The Shift

Mega kudos to the writer, producer, director, actors, and all involved in the making of this film. I agree wholeheartedly with a previous review writer that this film can be life-altering, and would like to add that it can also be a very powerful and helpful resource for those who may be going through a "shift" in their life.

From the perspective of having done coaching and consulting work over the past two to three decades, I can not overstate how powerful this film can be in helping people understand the way values and outlook on life seem to change so mysteriously at a certain point in their lives. Having read and carefully studied the research which Wayne Dyer (RIP, our friend) refers to in this film, I recommend that anyone who watches and feels the powerful tugs and grips this film can have on a person consider purchasing the book based on the study.

As a filmmaker, I also find the production work to be technically excellent. It truly underscores the fact that a film with a true story (in this case multiple embedded stories) can truly grab and hold a viewer's attention without the need for high-dollar special effects and visual effects. This film accomplished that through the sheer power of its truthfulness and exploration of topics that many (most?) people end up dealing with personally at some point in life.

Whether a person is in a shift, headed for a shift, or coming out of a shift in life, this film is a "must have" and "must watch" view for anyone looking to make sense out of and deal with the process of entering "the afternoon of life," which should -- if anything -- be the very brightest and best part of life.

Get it. Watch it. And don't be surprised if you find yourself watching it over and over and getting added meaning from it every time you load it and hit "play." While you're at it, you might want to also find "Painting the Future," which is an excellent companion to this film.

Namaste

I stumbled upon this outstanding film on YouTube this week and have already watched it twice. I know I will need to watch it at least a third time to glean all I missed the first couple times through. And that seems to be the mantra of those who have enjoyed it--you can't watch it just once. (And based on a review here I went ahead and ordered the two-disc expanded edition. This is a film I want to have a hard copy of on the shelf and readily accessible.)

THE SHIFT is a carefully choreographed movie, with all the seemingly disparate subplots dovetailing perfectly. I admired the writer, director, and editor for pulling that off with such aplomb. And it's one of the fastest-moving two-hour movies I have ever seen, wholly without lulls or padding. Every scene propels the story forward and fleshes out the characters.

All the characters and their stories intrigued me, but the two I was most drawn in by were David the filmmaker and the mother who aspired to be a painter. They were good, sincere, creative people and I wanted to see them succeed. Yeah, David was rude and annoying, taking calls right during the filming of Dyer's interview! He made it clear he had contempt for this documentary side gig and all his ambition and attention was on the big project. The loving and self-sacrificing mother was cut to the core when out of the mouth of babes came a blunt denial of an integral part of her. It was a pivotal moment, but that moment of pain led to the rebirth of her passion for painting. I did think she acted irrational when her bumbling but well-meaning husband insisted on seeing her work and she threw a tantrum. Seeing it and admiring it proved instrumental in his agreeing to give her a week's respite from motherhood to pursue her artistic ambitions.

Dr. Wayne Dyer's insights are also expertly woven through the film. I appreciated how the producers would allow the audience time to process what he said by cutting to the stories of the characters, each of which illustrated Dyer's points. I also liked how the camera crew were drawn in by Dyer's teachings. To them this quickly became more than merely a job but a mission to plumb the depths of life's meaning.

Dyer deserves credit for presenting himself as human and flawed. I admit when the film opened with Dyer's waking up in the wee small hours to hand write his book by candlelight I feared I was in for a hagiography of a holy man. But Dyer was frank about his human frailties, such as his drinking problem. His story of abruptly quitting beer guzzling after the 4:05 epiphany is one that will stick with me. It made Dyer more approachable and I respected him all the more for his honesty about that and his early ego-driven ambitions to be a wealthy, famous bestselling author.

A subtle scene worth noting in closing. Early in the film wedding singer Ethan Lipton is talking TWILIGHT ZONE with the wedding planner. Her favorite episode is "Kick the Can," in which some senior citizens regain their youth. Hmm, that show's theme is a relevant one here, I thought, smiling, because I'm a longtime and dedicated fan of the series and appreciated the reference to it. Then I realized as the film unfolded this conversation was very intentional and not without meaning. I am confident the character of Joe the caretaker was an homage to the street peddler in the TWILIGHT ZONE episode "What You Need." In that episode, an old street peddler knows exactly what people need even when they don't, and he provides it. And that is exactly Joe's role in the film, bringing in snacks, art supplies, a baby outfit, and an inspiring word of wise counsel at the very moment people needed it. I marveled at this masterstroke of the writer's, and it added immensely to my enjoyment of this excellent film.

I was so lost when I stumbled across this movie... it was truly inspirational, thought-provoking, it changed the way I looked at my life, other people and it enabled me to become the person I've always wanted to be. This song / video is so uplifting and I've recently found it again after a long time! RIP Dr. Wayne Dyer, you will truly be missed!

This is a two-DVD set: the first DVD is the "movie" (which is more of a docudrama) and is 2 hours long. The second is a supplemental disc containing about 2+ hours of interviews, additional movie footage, and music. Both DVD's are excellent and worth a few dollars more for the set, as compared to the single DVD version that is also available. The second DVD contains the taped interview with Dr. Dyer that the movie was ultimately written around. It goes into depth into areas sometimes only touched on in the movie itself.

The movie follows the stories of various guests checking into a beautiful resort along the California Coast: a young family; a wealthy couple with a troubled marriage; and my favorite, an ambition-driven director, wonderfully played by Michael Deluise, whom I remember as a frequent guest star on the Gilmore Girls. (Some trivia here - he is also the son of Dom Deluise.) The director and his small crew are filming a docudrama starring Dr. Dyer (played as himself).

All of the key characters in the film experience what Dr. Dyer describes as a "quantum moment". It opens the door to transformation for them as they recognize and begin to live "the music inside" that Dr. Dyer teaches we were all born with but too often push aside while we are busy living our lives. One of the key points in the movie: what if we come to the end of our life and discover it was all wrong?

The three stories (as well as some additional, interesting character development) are expertly woven throughout the movie and accompanied by voice-over's from Dr. Dyer. His deep, soothing voice always seems to hit the mark and works perfectly within each scene that it is added to. (Not too much, not too little.) The dramatizations are used to illustrate Dr. Dyer's timely teaching of transformation from a life of ambition into a more meaningful life; a life that can be just as successful and full of prosperity and ambition as you desire but with greater significance through a deeper, spiritual motivation. It is a wonderful departure from the usual "live-audience seminar" format of most personal growth DVD's.

The narrative and story lines used as a way to exemplify the ideas presented here remind me of another Hay House production also directed by Michael Goorijan "You Can Heal Your life" starring Louise Hay, as well as another docudrama (not related to Hay House or Goorijan) "What The Bleep Do We Know?". (I recommend the "Quantum Edition", as you can edit out the sometimes tasteless dramatizations, & it offers hours of additional interviews). Although both of these are excellent DVD's and highly recommended, "Ambition to Meaning" is so expertly written, directed, acted and produced that it has raised the bar and taken this genre to a whole new level. The cinematography of the Monterey Coast is absolutely breathtaking. The tranquil original musical score is worth noting as well. Especially nice are the original piano pieces played by "Joe, the Janitor" mid-way through the movie. (Don't ask... you just have to see the movie - it really does work.)

I have watched "Ambition to Meaning" countless times now and continue to learn something new and unexpected about myself with each viewing. You will find the movie inspiring if not life-altering.