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Tuesday's with Morrie


Actor: Jack Lemon
Born: February 8, 1925
Died: June 27, 2001
R.I.P.

Directed by: Mick Jackson
Produced by: Kate Forte, Oprah Winfrey
Starring: Jack Lemon, Hank Azaria, Wendy Moniz, Caroline Aaron, Bonnie, Bartlett, John Carroll Lynch
Music by: Marco Beltrami
Release date: December 5, 1999

Plot: In 1995, Mitch Albom (Hank Azaria) became caught up with his career as a sport commentator and journalist. His girlfriend, Janine (Wendy Moniz), a backup singer feels that he never places her as a priority. Mitch is consistently doing six things at once. One evening, while on the telephone with Janine, Mitch flips through TV channels and lands on an edition of Nightline where he sees his former professor Morrie Schwartz (Jack Lemmon) being interviewed by Ted Koppel. Morrie discusses his current health and lets everyone know he is dying of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease" or ALS. Morrie, a retired sociology professor from Brandeis University, comes on the show to describe his final journey.

As life goes on with work and balancing his relationship with Janine, Mitch feels bothered he never got a chance to visit his old professor. Feeling so moved by the interview, Mitch reaches out for a visit with Morrie after sixteen years of no contact. Morrie has an affinity with food and it becomes a regular endeavor with his visits with Mitch. Office hours during university were on Tuesdays, Morrie would grade papers and critique student’s assignments, Mitch now makes it a habit to visit him every Tuesday. Connie (Caroline Aaron), Morrie’s home nurse, is his primary care taker. After leaving Morrie, Mitch continues working and can’t find a groove with Janine.

Mitch returns and witnesses a “living funeral” where friends and family come to honor Morrie while he is still alive, per Morrie’s request. As the two get reacquainted, they participate in several thoughtful and reflective conversations about various substantial topics. Morrie divulges in many stories on his time as a young boy and how his relationships unfolded between his mother, stepmother, and father. Back home Mitch continues with his impressive and busy journalism career, and while out on a story he receives a call from Janine breaking up with him.

Review: Tuesdays with Morrie is a poignant story about real people rediscovering what it means to be alive and to connect with those people who are the most important.

The story centres on two main characters. The first we meet is Mitch Albom. A highly successful sports writer who seemingly has it all. A successful carrier, loving wife and a gathering of friends. Along with the usual trappings of a good life that can be measured in material objects people collect.

Yet a chance interview on a late night channel of Morrie Schwartz, his college professor from nearly twenty years ago creates a chain of questions that had been ignored. Questions as to what price he was paying for his success and comfort. Was his work negatively affecting his relationships.

A reuniting with Morrie reminds him of the things that once were important in life. The imagined and rewarding life that he had looked forward to. One that made his current light start to fade and pale in comparison. This is a real story about people who are learning to move and not stagnate. One that is well worth watching. Many times.

M J Flack