Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 10/26/07 (Limited) 11/09/07 (St. Louis) Home Video 04/08/08 MPAA Rating Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug content Running Time 1 hour 33 minutes Genre Drama Director Steven Sawalich Writer Mark Andrew Olson, Bret McKinney, Kelly Kennemer Cast Ron Livingston, Melissa George, Michael Sheen, Yul Vazquez, Rebecca DeMornay, Hector Elizondo Studio MGM |
MUSIC WITHIN (2007)
SYNOPSIS
Richard’s childhood was not the most idyllic. His
dad died young and his mom was too distracted by
her own delusional siren song to even notice that
he was there. Through it all, the young man
perseveres, discovering in school that he has the
gift of gab, a riveting presentation of stories that
are hard to resist.
His ticket out of Podunk, or in this case, Portland,
he decides, will be his skill as an orator. After
some training in the school of hard knocks, the
world of employment as a chef in a strip club,
Richard finally makes his way toward the big time
— a shot at a scholarship on a renowned college
debate team.
But then, when the audition doesn’t go so well,
Richard takes another detour, a tour of duty in
Vietnam where, again, he perseveres. When his
life as a good soldier is cut short, and he returns to
the Oregon college town with a genuine disability,
Richard discovers that in a weird way, the detour
was a necessary one.
Because through all his tribulations, Richard sees
that power to communicate is still very strong in
him. He has lost his hearing, so he learns to read
Richard’s childhood was not the most idyllic. His
dad died young and his mom was too distracted by
her own delusional siren song to even notice that
he was there. Through it all, the young man
perseveres, discovering in school that he has the
gift of gab, a riveting presentation of stories that
are hard to resist.
His ticket out of Podunk, or in this case, Portland,
he decides, will be his skill as an orator. After
some training in the school of hard knocks, the
world of employment as a chef in a strip club,
Richard finally makes his way toward the big time
— a shot at a scholarship on a renowned college
debate team.
But then, when the audition doesn’t go so well,
Richard takes another detour, a tour of duty in
Vietnam where, again, he perseveres. When his
life as a good soldier is cut short, and he returns to
the Oregon college town with a genuine disability,
Richard discovers that in a weird way, the detour
was a necessary one.
Because through all his tribulations, Richard sees
that power to communicate is still very strong in
him. He has lost his hearing, so he learns to read
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
lips. He goes back to school and shows Dr. Padrow, the academic who rejected him, that he did have
something to say. By developing a close relationship with the outrageously intelligent Art, a brilliant man
with cerebral palsy who has some difficulty attending classes in the days before accessibility, Richard
becomes acutely aware of the challenges facing people with disabilities.
He takes Art to a restaurant to celebrate a birthday, only to be met with the disdain of the eatery’s staff,
who refuse to serve them because of what they declare is Art’s deformity.
His own sense of outrage at the ignorance and insensitivity of the outside world galvanizes Richard to
embark on what is to become his life’s mission. His hearing disorder can be fixed with a sophisticated
new hearing aid. His facile way with words and his endearing personality prove once again to be a ticket
to gainful employment.
But some of his fellow disabled veterans, he finds, are not so lucky, and the process by which he begins
to solve their problems and to change peoples’ perceptions toward the disabled community proves to be
Richard’s route to a far greater destiny – one of public service as a champion of the rights of the disabled
and ultimately one of the primary activists behind the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By facing his own demons and finding out who he is, Richard finds his “music within,” and discovers
what Dr. Padrow had meant all along. In discovering his music, Richard has helped improve the lives of
disabled people across the world, including his own.
-- © MGM
something to say. By developing a close relationship with the outrageously intelligent Art, a brilliant man
with cerebral palsy who has some difficulty attending classes in the days before accessibility, Richard
becomes acutely aware of the challenges facing people with disabilities.
He takes Art to a restaurant to celebrate a birthday, only to be met with the disdain of the eatery’s staff,
who refuse to serve them because of what they declare is Art’s deformity.
His own sense of outrage at the ignorance and insensitivity of the outside world galvanizes Richard to
embark on what is to become his life’s mission. His hearing disorder can be fixed with a sophisticated
new hearing aid. His facile way with words and his endearing personality prove once again to be a ticket
to gainful employment.
But some of his fellow disabled veterans, he finds, are not so lucky, and the process by which he begins
to solve their problems and to change peoples’ perceptions toward the disabled community proves to be
Richard’s route to a far greater destiny – one of public service as a champion of the rights of the disabled
and ultimately one of the primary activists behind the Americans with Disabilities Act.
By facing his own demons and finding out who he is, Richard finds his “music within,” and discovers
what Dr. Padrow had meant all along. In discovering his music, Richard has helped improve the lives of
disabled people across the world, including his own.
-- © MGM