Another Afternoon at the Movies

"There is no escape--man drags his fellow man down, or he lifts him up."

      - Booker T. Washington, educator (1856 - 1915)

Elisabeth and I went to see Radio this afternoon, despite our local paper's lukewarm review of the film.  She had seen Oprah interviewing Cuba Gooding, Jr., one of its stars, and that made up our minds for her. 

It's a sentimental story, set in Anderson, S.C., and is about the relationship between an illiterate, mentally handicapped man whose nickname is "Radio" (played by Gooding) and the local high school football coach, Harold Jones (played by Ed Harris). 

"Radio," for reasons you will eventually learn, catches Jones' attention and he begins mentoring him despite criticism from some of the local townsfolk.  Jones devotes so much of his time to "Radio" that he neglects his teenage daughter, Mary Helen (played by Sarah Drew), who obviously needs his affection.  Some members of the local Booster Club feel that "Radio" is also distracting Jones from his coaching duties.

Jones knows if he abandons "Radio," that the young man's life will basically be over.  The pressure that is brought to bear on him to do this builds to an emotional climax when Jones confronts his nay-sayers at the local barbershop.

If you enjoyed Rudy, Forrest Gump and Rocky, I can almost assure you that you'll enjoy Radio.  I'd suggest you take some tissue with you because there were several scenes where even this stoic old codger felt a tear on his cheek.

I ran across a picture of Mr. Jeffries, a Basset hound with the world's longest ears.  He looks like a dog version of Dumbo, Disney's baby elephant who could fly, and reminds me of my late pet, Gordon.