A Última Grande Lição

Based on a quick summary, a movie about a man slowly dying of a terminal illness, I would expect to hate the movie. Most such stories are painful to watch, as if a movie maker thought that making viewers suffer to watch the movie would give them sympathy for the suffering of those stricken with the featured disease. But this one is an exception. It's not about the dying man's disease, it's about the man himself, and about the former student who visits him every week.

Morrie is dying of ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He is a retired teacher, and was Mitch's revered favorite teacher. Mitch visits him once a week, and reawakens their friendship. He finds Morrie's words so wise that he asks to tape their conversations so he might remember them better. Well, I appreciate Mitch's efforts, because I was happy to hear Morrie's words of wisdom also. Some of his advice is sappy, particularly taken out of context, but as a whole he presents very positive messages. Part of it is the idea that although he's sick, dying, and often in pain, he's not afraid of death, but rather interested in getting as much as possible out of the life he has left. There's much more to it than that, but that's the biggest part of his message.

But there's more to the movie than the message -- a movie with nothing more than a message (even one worth presenting) is bound to be boring. The real pleasure in watching this is that the characters are interesting along the way. The two stars' acting is first class. A regular "disease movie" would just make me feel guilty about not caring about its sick main character. This movie made me care about Morrie and Mitch.

Although this movie was a made for TV movie and the fade outs left me feeling like I was about to see a commercial, this movie is great.

This movie deals with aspects of life that people don't like to talk about openly when in reality they are all just part of life: love, friendship, who you are, elderly, and most of all death. This movie addresses death unlike I have seen other movies do. It confronts death straight on and gives you a different view on it all.

Many times during this movie I was left feeling more open minded about things, and this movie also had a wealth of quotes one could live by.

The acting in the movie was good, the messages conveyed are heavy messages that you have to really think about.

The direction, lighting, and cinematography were all fairly good.

I recommend this movie if you want to learn more about yourself and your future.

Tuesdays with Morrie was ideally suited for the format of a television movie. A series of vignettes with narration from Hank Azaria, a film based chiefly on dialogue and example, Tuesdays with Morrie is a heartwarming reminder to all of what is important in life--even for people who believe they have it all figured out. Hank Azaria delivers a rare and precise dramatic performance. Jack Lemmon, of course, is right on the money. If at all possible, view the movie without commercial interruption. Somehow corporate sponsorship doesn't fit.

Tuesdays With Morrie aired on Tv3 last night here in New Zealand.

This film was truly worth the Emmy awards it received. Hank Azaria was excellent but Jack Lemmon was amazing, making his character believable and interesting.

A great film. ***1/2 out of ****

This is a great TV movie about a retired teacher named Morrie Schwartz who is slowly dying of Lou Gherig's disease. Instead of being miserable about his inevitable death, Morrie has accepted it. An old pupil of his, Mitch Albom, has come to visit Morrie after hearing of his sickness on the news. Morrie starts to teach Mitch about his ideas on the meaning of life. He says "When we learn to die, we learn to live." When you can accept that you will die someday, you live life differently. He also says to always forgive everyone before it's too late and to love everyone. "We must love one another, or die."

It is made very clear from the very beginning of this movie that Morrie is going to die. Knowing this makes you dread the ending of this movie, but not as much as watching Morrie in such pain, especially at night. There were great acting jobs by everyone in this movie, including Wendy Moniz and Hank Azaria. But Jack Lemmon steals the show.

This movie reminded me a lot of "I'm Not Rappaport," starring Jack Lemmon's partner Walter Matthau. It's an excellent and beautiful movie that will really make you look at life differently, which is what Morrie would have liked.