Music Within (2007)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Steven Sawalich

Writers:

Bret McKinney (written by) &
Mark Andrew Olsen (written by) ...

Genre:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Experience a movie that will make you believe anyone can change the world.

Plot:

The true story of Richard Pimentel, a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past, who returns from Vietnam severely hearing -impaired and finds a new purpose in his landmark efforts on the behalf of Americans with disabilities.

Plot Keywords:

Disability | Vietnam | Friendship | Physical Disability | Bomb

Awards:

1 win

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Nov. 16	6:55 PM	TMC
Thur. Nov. 19	8:15 AM	TMC
Thur. Nov. 19	6:25 PM	TMC

Cast

Clint Jung	...	Richard's Dad
Marion Ross	...	Grandma
Rebecca De Mornay	...	Richard's Mom
Janssen Van De Yacht	...	Toddler Richard
Ridge Canipe	...	Young Richard
Paul Michael	...	Joe
John Livingston	...	Mr. Parks
TyZhaun Lewis	...	Aaron
Ron Livingston	...	Richard
Arlene Ancheta	...	Chinese Restaurant Owner
Linda Burden-Williams	...	Bambi
Hector Elizondo	...	Dr. Padrow
Joel Bryant	...	Sergeant Taylor
Kevin Sage	...	PFC Sage
Brett Donowho	...	McMahon

MPAA:

Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug content.

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Beaverton, Oregon, USA

Company:

Articulus Entertainment

Goofs:

Anachronisms: While in Vietnam, the main character and others are seen wearing the subdued 101st Airborne division patch, which had not yet been designed and was not allowed for wear until nearly 20 years after the film takes place. Interestingly, the correct full-color patch is more readily available today.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars (1977)

Soundtrack:

Baby Don't Leave

A Gem of a Film - One of the year's Best

When you have been watching movies for over 30 years and you come across a gem like Music Within, it keeps you coming back for more. This true story (The subject of the film Richard Pimentel verified the historical accuracy at the Dallas Film Festival screening) is both heartfelt, informative and laced sensitively with humor and insightful one liners. I had the privilege of seeing this at the Dallas Film Festival, though it does not apparently open for general release until September. After the screening, the Director, producer and both Ron Livingstone and Yul Vazquez were accompanied by Richard Pimentel himself for Q and A, which allowed some helpful insights not only into the making of the movie, but also the impact the movie is hopefully going to have on understanding those with disabilities and their assimilation into the workplace. The story itself unfolds chronologically and retells Richard's quest to find the 'music within' through a series of events including his own injury in Vietnam that caused a sever hearing disability and started Richard on the road to his eventual calling to aid others in finding work despite their disabilities. Eventually this even to a significant impact on the enacting of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As for the film itself, the acting of Ron Livingstone and Michael Sheen is particularly notable and I would be surprised if Sheen is not seen as a candidate for best supporting actor at the Academy awards next year. The other notable success is the outstanding screenplay. McKinney,Kennemer and Olsen may not yet be household names, but based on this showing, we will be seeing a lot more of their work in the future. Highly recommended - don't miss it when it comes to a cinema near you!