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Bostonian916 (449 KP) rated The 5th Quarter (2010) in Movies

Aug 17, 2020  
The 5th Quarter (2010)
The 5th Quarter (2010)
2010 | Biography, Drama, Sport
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Based on an inspirational true story about the death of a young man and the repercussions on his family.

While the story is true and quite good, there are events in the movie that I feel were added for cinematic effect, which in and of itself isn't terrible, but in the broad scheme of the movie they were absolutely not needed.

The story is good enough when told that it didn't need some of the filler that was added and unfortunately some of the filler was never actually tied into the actual story, which I found disappointing. Also, while I understand that it was done in an effort to appeal to a larger audience, some of the language in the film was more vulgar than what I though was appropriate for a film that touted itself with religion as the underlying grace.

If you've read many of my reviews, you know that I don't necessarily have a problem with vulgarity in general, but when a movie makes a claim as one thing and then presents itself as another, that's a bit of a crux for me personally.

Beyond that, Aidan Quinn and Andie MacDowell were both brilliant in their respective roles.
  
    Little Panda Restaurant

    Little Panda Restaurant

    Education and Games

    (0 Ratings) Rate It

    App

    Juicy tender meat is covered by a golden crispy crust! One bite and you will never forget the taste...

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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated I Have Life: Alison's Journey in Books

May 13, 2021  
I Have Life: Alison's Journey
I Have Life: Alison's Journey
Marianne Thamm, Alison Botha | 2016 | Biography, Crime
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I first heard about Alison Botha on a true crime podcast. What happened to Alison and her will to survive really piqued my interest. When I discovered her biography, I Have Life, I knew I had to read it right away. While what happened to Alison was beyond horrific, her will to survive and her outlook on life afterwards were inspirational.

Reading about Alison's abduction, rape, and attempted murder will definitely leave you with your jaw on the floor. Alison holds nothing back about anything throughout her biography whether it is the horrific events that happened to her or her will to survive emotionally after her wounds have healed. Marianne Thamm, the journalist that Alison told her story to in order to write her biography does a wonderful job of tying everything together for the most part. About halfway through though, I felt like I Have Life stopped being a biography and started becoming a self-help book with Alison writing (speaking to Thamm) about how to become a happier person. Luckily, this only lasts for a few chapters, but I felt like maybe the chapters about being happier and such should be in a self-help book. (Alison gives talks around the world about her ordeal, so perhaps that's why these chapters were included?) Otherwise Marianne Thamm's writing of Alison Botha's biography was flawless. I was immersed the whole time. I felt like I was right besides Alison the whole time. I kept wanting there to be a different outcome when Alison was abducted by Frans even though I knew there wouldn't be. I felt like Alison really wants the stigma for rape survivors to be no more (and she's right as there shouldn't be any stigma attached). I felt like everything I wanted to know about Alison was answered in I Have Life - from what happened to Alison at the point of her abduction, the rape, the brutal attempted to murder, to the trial of her rapists and attacker to how her life was like at the writing of the book. Like I said, Thamm and Alison don't really leave anything to the imagination of which I was grateful.

All in all, I Have Life is a deeply disturbing book to read, but it does have a great outcome. It is well put together, and Alison Botha comes across as such a strong inspirational woman. Alison's story is full of hope and wisdom throughout. I would definitely recommend I Have Life: Alison's Journey as told to Marianne Thamm for those ages 18+ who are into true crime or for those that just want to see how strong the human will is to survive.