Dale Ward's Blog, page 6

Beyond the Mask review

“Beyond the Mask” is a handsome production. As a period piece set in 1775, the costumes and sets are spot on. Great work by Production Designer Nicholas Burns, as he cuts no corners and it is easy for the viewers to become transported in time back to the late 18th century.

The story revolves Will Reynolds (played by Andrew Cheney of “Seasons of Gray” fame), the leading mercenary and assassin for the British East India Company. Reynolds has just been double-crossed by Charles Kemp (John Rhys-Davies from “The Lord of the Rings”), one of the company’s supervisors, and is now on the run in the American Colonies. Working to redeem his name and win back the affections of Charlotte (Kara Killmer of “Chicago Fire”), the woman with whom he’s never been fully truthful, Will now hides behind a new mask in hopes of thwarting his former employer. As his past life closes in on him, Will must somehow gain the trust and the help of his beloved Charlotte – as well as Ben Franklin – while he races against time to defuse a plot of historical proportions.

The acting is strong in “Beyond the Mask.” As the rogue assassin turned masked super-hero, Andrew Cheney does a great job handling the romance and daring-do with equal aplomb. His Will Reynolds is very easy to root for; however, I did want to be able to identify with him better. This would have gotten me more involved with the action where and the story was headed. Kara Killmer as Charlotte plays through the ranges of emotions quite well, and John Rhys-Davies is quite delicious as the nemesis and bad guy. They all seem to be having a great time, and with all the action and adventure, it’s understandable why.

“Beyond the Mask” is not a history lesson in the least bit, but it is quite fun to play around in Revolutionary War times, and we get to meet Ben Franklin and even George Washington, both played well by Alan Madlane (Franklin) and John Arden McClure (Washington).

The best thing about this movie is the theme of “not being good enough—not measuring up.” What a great theme for a faith-based film. And the theme is handled admirably. You have the added theme of sacrificial love, again handled with great style. The only wish is that the filmmakers would have stopped here and let the audience connect the dots. This would have taken the film to a higher level. Instead they include a Sunday School moment that explains what just happened, and it really dumbs-down the film and makes the audience feel somewhat cheated and manipulated. Why faith-based films seem driven to this is one of the biggest strikes against faith-based films: please respect your audience and let them work out the details for themselves.

Overall, “Beyond the Mask” is a solid film. How can you go wrong with a historical romance full of action and adventure, with a masked superhero and an evil scientist thrown in to boot? Maybe “Beyond the Mask” tries to do too much in this regard, but it is fun entertainment, and isn’t that why we watch movies? Look beyond the few faults and enjoy “Beyond the Mask.”

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���Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission���s 16 CFR, Part 255: ���Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.���

Pass the Light review

“Pass the Light” revolves around Steve Bellafiore (played by Cameron Palatas), a high school senior who takes issue with a local politician’s political campaign, using Christian beliefs as an excuse to instill hate and belittle those who do not agree with him. Steve thinks Christ would follow a more loving road, and Steve hopes to debate the politician, Frank Baumann (played by Jon Gries), on this very issue. Thus begins Steve’s campaign for congress, albeit unrealistic given his age is seven years short of the required 25. But along the way he is able to stir up his fellow classmates in this campaign to live life under love and not hate – a worthwhile endeavor indeed.

“Pass the Light” is a well-directed and acted movie with a great message, wonderful production values, and a nice, polished look to it. Directed by Malcolm J. Goodwin, the movie moves along at a crisp pace, and the attention given to the acting is spot on. Cameron Palatas does an exceptional job as young Steve, the anchor – it seems – for his family as well as his high school’s student body. His out-of-work father is played by Colby French, and the range of emotion he has to display is wide ranging, and the subtleness he dedicates to each is rich. Steve’s mother Anne is played by Milena Govich, and she, too, hits her mark consistently. The rest of the cast is made up mostly of young actors in high school roles, and director Goodwin helms this young cast exceptionally well. Other than Cameron, stand outs include Alexandria DeBerry as the popular girl, and Dalpre Grayer as the friend and sidekick. A good, strong young cast.

The biggest downfall of “Pass the Light” is the story itself, and not so much the story arc and character development, but the plausibility of the story. You have to enter in with a high level of suspension of disbelief; otherwise you will be distracted. Beside the fact that the law requires a candidate be 25 (the movie actually plays this concern off fairly well), there are other factors that are hard to swallow: some of the characters are harsh stereotypes, and the mass movement by the entire student body is challenging, but if the viewer allows these discrepancies and just sits back and the enjoys the ride, “Pass the Light” will draw you in well enough to spend a couple of pleasurable hours exploring this message of hope. “Pass the Light” of this message.

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���Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or

services mentioned above in the hope that I would mention it

on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally

and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance

with the Federal Trade Commission���s 16 CFR, Part 255: ���Guides Concerning the

Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.���

The Identical review

“The Identical,” now available on Blu-ray and DVD, tells the compelling story of Ryan Wade, a young man of many musical abilities hoping that these talents will take him to the big time. What stands in his way is his father, a successful pastor whose dreams for his son are much different and center around the ministry and pastoring a church. Meanwhile, another young man is taking the world by storm with his new style of music, and not only his appearance, but also his talents, mirrors those of Ryan. Ryan is a dead ringer for this superstar, Drexel Hemsley, in both sounds and looks, and he builds a successful career as a Drexel impersonator – known as The Identical. It’s the secret behind this similarity that propels the story forward.

Newcomer Blake Rayne plays Ryan (and Drexel), and viewers will certainly notice parallels between this fictionalized account of Ryan and Drexel and that of the real-life Elvis Presley story, in part due to Blake’s resemblance to Elvis, and the fact his real-life career is as an Elvis impersonator. But the story content parallels Elvis, too, and embracing this element of the film allows the viewers some “inside” fun as it progresses. As an actor, Blake holds his own and carries the film well. He does a great job with the emotional roller coaster of his on-screen characters, and he handles the dual roles with equal aplomb. It doesn’t hurt to be surrounded by an all-star cast featuring Ray Liotta, Ashley Judd, Seth Green, Joe Pantoliano, Brian Geraghty, and Amanda Drew. Ray Liotta (“Goodfellas,” “Field of Dreams”) is incredible in his juicy role as Ryan’s preacher father: from fire and brimstone preaching to delicate counseling, through anger and sadness, all the while aging from a young man to an old man, he is phenomenal as Reece Wade. Equally impressive and enjoyable to watch is Ashley Judd (“Divergent,” “Dolphin Tale 2″) as Ryan’s mother and the preacher’s wife. She too moves through the ages and the emotions in this convincing portrayal, arguable one of her best roles in years. Rounding up the stellar all-star cast is Seth Green (“Austin Powers,” “Family Guy”) as Ryan’s friend and band mate Dino, who introduces Ryan to the “worldly joy of rhythm and blues;” Brian Geraghty (“The Hurt Locker,” “Ray Donovan”) and Amanda Crew (“Charlie St. Cloud”) as Drexel’s father and mother; Joe Pantaliano (“The Sopranos,” “The Matrix”) as Ryan’s employer and mentor; and Erin Cottrell (the “Love Comes Softly” series) as Ryan’s wife. This all-star cast is top notch.

“The Identical” is an extremely good-looking movie with a well-executed production, and the attention to detail in recreating several historical time periods (yes, not one, but four) is stunning. No short cuts here: using many period automobiles and trucks (and one gorgeous motorcycle), the sets are simply amazing; the costuming is spot-on and very detailed (an afro comb, no less, from the ’70s; groovy psychedelic ’60s garb; as well as precision period costumes from the ’40s and ’50s). Soaking in the recreations from the past is just one more joy while watching “The Identical.” Five stars for Production Designer Keith Brian Burns and Costume Designer Karyn Wagner.

On another note, this film is being promoted as a faith-based film, and certainly there are elements of religion throughout this picture, but it is not an in-your-face conversion sort of picture, nor one filled with sermons from the pulpit. No, this movie merely tells a compelling story wrapped in a religious worldview, filled with religious people, and with religion presented as “normal” or a basic way of life. Refreshing indeed, and the kind of movie that many in the industry say is lacking, with most movies being extremely secularized or extremely “religious,” with nothing in between: good solid family fare movies with a moral worldview. “The Identical” is this sort of a family fare picture. Kudos to the producers for this, and hopefully this will be a trend in Christian and Hollywood films.

“The Identical” is the perfect movie to enjoy with your family, appropriate for tween, teens, parents and grandparents. Pick up your copy of “The Identical.” There’s nothing quite like it.

When the Game Stands Tall review

If you like football movies, you’ll find plenty to like in “When the Game Stands Tall.” But this is more than a football movie, and “When the Game Stands Tall” is quite different than most football films you may have seen. It’s not about a losing team needing that one win to earn their self-respect, winning the game in the last half a second. In fact, the football field is just the stage for this collection of characters learning about hope and despair, success and failure, life and death.

“When the Game Stands Tall” is inspired by the remarkable true story of the De La Salle Spartans and their visionary coaches: Head Coach Bob Ladouceur, played by Jim Caviezel (“The Thin Red Line,” “Person of Interest”), and Assistant Coach Terry Eidson, played by Michael Chiklis (The Shield, Vegas). The team had an unprecedented 151-game winning streak between 1992-2003, shattering all records for consecutive victories in American sports. In spite of their 12 undefeated seasons (and the pressure of continuing “The Streak”), Coach Ladouceur stresses the value of purpose and significance over the glory of titles and streaks, with a focus on faith, commitment and responsibility. These traits and having a solid character, he believes, are much greater than winning. Ladouceur’s mantra: “We don’t expect you to play perfect, but to give a perfect effort.” This emphatic promotion of team play over individual goals comes to a head at one point when Ladouceur must confront a star player’s dad (Clancy Brown), who is only concerned about his son (Alexander Ludwig) breaking the touchdown record.

Ultimately, the struggle for this team – a new group of seniors – is not about winning that first game, but about not LOSING a game. When a tragedy sets the team reeling, the Spartans find their world disintegrating around them. And when their coach and mentor has a heart attack, it becomes apparent that the stress has taken a toll not only on them, but also on Ladouceur, and his wife (Laura Dern) and family, whom he’s neglected. The team has to learn to rely on each other and reevaluate what teamwork really means.

“When the Game Stands Tall” is directed by Thomas Carter (“Coach Carter,” “Hill Street Blues”), with the football action visually dynamic, and the drama textured and layered. One surprise is – given the median age of the cast – the acting is strong throughout. Jim Caviezel says he brought some of the same philosophy of Coach Ladoucuer, and how those before him have mentored him, to his interaction on the film with his young co-stars. He explained to them, “If you chose to not bring in your best work, it will look bad. I also expect you to boost each other and to work hard, and work on your scenes together, because you’re really going to carry this film.” As can be seen in the film, the results are there.

“When the Game Stands Tall” has so many layers to enjoy and reflect upon: teamwork, humility, stressed-out living, fathering, heart disease, mentoring, teaching, boys-to-men, that the actual football field becomes almost secondary. It’s not so much facing your giants on the field, but conquering them off the field that is most importance. As Ladouceur says, “Winning a lot of football games is doable. Teaching kids there’s more to life? That’s hard.”

“When the Games Stand Tall,” stands tall indeed. If you like a good football movie, you’ll like this – a good football movie… and more.

The Good Book review

As a lifelong student of film, I love the idea of telling a story visually. I believe the more you can tell a story through the visuals the better the movie will be. (And I hate voice-overs telling me – what I already know – the action I am looking at on the screen…) So I was excited about seeing “The Good Book,” a feature film done completely silent except for the music soundtrack. Of course, this isn’t the easiest thing to do, but “The Good Book” handles the challenge quite well.

The story itself is also very ambitious; in fact, it is not one story, but several stories revolving around more than a dozen characters. “The Good Book” follows a copy of the New Testament on a journey that begins with a young boy named Daniel (Evan Fielding), who runs away from home after committing a horrible accident. He finds sanctuary in a homeless camp and is befriended by Esau (Torry Martin). From there, the book is handed off to a public defender (BK Bomar) and his wife Marion (Apolonia Davalos in a moving and strong performance). “The Good Book” goes from person to person, including Sarah the homeless lady (Amanda Penticost giving a standout performance herself), Jenn Gotzon as a woman scorned, and Leah (Rebecca Lines) dealing with addictions. When “The Good Book” makes its way overseas and into the hands of a persecuted missionary (Josh Childs), the impact of this book truly hits home. It is enjoyable to see how a book and its message can have a ripple effect, as it touches lives wherever it goes.

“The Good Book” is one of the most ambitious movies I’ve recently seen, and my hats off to the filmmakers for pulling it off as well as they did. “The Good Book” is written and directed by Sharon Wilharm, and it is produced by her husband, Fred Wilharm. With this many stories and with so many many actors, especially for an independent film, some of the acting will be stronger than others, and this is the case. A couple of the characters seemed a bit over-the-top, and a couple of the transitions are strained. Rick Holets is the composer of the music for this film, which underlies the action quite well. All in all, “The Good Book” is a solid production. You will not be disappointed, and again, a very ambitious undertaking, and one that is very well done.

“The Good Book” will be making its LA premiere at The Pan Pacific Film Festival at the end of July, and you can see this movie on the big screen this Thursday July 17 at The Bedias, Texas, Christian Film Festival. Showing with “The Good Book” will also be the short films “Ragman” (This film with very little dialogue itself.) and “Paid For.” If you cannot attend one of these festivals, you can find out more about “The Good Book” and where it will be playing (or how to get your own copy) at The Good Book website. A copy of “Ragman” can be found at www.RagmanFilm.com. Finally, I will be having a drawing for one free DVD copy of “The Good Book.” I will randomly select one winner from all of the subscribers at the new DWardMedia.com newsletter. Sign up here for your chance to win. The drawing will be July 27 and announced on that week’s newsletter.

Edge of Tomorrow review

Take a little “Groundhog Day,” throw in some “Predator,” add a dash of “Alien,” and even sprinkle some “Wizard of Oz” (“Courage”) and you have “Edge of Tomorrow,” the latest sci-fi action flick with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Cruise plays Bill Cage, a military PR guru who is known more for his marketing and not a bit about his soldiering (since he’s seen zero combat duty), suddenly gets on the wrong side of a high-ranking general (Brendan Gleeson). Next thing he knows is he is being sent to the front lines for a suicide mission in a massive battle between the world armies and alien invaders. On this first day of battle Cruise kills one big bad meanie but in the process is killed himself. The big bad meanie he killed has infected him, a condition which forces Cruise into a reset mode – meaning as soon as he is killed, he is reset to the beginning of the day to start the day over again in a time loop – forcing him to live out the brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying, again and again. But with each battle, Cage is able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), and as Cage and Vrataski take up the fight, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the alien enemies.



Cruise, of course, plays the same character we’ve been accustomed to seeing him as, but Emily Blunt shines as the female tough girl. A favorite character and performance is Bill Paxton as the tough sergeant assigned to Cruise. And another highlight is the great music by Christophe Beck, which really keeps things turned up a notch. Is “Edge of Tomorrow” a great action flick? Yes it is. It’s biggest downfall is there’s not a whole lot of anything original in it, but that said, it’s all done exceptionally well. You won’t find a better made action flick, and you can tell they spent a ton of money and a lot of time on it. It has great special effects, plenty of action, super cool megazord destruction suits, and the 3D is incredible. Just a quick look at the imdb site and you’re likely to see the largest collection of names for a single movie you’ve ever seen, which attests to “Edge of Tomorrow’s” great attention to detail. And for a summer blockbuster designed to get us out of the heat and into the air-conditioned theater to forget about real life, it’s perfect – it does just that. Will you remember “Edge of Tomorrow” in five years? Not likely, but it is totally enjoyable. Give it a shot, even if you might not want to see it again and again and again and again…

 

Blended review

“Blended” is the latest romantic comedy from Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. And as expected, this is a formulaic romantic comedy with Sandler playing a Sad Sack misfit and Barrymore playing his “nemesis.” There are no surprises and everything goes completely as planned – filled with lots of laughs and fun and games – just as fans of Adam Sandler like it. Yes, I am an Adam Sandler fan, and I like this movie and recommended it for a good two-hour respite from life, while laughing and romancing.

The movie begins with a blind date between Lauren (Barrymore) and Jim (Sandler) at a Hooters restaurant, where Sandler proceeds to drink his own glass of beer, and then Barrymore’s glass of beer, too, as she is visiting the restroom; not to mention once she returns to the table, he is rude, obnoxious, does not pay any attention to Barrymore (but quite a bit to the Hooter girls), and then everything goes downhill from there.

After this disastrous blind date, divorced and single-mom Lauren (with two boys played by Kyle Red Silverstein and Braxton Beckham) and widowed and single-dad Jim (with three girls played by Bella Thorne of Disney Channel’s “Shake it Up,” Emma Fuhrmann, and Alyvia Alyn Lynd) agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again. But when they each sign up separately for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week.

“Blended” also stars Joel McHale (NBC’s “Community”) as Lauren’s ex-husband, Mark, and Wendi McLendon-Covey (“Bridesmaids”) as Jen her best friend; Kevin Nealon (“Weeds”) and Jessica Lowe (funnyordie’s “RobotDown”) as an overly romantic couple also vacationing at the resort; Terry Crews (“The Expendables 2”) as the resort’s singing host (a real highlight of the film); and Dan Patrick (ESPN SportsCenter) as Dick.

“Blended” is directed by Frank Coraci, who previously collaborated with Sandler and Barrymore on “The Wedding Singer” and also directed Sandler in the hit comedies “The Waterboy” and “Click.” “Blended” marks the third comedy collaboration between stars Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore, following “The Wedding Singer” and their successful onscreen pairing in the hit romantic comedy “50 First Dates.”

Sandler plays the same character he’s played in all his movies and that is just fine. Barrymore does an apt job as Lauren, although a couple of times she seems to be wanting to be somewhere else and is a little off the mark. All in all there is great chemistry between Sandler and Barrymore, and, of course, the kids are all as cute as can be.

“Blended” does lag a little in the first half, and the movie feels like it could’ve been a little shorter, but you will not be disappointed. Yes, it’s all pretty predictable, but no more predictable than all the laughs you’ll enjoy (albeit some rather naughty ones – hence the PG13 rating). But if you like Adam Sandler movies, “Blended” will be perfect for you – a perfect blend of pathos and comedy, Sandler and Barrymore.

Moms’ Night Out review

“Moms’ Night Out” is a fun movie, filled with lots of laughs and a lot of heart. Well-paced and well-acted, with smart dialogue and enough twists and turns to keep you on your toes: yeah, I really liked this movie. And yes, this is coming from a guy. Of course women of all ages will relate to the foibles and chaos on the screen, but guys will find it fun, too.

Sarah Drew plays Allyson, a young mom with her hands full and no downtime for any kind of R and R. All Allyson and her friends want is a peaceful, grown-up evening of dinner and conversation . . . a long-needed moms’ night out. But in order to enjoy high heels, adult conversation and food not served in a paper bag, they need their husbands to watch the kids for three hours—what could go wrong?

Plenty…and it is hilarious. “Moms’ Night Out” is directed by the Erwin brothers, the same duo that brought us the excellent “October Baby,” this outing has the same top-notch quality, plus a van-full of fun. The guys and the cast must have had a blast making this film, and it shows. The cast includes Sean Astin as Allyson’s husband; Andrea Logan White as Allyson’s comrade in arms and BFF Izzy, who is married to Robert Amaya; and third mom out Patricia Heaton, as Sondra the wife of the pastor (Alex Kendrick); add a dozen or so kids, a bird, a police department, a tattoo artist, a lost baby, and Trace Adkins as a helpful (albeit scary) biker dude, and you have a concoction for chaos. Speaking of Trace Adkins: his is one of the most unlikely characters in one of the most unusual settings to have a gospel moment you can imagine in a film, and nothing could work better or more authentically than it does in “Mom’s Night Out.” Bravo.

“Moms’ Night Out” is an endearing true-to-life family comedy that celebrates the beautiful mess called parenting. Take a night off and have a night out with “Moms’ Night Out.” You’ll be glad you did.

 

 

 

 

For a great interview between Patricia Heaton and Sonoma Christian Home TV’s Erica Galindo, check out:

 

 

Gramps Reviews

A duo of movies have come out recently revolving around the character of Gramps: “Gramps Goes to College” and “In Gramps Shoes.” Donald James Parker, who plays Gramps, also penned both the screenplays, and his writing is enjoyable and makes both films worth viewing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In “Gramps Goes to College,” Ty Bounds, a workaholic computer programmer for 35 years, has retired. No longer forced to work for a living, and looking for a worthwhile way to spend his time, he returns to college and finds himself in a head-to-head war against secular humanism, while mentoring a new generation. Parker is fun to watch, and you can tell he enjoys this character and relishes the lines he’s written. Most of the other actors hold their own as well. Relative newcomer Kaitlin Borst lights up the screen whenever she appears on-camera, and she does a great job as fellow student Michaela Morris. Equally impressive is Courtney Lee Simpson as not-so-agreeable fellow student Stephanie Carter. Her accent sure is fun in an earlier scene between she and her mom (Kera O’Brtyon).

“In Gramps Shoes” details what happens to Ty Bounds after 20 years of praying for his daughter to let him back into her life. He finally gets his wish when the prodigal daughter (Francine Locke) requests his help in dealing with a financial bind and her rebellious teenage son (Andrew Wilson Williams). Ty’s first encounter with his grandson, whom the grandfather has never met, leads to a challenge for a two mile race that alters the courses of both their lives. Again director Chip Rossetti pulls out believable performances from his young and fresh cast. It is always a pleasure to see Francine Locke working the screen, and Andrew Wilson Williams performs his rebellious teen angst quite well. Equally fun to watch is Jeff Rose as Coach Carlson, Grace Eztkorn as his daughter Chelsey, and Brittany Blades as Ty’s granddaughter Sally who takes a liking to grandpa immediately.

There’s quite a bit of proselytizing in both films, but Donald James Parker handles this dialogue with aplomb and for the most part, it’s not too heavy handed. Of course, this kind of dialogue is easier to handle if you are in agreement with what is being said; if not, then the somewhat one-sided argument can be fairly frustrating for the viewer. A big concern I had for both stories are the dramatic twists that come seemingly out of nowhere. I’m all for surprises, but in both cases the core stories are relegated to secondary status as we are taken on a side trip into further, unrelated drama. I for one did not need these big moments, and was quite happy to follow the smaller arcs that were full of drama on their own. And another frustrating aspect was the over abundance of reverse cuts that can be quite disorienting for the audience. They are not quite as frequent in “Gramps Goes to College,” but still fairly prevalent. There were also noticeable moving shadows across subjects at various points.

Some of the other strong points of the two movies, other than good story lines and acting, include great teaching moments involving running, smoking, driving an automobile, even Harry Potter. And “In Gramps Shoes” begins with a very nice opening montage including helicopter shots and beautiful southern scenery. So yes, as independent low-budget Christian films, “In Gramps Shoes” and “Gramps Goes to College” are recommended and definitely worth the watch. Check ‘em out.

To Him Who Gives His Best

Today I am breaking away from my usual blog fare of writing about filmmaking or giving a film review. Today I want to write about a man who has had a wonderful influence on my life, and I do not go through a day without thinking about him. Although we have not always agreed, our “big picture” goals are consistent with things we DO agree upon: honesty, integrity, hard work, excellence, persistence, basically giving it (whatever that is) your best. Through the years, these things of importance have been modeled to us and their importance have been instilled upon us. Things such as:

The squeaky hinge gets oiled.

If you don’t get it the first time, try again.

God, family, and friends.

A short putt never goes in.

The quality of a man can be seen in the quality of his friends. Pick them wisely.

Telling the truth is always the right answer.

Family is the most important thing.

All you can do is your best.

Always give a man a chance.

Never give up.

Stand up for God and country.

You can do it.

There are plenty of good people in the world. Find them and surround yourself with them.

If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.

These are some of the words of my father, and I am not talking about him today. I’m talking about my son Abraham. He is a wonderful, honest, hardworking man, who always gives his best. He also helps others do their best, which means between what he does, and what those around him do, more goodness comes into the world and the world is a better place. He has been honored with the Louie Armstrong Jazz Award at his high school, an award given out to only one student, once a year. This makes me extremely proud. But it isn’t the award as such that makes me proud. It is all of the hard work, the extra work, the practice, persistence, not cutting corners, dedication, and study, how he pushes himself, and how he does not take “good enough” as an answer, and everything else that has molded him into a quality young man that allowed him to be given this award – that is what I am most proud of. To him who gives his best.

Congratulations.