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Posing as a documentary, this infomercial amounts to forced feeding of Tony Robbins dog food. Nowhere is there any semblance of objectivity,or the slightest inkling of the real man. In other words, there's no insight into this self-absorbed hustler whose miracles are accepted at face value. Cringe-worthy in its relentless adulation, this film makes Fox News seem, as it claims, "Fair and Balanced" in comparison. Seeing wounded people gain momentary solace is hardly a vision of real mental or emotional healing. It seems clear how and why the filmmakers were given such complete access. The question that begs is whether they were also provided with funds by the Robbins organization. No thanks!

An incredible look at an enlightened program in San Diego, California that attempted to deal with chronic criminality in the same way as one would deal with a chronic illness. Crossing both ends of the political system, this film shows that helping prisoners, rather than simply warehousing them, is the only sensible approach. Given that 40% of all prisoners cannot read at a 4th grade level, have no job skills, and have substance abuse problems, remediation becomes far more important than punishment. At a time when each the cost of each prisoner per year is over $50,000, preparing prisoners for a second chance saves money, while also reducing policing and court costs. Plus ex-cons become contributing members of the community and even tax payers, which makes the world both safer and better. This film is a must see!

A much-needed look at a long neglected part of Black cultural history in Los Angeles, this film is a gem. Heroes both known and not-so-well-known finally get the attention they deserve, along with a once-flourishing mecca for the arts. If you're interested in art, music, and poetry that reflect the truth of inner city life, this is definitely for you. Featuring jazz stars such as Roy Hargrove, Billy Higgins, and Billy Childs, plus writers and masters of the spoken word, this documentary will thrill you. My hat is off to the filmmakers for capturing the men and women who made Leimert Park part of a continuum that started first with Central Avenue, then with the Watts Writers Workshop.