KCUR's Steve Walker shares his top movie picks of the week.By Steve Walker
Kansas City, MO – Many documentary film junkies consider Steve James's and Alex Kotlowitz's Hoop Dreams among the best ever made. Their batting average remains very high with their new film about instilling hope among the blood and carnage in Chicago's deadliest neighborhoods. James and Kotlowitz were afforded complete access for a year into the 24-7 work of CeaseFire, an anti-violence group of former gang members who call themselves "violence interrupters." Their checkered pasts serve to make them trustworthy and give them beaucoup street cred among the teens and young adults whose tough, impoverished lives have made them believe that disagreements can only by solved with violence. The camera crew often finds itself inches from complete chaos on street corners and front porches, where people pack more guns than sense. But the thrilling part of the movie is that CeaseFire's sharpest advocates for peace and mediation - along with audiences - actually see success in action.