Monday Moments

Hope it was a good weekend. I'll just be getting back from a week in PA visiting Dad. I'm sure I'll have some senior moments to share later. However, this Monday Moment is courtesy of a trip to New York City many years ago. I love the Swatch store in the Times Square area and always wander in (and buy). Sure enough, this watch captured my eye and credit card.

WORDS 

Words Matter.   Henry Ward Beecher wrote, "All words are pegs to hang ideas on."

Rudyard Kipling said, "Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind."

And Alfred Lord Tennyson said, "For words, like Nature, half reveal
and half conceal the Soul within."

WORDS MATTER

I hope everyone heeds this Monday moment.  Carry on.........

Dream into the Weekend

 Greetings. I am currently still in PA visiting my Dad.  However I decided to post a few quotes to get us into the weekend. I also thought these photos from Alaska looked suitably dreamy

Throw your dreams into space like a kite
and you do not know what it will bring back
a new life, a new friend, a new love, or a new country

Anais Nin

Dreams come true, without that possibility
nature would not incite us to have them

John Updike

You have to have a dream so you can get up in the morning

Billy Wilder


Enjoy your weekend everyone. Dream Big!

Movie Review Madness - Nocturnal Animals

Nocturnal Animals had some early Oscar buzz but it fizzled at the box office and reviews were mixed. And rightly so. This is a very weird, rather cold movie. And yet oddly compelling at times. The acting is superb. Amy Adams is truly excellent. She should be Oscar nominated for Arrival, but she shows her versatility with this film too.   The initial opening of the film credits is wacky. I truly thought, “What the heck is going on?” Turns out it was an art opening and Amy is the gallery owner. However, she and her husband (played by Armie Hammer – just there to look awesome) have a troubled marriage and they are living the façade of luxury while drowning in debt. It’s tough to maintain appearance in the fancy crowd. Amy does weary well and we feel how jaded she’s become.

She gets a book delivery – an early copy from her former husband, played by Jake Gyllenhaal. As she reads her “disguised story” In flashback we see them meet, fall in love, defy her parents, exude exuberance for life, and then she screws it up with Armie.  Is this book revenge? There’s definitely a lot of twisted junk going on. The acting is really good and I liked Jake a lot. He’s the sensitive poor writer that the parents do not think are worthy of their daughter. Well snobbery can backfire.

Tom Ford, the designer, directed this film. It is quite posed with beautiful people, but it’s cold. Perhaps that’s the point. I can’t say I liked this film – not at all. I can’t recommend it. I know I see some weird crap…some of it I can give a thumbs up. Nocturnal Animals is ultimately a thumbs down. Consider this a public service review. I am saving you.   You are welcome.

Monday Moments

Here's Skylar, age 18 months, with her big Crayon filled with blocks. Too cute, right?

Well the moment actually occurred later in the Christmas celebration. I watched as she tootled around in the kitchen. Soon up on tip toes, hanging on to the table, her finger managed to dip into a dessert. She pulled it out, looked at it, and proceeded to lick that whipped cream. Delighted, she went back for more.

It was funny to watch and I let her have another finger splosh or two (there was only one slice left of the whipped cream chocolate pie) before I gave her some with a spoon and then wiped up the mess.

Looking back at your Christmas celebrations, did you observe a toddler with a finger in the pie? Any singular laugh  out loud moment to share?

Movie Review Madness - Passengers

Futuristic film Passengers – over 5000 souls are on board the Avalon as it heads on a 120 year journey to Homestead 2 a new planet for colonization. As they sleep in hibernation chambers, the ship hurtles deeper into space. At the thirty year mark, there is a collision with large debris. Warning. Warning. As the ship recovers and continue on its trajectory, one chamber opens. Jim (Chris Pratt) is greeted by a programmed cruise director. He’s given his bracelet key, sent to his room, and has time to get acquainted with his new neighbors. Alas, there is no one else awake. One android bartender (Michael Sheen) provides whiskey and some chat.

As a mechanic, Jim explores the ship and tries everything to figure out what when wrong. After a year, he’s lonely, bored, and contemplating suicide…unless….. (spoiler alert that you can figure out pretty quickly )  …what if…he wakes up someone else….and that someone is, of course, the lovely smart Aurora (Jennifer Lawrence)?  Ahh, now we have a story – two pretty people in space. The perfect couple. And it goes so good until it can go bad. So much for secrets.

Passengers is entertaining and has some new twists to a familiar plot until the last thirty minutes. Then it’s a bit hurried and clichéd. Chris and Jennifer have good chemistry. The ship is very cool. It’s a pleasant film and you’ll enjoy it when you stream it at home. No need to rush to the theater. 

Movie Review Madness - Hidden Figures

Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, and Mary Jackson. Those are names we should know and revere. Instead we know the women who play them in Hidden Figures – Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae (acting kudos to all). This is a must-see film about African American women living in 1961 segregated Virginia – not just any women,  but women with amazing mathematical and engineering minds who helped NASA get John Glenn to the moon.

This is a dazzling film that yes, presents history, portrays the reality of segregation – i.e. there were no colored women bathrooms on the east side of the NASA campus. Katherine had to hoof it in heels  over a mile to use the “proper” facility. Her boss Jim finally asks, “Where are you for forty minutes at a time?” When she explains, it’s like a light bulb goes on. Mary has to petition a court for the right to attend engineering master classes at the “all white” high school – a very smart judge approves it. Dorothy sees the future and gets a book on Fortran programming from the “white’s only” section of the library. So many small things could impede these women. But they persevered in their jobs, knowing they were right

Yes, the story is about roadblocks and obstacles and challenges. The Russians beat America to space. Now it was a race against time and numbers are key. A roomful of white guys in white shirts don’t know the analytical geometry necessary to head for the stars. In comes Katherine, requisitioned from the colored computing group.  As she writes out formulas on the blackboard it is clear – numbers matter, not her color, not her gender. The math is key and John Glenn trusts her numbers over the newfangled IBM computer.

This film has spirit. It soars and the spirit of effort and brains is contagious. Hidden Figures is SO good on so many levels and it’s awesome that this story is being told, these women are being honored,  and that you have a film a whole family can see and appreciate. Math can be exciting, and yes nowadays computers are necessary, but you still have a human brain daring to dream.

Monday Moments

Date night - Saturday January 7. I bought Ray tickets as a Christmas treat to see Michael Carbonaro Live. Ray enjoyed watching Michael on his show The Carbonaro Effect, and would call me into the room, "You've gotta see this.".  I admit the young man was talented and clever, but I had not idea how the show would translate to a live theater - Dallas' Winspear.

We ended up with awesome box seats one level up from the orchestra center stage. The opening comic was quite funny, and then Michael came on and proceeded to enthrall us. Simple stage, a few props, quick timing, excellent patter, and many "how did he do that segments?" Plenty of audience participation and some of the kids he brought up on stage added to the hilarity. It was a clean family show.

My Monday moment of reflection - hearing Ray laugh, hearing everybody laugh at a clever bit - united as one. Everyone out in public to be entertained, enjoying a community of laughter.

Priceless....

Movie Review Madness - Manchester By the Sea

Casey Affleck hosted SNL and he questioned why? Indeed he had his new movie, Manchester By the Sea.   But as he said, “It’s really sad.”  And then he said, “It has some humor. It has family. But it’s really SO sad.”  Indeed – this movie is heartbreaking, but so so good.  Get in the right frame of mind and bring tissues. I really liked this film, and yes, I sniffled throughout. Casey Affleck should win the Oscar for Best Male Performance. He puts his whole being into this role and is so dang good.

Casey (Lee) works as a building maintenance guy in Boston. He’s a wounded soul with barely a bed and some clothes. One phone call – his brother, Joe (Kyle Chandler) dies from a heart attack – brings Lee back to Manchester and he has to face his past. Joe appointed him guardian for his teenage nephew, Patrick, (played by a wonderful Lucas Hedges). Why?? Lee can’t believe this. He’s not prepared for this. He can’t deal with this. He’s forced to face his past in Manchester. In flashback we see happier times with Joe, Patrick, ex-wife (a heartbreaking Michelle Williams), and then the total destruction of Lee’s life.  The movie builds, goes back in time, and we keep getting more pieces to the puzzle.

The reason for Lee’s sorrow, for his life is absolutely devastating. His reason to live and perk up is the nephew, Patrick. Lucas Hedges is a new, excellent actor. He brings a vibrancy to the role as he deals with his dad’s death and yet tries to soldier on. Typical teen – he’s full of bravado until he breaks down.

Manchester by the Sea is full of depth. It’s quite a tale and worthy of Oscar nominations.  And yes, it’s SAD….holy crap….it’s sad, and then has a spark of hope. Lee and Patrick are going to make it. They are going to thrive. Join them in the journey. Trust me on this one……wow

Movie Review Madness - La La Land

Musical.  Step away if you do not want actors breaking into song. 

Are you still with me?  La La Land is absolutely delightful. It’s light, frothy, fun, and just joyous.  It’s a golden salute to Los Angeles, Hollywood, the film industry, jazz, and joy. Am I gushing?  Yes, I am.

Emma Stone (Mia) and Ryan Gosling (Sebastian) are not necessarily strong singers or dancers, but they are on key and have rhythm and they bring youth and exuberance to their roles.  From the time they meet to how they keep bumping into each other to how they bond and to how they move upward in the world of creativity…oh it’s fun.

From the opening number – cars stopped on the freeway, everyone getting out, singing, and dancing – to auditions, to jazz bars, to soulful glances – this movie has it all. It’s fun to root for Mia and Sebastian to “make it” – get chosen, be successful, work hard and sweat for the applause. And this is a duo you want to be in love, to be successful , to make it all work out.  I won’t give anything further away. Go watch these crazy kids and bask in their youth, their optimism, their hard work, and sacrifice. This is a good movie about the arts – there are no overnight success stories. It’s a lot of sweat and tears and gumption.

Fun song and dance numbers, fun palm tree backdrops, and you just can’t go wrong with time spent with Emma and Ryan. They are excellent at their craft and give it their all.  La La Land represents the soul of Hollywood. I predict happiness on Oscar night. We’ll see.

Monday Moments

 I have decided to start a new blog segment - Monday Moments.  The idea is that each week I will have taken some pictures or not, observed a moment or two, and truly relished what occurred. We all blast through our days, half listening to people natter, as we scroll our phones, or await our next meal. Step back, step outside of oneself, and just observe.

We have penguins guarding our front door. It's a good thing because a winter blast whooshed down from Oklahoma and the Northern Plains to do a Mr. Freeze act on Friday.

 Saturday we awoke to 14 degrees F and managed to make it to 30 something by afternoon

 Here's my moment. I hustled outside to fetch the paper and noticed how pretty the snow dusting looked.

Cool shadow and pattern.

What moment did you have this past week or weekend?

Stay warm, folks!

Movie Review Madness - Rogue One

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was the BIG end of year movie and it lived up to hype and expectations.  I’ll be honest. I am not a Star Wars fanatic and cannot discuss every piece of minutiae about the movies. I don’t even know the proper order to watch everything. However, sources tell me this is an early iteration to prep you for early episodes. Does that help?

We first meet a family who’s been hiding out, off the radar until the storm troopers crash their pad. They want the key scientist to come work on the Death Star. We know this is trouble, but at least the little girl escapes. Flash forward to Felicity Jones, Jyn Erso, who’s a grown up rebel. She’s used by Diego Luna (Cassian) to make contact with Forest Whitaker (Saw Gerrara) who raised her. Altogether the goal is to thwart Ben Mendelsohn (Orson) and the General from making the Death Star (i.e. the planet killer).  My synopsis is weak because it’s all rather convoluted as to who is who and why the why.

BUT, the film is quite amazing. The worlds created are fantastic. The effects are stunning. The John Williams score soars. And Felicity is stellar. We love a good heroine and she sets a great example. Basic plot summation – rebels are awesome. Leaders are evil and bad.  There’s humor, drama, worry, sorrow – every human emotion possible amidst a lot of techno gibberish.  And yes, we get a hologram effect of early Princess Leia (the late Carrie Fisher) – rather poignant as she discusses HOPE.

The Star Wars series is like no other – it truly explores the human spirit and the glory of filmmaking. It’s not too late to see Rogue One on the big screen. I highly recommend you go…now. C’mon, it’s winter, it’s cold, you aren’t doing anything…go support your local theater. Trust me.

Stumble into 2017

I shall ramp up and start writing and posting reviews again. I saw a variety of movies and read an assortment of books over the past few weeks, in between working. Plenty to recommend.

However, after reading posts reflecting on 2016 and oozing into 2017, I decided to begin my blog year with my Ray of sunshine.  He sent me this picture on Saturday, New Year's Eve Day and said he was thinking of me. Aw shucks!!! I know I broke into a grin at seeing it, and it makes me smile still.

Yes, he was at his deer lease (his aunt's place) and having a grand time. I was home and quite content with Netflix and books. After twenty seven years of marriage, we can be apart for a holiday. Frankly, I've never been keen on New Year's, so this was fine and he came home Sunday late afternoon.

A cactus piece shaped like a heart.........sorta sums up love.

You've got to treat it with respect.

'Nuff said.