Warm Springs

Starring:Kenneth Branagh, Cynthia Nixon, David Paymer, Tim Blake Nelson, Matt O'Leary, Matt Malloy, Andrew Davoli, Nelsan Ellis, Jane Alexander, Kathy Bates, Laurel Lawson, Teal Sherer, Margo Gathright-Dietrich, Seth Morris (II), Robert Hatch (II), Bret Francis Quinn, Devon Gearhart, Terrence Gibney, Ron Goss, Rand Hopkins
Director: Joseph Sargent
Studio: HBO
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Warm Springs is a riveting, deeply moving film about a lesser-known chapter in the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American president who saw his country through the dark, terrible times of the Great Depression and most of World War II. Before those epochal events, however, Roosevelt spent time in a political wilderness, groomed for high office but struck down by polio at age 39. Warm Springs is the fascinating story of Roosevelt's painful journey from despair back to wisdom and leadership. Kenneth Branagh gives an emotionally raw, courageous performance as FDR, estranged from his wife, Eleanor (a near-luminous Cynthia Nixon), and his political guru (David Paymer) while ambivalently seeking rehabilitation at Warm Springs, a broken-down spa in the backwoods of Georgia. Mired in misery, misanthropy, and drink, Roosevelt is coaxed back to civilized behavior and a glimmer of altruism by the spa's ailing, folksy manager, Tom Loyless (a remarkable Tim Blake Nelson), and the ministrations of a progressive-minded, physical therapist (solid work by Kathy Bates). Word of Roosevelt's improvement in the buoyant, mineral-rich waters of Warm Springs draws other polio victims--some of whom endure terrible discrimination and misery while travelingto the spa. In time, these hopeful, all-ages paraplegics form a community that inspires a sense of mission in Roosevelt, setting the stage for his return to the political arena. Surehanded, 80-year-old veteran director Joseph Sargent (on a roll following his lovely, 2004 cable movie Something the Lord Made) has made a pitch-perfect and intimate, historical drama one never wants to see end. --Tom Keogh
Description
He was the only president to be elected three times, and is admired for his leadership during some of this nation's most challenging times, most notably, World War II and the Great Depression. Despite these historic accomplishments, many Americans have never known of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's greatest achievement...until now. Starring Kenneth Branagh (Shakespeare) and Cynthia Nixon(Sex and the City) this inspiring true story reveals one man's secret quest for hope during his darkest days, in a place that would serve as a source of strength for him the rest of his life: Warm Springs.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes

Average customer rating:

Very Good Movie
FDR is revolving in his grave
Warm Springs
Enlightening Story
Good acting by Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon(Sex and the City) as the Roosevelts.

Warm Springs
Starring: Kenneth Branagh , Cynthia Nixon , David Paymer , Tim Blake Nelson , and Matt O'Leary
Director: Joseph Sargent
Manufacturer: HBO
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Made-for-TV Movies | Television | Genres | DVD | Video

( W ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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The Gathering Storm

ASIN: B0009UVBI6
Release Date: 2005-08-30

Amazon.com

Warm Springs is a riveting, deeply moving film about a lesser-known chapter in the life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American president who saw his country through the dark, terrible times of the Great Depression and most of World War II. Before those epochal events, however, Roosevelt spent time in a political wilderness, groomed for high office but struck down by polio at age 39. Warm Springs is the fascinating story of Roosevelt's painful journey from despair back to wisdom and leadership. Kenneth Branagh gives an emotionally raw, courageous performance as FDR, estranged from his wife, Eleanor (a near-luminous Cynthia Nixon), and his political guru (David Paymer) while ambivalently seeking rehabilitation at Warm Springs, a broken-down spa in the backwoods of Georgia. Mired in misery, misanthropy, and drink, Roosevelt is coaxed back to civilized behavior and a glimmer of altruism by the spa's ailing, folksy manager, Tom Loyless (a remarkable Tim Blake Nelson), and the ministrations of a progressive-minded, physical therapist (solid work by Kathy Bates). Word of Roosevelt's improvement in the buoyant, mineral-rich waters of Warm Springs draws other polio victims--some of whom endure terrible discrimination and misery while traveling—to the spa. In time, these hopeful, all-ages paraplegics form a community that inspires a sense of mission in Roosevelt, setting the stage for his return to the political arena. Surehanded, 80-year-old veteran director Joseph Sargent (on a roll following his lovely, 2004 cable movie Something the Lord Made) has made a pitch-perfect and intimate, historical drama one never wants to see end. --Tom Keogh

Description

He was the only president to be elected three times, and is admired for his leadership during some of this nation's most challenging times, most notably, World War II and the Great Depression. Despite these historic accomplishments, many Americans have never known of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's greatest achievement...until now. Starring Kenneth Branagh (Shakespeare) and Cynthia Nixon(Sex and the City) this inspiring true story reveals one man's secret quest for hope during his darkest days, in a place that would serve as a source of strength for him the rest of his life: Warm Springs.

DVD Features:
Audio Commentary
Deleted Scenes

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Movie.......2006-11-11

I don't know about the historical accuracy of this movie, but it was very entertaining and well acted, in my opinion (naturally, since I am writing this!). It left me wanting to know more about FDR and I think that in and of itself should recommend it.

FDR is revolving in his grave.......2006-09-23

This was a agonizing viewing experience from first to last. The main problem is the complete miscasting of Kenneth Branagh in the role of FDR. I don't know whose idea it was to cast a British actor in the part, but the results are embarrassingly bad. If you thought Anthony Hopkins was miscast as Richard Nixon, Branagh as Roosevelt beats that hands down.

History lesson for the screenwriters: Franklin Roosevelt was a 19th century patrician gentleman. He was reared as a rich, spoiled only child, educated at Groton and Harvard and had the world by the string. Branagh apparently thinks having an American accent will suffice, but he is physically and emotionally all wrong for the part. Roosevelt was 6'2, Branagh is about 5'8. He possesses none of the real man's ebullience, wit, charm, charisma or the friendliness that oozed from every pour. For some inexplicable reason, Branagh plays FDR as a seedy, unshaven and unfriendly bum. Where are the characteristic head tilts, the jaunty manner, the lilting voice? Branagh plays FDR as if he were Jimmy Cagney!

Yes, FDR went through a prolonged depression in the aftermath of his polio but here's the rub: he never showed this to anyone. He suffered in silence. He didn't display his real emotions, he had been a taught as an upper class gentleman of his era to obscure them. Thus it's ridiculous that this screenplay has him complaining to valets, Louis Howe or Eleanor.

Cynthia Nixon as Eleanor Roosevelt is scarcely any better. Eleanor Roosevelt is probably the easiest woman to imitate of the 20th century, but Nixon hasn't a clue how the real Eleanor looked or sounded. The examination of the torturous, complicated Roosevelt marriage is totally absent. We see one brief flashback of Franklin undressing his mistress Lucy Mercer and then... nothing.

The screenplay is dreary and they achieve the impossible: making the fascinating Roosevelt come out boring and droning. It was enough to make you tear your hair out.

The only saving grace was the presence of the regal Jane Alexander, who played Eleanor magnificently in the TV drama "Eleanor and Franklin" from 1976. This is available on Amazon on DVD and I urge everyone to watch this infinitely superior production. The sets are insane and the homes which serve as Hyde Park and Campobello are anything but. The definitive characterization o FDR comes from the late Ralph Bellamy. Watch him in the TV mini series from the 80's, "Winds of War" and War and Remembrance." Perhaps Mr. Branagh should have watched these and real films of FDR before tackling this job. He's an adequate actor but miscast to a hideous degree in this limping dog of a drama.

Warm Springs.......2006-08-29

If you happen to see this in a DVD store or your TV listings, I recommend watching it. Kenneth Branagh is, of course, an excellent actor. In this film, he portrays Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the years between the onset of polio and his return to politics. I've never heard this part of his bio before, and it's quite interesting.

The plot must be somewhat simplistic, since it compresses much into 100 minutes, but that doesn't make it a bad plot or a bad movie. Knowing what little I do of FDR's later history gives depth and meaning to this formative part of his life.

Again, I recommend this one. Not five-star material, but damn worth watching.

Enlightening Story.......2006-08-19

If anyone ever had a legitimate reason for giving up on a political career it was Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. WARM SPRINGS is the film that shows how they fought back that urge and conquered their fears to become two of the greatest Americans. The film garners some of the best acting I've witnessed from lead actors and supporting actors as well, but the main highlight of this piece is the story. The story is one that will remain with me for many years to come because it depicts the time in this couple's life that prepared them to lead America through the Great Depression as well as World War II. The world needed men and women of courage and stamina to defeat the likes of Hitler and because of what happened to them here no one had more courage and stamina than Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The picture we see of Franklin as the film begins is one of a rich, spoiled, self absorbed man who is in an extra-marital affair. He and Eleanor are on the verge of separating. It's 1920 and his star is on the rise politically. It seems to be fear of committing political suicide that prevents that breakup. Eleanor at first is a shy traditional wife who is afraid of crowds, who resists the opportunity at every turn to help boost her husband's career.

Fate intervenes and Franklin contracts a devastating case of polio, and it seems at first that his political career is over. But, he receives a letter from a man in Warm Springs, Georgia who runs a place where polio victims can swim in the near 90 degree spring water and receive therapy to build up their leg muscles. It's here that Franklin again finds a mission for himself; here that he sees people who were born under much less fortunate circumstances than himself. In spite of being victims of polio or their caretakers, these less fortunate men and women create a community of people who truly care for each other. Franklin learns at Warm Springs to be compassionate. Back in New York, Eleanor supports her husband by keeping his name in the political fray. She becomes an activist and makes speeches and demonstrates for the downtrodden. She learns in his absence to be strong and as a result grows into a truly political asset.

After this experience, this couple not only loved each other, they respected and revered each other as well.

Good acting by Kenneth Branagh and Cynthia Nixon(Sex and the City) as the Roosevelts........2006-08-14

It's about when Franklin Delano Roosevelt came down with polio and how he attempted to recover by using natural hot springs water at a broken down resort in Georgia. The plot didn't try to sugar coat FDR or his wife Eleanor. They were shown to be flawed human beings who trudge through life like the rest of us, learning to cope with problems like most of us do. It made me sad to see the fear and discrimination toward polio victims. One scene was heartbreaking where a young man was in the baggage car, chair tipped over with him in it, and hasn't ate for two days! Thankfully, there are laws protecting the disabled today.

Of course, FDR never walked again but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the greatest presidents of the USA.

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