“Quarantine” is also definitely not a family movie, and not for the squeamish of any age. It begins calmly, as a local television crew targets a particular fire station for a feature story, but things get scary quickly. Responding to a 911 call at an apartment building, they all find themselves trapped inside, in involuntary “quarantine,” as the mysterious, rabid zombies pick them off one by one. The handheld camera device will leave the viewer dizzy and frustrated, but it also feels real. Down to the last violent horror.
“Rachel Getting Married” has its down moments, but the tension among the characters keeps this angst-filled weekend saga from drowning in its own sarcasm. Anne Hathaway goes against type as Kym, the pretty but troubled young woman who has been in and out of rehab for 10 years, and still is, but gets a weekend pass long enough to attend her sister’s wedding. This family is beyond dysfunctional; it is actively angry and frequently confrontative, but Hathaway’s sympathetic, platitude-rejecting performance carries the whole melodrama. Sure, there’s a big difference between forgiving and forgetting. But what if wallowing in guilt, indulging in anger, and playing the selfish rebel is more fun than being clean, sober, and cheerful?
Questions For Discussion:
1) How can the addict attain sobriety? Is the AA “12-step” agenda the only viable recovery program, or are there acceptable alternatives?
2) How can the well-heeled retain humility?
3) How can the immature learn discipline?
4) How can the despairing find hope?
RONALD P. SALFEN is pastor of Grace Church, Greenville, Texas.
