TNT’s ‘Gifted Hands’ tells an inspirational story

By HAL BOEDEKER

Who is Ben Carson and why is TNT showing a movie about him?

The answer comes late in “Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story,” which debuts at 8 p.m. Saturday.

“You’re the best pediatric surgeon in the world,” a colleague tells Ben Carson (Cuba Gooding Jr.).

But getting there was a struggle, as this inspirational yet conventional movie illustrates over and over.

In 1987, Carson prepares to operate on twins co-joined at the brain, and the movie goes into a long flashback.

As a child, Carson must overcome bad grades and bullies. And so he does with help from his single mother, Sonya (Kimberly Elise), who faces tremendous challenges herself.

“Gifted Hands” celebrates reading, art, classical music, inspiration, hard work and turning off the television. It’s the perfect movie for a country challenged by its new president to do better. It’s also fine fare for Black History Month.

Screenwriter John Pielmeier based his poignant script on Carson’s book. But the movie raises questions as it jumps through time: How did Ben overcome a violent outburst? How did he come to live in a spectacular home?

Director Thomas Carter deftly guides his cast, especially the young actors who play Carson. Jaishon Fisher plays Ben as a child, and Gus Hoffman portrays Ben as a teen.

The early sequences are stirring because Elise and the young actors interact so forcefully. Mother not only knows best, she’s the best thing in the movie.

Gooding settles into the role when Carson is studying at Yale University, and the movie loses some dramatic energy. Gooding gives a serious, disciplined performance as Carson ascends in his medical career. But Mom usually isn’t around as a foil to challenge her son.

Thanks to mom, “Gifted Hands” would make a perfect Mother’s Day movie, too.