Page 6 July 21, 2016 EL SEGUNDO HERALD Film Review Check It Out “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru” Captures Grandeur of Mega Self-Help Event By Ryan Rojas for www.cinemacy.com “Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru,” a new documentary about the larger-than-life motivational speaker and communicator, will be watched by three different types of people: the first, of course, will be Robbins’ everdevout fans and followers, who most likely will praise the movie for its very existence. The second type of person will be the cynical, critical person, arguably having a pre-loaded bias or thought of Robbins as more huckster than savior. The third type of person, someone who might find themselves more comfortably in the middle, will no doubt get the most out of what this movie has to offer. From Academy Award-winning director Joe Berlinger, the man behind such seminal non-fiction documentaries as the “Paradise Lost” trilogy and “Metallica: Some Kind of Monster” (the latter film, which Robbins approved of in getting this documentary made), trades in his darker, more investigative documentary exposé for something unapologetically hopeful, choosing to show the more uplifting side of Robbins’ work rather than a take-down approach. On that note, those looking for a deeper, more personal, profile of Robbins may be left unsatisfied. Those who are looking for a peek behind the Tony Robbins electrifies the audience in ‘Tony Robbins: I Am Not Your Guru.’ Courtesy of Netflix. curtains of one of the most famous self-help events, however, will have more than enough footage to take in here. Covering the six-days of Robbins’ famous “Date With Destiny” at a convention center in Boca Raton, Florida (a hop-skip-and-jump away from his ocean side mansion), more than 2,500 people from 71 different countries excitedly await their own personal life-changing transformations. At about $5,000 a ticket for the weeklong event, Anthony “Tony” Robbins, (though he would prefer “life-strategist”) has built his empire on loyalty, charisma, and results. Standing at an immense 6’7” with a gravely voice and fixed gaze (while dropping profanity-laden language to snap people into the present moment), Robbins’ work is the epitome of tough love by calling people out on the things they are choosing not to confront. At one hour and 55 minutes, “I Am Not Your Guru” shows the entire gamut of the seminar. Condensed down from 12 hours a day to a highlight reel of select participants sharing their stories of hardship and traumatic pasts (try not to think anything of the fact that the people who make the cut are mostly attractive women), it is the raw emotion and vulnerability of the crowd that offers real moments of honesty. Horrific scenes of childhood sex slavery, suicidal thoughts, and the general feeling of being unloved are just some of the issues brought up here, most of which Robbins relates to with his own abused past. Now, back to the overarching uneasiness that a self-help documentary might inspire: people will take whatever they wish out of a movie like this, depending on what they are looking for. Objectively, documentaries are thought to be real when they are without personal bias, rather than amplifying a certain side of a story. In this regard, Berlinger is unapologetic about how he portrays his subject, intending to highlight the good a film like this can bring. In an industry of evergrowing takedown documentaries that seek out the bad in the world, Berlinger attempts to be among the minorities of good-hearted and inspiring films. What is entirely undeniable, however, is that Robbins helps people in need of help, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein El Segundo Library Staff Book Reviews and Recommendations. Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein, is the sequel the New York Times Best Seller Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. This follow-up novel will not disappoint fans of the first book. Grabenstein once again delivers an exciting, fast-paced mystery that will leave readers hoping for more. Grabenstein begins by re-introducing readers to Kyle and his teammates and the magnificent library in Alexandria, Ohio where the story takes place. World famous game maker Luigi Lemoncello has invited teams from all across America to compete in the first ever Library Olympics! But it’s not all fun and games, something suspicious appears to be going on; books are going missing from Mr. Lemoncello’s library. The suspense builds and the plot twists and turns. As the Olympics-styled games begin: puns, puzzles, and book references come thick and fast at every turn. Can the kids band together to get to the bottom of this mystery? This book is perfect for upper elementary and middle school readers who like games, brain teasers, adventure and a good mystery! Grabenstein obligingly provides a long list of good books to read (mentioned in the text) and challenges readers to find the sources of the quotations from banned books embedded in the narrative. In doing so Grabenstein is not only allowing readers the opportunity, but he is also encouraging them to discover a plethora of new books they might enjoy. As an added bonus Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics pairs perfectly with this year’s summer reading program theme: Read for the Win! If you haven’t signed your son or daughter up yet, it’s not too late. This free eight-week program is designed to motivate children to read for pleasure during the summer. Participants receive prizes for reading books and the more they read the more prizes they can win. The program is concluded the first week of August with the Summer Finale Party (ticketed event) which includes entertainment and light refreshments. For more information about the Read for the Win! Summer Reading Program please contact the Young Readers staff at the El Segundo Public Library. The El Segundo Public Library offers access to its collection of titles in a variety of formats, including traditional hardback, e-books and books on CD. To check out Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein, or any other title on your to-read list, please visit the library to apply for your library card, or please contact the reference staff for further assistance. Reviewed by Katrena Woodson, Teen and Young Reader Librarian, El Segundo Public Library. • Mr. Lemoncello’s Library Olympics Katrena Woodson. Visit us online: www.heraldpublications.com See Film Review, page 16 Burkley & Brandlin LLP A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W Living Trusts/Wills, Probate, Employment Law, Personal Injury Trust and Estates Litigation, Business Litigation, Civil Litiga tion 310-540-6000 Lifetime El Segundo Residents *AV Rated (Highest) Martindale - Hubbell / **Certified Specialist Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law, State Bar of California, Board of Legal Specialization Brian R. Brandlin • Bruce R. Brandlin • Christopher P. Brandlin STARS & STRIPES A M E R I C A N M A D E C L O T H I N G S T O R E COME CHECK US OUT! 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