Gimme Shelter

Originally movies were created to allow people to escape into another time, place and situations so they can be entertained for a two-hour time slot, however, once in a while, I feel it is important to reflect on a situation, person, or a crisis where we can have something to learn so as to think about someone or thing other than our own 'box'. And then when the message in the film is based or inspired by a true story like "Gimme Shelter", it makes that much more of an impact in our lives.

16 year old street-wise Apple Bailey (Vanessa Hudgens) has never had an easy life. Her mother, June Bailey (Rosario Dawson), is an addict and prostitute, is verbally and physically abusive, and unwittingly is grooming her daughter to follow in her footsteps. Apple knows the streets, alleys and motels like the back of her hand, but wants more from life. She possesses a tenacious, tough, indomitable spirit, and will not surrender to fate. Apple runs away from her mother and tracks down her father whom she has never known, as he was only 19 when he got Apple's mother pregnant. Apple begs her now Wall Street Broker father, Tom Fitzpatrick (Brendan Fraser), to take her in. He reluctantly agrees, but after a few days, Apple realizes she's pregnant and feels she must leave because of her own confusion: abort the baby, or allow the birth of the baby. She realizes she can't abort, and instead wants the child and is eventually taken under the wing of Father Frank McCarthy (James Earl Jones), the chaplain of the local hospital after almost getting herself killed. He offers to let Apple live at a shelter for pregnant young women run by a spiritual woman named Kathy (Ann Dowd). It is here that Apple begins to tentatively interact with other girls who are in the same predicament as she gradually begins to make a family for herself. As the selling slogan reads, "Sometimes you have to leave home to find your family".

Others to round out the cast are Stephanie Szostak as Joanna Fitzpatrick, Tom's wife, Dascha Polanco as Carmel, Emily Meade as Cassandra, Candace Smith as Marie Abeanni, Tashiana Washington as Destiny, Rachel Mattila as Nicky 'Pink Friday', Elyse Kratchman  and Eddie Schweighardt as Alexandra and Dustin, children of the Fitzpatrick's, Sheila Tapia as Officer Ganz, and Laneya Wiles as Jasmine.

This was directed with amazing pathos and raw emotion by Ronald Krauss ("Rave" 2000, "Alien Hunter" '03, "Amexica" '10). It was also written with grit and compassion by Krauss, which, through his thoughtful words so carefully delineated, drove home the message that people are important no matter who they are, how poor they are, how angry they are, or how troubled they are. Plan to have a half a box of Kleenex with this. Although the tears are a feeling we all must experience through this, we will feel better for it--I know I did.

Everyone should see this film if you haven't. Even though it is well acted--Hudgens is awe-inspiring, it needs to be seen so we all can learn to be a better people, so maybe, just maybe, we can learn to reach out to those much less fortunate than us.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                         Rated: PG-13                          101mins.