À la recherche de Miss MacLaine

Shirley Maclaine had a nerve to expose your sanity in this bold book that later was taken to screen, here in Brazil the Spiritualist are around of three per cent of the entire population, whose I include myself, watching just a small part of Out on a Limb on 1987, which I'm didn't known the Spiritism properly yet, recently came out a double DVD of this movie, now watching this overlong endeavor of Shirley Maclaine, sadly she spent much time with her love affair with Gerry Stamford (Charles Dance) and doesn't going straight in the point, she will slowly walking by the edge to the center in four hours long, presented as mini-series I'd understood perfectly that it was so hard compressed the book in short time as possible, however it's a great picture, exposing her private life to mockery of the western civilization, she talked about past life, why she was involved with a married man, his guide on earth and also his journey of self-discovery on Peru, also putting an alleged Alien on the story, maybe she went too far, maybe not, in my opinion the Spiritism itself almost erased by Christian Church due they got the power over the mass, although it was plenty accepted on entire Asia and middle west by several religions, it's a complex matter to discuss widely, it needs an exhaustive studies of countless reliable authors of good books, as I did in last twenty years and l still learning!!!

Resume:

First watch: 1987 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 8

This film and Ms. MacLaine's humanitarian concerns were (at the risk of being ridiculed) an attempt to empower and enlighten us from the 20th century. To save us from ourselves and to remind us of our connections to one another. A true pioneer in an era lost to greed and capitalism. Philosophers as early as 300 BC understood the force of God in all of us. That goodness and love can overcome bad and evil. This film inspired me to look beyond the injustices I incurred as child. To look at the big picture and to understand that everything we do must be for the good of future generations. That mankind's journey and survival depends on a openness of mind and the foresight to stand together as one against all diversity even at the risk of being ridiculed and dangling "out on a limb".

Dear Charles,

I sure hope you were well-paid for this toe-curlingly awful vanity project. Not yours, of course. No man could possibly be vain and appear in dreck like this.

Your performance was perfect, of course. You convincingly embodied the romantic intellectual. You made it very easy to believe in Gerry's fascination with Shirley.

I've got to give you lots of respect: clearly, as an artist you're willing to take on risk. You've done (what must be unpleasant) work in order to fulfill your responsibilities as a husband and father. You've consistently delivered top-quality performances in the most unworthy projects. And in addition to all that, I've never seen or heard you even once complain or disparage anyone.

But Charles, even my love isn't enough to withstand watching "Out on a Limb." Taking most excellent advice from another of your pictures,* I decided to leave off watching after fifteen minutes. It is better to preserve my love for you than immolate it in service of checking off another item on your c.v.

Yours affectionately,

Oloiatao

*Dorothy: I believe in love. Not just getting it, but giving it. I think that if you're able to love someone, even if they don't know it, even if they can't love you back, then it's worth it. (Gosford Park)

Shirley MacLaine in 1987 had the skill and courage to both write and star in a supposed autobiographical miniseries delineating her spiritual journey.

Such topics as guides, reincarnation, and self discovery are plunged into with abandon by MacLaine. Having read her book upon which this script is based, I appreciate her creativity, imagination, and tenacity to bring this challenging project to fruition.

What I don't readily grasp is the volume of unique metaphysical occurrences that the heroine is alleged to have had. For one example: an extended car ride in the dead of night at top speed, down a narrow forest trail while dodging trees right and left--with none but "spirit" operating the vehicle.

While it makes for dramatic tv, it does stimulate wonder as to where actual facts leave off and creative writing begins. As for many profound questionings tackled, these touch us all and are part of the human spiritual quest.

Many viewers, however, may lack an intense interest in this subject to stick with it throughout its lengthy two-part running time. Those who do may well be rewarded with an intriguing introduction into New Age philosophy.

A daring and ballsy move by SHIRLEY MCLAINE to explain her discovery on her personal truth on reincarnation. The topic of reincarnation and past lives is subjective to each person as religion and ideology should be. yet, the book and movie that spawned from it as well as tv appearances were daring. There have been a few times myself Ihave met people inlife who resemble people who died in a past life of one of my ancestors. The concept of reincarnation is open to debate but interesting at best. The woman in this film was open to attack several times by far right religous groups who view all reincarnation buffs or explorers as a nazi grade generational lines cult..this is not the case. Not by a long shot. Reincarnation, suppose you meet a person you met during a past life this doesn't mean you are inclined to date etc. This film and her tv experiences relayed on shows like DONAHUE etc. were ballsy and daring in a era when people didn't want to talk about this stuff and her story a catalyst for change. I have my own opinion on this topic yet, well don't all of us? Interesting topic. I saw at least a hour of this film. I liked the live apppearances better.