“Life, Animated” (2016). Cast: Owen Suskind, Ron Suskind, Cornelia Suskind, Walt Suskind, Gilbert Gottfried, Jonathan Freeman, Emily Jathas. Director: Roger Ross Williams. Screenplay: Ron Suskind. Book: Ron Suskind, Life, Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes and Autism. Web site. Trailer.Finding our way in the world is difficult enough for most of us, but what if we were burdened by the challenges of autism? Would it be possible to make our way as independently functioning beings? Even more so, would it be possible to understand the fundamental nature of the world around us? As unlikely as those prospects might seem to some of us, there are always possibilities. Indeed, as the saying goes, “When there’s a will, there’s a way,” and [...]

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” (2016). Cast: Sam Neil, Julian Dennison, Rima Te Wiata, Rachel House, Oscar Kightley, Rhys Darby, Stan Walker, Mike Minogue, Cohen Holloway, Taika Waititi, Tioreore Ngatai-Melbourne, Troy Kingi, Hamish Parkinson. Director: Taika Waititi. Screenplay: Taika Waititi. Book: Barry Crump, Wild Pork and Watercress. Web site. Trailer.Life offers us options. Some are appealing, others aren’t. The most important point to remember in this, however, is that we have the power to choose which ones we want, despite the efforts of those who would deny us this. That’s one of the key concerns driven home in the hilarious new buddy/road trip movie from New Zealand, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.”Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), a troubled city teen, has led a [...]

Reviews of "Life, Animated" and "Shadows of Liberty" and a radio show preview are all available in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the Blog Page of The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here.

“Our Little Sister” (Original title: “Umimachi Diary”) (2015 production, 2016 release). Cast: Haruka Ayase, Masami Nagasawa, Kaho, Suzu Hirosu, Shinobu Otake, Kirin Kiki, Shinichi Tsutsumi, Jun Fubuki, Takafumi Ikeda, Oshiro Maeda, Ryô Kase, Lily Franky, Yuko Nakamura, Kentaro Sakahuchi, Midoriko Kimura. Director: Hirokazu Kore-eda. Screenplay: Hirokazu Kore-eda. Graphic Novel: Akimi Yoshida, Umimachi Diary. Web site. Trailer.How we define “family” need not follow traditional interpretations. Indeed, it can take a variety of inventive and novel forms, often working exceedingly well in meeting everyone’s needs. Such is the case in the heartwarming new family drama from Japan, “Our Little Sister” (originally titled “Umimachi Diary”).Based on a popular Japanese graphic novel, the film tells the story of three sisters in their 20s, Sachi [...]

Join me and host Cynthia Sue Larson this Wednesday, July 20, at 8 am ET for this week's edition of the Living the Quantum Dream Radio Show. We'll discuss conscious creation/law of attraction topics as reflected in the movies, their similarity to quantum physics principles and thoughts on the emerging "Mandela effect" concept. The show will be rebroadcast Wednesday evening at 8 pm ET and will be available for on-demand listening via the podcast thereafter. Tune in for some lively, thoughtful chat! Tune in by clicking here.

Reviews of "Hunt for the Wilderpeople," "Our Little Sister" and "Captain Fantastic" are all in the latest Movies with Meaning post on the Blog Page of The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here.Troubled teen Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison, left) and cantankerous bush farmer Hec Faulkner (Sam Neill, right) make an unlikely duo on the run in the offbeat new buddy/road trip comedy, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.” Photo courtesy of The Orchard.A bike ride through the cherry blossoms with a friend (Oshiro Maeda, foreground) brings joy to Suzu Asano (Suzu Hirosu, background) in the new family drama, “Our Little Sister.” Photo by Akimi Yoshida, Shogakukan, Fuji Television Network Inc., Shogakukan Inc., courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.Ben Cash (Viggo Mortensen, right) [...]

Reviews of "A Brilliant Young Mind" and "How To Change the World" and details about FREE book samples are all available in the latest Blog Page post on the Movies with Meaning page of The Good Radio Network, available by clicking here.Gifted but behaviorally challenged mathematical genius Nathan Ellis (Asa Butterfield) seeks his destiny in “A Brilliant Young Mind,” now available on DVD and video on demand. Photo courtesy of Samuel Goldwyn Films.Photo by Trevor Laster.Cover designs by Paul L. Clark, Inspirtainment.

I'm thrilled (and blessed) at the response from so many of you regarding the recent announcement of my National Indie Excellence Award. Thank you so very much! I truly appreciate it.And now, to say thank you, I'd like to return the favor by making available free PDF sampler copies of BOTH of my books, Get the Picture?!: Conscious Creation Goes to the Movies and Consciously Created Cinema: The Movie Lover's Guide to the Law of Attraction. Each sampler contains the first three chapters, the front matter (introduction, table of contents, etc.) and the index of featured artists. Write me at info@brentmarchant.com with an email address where I can send you your free copies.In the meantime, feel free to follow me [...]

“Genius” (2016). Cast: Colin Firth, Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, Laura Linney, Dominic West, Guy Pearce, Vanessa Kirby. Director: Michael Grandage. Screenplay: John Logan. Book: A. Scott Berg, Max Perkins: Editor of Genius. Web site. Trailer.As all successful writers know, their works seldom reach their destined greatness without the diligent efforts of their editors, those behind-the-scenes professionals who shape these titles into polished finished products. However, editors often toil in anonymity, their contributions rarely, if ever, receiving the recognition and credit they deserve. Nevertheless, such creative collaborations are essential for truly inspired results, a process detailed in the new biopic, “Genius.”The film chronicles the career of Maxwell Perkins (Colin Firth), noted literary editor at Charles Scribner’s Sons, who brought to market [...]

“The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble” (2015 production, 2016 release). Cast: Yo-Yo Ma, Kinan Azmeh, Wu Man, Kayhan Kalhor, Cristina Pato, John Williams, Bobby McFerrin. Director: Morgan Neville. Web site. Trailer.Art is a powerful force. It inspires. It defines us, both individually and collectively. And it can serve as a potent means of promoting understanding, making ourselves known and stating our resolve to others, both friends and foes alike. Those are the qualities that have emerged – and blossomed – from one of music’s most inventive, uplifting creative projects of the past 15 years, the subject of the jubilant new documentary, “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble.”Child prodigy cellist Yo-Yo [...]