Something the Lord Made

In 1930, the skilled carpenter Vivien Thomas (Yasiin Bey) loses his job and is hired by the arrogant Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) as a janitor in Vanderbilt. But soon Vivien is promoted to lab technician due to his skills. Vivien expects to join the medical school but his savings are lost in the Great Depression. Dr. Blalock moves to the Johns Hopkins University and brings Vivien with him. Along the years, they develop the bypass surgery using dogs as guinea pigs. When they save the first blue baby, their surgery technique becomes a worldwide success. But Vivien has no credit for his accomplishment. Will time correct this omission?

"Something the Lord Made" is a wonderful film that discloses the story of the first bypass surgery. The situation of Vivien Thomas is heartbreaking, in a period of great racism in the United States of America. The conclusion of this true story is gratifying and moving. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Quase Deuses" ("Near Gods")

I have seen this movie at least 8 times since it first appeared last summer and never tire of it. I must add that my entire adult working life has been in the field of medicine so maybe I have more interest than some. The names of the residents in this film are names I have heard throughout my career. I am amazed by the genius of Vivien Thomas (or anyone without medical training who could understand as he did) and at the fact that Doctor Blalock accepted him as an individual (most of the time), without regard to his race or lack of medical education. I cannot think of actors who would have done a better job than Alan Rickman or Mos Def and I applaud them, and the rest of the cast, as well as the producers, for bringing this wonderful story to life. I can only hope it will be available on DVD soon, if not yet. I have told at least 100 people about this movie, without giving away too much detail. If you are interested in medicine, and the development of new procedures that change lives, especially of the very, very young, then this is a movie for you. Even if you do not have a medical background, it is worth seeing for the genius and compassion of those two men who did not allow the racial climate of the times to overpower their desire to make a difference. To all the residents who learned at Hopkins from these two gifted men, be forever grateful that their lives touched yours, albeit briefly. We lost two very gifted men who did an exceptional job of training others to follow in their footsteps. Jeers to the staff members who were ruled by race and education and a firm salute to those who were not. I give it a 10!

I'm a physician who has been involved with children with congenital heart disease, including "blue babies." This movie will move you, regardless of who you are. Drs. Blalock & Taussig, whose ingenious procedure is used to convey the aspects of this film (Blalock-Taussig Shunt), were two of my 'heros.' The amazing genius and operative dexterity of surgical research phenomenon Vivian Thomas, and his focus on, love for, and persistence with his work against seemingly unscale-able obstacles, in superbly portrayed by Mos Def. His achievements, out of his background and lack of opportunities, made me feel that I should have been able to do much more than I have, given how much more was just handed to me. We should all feel we can accomplish greatly, and without resorting to destructive acts or words, when seeing the manner with which this class-act man performed. The depiction of the incredible bravery of Blalock, Taussig, and Thomas, who were embarking on not just uncharted, but forbidden surgical waters, warned that if such an "adventure" went awry, they'd be "on their own", made me feel timid and lacking in fortitude, by comparison. SEE (actually FEEL) THIS MOVIE!!

I saw this movie this morning in my hotel room in Washington, DC. I was packing to go home as it was on and just a few minutes into it, I had to stop and just sit and watch. I was so moved by it, that I had to wait a while before I could leave. The tears were just streaming down my face. Later, as I was driving home, I passed an exit on the highway that indicated it was the road that eventually led to "Johns Hopkins University". I almost took that exit, but didn't because I had to get home. But I'm determined to soon make that trip to the University if only to spend a few minutes looking at the portrait of Dr. Thomas. What an incredible story and what an incredible actor Mos is. I do not have HBO at home, so I'm hoping that this movie is released on DVD. If it is, I will be purchasing multiple copies to give as gifts. A wonderful, wonderful story acted out by extremely talented actors.

Definitely, ten stars.

I actually avoided this movie for awhile..my mistake..It was so exhilarating...the characters were so real....and it reveals the true state of racial bias in the thirties/forties without harping...the real story is about the relationship between two very diverse people who shared a common dream....excellent performances by Richman and Def! What an understated overwhelming story...told in a poignant fashion over the background of the Depression, WW II, and the history of modern surgery!!

I got so very interested in the procedures, I had to scour the internet to research the story... This is the first I recall seeing Mos Def. He was so believable...