Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America's Boys

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One of the best documentaries I've seen

A must-see for parents and non-parents, men and women

Valuable resource

Rating the DVD Raising Cain

right on!

Raising Cain: Exploring the Inner Lives of America's Boys

Manufacturer: PBS (Direct)
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ASIN: B000CPHAB0
Release Date: 2006-01-17

Amazon.com

In Raising Cain, the two-hour documentary based on the book by the same title, Dr. Michael Thompson discusses how the educational system and today's cultural circumstances are not equipping America's boys with the right tools to development emotionally. If society and the school system stay on their current path, the boys of America are headed for trouble. The lack of positive "father figures" in most American homes, the removal of physical education and recess in schools, a school system geared more toward girls' educational development, and the emotional confusion many boys face when growing up with without any adult male guidance are all contributing factors to American boys' decline in classroom performance, rise in violent outbreaks, and inability to communicate inner feelings. To get to the heart of the issue, Dr. Thompson proposes that by understanding the psychology of boys, we can help get them on track. To get his point across, Dr. Thompson interviews the lives of various "real boys" from birth through high school, of different race and socio-economical backgrounds. His candid interviews reveal the many challenges and confusion all boys encounter while growing up in America. At the end of each section, Dr. Thompson defines ways for parents, educators, and counselors to engage boys and help them discuss many of the internal issues they are conflicted with. This excellent documentary is a real eye-opener and does an effective job pointing out the issues many parents do not feel comfortable talking about, nor understand how to address. Raising Cain is highly recommended to any parent, particularly those that are raising boys. --Rob Bracco

Description

Raising Cain is a 2-hour PBS documentary that explores the emotional development of boys in America today. Our guide in the program is child psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, one of America's leading experts on boys. His book on the emotional lives of boys, "Raising Cain," with co-author Dan Kindlon, was a New York Times bestseller. Raising Cain explores the lives of boys from birth through high school through powerful documentary stories about real boys. The hallmark of the program is Michael Thompson's in-depth interviews and interactions with these boys. The interviews reveal the challenges and confusion that boys encounter while growing up in America. In addition, Michael Thompson models ways for parents, educators and counselors to engage boys and help them bring their inner lives to the surface.

Customer Reviews:

One of the best documentaries I've seen.......2007-06-07

This is about how bad we raise our kids in the West. If you wonder what's going wrong today with our kids: they've become so violent, so hyper, so emotionally immature while sexually precocious, you shouldn't look very far. Look at their environment. See who's around in the streets and in their homes. Bad influences in the street? Yes. No father figure at home? For sure. Rich parents who spoil their kids by "buying" their love? Plenty. Busy parents who trust money will do the job of raising? Mostly. Now how on earth can these kids ever develop their brains, grow mentally, aquire a culture, if we are still bustling with environmental (out-of-school) problems?

All the violence and sex that floods our society has to reflect on our kids behavior. It's normal that the violence they see, and suffer, out there impacts them so much that they mainly try to survive in the jungle of peer pressure and street gangs. It's just too much.

This documentary is concise, right on target. It gives no concessions to political correctness and is straight common sense. A breeze of fresh air amid all the babble from administrators and pedagogues. Straight talk. Higly recommended. Besides, it's very entertaining, high quality image, and engrossing from the go.

It'll do you good. Watch it.

A must-see for parents and non-parents, men and women.......2007-01-23

I have seen hundreds of documentaries. This is quite easily one of the very best. There are several "parts" to the documentary as Michael Thompson begins with a look at babies through preschoolers and their gender differences. Then he takes a critical look at elementary schools and how stereotypes begin to be enforced as early as 5 years old. After that, he takes you to two different high schools and a boys and girls club in the inner city of Chelsea, Massachusetts. I was riveted as I saw what the other half lives like. I grew up in poverty in a rural town in Iowa and spent most of my childhood without a father and with a severely abusive stepfather. We lived on welfare and food stamps. Inner city kids have it much worse. I think every person, parent or not, should see this film. My only caveat is that I wish Thompson had also pointed out how destructive bad fathers can be. Boys who are raised by an abusive father are much worse off than those who are raised without fathers at all.

Valuable resource.......2006-10-06

I use this DVD in a class I teach at The Universtiy of Wisconsin, Milwaukee called "Male Identity: Education & Development". I love it, and it generates much discussion in class. I highly recommend it to parents, educators, and anyone concerned about helping boys become good men.

Rating the DVD Raising Cain.......2006-03-23

A very interesting and informative look at boys. If you have a son or sons, you need to see this.

right on!.......2006-02-12

I agree with the other reviewers that this was an excellent program for parents of boys to watch. While I may not have agreed with all the solutions to "boy problems" that were discussed, I learned a lot and the problems discussed gave me many things to think about and ponder in dealing with my own sons. I have 4 sons -- ages 14, 7, 4, and 1 -- and could see them in each of the boys profiled in this film. "Boys will be boys" is a statement that does not need to be derogatory -- it is simply the truth. And, whether it is nature or nurture that makes boys the way they are -- the fact is that they are different than girls and that we, as parents and educators, must now deal with them in an effective manner. I am going to purchase copies of Dr. Thompson's book for the teachers at my sons' school to pass around and glean from it what they will. I may suggest that the principal encourage the faculty, especially the Jr. High teachers, to take an evening to watch this DVD. I had tears in my eyes several times, as I thought, "So that is the deal with them." If you are a parent to sons, you will feel this DVD ringing true to your life and it will make you feel better about the things you are struggling with. It brings to the front all those little struggles that we think we are the only ones dealing with. This will help you realize that most parents of boys are struggling with the same things and will offer, if not a few solutions, at least some affirmation that you are not alone and some insight into what is going on in those little guys heads and souls!
Highly recommended!

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Shattered...
Weak thriller from De Palma
Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, DePalma!!
A Great Psychological Thriller. A must for de Palma fans
A bizarre, creepy examination of split personalities....as only De Palma could do it

Raising Cain
Starring: John Lithgow , Lolita Davidovich , Steven Bauer , Frances Sternhagen , and Gregg Henry
Director: Brian De Palma
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: 0783228449
Release Date: 1998-09-08

Amazon.com

In this wicked thriller from 1992, director Brian De Palma shamelessly borrows from Alfred Hitchcock (as usual) and several other filmmakers to create a shock-a-thon that plays like a film buff's highlight reel from a dozen different thrillers. Taken on those terms it's a lot of fun to watch (though not for the faint-hearted), and multiple maniac roles for John Lithgow make it an irresistible shocker that isn't afraid to wallow in its own excess. Lithgow not only plays the evil Dr. Carter Nix, who is performing strange experiments on children, but he also plays the doctor's twin sons, Josh and Cain, who kidnap kids and bring them to their father's laboratory. Lolita Davidovich is a mother whose child has been abducted, but she won't give up without a fight. If this sounds repulsive, rest assured that De Palma focuses on the battle between the mother and the nefarious twins (this isn't a film about gratuitous child abuse), and film students will delight in the allusions to Hitchcock, Michael Powell's Peeping Tom, and Orson Welles's Touch of Evil, among others. It never makes much sense or adds up to anything truly satisfying, but thanks to Lithgow's wild performances Raising Cain is the kind of over-the-top thriller that grabs you for 95 minutes and holds you in its entertaining grip. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

Shattered..........2007-08-29

Dr. Carter Nix (John Lithgow) seems like a normal sort of guy. However, his bland exterior conceals a small army of individual personalities, all splintered off from his original self. Nix suffered unspeakable childhood trauma, leaving him an unpredictable jumble. RAISING CAIN gives Brian De Palma a chance to explore one of his favorite subjects- homicidal mental illness. Just check out his SISTERS or DRESSED TO KILL for some truly insane membranes! RC is also a showcase for Lithgow to play an entire flock of odd characters. I had to watch it a couple of times to catch some of his nuances and gestures. Hell, the first time I saw this movie I was confused and disappointed! I'd heard about it for years, and the movie in my head was totally different! Now, I consider RC to be my second favorite De Palma movie, right after CARRIE...

Weak thriller from De Palma.......2007-08-03

Carter Nix (John Lithgow) is a prominent doctor who has decided to take a year off from his practice to supervise the upbringing of his daughter Amy. His father Baumse, whom police believe to be dead, performed dangerous experiments on Carter as a child resulting in him developing multiple personalities in the form of evil brother Cain, sister Margot, and frightened Josh. Lolita Davidovich plays his wife who at first likes the idea of Carter being a hands on parent but becomes concerned when Carter would rather check on Amy than make love to his wife. Davidovich is being fulfilled by a former patient (Steven Bauer) however and the guilt this is causing her results in her becoming even more concerned about her daughter but now her own life when she suspects that Carter knows about her. Carter does know about this indiscretion because he caught her in the park one day when Cain was kidnapping a mother and her child to take to their father, who is alive and in hiding, to continue his experimentation on kids. The film is at times hard to follow but what does follow is Carter completely losing it to the point that he becomes Cain for the majority of the rest of the film and begins kidnapping and murdering people. Frances Sternahagen of Cheers plays a former student of Baumse who is called in by the cops to try to figure out if Carter is responsible for this and where Amy is. She hypnotizes him and discovers his other personalities Margot and Josh. The films climax at a hotel is visually stunning which is to be expected from a DePalma film and there are three genuine jolts in the film including the frightening last shot but the film is just okay. Its not one of his better thrillers but is certainly better than a film like Snake Eyes. To further make you long for his thrillers of the 70's like Carrie, Dressed to Kill, or Body Double he recreates several whole scenes and shots from Dressed to Kill in this one. He usually does that kind of stuff with Hitchcock and indeed he recreates the submerging car in a swamp scene from Psycho here nearly shot for shot but it's the Dressed to Kill stuff that is so obvious. It's simple if you are going to repeat entire shots and motifs from that film just watch that film which was better than watching this one which is only ok. Lithgow does good in his numerous roles portraying the anxiety and betrayal of Carter and the swagger and menace of Cain who has no problem stepping in for his little brother when he can't drug a woman with chloroform and kidnap her kid. Davidovich and Bauer as the lovers however are overacting so bad that their scenes together slow the film down and can't be taken seriously though I question if DePalma wants you to take them seriously. DePalma fans might find some things to enjoy here but otherwise its forgettable. Check out Dressed to Kill is what he seems to be saying.

Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, DePalma!!.......2007-02-20

This is a psychological thriller that couldn't have came at a better time than it did, but unfornately it almost got ignored at the theaters. What a travesty! All that was coming out in those days were mindless, generic thrillers like "Sleeping With Julia Roberts", "The Hand That Rocks Rebecca De Mornay", and/or "Single White Stupid Movie". I still remember telling a friend right after seeing "The Bonfire of the Vanities" that (even though I love all of the different genres of film that DePalma has made I think his thrillers are where he excels best), it was time for DePalma to return to the horror genre. And, it's as if he heard me, because this little treasure opened just a little over a year later.
Here it was to save the day! DePalma's most demented, deceptive, deranged piece of work in years. A psychological thriller that weaves back and forth, moving in and out, and in between dreams, thoughts, fantasies, flights of fancy, characters that don't exist outside of the mind, a love story, a kidnapping story, a "mad doctor" scenerario, murders, multiple personalities, framing the innocent for murder, a character that is either a "personality" or back from the dead, and reality.
Loaded with doses of extremely dark humor, this is a relatively simple story, just told in a difficult way (the basic rule of any great director), with not only references to Hitchcock (I especially loved the nod to "Frenzy"), but DePalma even riffed himself just to spite critics who had always bashed him for riffing Hitchcock and others. There is one scene in particular that is straight out of "Dressed To Kill", as well as a few other references to that film. This is a very dark journey inside the mind of a very distured individual who was made that way by experimentation as a child. Yes, John Lithgow plays Carter, Cain, Josh, and Margo Nix, as well as "their" father Dr. Nix, who is supposed to be dead; so is he too just another personality of Carter's? And he plays all five roles so brilliantly, that you believe everyone of them. The way writer, director DePalma fleshes out and brings all the characters together is something to be praised for decades!
Lolita Davidovich is great as Jenny Nix, Carter's confused, frustrated wife who has a few flights of fancy herself, again allowing the film to take us inside the minds of the characters in this film in such a stylish way that will stay in your mind for a long period after viewing. Steven Bauer is really good as Jenny's former lover, Jack, who lost his wife to cancer while Jenny was his wife's nurse, when they both fell in love with each other. But, Jenny married Carter, and now in her confused state of mind over her husband's behavior, up pops her ex to ignite a new passion in her; and Cain literally splits in two, three, four different ways. Look for Gregg Henry in a great performance as one of the detectives, Mel Harris as Jenny's friend, Gabrielle Cartaris as a doomed babysitter, and Frances Sternhagen in what could probably be the best role she's ever done, Dr. Waldheim, a psychiatrist who's surviving cancer, wearing a wig that she declares "I look like a transvestite in this!". A wig that is befitting for a real "Drag Queen" (the only other time Lithgow did this was in "The World According To Garp", a GREAT film, which this is openly paying homage to). Thus, leading the viewer to, what reviewer Adam Craig has stated: The BEST ending in DePalma's film cannon, if not the best over any other film in this genre! After viewing this, and I watch "Body Double", I now almost wished that DePalma would have scrapped the ending credits scene, and just faded to black after the final scene at the resevoir; but, I now have come to reappreciate that ending. This is definetly a film that could compare to Rob Reiner's "Misery" or Kubrick's "The Shining" as far as having a character that delivers lines so deviously sinister, yet hilarious in the same breath. This is definetly a thinking person's horrorshow! It dares to go where few films before it have dared to go...inside the Human mind and the horrors that lay dormant there, just waiting to awaken and come to life and be a character all their own. And, the coolest riddle of all to those that have seen it and loved it (which I know a LOT of people that LOVE this film, plus there are a lot of great 4 or 5 star reviews on here from some very insightful reviewers): If Margo is the protector of the children, then is her presence to be be feared or comforting in a crucial scene?
Anyways, if you like films that play out like a cat and mouse game, then this is for you. It is not a very difficult film to follow, but like chess, it has continuos twists and turns, so just let yourself go for the ride and you'll love every minute of it! Something that's Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, Delirious, Devious, Delicious DePalma at his Disturbing best! Thank you.

A Great Psychological Thriller. A must for de Palma fans.......2006-11-10

This has a seemingly convoluted plot. Carter (et al., played exceptionally well by John Lithgow) begins to grow strange when he learns that his wife is having an affair with her ex. He becomes more obsessed with their young daughter and a rash of kidnapping/ killings occur. His wife (Lolita Davidovich) must figure out if he is behind the crimes or if his "dead" father, who committed experiments on children to develop multiple personality disorders, is to blame. Whew...

What makes this film interesting, other than the above-stated reasons, is that they give away one of the twists at the very first scene. The audience is already aware that Carter has multiple personalities. What makes it more intriguing is that de Palma tricks the audience with constant flashbacks, dream sequences, and appearances made by "dead" people that are not really dead.

The film starts a tad slow during the first 15 minutes and seems Lifetime Channel worthy. But as the film progresses, it gets trippier and more Hitchcockian (paranoid, obsessive, and voyeuristic with a knock out ending). Oddly enough, this is rated "R", but for very little reason. There is no nudity, minimal sex, minimal violence, and no gore at all. Most of the violence is implied and the tension comes from the suspense built by de Palma, the disturbing subject matter, and dark atmosphere.

There are a few standout scenes that will creep the viewer out. My favorite was the hospital scene. It literally had me sinking into my couch as this thing slowly turns towards me. It scared the bejesus out of me and had me rewinding to catch a glimpse again. Other noteworthy scenes include the interrogation scene where Lithgow weaves in and out of his different personalities and the ending that is incredibly reminiscent of "Dressed to Kill".

Favorite Quote: "Hickory dickory dock. Cain has picked his lock. He did a bad deed and Josh comes to bleed. Hickory dickory dock."

DVD Extras: The barebones from Universal. Only Brief Production Notes and Original Trailer.

Bottom Line: A great psychological thriller. Gorehounds should pass though. A must for de Palma and Hitchcock fans.

Rating: 7/10

Molly Celaschi

A bizarre, creepy examination of split personalities....as only De Palma could do it.......2006-09-18

Raising Cain has been totally destroyed over the years by critics who hate De Palma, and are out to completely discredit anything he does. The thing is, with most people that I know who have actually seen the film: they really like it. Obviously, I love the movie. This film is probably the most bizarre piece of work that De Palma has ever done. The film is full of violent, erotic dream sequences that consistently throw the viewer off-balance. That isn't to say that the film consists of mostly dreams, because there is a cohesive story that can be followed; you just have to pay attention and be quick on your feet.

The film opens with Carter Nix (John Lithgow in an awesomely over-the-top performance) drugging an innocent mother and kidnapping her child so Carter can take the child to his father, a child psychologist who is trying to gather a control group for an experiment in a foreign country. As soon as we see Carter in action, we realize that he is a totally inept criminal, who is really just doing Daddy's work. He isn't really an evil guy. However, his twin brother, Cain, has no trouble doing all the dirty work when Carter chickens out (which he usually does). Carter and his wife, Jenny, have a daughter which Carter also wants to be put in the experiment. I, as the viewer, assume that Jenny doesn't want the child in it, and there is a small rift between the spouses. That only gets worse when Carter sees Jenny cheating with an old flame out in the woods one day. This event sends Carter into a chaotic psychological journey that puts everyone in his life in danger.

The films many twists and turns are one of the greatest parts about watching this, or any, De Palma film. You never know what is about to happen next. In any review of De Palma, I feel obligated to mention his wizardry and amazing skill behind the camera. The main tracking shot of the film takes place at the police station, as two detectives and a doctor talk about Carter's case. The shot follows them all around the building and down to the basement, and nothing ever misses a beat. This is one of those times that you almost have to rewind the movie to actually listen to the conversation, because you are just amazed and distratcted by the ability of De Palma and the actors to carry a tracking shot for so long. The "De Palma centerpiece" of this film is a two-story motel/lodge and the walkways stretching between the buildings. This is where the film's excrucating, slow-motion finale takes place, and it is De Palma at his best. As if all these things I've mentioned aren't enough, the ending of the film might just be the best ending De Palma has ever done.

Fear / The Watcher / Raising Cain (Triple Feature)

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Fear / The Watcher / Raising Cain (Triple Feature)
Starring: Fear , Watcher , and Raising Cain
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
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ASIN: B000NNUWZM
Release Date: 2007-05-22

Description

First love can be innocent or intense, intoxicating...or insatiable. Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon and Alyssa Milano star in this riveting suspense-thriller about a passionate romance that soon becomes a deadly obsession. Nicole Walker (Witherspoon) always dreamed of being swept away by someone special - someone strong, sexy and sensitive who would care for her more than anything else in the world. David (Wahlberg) is all that and more: a modern-day knight who charms and seduces her, body and soul. But her perfect boyfriend is not all he seems to be. His sweet facade masks a savage, dark side that will soon transform Nicole's dream into a nightmare. Also starring William Petersen and Amy Brenneman, and featuring a killer soundtrack, this provocative thriller will lure you past the brink of terror and keep you on the edge of your seat!

Keanu Reeves ignites this action-packed, "superbly crafted thriller that zooms along like a sinister video game of hunter and prey!" (Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper and the Movies) After years of pursuing psychotic killers in Los Angeles, FBI agent Joel Campbell (James Spader) wants out. And now his nemesis, serial killer David Allen Griffin (Reeves), has tracked him all the way to Chicago just to torment him. Before each murder, Griffin sends Campbell a photograph of his intended victim and dares him to find her before he strikes again. Now, with every tick of the clock, and amidst pulse-pounding action, this stone-cold killer turns up the heat. Co-starring Oscar-winner Marisa Tomei, this game of cat and mouse will have you gasping for breath from its first terrifying frame until its final explosive conclusion!

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Customer Reviews:

Shattered..........2007-08-29

Weak thriller from De Palma.......2007-08-03

Deceptive, Deranged, Demented, DePalma!!.......2007-02-20

A Great Psychological Thriller. A must for de Palma fans.......2006-11-10

A bizarre, creepy examination of split personalities....as only De Palma could do it.......2006-09-18

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