Something the Lord Made

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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

Description

(Drama) Something the Lord Made tells the emotional true story of two men who defied the rules of their time to launch a medical revolution, set against the backdrop of the Jim Crow south. Working in 1940s Baltimore on an unprecedented technique for performing heart surgery on "blue babies," Dr. Alfred Blalock (Alan Rickman) and lab technician Vivien Thomas (Mos Def) form an impressive team. As Blalock and Thomas invent a new field of medicine, saving thousands of lives in the process, social pressures threaten to undermine their collaboration and tear their friendship apart.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary:Audio commentary with director Joseph Sargent, writer Peter Silverman, executive directors Eric Hetzel and Joseph W. Cort Featurette Making History Slide Show
Featurette
Other:Making History Slide Show

Customer Reviews:

Absolutely Love this Movie.......2007-09-13

This movie did not receive the credit it was due. Mos Def was wonderful... too bad he didn't get the award; he certainly deserved it.

5 Stars for this beautiful movie.......2007-08-15

This is an amazing movie from HBO films. If you have seen the Life and Death of Peter Sellers you know what I mean. My favorite actor Alan Rickman and Mos Def play the main characters in this civil rights era medical drama. It is based on the true history of Dr. Alfred Blaylock and his assistant Vivian Thomas, and their research on Tetralogy of Fallot. Cardiac surgery before the 1930's was considered impossible, so their contributions made vast improvements for medicine and countless lives. Their relationship is a contrast of violatility and intimacy. Social constraints influence them, and yet they treat each other as equals. The acting is infallible and touching, this is a must-see movie. I own it, I love it, enough can't be said about it. (it is NR but I would give an R, not for children)

MOS DEF IS A GREAT ACTOR.......2007-08-14

I orginally saw this movie on HBO. I had no idea Mos Def could act, but he sure can. From beginning to end the movie is gripping and at the end you feel a sense of pride. This is defintiely one I will watch over and over again.

Well Acted Docu-Drama.......2007-08-01

I purchased this title as a gift for a retired heart surgeon. He practically makes everyone (including me) who darkens his door watch it with him. It is a great, well acted film about the taboo interracial pairing of a surgeon and his brilliant assistant at Johns Hopkins Hospital in a very segregated Baltimore. This film documents the first open heart surgery on "blue babies" which was performed by this unlikely pair. Even the coldest heart will be melted by this wonderful story.

Excellent movie!.......2007-07-03

This movie is a must see. It will keep your interest throughout. There are no dull moments. I didn't realize that Mos Def is such a wonderful actor.

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