'Mr. Church': A competently made melodrama ( Review, Rating )

NK Latest, Film: "Mr. Church"; Director: Bruce Beresford; Cast: Eddie Murphy, Britt Robertson, Natascha McElhone, Xavier Samuel, Lucy Fry, Christian Madsen, McKenna Grace; Rating: ***

"Mr. Church" is a competently made film that is sometimes emotionally affecting. Though, the story - "Inspired by true friendship," is cliched, the film is largely elevated by the credible performances of its lead pair.

It is a tale of love and bonding between the Brooks and Mr. Church, a kind hearted man.

Narrated from Charlotte Brook's point of view, the story begins in 1971 Los Angeles, when one fine day, as a 10 year old, she finds a stranger in her kitchen, rustling up breakfast for her mother, Marie and her.

The stranger, Mr. Church, is apparently the hired cook for the Brooks, who was bequeathed by Richard, Marie's rich and already married, deceased lover.

The narrative graph is predictably formulaic. Charlotte who is also referred to as "Charlie," initially dislikes Mr. Church and gradually she accepts him. He is her friend and father figure, who she depends upon. And how, over a period of time roles reverse, forms the crux of the film.

The script written by television veteran Susan McMartin, in her maiden film credit, has narrative leitmotifs that add style and spirit to the narration. It is this style along with the performances that salvage this weak, stereotypical tale that is burdened with overtly, sugar-coated characters and run-of-the-mill dialogues.

Eddie Murphy in an author-backed role as the mysteriously compassionate "Mr. Church" is genuinely effortless. He breaks his mould of a comedian in this emotional drama and is a treat to watch. His restrained act with a dignified charisma elevates his character. But his mysterious track coupled with his flaws, over a period of time becomes an irritant factor and it further gets aggravated during the denouement.

Natalie Coughlin as the young Charlie, mesmerises us with an impressive performance. She shines while displaying her blunt dislike for Mr. Church or when she internalises her pain. She lays the foundation for Britt Robertson who seamlessly plays the older Charlie. Robertson too is striking as she delivers a flawlessly delicate and mature performance in depicting the various shades of her character.

The others in supporting roles too essay their roles effectively and leave an impact. Notable among them are Xavier Samuel and Lincoln Melcher as the older and younger Owen - Charlie's love interest, Lucy Fry and Madison Wolfe as the older and younger Poppy - Charlie's only friend in school, Natascha McElhone as Marie - Charlie's terminally ill mother and McKenna Grace as Izzy - Charlie's young daughter.

Technically, the film fits into the groove of Director Bruce Beresford's portfolio. He had earlier given us "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Double Jeopardy" and he does nothing to break the mould.

Overall, "Mr. Church" is a pleasant film that touches a raw nerve, once too often. It may appeal to you if you are a sucker for melodramas.

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Celebrate Natalie Coughlin’s Birthday With A Look Back On The Legend

Today Natalie Coughlin turns 34. To celebrate the Backstroke Queen’s big day, Swimming World took a look back at the legend’s path through the sport.

In February, the Cal swimmer was named Pac 12 Swimmer of the Century after winning 11 individual NCAA titles in her career. Writers have reflected on her status as an idol and her longevity in the sport, while also looking at her healthy lifestyle.

Dive into more of Swimming World‘s coverage of Coughlin’s accomplishments here.

The talented Coughlin has had quite the storied career becoming the first woman to ever break the one-minute barrier in the 100-meter backstroke days before her 20th birthday in 2002. Additionally Coughlin has had immense success as an Olympic athlete becoming the first woman to win six medals in a single Olympiad, and the first woman to successfully secure the 100-meter back title at back-to-back Olympics.

With a total of 12 Olympic medals to her name, Coughlin shares the throne of most decorated Olympic swimmer with fellow American greats Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres. Additionally, Coughlin was crowned Swimming World’s World Swimmer of the Year in 2002 and American Swimmer of the Year in 2001, 2002, and 2008.

Coughlin has graced the cover of Swimming World Magazine six times in her storied career, the first being in August 1998 when she was named High School Swimmer of the Year. Coughlin also made a seventh appearance on the 2008 Olympic bonus issue. Check out those covers below:

Why Olympian Natalie Coughlin says swimming is anything but ‘boring

Being a champion doesn't mean winning every race. It's also about character, bouncing back from setbacks, and continuing to move toward your goal. Natalie Coughlin, 33, is a 12-time Olympic medalist, three of them gold, but didn't make the cut for the Rio Olympic Games in August.

"I'm bummed I'm not going to Rio, but it is what it is," Coughlin said recently, adding that she is not using the word “retiring.” "So, I've always approached my goals with the intensity of controlling what I can control and letting everything else go. And then if I stumble or if I don't achieve that goal, I evaluate what happened, what could I have done better and then move forward.”

Are pool workouts the next big thing? Swimwear giant Speedo is banking on it

Coughlin has the emotional discipline befitting a champion but, of course, also the physical discipline. She gets up at 4:15 a.m., has breakfast, and is warming up by 5 a.m. for a day at the pool that includes stretching, Pilates and yoga in addition to ab, back and shoulder work. Here, she chats with us about other winning habits, including her diet and mindful swimming.

Was being a competitor instilled in you since childhood?

It was just naturally there. I was just a born competitor. I was always just über-competitive with everything that I did. I did gymnastics at an early age, even just playing games with my friends. My parents recognized that and steered me toward athletics and I found what I was best at was swimming.

What’s your philosophy toward a sport with so many ups and downs?

If I had any sort of mantra it’s just, “Trust in the journey.” Swimming and athletic goals -- it’s a very long process and it could be trying on your patience. But you just have to have faith in your coach and faith in the process, and just kind of enjoy the ride.

Swimming is pretty solitary. What are you thinking about during all those laps?

I think people sometimes look at swimming as “It’s so boring”… [But] It’s a great way to let the rest of the world disappear and for you to get with your own thoughts and your own body, and really just be mindful… If someone wants to just kind of reflect on their day that’s great but because I’m [training]… I am really, really focused on everything that I’m doing at that second and not worrying about what happened earlier that day or what’s going to happen later that day.

Food! What do you eat? 

I make a smoothie that I take with me to the pool … it’ll have almond milk, almond butter, Chia seeds, frozen dark cherries, half of a banana and some Greek yogurt. It’s a really good way to get some good quality protein in and then you get all those wonderful antioxidants from the cherries that help repair your muscles and fight inflammation…That’s more of a recovery smoothie. If I was going to have a smoothie before practice or as a snack I usually do a green smoothie with kale, parsley, celery, frozen pineapple, banana, lots of lemon juice and lime juice. It’s just an easy way to get a lot of vegetables in a sitting without having to eat a giant salad… My diet isn’t too restrictive. I’ll never say ‘gluten free’ or ‘sugar free,’ or anything like that. But I do focus primarily on plants, so lots and lots of fruits and vegetables. And then, really good quality protein. So, I eat a lot of fish and poultry, but that doesn’t mean I don’t eat steak or anything. I try not to be too restrictive… I have counted calories in the past and it just makes me insanely neurotic.

Recovery is so important. How do you get it done?

Getting plenty of sleep … getting downtime in between training, fueling your body well with good food and then taking care of your body by seeing either a physical therapist or a massage therapist. You can foam roll or just stretch at home, little things like that. It’s truly amazing how much they pay off.

Pooling her weight: Stevens takes dead aim at Olympics

Lexington grad Hannah Stevens (third girl from the left) huddles with her University of Missouri teammates on the pool deck. Stevens heads for the Olympic Trials as a strong contender for a spot on the Olympic team in the 100 meter backstroke.

Barely two years removed from Lexington High School, Stevens has put herself in serious contention for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro later this summer with her performance earlier this month in Indianapolis.

Having already earned a spot on the U.S. National Swim Team last summer with one of the nation's top six times in the women's 100 meter backstroke, Stevens said she used the Arena Pro Swim Series event in Indy as a tuneup for the U.S. Olympic Trials at the end of this month.

Tuneup? There's an understatement.

Stevens, a junior at the University of Missouri, broke 1 minute for the first time in her career in the prelims and then lowered it in the finals, where it took the fastest time in the U.S. this year to overtake her in the final 30 meters. Olivia Smoliga from the University of Georgia won in 59.41. Stevens finished in 59.67, second-fastest in the U.S. this calendar year and ninth-best in the world.

If you watch the USA Swimming video of the race, and have followed Stevens' career from the Greater Mansfield Aquatic Conference to the Ohio Cardinal Conference to the Southeastern Conference, the call of the race will give you chills.

"At the turn," the announcer said, "it is Hannah Stevens ... just a tenth of a second off world record pace."

World record pace.

"I wasn't expecting that," Stevens said of her performance, "but I was pretty pumped when I did it."

Stevens is coming off a sophomore season for Mizzou where she won three All-America honors at the NCAA Championships. She swam on the school's sixth-place 400 medley relay and was also a member of the 10th place 200 free relay. She was unhappy with her 14th-place performance in the 100 back despite a personal best 51.60 at the championships, but Missouri coach Greg Rhodenbaugh said where she finished in her specialty doesn't begin to tell the whole story.

"What we had her do there was pretty outstanding," Rhodenbaugh said. "She swam more than any other girl (four relays, as well as the 100 and 200 back) because she also swam freestyle. She didn't get to swim backstroke on our medley relays because she was swimming freestyle on the end of them. So we used her pretty hard and she did it for the team and the team ended up with our highest place ever in the NCAAs, 11th. So she was a huge factor in that.

"She was a little disappointed in her 100 back at the NCAAs, but she knew she was pretty used up, energy-wise."

Stevens, modest to a fault, wouldn't tell you that. Or that she swam on three relays before competing in the 100 back.

"I was definitely frustrated," Stevens said. "Last year, I ended up 21st in the world and then going into the NCAAs I was seeded 20th. It doesn't make sense to me, but I know who I am, I know what I need to be doing. So I can't let myself get down. I have to keep my head focused."

Rhodenbaugh pointed out that Stevens, who has also qualified for the Trials in the 200 back, is now able to concentrate almost entirely on the 100 back. That can make a world of difference along with only having to make one turn swimming long course (50 meters). College events, like high school, are short course (25 yards), so there are more turns to complete the race.

"Walls slow me down and everybody can catch up, but long course I can beat the college kids," Stevens said. "It's give and take. If you're good at walls, you have an advantage in short course. Looking at video, you could see where I was losing speed going in and out of walls. So a 50-meter pool doesn't affect me as much.

"I have a strong stroke, so when I pull the water I get into a rhythm and I'm able to hold it and stay tough the entire race."

Four years ago, when Missy Franklin was the 17-year-old darling of the London Olympics, winning four gold medals, including the 100 and 200 back, Stevens was just entering 11th grade at Lexington. She hadn't yet earned state meet MVP honors for coach Melisa Stone-Watters, let alone a second time for coach Brock Spurling.

She never envisioned being one of the biggest threats to Franklin in the 100 back, bidding for one of two Olympic berths in the event. The Trials are being held in Omaha, Nebraska, with the 100 back prelims and semifinals on June 27 and the finals on June 28. The 200 back will be staged July 1 and 2.

"I never imagined being where I am now," Stevens said. "I'm going in to make the team. I'm thinking it will take 59 low, if Missy's not on. And she hasn't really been on the last two years. I don't really see anyone breaking 59 right now. Maybe Olivia has the best chance. I think it's anybody's game in the top six right now."

Franklin set a U.S. record in the 2012 Games of 58.33. (The world record is 58.12). But her best qualifying time for these Trials is 59.38, less than .3 faster than Stevens. Franklin began struggling with back spasms in 2014 and since then has improved mostly in freestyle, while stagnating in backstroke.

But it's hard to bet against a swimmer who, when she's at the top of her game, is arguably the best female swimmer in the world.

Rachel Bootsma, the other Olympic qualifier for the U.S. in 2012 at age 18, hasn't bettered her 59.10 from London since, but won NCAA titles in 2015 and 2016 and can't be dismissed.

The fastest American this season and last has been 33-year-old Natalie Coughlin, biding for her fourth Olympic team. Her qualifying time of 59.05 is just a tenth off her career-best, when she won her Olympic gold in the 2008 Beijing Games.

Two teens, Claire Adams, 18, and Kathleen Baker, 19, have times just ahead of Stevens. Adams briefly held the junior world record last summer, going 59.58 at the U.S. Nationals. Baker has four sub-minute swims to her credit.

Hannah Stevens (Photo: University of Missouri)

"I don't think anybody can really figure out who's going to win or be the (second qualifier)," Rhodenbaugh said. "It's going to be two of six to eight girls and I will certainly say Hannah has put her name in that mix.

"She swims at a pretty high level all the time, just about every day at workouts. So even her bad workouts are pretty good. We didn't expect her to break a minute by that much (at Indy), but we certainly thought it was a possibility because she's gotten very good."

Stevens said the key now is to get plenty of rest and maintain both speed and mental sharpness.

"Instead of three walls (turns), there's one and that can make or break your swim," she said. "If I have a bad wall, everybody gets ahead. If I have a good wall, I stay with the crowd."

Or, her fan club hopes, ahead of it.

"It's funny what we do," Rhodenbaugh said, speaking for his coaching peers. "We try and watch people and see how they would do in our system and program. I certainly thought Hannah could be really competitive on a national level, and as a coach you certainly hope they believe that, and when they do, this is what happens.

"When they believe it, they come in every day and work their fannies off. And that's certainly true of Hannah. She does the little things outside the pool she needs to do because she is really passionate about figuring out just how far she can go. When you get people like that, you get people like Hannah."

It's easy to tell Rhodenbaugh is quite fond of Stevens.

"Certainly when we recruit people to Mizzou, we want people we think can be competitive at the national level and, really, at the top of the national level, and I think that's happened for quite a few people in our program," he said. "Now when people come in, they have that culture that 'Yeah, I'm the next one to bust out.' Certainly that's Hannah who has done that. It's kind of fun when you have a lot of people like that and they help each other to that level."

Rhodenbaugh has qualified a sizable contingent of swimmers for the Trials.

"I never know what people are going to do," he said. "I know they're going to get a whole lot better and they're going to be competitive on the national level ... and I'm getting used to them being competitive on the international level, too.

"Hannah's the next one in that discussion."

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TOP CONTENDERS

Here are the 8 top times in the women's 100 meter backstroke going into the Olympic Trials:

(Place, time, name, age, team, location, date)

1: 59.05, Natalie Coughlin, 33, California Aquatics, Pan American Games, 7/18/15

2: 59.38, Missy Franklin, 21, California Aquatics, Summer Nationals, 08/06/14

3: 59.41, Olivia Smoliga, 21,  Athens (GA) Bulldog Swim Club, Arena Pro Swim Series, 06/04/16

4: 59.58, Claire Adams, Claire, 18,  Carmel (Ind.) Swim Club U.S. National Champs, 08/07/15

5: 59.63, Kathleen Baker, Kathleen, 19, Unattached, FINA World Championships, 08/03/15

6: 59.67, HANNAH STEVENS, 21, U of Missouri, Arena Pro Swim Series, 06/04/16

7: 1:00.10, Ali Deloof, 22, U if Michigan, AT& T Winter Nationals, 12/04/15

8: 1:00.25, Rachel  Bootsma, 22, University of California, Berkeley, AT& T Winter Nationals, 12/04/15

Meet the Athlete: Natalie Coughlin

Natalie Coughlin, a 12-time Olympic medalist in swimming, could be wrapping up her spectacular career at the Rio Games. 

The 33-year-old is tied with Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres for the most all-time medals by a female American swimmer. 

Rio will be her fourth Olympic Games appearance. 

Coughlin said after the London Games didn't go as well as planned, she completely changed her training dynamics. 

MIRANDA HECKMAN BREAKS COUGHLIN RECORD AT FAR WESTERNS

Pleasanton Seahawks swimmer Miranda Heckman came away from this past weekend’s Far Westerns with five records and seven overall victories. The fourteen year old took one very special name in particular off the board:Natalie Coughlin. Coughlin was still the meet record holder from 1997 in the 1650, with a time of 16:38.44. Although Coughlin is known as more of a sprint specialist now, she was one of the most versatile age group swimmers of all time in her day.

Heckman swam 16:28.51 to clear that time. She also scored record breaking swims in the 200 free (1:47.65), 500 free (4:44.09), 1000 free (9:50.84) and 400 IM (4:15.91). Her other event wins came in the 100 free (50.23) and 200 IM (2:05.21). The 100 free was nearly a record as well, as the current mark stands at 50.19.

Her performances put her more than thirty points ahead of the next swimmer in her age group for high point. She won that category with 77 points. 

Junior National teamer Maxime Rooney also made an appearance at the meet. He won the 50 free (20.84), 500 freestyle (4:26.84), and 200 fly (1:44.94). Rooney has a strong history at this meet, with records all over place in the younger age groups.

Kennedy takes 10th in 100 free at Arena Pro Series in Austin

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 15 – With the U.S. Olympic Trials just a few months away, American swimming hopefuls are working hard to get prepared. Seventy members of the U.S. national swimming team, including Avon’s Madison Kennedy, are in Austin this weekend for the second leg of the Arena Pro Swim Series.

Racing began Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center at the University of Texas.

Among the competitors are three-time Olympian Natalie Coughlin and 2012 Olympic champions Missy Franklin, Katie Ledecky, Michael Phelps and Ryan Locthe.

Kennedy, 28, is scheduled to swim in three events. She competed Friday morning in the 100 freestyle. She was seeded 13th in the field and finished 14th in qualifying with a time of 55.59 seconds, earning a spot in the B final where she was 10th with a time of 54.78.

Coughlin finished ninth with a time of 54.40 seconds. Katie Ledecky was the top American in second place with a time of 53.75 seconds. Sweden’s Sarah Sjostrum, 22, won the race in 53.12 seconds.

Kennedy is scheduled to swim in her best event – the 50 meter freestyle on Saturday morning. She is the No. 6 seed in the field with a time of 24.71 seconds. There are three international swimmers ahead of Kennedy, which makes her the third seeded American.

On Sunday, she is scheduled to compete in the 100 meter back stroke, where she is seeded 73rd.

Phelps, an 18-time Olympic gold medalist who is attempting to make his fifth U.S. Olympic Team, is the top seed in the men’s 100 and 200 butterfly, and 200 individual medley. Eleven-time Olympic medalist Lochte will battle Phelps in the 200 IM and 100 fly, among other events. He is seeded second in the 200 IM.

Franklin’s planned events include the women’s 100 freestyle and 200 backstroke, where she is the second seed. She is the third seed in the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

A webcast of the complete meet will be available at usaswimming.org. It will also be broadcast on Universal Sports Network, which isn’t available on any Connecticut cable networks.

The series provides the nation’s best swimmers the opportunity to face top-flight competition on U.S. soil.