THANKFULLY, I CONTINUE TO SEE EXAMPLES of emotions/feelings under restraint. They are reminders to me. A toddler, lacking verbal skills, so frustrated they throw themselves on the floor, screaming at the top of their lungs. I remember that age, when I would get so frustrated because I could not properly express myself that I would destroy the closest object near me. Usually, it was a toy or game, but sometimes it would be an article of clothing. As I was getting older, I started turning that anger and frustration inward; I started overeating, said in a separate way, I was stuffing my feelings literally down my throat. It came to a point where I never ate out of a sense of hunger; it was due to keeping my feelings bottled inside of me. Another example that presented itself to me was seeing holes that had been made by someone’s fist punching a wall. I felt that type of frustrated anger was different from mine because the things I chose to destroy were easily disposable. Once I broke an item, I would pickup all the pieces and put them in the garbage can. I had something instilled in me that knew not to chose items that would remain visible to others.      IN MY ADULT LIFE, AND AFTER a few years of therapy, I am better equipped to express my feelings; in turn, avoid the destructive side of anger. I was in a relationship where my partner was raised to believe if someone was arguing or displaying any anger towards you then they did not love you anymore. This false narrative was something I had to work on with my partner. I had no issues displaying my anger, believing as I still do to this day, that it is healthier to release one’s anger then move on from it. My level of anger can be intense, depending on the circumstances. If someone does not have a reference point, they could easily believe that I appear to hate their guts and want them dead. This is not the case; it is just because I have had situations in my life that kept my anger fed, letting it grow and fester. These days, I acknowledge the reservoir of anger I have inside of me, but I do not let it dictate who I am. Once I unleash my anger, I am done with it and continue living a decent, happy life. For some this appears to be a marvel feat; for me, I consider it a healthy path to get rid of the anger before it starts to eat me from inside. Imagine having an intense argument and once you say your piece, you ask the other person where they would like to go for dinner. This is how I am wired, the quick switching of emotions, and because of it, I was fascinated with this Oscar nominated movie based on a true story.      JAILED FOR A CRIME HE DID not commit, an inmate finds comfort with a small band of prisoners that form a theater troupe who put on plays. The message that gets delivered and received usually is bigger than just from the theater piece. With Coleman Domingo (The Color Purple, Rustin) as John Divine G Whitfield, newcomer Clarence Maclin as Clarence Divine Eye Maclin, Sean San Jose (The Other Barrio, Dream for an Insomniac) as Mike Mike, Paul Raci (Sound of Metal, The Secret Art of Human Flight) as Brent Buell, and newcomer Mosi Eagle as himself; this drama was perfectly balanced in tone and texture. Coleman’s acting was outstanding, and I was impressed by the actual former prisoners who portrayed themselves; it added a higher sense of believability for me. The amazing story was told in a straightforward way that had the perfect blend of joy and sadness; there were no earth-shattering reveals or surprise twists, everything was laid out in an easy flow from scene to scene. I absolutely enjoyed watching this movie, especially the added shots during the ending credits.                                   

3 ½ stars