of mob execution lies the titular “Loopers”, hitmen who are bound to their fate by the knowledge that they too will one day be sent back in time to be killed and forgotten forever.

Writer and director Rian Johnson wove an excitingly original sci-fi story with this thriller about a Looper who loses his older self in the past and must track them down. It’s a movie that clearly cares more about the emotional impact of the story than it does scientific accuracy, even on a theoretical level. But that’s never something that holds it back and sci-fi fans instantly took to it.

Source Code (2011) – 7.5

● Available on Showtime

Directed by Duncan Jones, Source Code tells the story of an army pilot (Jake Gyllenhaal) who is sent into the body of a deceased train passenger through whom he must relive the eight minutes leading up to the detonation of a bomb that destroys the train.

The movie is a taut thriller that’s full of twists and turns as it relies on the protagonist not fully understanding how he was dropped into his predicament in the first place. It’s a grippingly stylish take on the time loop idea, with the 8-minute window keeping the story moving along–quite fittingly–like a locomotive.

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Edge Of Tomorrow (2014) – 7.9   (a Tim favorite)

● Available for purchase on Prime Video

Based on the Japanese light novel All You Need Is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow revolves around an alien invasion wherein a cowardly public relations officer (Tom Cruise) is killed in battle, only to relive the same day and battle repeatedly. The movie received positive reviews from critics, but the box office was considered lukewarm.

When released on home media, the movie’s tagline “Live. Die. Repeat.” was rebranded as the movie’s title, leading to some confusion. However, the title in the movie itself remains the same. Despite its mediocre box office, home media sales were very good and talk of a sequel has persisted for years.

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** Groundhog Day (1993) – 8.0

● Available on Starz

The benchmark by which all time-loop movies are judged, Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray stars as Phil Connors, a weatherman who finds himself reliving Groundhog Day again and again. In living the day over and over, he ultimately becomes a better person.

Over time, audiences have found many philosophical and spiritual aspects to the movie. Notably, its exploration of the five stages of grief, Buddhist teachings, and many Catholics view Phil’s time loop as purgatory and that he can only be freed by embracing selflessness. Whatever the intention, audiences will be viewing Groundhog Day over and over again for years to come.

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Sisyphus  (Modern Korean sci-fi series on Netflix): click here

12:01   (hard to find… click here)