Saltzman Sees...Pride (2007)

Pride is the true story of the determined Jim Ellis, played by Terrence Howard, to start a swim team for troubled teens at the Philadelphia Department of Recreation.  As an athlete growing up, he dealt with racism for being a black athlete trying to be a swimmer.  But through swimming, he finds his true calling as a coach.  Bernie Mac, in one of his final performances on screen, is wonderful, as Pride proves you don't always make the right choices, but if you fight for what's right and are determined to succeed, you can come out a winner in life.

John Legend's theme song for the movie is also one of the most beautiful songs ever written.

It only made $7 million worldwide.

Saltzman Sees...John Q (2002)

John Q is the story of a down-on-his luck father, whose insurance won't cover his son's heart transplant, takes the hospital's emergency room hostage until the doctors agree to perform the operation. This movie is as much about serious problems with HMO's in America as it is a story of a father's fight for his son's survival.  Robert Duvall, James Woods, Anne Heche and Ray Liotta all bring their talent to the film, and Kimberly Elise is brilliant as Denzel's wife.

Denzel Washington might be the best actor in film today, and yet when John Q came out, The Academy ignored it.  Denzel won an Oscar for Training Day, but just like Tom Hanks won back to back awards for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, he should have been considered for another Oscar.  John Q is Denzel's strongest performance as an actor.

This is a movie with a real message about the problems with health care in this country and includes a masterful performance by today's greatest actor.  It is certainly the Most Underrated Movie of 2002.