Temple Grandin

Given that we don't have HBO in our house, we are kind of at the mercy of our friends to let us know when HBO Productions has created something that is worth the watch time. That's what happened with the ultra-awesome series on John Adams.

This time, however, it was my addiction to award shows that led us to Temple Grandin. And boy was the list of awards long! Best Made-for-Television Movie, Best Director, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Music Composition, and Best Camera Editing. Incidentally, Clare Danes, as Temple Grandin, won a SAG and a Golden Globe as well.

I mean, if you see a list this long, you should just go ahead and put this #1 on your Netflix queue or sign onto Redbox and truck down to the Stop N Go and rent it pronto.

I can not possibly express how absolutely charmed Mike and I were by this movie. I've liked Clare Danes for almost forever, since "My So-Called Life" back in the mid-90's, so it wasn't much of a stretch for me to want to see this movie.

If you like stories that highlight what a person CAN DO against insurmountable odds, this is a movie for you.

It had a Forrest Gump vibe about it, yet there was nothing fictional about the story. It is based on the real life story of an autistic woman who eventually became a preeminent animal behaviorist.

If you aren't as awed as we were and brought to tears whenever Temple discovers yet another closed door or aren't reminded of the famous Alexander Graham Bell quote: "When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us", then I guess we're just oversensitive cry babies.

Unlike that heinous movie Sanctum which post-movie offered us NO FRIGGIN' CLUE about the lone survivor of a stupid stunt gone deadly*, this movie had a very concise, two screen description of exactly what has happened with Temple.

And Mike and I, right then and there, decided we want to see this remarkable woman speak, if we are ever offered that opportunity.

Temple is an amazing woman. Clare Danes tore up the screen with her portrayal. And the movie is about perseverance and determination and becoming who God made you to be.

What's not to like? Go. rent. it.



*Can't believe I've waited this long to tell you what an absolute waste of my life this movie was. And to not add a post-script?!!? James Cameron, I'm hoping you didn't hit the peak of your career and this was the first movie on the downhill slide to your last film. Because this one REEKED.