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Product Description
Amazon.ca
Something the Lord Made recounts the relationship between Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and Vivian Thomas (Mos Def). It begins in 1930s Nashville when imperious cardiac surgeon Blalock hires Thomas, an African American carpenter, as his janitor. When the latter reveals a passion for medicine and facility with surgical instruments, Blalock promotes him to lab tech. Thomas isn't given a raise, works side jobs to make ends meet, and is expected to be grateful. Along the way, he follows Blalock from Vanderbilt to Johns Hopkins, where they save thousands of lives through their pioneering work, but will Thomas ever get any credit? The film provides a satisfying answer to that question. Joseph Sargent (A Lesson Before Dying) directs with subtlety and intelligence, while Rickman and Mos Def are in top form, often underplaying where most actors would do otherwise. Something the Lord Made won the 2004 Emmy for outstanding made-for-TV movie. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By P. Johnson
TOP 1000 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
This is the best movie my wife and I have seen in a long time. It makes you cheer, root for Vivian Thomas (Mos Def), cry, laugh. Totally a wonderful movie. Based on a true story it portrays the triumphs and the let downs of a very intelligent black man who is hired as a janitor/lab assistant but develops and becomes an invaluable partner to a white researcher. Until late in the movie he is still considered "black" and not as good as the white man. But, he triumphs and, in the end, is given his due.
Truly a delightful movie.
Truly a delightful movie.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Kona
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
It is the 1930s in the deep South, and Vivien Thomas (Mos Def), who always dreamed of becoming a doctor, has just been fired from his job as a carpenter. Hired to clean the lab cages for the arrogant Dr. Blalock (Alan Rickman), Vivien quickly demonstrates a rare affinity for medicine and a knack for making improvised surgical instruments. Blalock appreciates his unusual skills and takes Vivien with him when he moves to Johns Hopkins University, where, together, they work to save dying "blue babies."
It's been a long time since a movie touched me this much. This Emmy-winning HBO film is simply outstanding in every way; the script, based on a true story, is exciting and the actors are all excellent. I got the movie because of Alan Rickman, but it is Mos Def who is the real star. He gives a powerful performance as an idealistic young man hobbled by the injustices of segregation who perseveres to become a respected scientist. Though Vivien never attended college, he helped plan and assisted in the world's first heart bypass surgery to correct blue baby syndrome in 1944.
The Jim Crow era is recreated well, creating a cruel and hopeless world; it is nothing short of amazing that Vivien accomplished all he did. This is an exceptional movie, guaranteed to have you reaching for the tissues. Highly recommended.
It's been a long time since a movie touched me this much. This Emmy-winning HBO film is simply outstanding in every way; the script, based on a true story, is exciting and the actors are all excellent. I got the movie because of Alan Rickman, but it is Mos Def who is the real star. He gives a powerful performance as an idealistic young man hobbled by the injustices of segregation who perseveres to become a respected scientist. Though Vivien never attended college, he helped plan and assisted in the world's first heart bypass surgery to correct blue baby syndrome in 1944.
The Jim Crow era is recreated well, creating a cruel and hopeless world; it is nothing short of amazing that Vivien accomplished all he did. This is an exceptional movie, guaranteed to have you reaching for the tissues. Highly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Duchess
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
We bought this because we liked Alan Rickman. He has played in many roles that we liked, so I thought this would be a good movie to buy. It's based on a true story of how the two figured out a way to fix the heart defect that was referred to as 'blue baby'. Both played their roles very well and it really shows how the black man, regardless of the fact he did most of the important work that was involved, that he still had not got the deserved recognition until much later in life. I would recommend this to anyone who likes stories based on true events.
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4.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspiring
This movie would be good viewing for older children (experimental animal surgery could be disturbing for younger children). Read more
Published 1 month ago by lmarten
5.0 out of 5 stars
i love it
i love the story and movie. much better than any other brands. why does review need more words? this way, fewer people will review it. guaranteed!
Published 1 month ago by Hongyi Mu
4.0 out of 5 stars
a nice little movie
interesting, well acted - i bought it because it was inexpensive and i liked rickmann
story moved along and dealt with racism reasonably. Read more
story moved along and dealt with racism reasonably. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jim McCracken
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