THIS CHRISTMAS 🎄

 This Christmas is "hands down" one of my favorite Christmas movies. I found it truly heartwarming. This trailer does a good job of previewing the holiday with the absolute joy and magic of Christmas. Chris Brown warms up our hearts, spreading love and igniting the neighborhood Christmas lights with the wave of his hands.

Below is a list of other Christmas movies that me,my friends and family have enjoyed over the years. You and your family are sure to enjoy them this holiday season as well. 

The Best Man Holiday 

 The Preacher's Wife

 Black Nativity  

 

 

Silver Lining Playbook: A Lighter Side of Mental Illness

This movie which is adapted from a book by author Matthew Quick was a critically acclaimed debut novel by Matthew Quick. The movie kept my attention from beginning to end. There were certain scenes which were particularly resonant including thescene where Tiffany and Pat are at the table flash discussing the prescription meds they are both famiar with by experience, the ranting Pat who screams to the top of his lungs as he storms through his sleeping parents bedroom searching for a mislaid novel.

For two hours, the near length of Silver Linings Playbook, what one might usually charaterize as crazy behavior seems comfortably sane,if not familiar and weaves the fabric of the silver lining PAT is on a quest to find in his movie of a life. His friend Tiffany stunninglyportrayed by Jennifer Lawrence gives him a run for his money with all her quirks and eccentricities. It is her feistiness which shinrs through most of all and ultimately contributes significantly to his healing whilr winning his heart at the same time. Solid performances by Robert Deniro,Chris Tucker and a well written script.

4 out of 4 stars.

Argo!

Affleck's direction and combined acting was exquisite. He pulled it off well.  

His character came across as understated yet skillful and confident, as it should have been. Affleck nailed it as an unassuming intelligence officer who threw his weight around with subltety and engaging sensitivity. It could be likened to an airliner having reached cruising altitude after terribly rocky turbulence. You feel the heaviness and bulk of the plane only when it's negotiating a crisis in flight. 

The build up throughout the film was well paced and the scene contiguity in harmony with the exceptional ensemble acting deserves recognition by peers and public. The details were notable,and, because of it, were paid attention from the brief history lesson at the movies intro to enraged Iranians putting the pieces of shredded documents and photographs back together during the height of the tension of the hostage rescue from the Canadian Ambassadors home. 

President Jimmy Carter's brief explanatory monologue as well as the updates on all the hostages during the running of the credits at the film's conclusion was paced well.  All, examples of painstakingly good editing. That segue into his monologue from the frightening stall and questioning at the airport just before boarding up to the  climactic airplane take off seemed well placed, wholistic and a significant part of the movie--not just credit fringe typical of credit runs at the end of a film.

 It provided a solid review on the power and enduring nature of international cooperation and what can be accomplished when nations work together. Pure Zen--the manner in which it is made reference to in the cultural breakthrough novel of 1974, "Pure Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"* by Robert Pirsig. As in you just know quality when you see it. 

The movie gets a four out of four star rating from me.


Hope you enjoyed it!

Cynthia



  See trailer at Imdb
______________________________________
Footnote

*Robert Pirsig made a number of quotes regarding quality which was a topic running through philosophical discussions throughout the book,which really had nothing much to do with Zen Buddhism from a religious context. One such quote "What I mean (and everybody else means) by the word ‘quality’ cannot be broken down into subjects and predicates. This is not because quality is so mysterious but because quality is so simple, immediate and direct.

Flight: Very Much Worth Watching "Whip's" Sober and Free

If you have not already seen this movie, it is definitely worth a trip to the theater.

I found it rich in texture as far as the storytelling goes. Denzel's character Whip Whittaker,demonstrates magician like dexterity in bringing a nose-diving jet liner with in excess of 200 passengers on board to a skillful but turbulent landing with more lives saved than lost. Landing in an open field ironically adjacent to a church with a steeple which is torn off in part during the topsy-turvy landing,literally. However, it is later discovered that his blood alcohol levels were well above legal limits. Despite his celebrated heroism for the feat that fact alone if exposed to the public could considerably alter the public's opinion of his piloting skills and also subject him to years in prison for criminally negligent homicide, ending his career as a passenger pilot.

 It is this complex play of issues brought to life by solid acting which keeps the viewer substantively engaged. Seeing him play a vulnerable drunk and rehab bound airline pilot,was a departure from his usual roles. The movie was also filled with subtle redemption undertones concerning prayer,church,addiction,etc. One of the stewardess's was church bound as soon as the plan arrived to its destination. John Goodman was a sure scene stealer as Whip's street pharmacist. Therere were scenes that really pull you in and get your attention while providing a window into the degrees of denial that are evident in an alcoholic's or any drug dependent's personality--Whip's alcohol issues are complimented, compounded and ultimately salvaged by his new female friend's intervention. She is grappling with her own addiction challenges. 

 There were several scenes which stood out. The crash scene in the beginning had me on the edge of my seat. It was awesome how Whittaker was portrayed behind the pilots wheel and his command of the instruments despite the fact he had been out all night. The scene at the end where he has a heart to heart with his son while in prison and touches on the importance of truthfulness is icing on the cake. He admits to his son that he is finally sober and for the first time in his life he feels free. I was expecting a flight disaster movie after viewing the trailers,but there was so much more to the movie. And, that extra something was a pleasant surprise.

I give this movie a 4 out of 4 stars.

Cynthia

Image Source

Hit Song About Job Loss: New Movie "Up In the Air" Features A Song Written by Man Who Lost His Job

This was very inspiring. “Up In The Air” is critically acclaimed and poised to pick up Golden Globes in several categories, including Best Picture.It may follow with Oscar wins as well. Whatever its award rake up count come February or whatever date next year the Oscars are scheduled, it is so good to be reminded that it’s never too late to pursue dreams. It seems that in the current “spirit of the times” and as some would say “zeitgeist” if you have the determination, drive and talent you can make it to where you want to be. It appears that the doors are open for the underdog or those who are not so hooked up or linked with heavyweight connections. American Idol, America’s Got Talent and the Susan Boyle-esque rags to riches success stories seem to be the order of the day.

This experience,too, illustrates that the doors can open and true talent coupled with being “in the right place at the right time” can make all the difference. Some call it synchronicity. Some call it luck. I call it a blessing.

Congratulations to the songwriter and to the heavyweights who helped to make it happen for him.

To see a trailer of the movie, tou can also click here.