Bleed for This: The True Story of Vinny Pazienza

I am a sucker for movies that motivate you.  Not the corny ones that are highly unrealistic or the ones that get a little too emotional just for the affect.  I am talking the ones that make you realize we all are capable of more than we realize.  The ones that make you reflect on how hard you push yourself and want to do more. I knew this would be the latter when I saw the preview and was happy to be spot on.

Vinny was a lightweight boxer who worked his butt off to become the best boxer he could be.  Boxing was all he knew and frankly, all he wanted to know.  His efforts were rewarded when he won the title belt in his fight against a boxer who was deemed unstoppable.  Nothing cold bring Vinny down, that is, until a car accident changed his life forever.  Vinny woke up restrained and with the news that he had to choose between fusing his neck or wearing a halo and hoping his neck healed on its own.  Fusing his neck gave him the ability to walk again but would never allow him to box again.  The halo was his only chance at boxing ever and it was a chance he was willing to take.  After weeks in his halo and new lifestyle, Vinny was ready to get back in the ring.  With some hefty convincing, he was able to get support from his coach who reluctantly agreed to help him.  It wasn't easy as Vinny had to start from scratch with his training and was doing so while in a halo.  Then when the halo was removed, nobody wanted to fight him.  Not that I blame them.  Finally, Vinny got news of his chance back doing what he loved, but this fight would be a title match in which Vinny would be able to reclaim what he once had.  The question is, will he survive the literal fight of his life?

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 70% and IMDb gave it a 6.8/10.  I think both ratings were way off and would give it a 9/10.  This movie had so much heart and talented acting.  Miles Teller shows us once again just how bad ass his acting is.  If you need convincing, see this movie as well as Whiplash.  This movie was very compelling and gives you a deep look into the extreme battles one man had to go through to claim what was most important to him.  It's time to get motivated and go see this film.

My Personal Hallmark/ABC Family Christmas Movie List

The hubby and I refuse to spend money on cable since we have adapted to the tech world and own a Chrome cast which means we stream pretty much everything.  With that said, I always get jealous this time of year when I hear about the various channels that have 25 days of Christmas movies.  Finally today it hit me though, I have my own way of doing this.  So after looking at what we have purchased on Google Play (I promise this is not a secret ad for Google...but seriously though, it's awesome)- I have come up with a list of must-see Christmas Movies to watch by this Christmas.

1. Love Actually

2. Family Stone

3. A Christmas Carol (the one with Jim Carrey)

4. Miracle of 34th Street (the one with the girl from Matilda)

5. It's a Wonderful Life

6. A Christmas Story

7. The Holiday

8. A Muppet Christmas Carol (personal fave from my childhood)

9. Love the Coopers

10. Just Friends

11. The Santa Clause (1-3)

12. Home Alone (1 and 2)

13. Polar Express

14. The 12 Dates of Christmas (super cheesy but it has Zach from Saved by the Bell)

15. Elf

16. A Very Harold and Kumar Christmas

17. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (once again, the one with Jim Carrey)

18. Serendipity 

19. National Lampoon's ChristmasVacation (a family tradition of ours)

20. The Night Before (Seth Rogan and Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

21. While You Were Sleeping (my husband made me add this one)

Happy Holidays!

Loving: A True Story of Love Verses Prejudice

My husband and I were indecisive when it came to seeing this movie.  We knew it would be moving and we really wanted to see it, but were afraid that with the recent events of social injustice our nation currently faces, we would be discouraged at how regressed we have become.  I know it sounds quite depressing, but I promise to always be honest with my readers.  With that said, I am happy to report that we did see this movie and are so happy we did.

Richard and Mildred grew up in a rural area of Virginia where black and white people were intertwined which wasn't common during this time.  They didn't pay attention to the color of their skin but instead followed their hearts and fell in love.  Richard wanted to marry Mildred and knew it would not be easy in Virginia as Virginia did not allow black and white men and women to get married or live together.  So Richard took Mildred to D.C. where it would be legal.  He still wanted them to live in the area they grew up in so took their marriage license with them back home.  Soon after, the police got involved and arrested the newly married couple.  Their only way out of a prison sentence was to leave their home for 25 years. They wanted to be together, so traveled north and began their new lives.  Over time, as their family grew, Mildred became depressed as this was not what she wanted for her family.  She wanted to raise them in open fields surrounded by green grass as she had grown up.  Richard wanted anything to make his wife happy so arranged for them to return home and hide in the country.  Mildred's interest in the civil rights movement grew as their situation continued to worsen, so she wrote to Bobby Kennedy and was pleasantly surprised when they were assigned a lawyer pro bono to not only allow them their rights to marry and raise their children in Virginia, but to amend the Constitution of the United States for all. Would the justices of the Supreme Court side with them or the close minded side of the south?

Jeff Nichols wrote and directed an excellent film.  IMDB gave it a 7.2/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 90%.  I would have to agree with Rotten Tomatoes on this one with a 9/10.  The story itself was beyond moving as all this couple wanted to do was love one another without retrain.  It captured the true issues that those who don't believe in integration believe which is frightening.  The state of Virginia thought it illegal that Mildred and Richard raise children because to them the children were "bastards" as they did not have married parents.  I know.  I wanted to throw up.  What I loved was that the movie portrayed what was most important in all of this, standing up for what is important to you and for Richard and Mildred, it was their love for one another.  For more information, I encourage you to look up Loving vs. The State of Virginia.  I have also included a link below that provides more facts to their story.  I really encourage you to see it as I think it will shed some light on something that seems all to recent when it comes to prejudice.

http://people.com/movies/richard-mildred-loving-real-story/

The Edge of Seventeen: A Movie Review

The trailer for this movie starts with a girl who goes to her teacher and tells him she wants to kill herself, then has him read a text she accidentally sent the guy she wants desperately.  After reading said text, her teacher, who has just read many deep and dark deeds this girl texted, tells her she needs to work on her run on sentences.  That part right there is what made me want to see this movie.  This scene alone gives a glimpse into the drama and comedy this film contains and it truly has the perfect amount of both.

Nadine has lived a life in which nothing and I mean nothing goes her way.  Her personality was never the shining star that her brother's was and making friends was pretty much impossible.  Luckily she found Krista, who appreciated Nadine in all her quirkiness and the two became BFFs instantly.  Life didn't stop being difficult for Nadine though.  Her father died during her teen years unexpectedly, and the older she got, the more aware of herself she became, and really hated what she saw.  You could definitely say her teenage years were not her best.  So take that and add to it the fact that her best friend and only friend falls for her brother and you have a monumental disaster.  It is up to her unconventional history teacher to help her find her way.

IMDB gave this film an 8/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it an astounding 94%.  As far as rated R drama/comedy films go, I am going to go ahead and give it a 10/10.  I think anyone who can relate to the anxieties of growing up, dysfunctional families, and just trying to survive in our own skin will appreciate this movie.  Even if those elements don't apply to you, but you can appreciate the anxieties others go through and be able to do so with a sense of humor, this movie will appeal to you.  It was witty, relatable, endearing, and raw.  The length was perfect and Woody Harrelson plays an awesome teacher/mentor for our dear Nadine.  This was a movie with a lot of heart that I highly recommend.

Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them: A Movie Review

Harry Potter fans rejoice!  We have another movie out involving the amazing world of wizardry!  I was curious how closely tied to the Harry Potter world this movie would be and am happy to report that besides a few connections, it was its own entity filled with all the magic and awe from our Harry Potter days, but with its own story.

Newt Scamander is in trouble when he travels to the U.S. and accidentally switches his suitcase with a "no-maj" (person without magical abilities). You see, the suitcase he gives the no-maj has powerful creatures that could cause a mess of disturbances if discovered as Newt is trying to advocate for them in the world of wizardry, let alone people without magic find out about them.  The problems get worse as a dark and powerful creature is expected to unleash its wrath if it can't be found first.  The problem is, there are good and bad forces at play in trying to find it.  The question is, who will get to it first and will anyone survive?

Our film takes place 70 years before Harry Potter entered Hogwarts so it is interesting to see another story, mostly unrelated.  There are a few mentions of famous wizards we meet in the Harry Potter stories, but that's as far as it goes.  IMDB gave it a 7.9/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 77%.  I would give it a solid 7/10 only because I felt the beginning dragged a bit.  Once I got my refill on popcorn and pop, then came back into the theater I was hooked the rest of the film.  The abilities of the wizards in this were compelling since we weren't watching them learn about their powers such as Harry Potter and his pals.  I also appreciated that I was extremely confidence I knew what was going to happen, then the film turned a different direction.  It was magical, dark, and the characters were each unique in their own ways.  It was also neat to see how the countries differed in their interactions with wizards.  A definite must see, but leave your young children at home. Some of the dark scenes deal with death so if you wouldn't have taken your young ones to see the last few Harry Potter movies, then I would not take them to this.

The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo: Amy Schumer's Autobiography

Do you ever feel like you read the same books?  Back when I got into reading in my early twenties, I had only read Nicholas Sparks' books.  No offense to our friend Nick, but once you've read one, you've read like 5 of them.  Shortly after that I began reading other authors and even developed a list of favorites.  Then the Twilight books came which broadened my horizons to fantasy novels.  I still stuck to my usual fiction but challenged myself to find other others I enjoyed such as Liane Moriarty, Judy Blume, Jodi Picoult, Emily Giffin and others.  Sometimes I would venture off and read historical fiction, which I have a secret love for, but otherwise I knew what I liked and would only read in my comfort zone.  So when I saw this title on the bookshelf and knew it was an autobiography about one of my favorite comedians, I had to give it a go and expand my horizons once more.

If you have seen Amy's stand-up, her movie, or television show- you know what kind of woman we are dealing with here.  Amy's book is a true refection of who we see, but also what we may not see.  Behind the bold statements, swearing, and jokes about her sex-life is a girl who actually enjoys being on her own and has lived quite the life.  She goes into detail of her family, childhood, and how her self discovery has evolved over the years.  While doing all of that, she adds in her humor and twists which makes it enjoyable to read.  It isn't all jokes though.  Some of the chapters entail abuse, a complicated relationship with her parents, and how much work she had put into getting to where she is in the world of the rich and famous.  For example, I had no idea how many connections her movie Trainwreck had to her life.  I also never knew how tumultuous the comedy world can be.  I know the title sounds silly and the cover can speak for itself, but I loved how empowered she made me feel as a woman after reading this and think many of us have gone through what she has so it was nice to relate and see how one woman overcame obstacles thrown at her.

Goodreads ranked this at 3.9/5 and Barnes and Nobel gave it a 3.4/5.  I think both ranks are fair assessments and will meet in the middle with a 3.5.  She is a comedian first over a writer so sometimes it was finicky to follow.  I also felt there were points where she was trying to be honest and not politically correct, but was actually pretty offensive.  With that said, there was much more to enjoy with this book than not.  I think it would be a great read for Amy Schumer fans as well as feminists who want to find out about one woman's journey.  

Trolls: It's All About the Cupcakes and Rainbows

So my husband and I were the creepy couple, childless and at a PG movie.  Judge all you want.  This was partly due to the fact we have seen everything else, but also because I heard so many who liked it which includes many adults.  It helps that one of my favorite actress/singers Anna Kendrick was the voice of the lead character and Justin Timberlake didn't hurt the situation.  So here we were on a Tuesday night, seeing a kids movie and I have to be honest- it was adorable!

The trolls are known for their dancing, singing, hugs and most importantly- happiness!  This happiness is so well known that the dreaded Bergens, whom happen to be the saddest creatures on the planet, need to eat the trolls in order to obtain that happiness. The trolls managed to escape this doom many years ago and have been living a life of bliss since.  One troll, Branch, hasn't forgotten how terrible the Bergens are so tends to keep to himself and prepare for the inevitable return of this sad, troll-eating enemy.  The other trolls, including the happiest troll ever born by the name of Poppy (Kendrick), don't pay too much attention to Branch and continue living their happy-go-lucky lives.  Unfortunately, Branch is right and the Bergens return with vengeance.   It is up to Poppy and Branch to work together and save their fellow Trolls from the Bergens' stomaches before it's too late.

This movie was just about the peppiest kid film I have seen in awhile.  I'd say it's a close comparison to The Lego Movie out a few years back (Everything is Awesome!).  The songs will for sure keep your feet tapping and I have to say it took a lot of self-control to keep from singing along.  The message was perfect for kids and adults which showed the importance of striving for happiness even during the darkest times and how we all have to find our happiness from within.  Yes it sounds cheesy to you cynics, but I dare you not to see this and feel a little bit peppier than before.  I definitely think kids as young as 4 will like it.  The music and characters were very engaging and nothing was scary or inappropriate.  Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 74% and IMDB a 6.7/10.  As far as kids films go, I would give it an 8/10.  It was the perfect message, length, and had some awesome tunes! A fun loving movie for you, your kiddos, or those of you like my husband and I who will see just about anything.

Arrival: A Movie Review

This movie is by far my favorite entailing aliens.  There were so many aspects to it that I loved and promise to do my best to capture it all in one post.  If you haven't watched a trailer of it, I think that should be your first step as that was the first thing that drew me in. Click me for an awesome trailer.
There, I even made it easy for you.  But in all seriousness, this movie was much more than a movie with aliens. So take your other movie experiences out of your head such as Signs, Predator, Independence Day, etc.  This was smart, sophisticated, and meaningful which don't typically occur in sci-fi movies, but my friends you will just have to see it for yourselves to get it.

Louise is a linguist chosen to help the United States military communicate with new friends who have seemed to take over much of the world.  The new guests have arrived in 12 shells that have randomly parked in various parts of Planet Earth.  Louise must work with Ian, a science minded colleage, to not only decipher their purpose for joining Earth, but learn how to communicate in order to find this out.  It is Louise's genius idea to use visuals that introduces them to a language that transcends time.  The information they learn will change everything.  The difficult part of this task isn't what you would think.  The aliens are cooperative in sending their message, it's the military and the human race's fear of attack that Louise and Ian are battling against.  Will their hunch be right in that there is no danger or will they discover their fellow humans are accurate in their assumptions?

This movie killed it in ratings!  Rotten Tomatoes was giving it a 100% which is now a 96% and IMDB gave it an 8.5/10.  I have to give it a 10/10.  I don't give these too often and I am sure my low on the totem pole opinion doesn't sway you either way, but it was amazing!  Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams were powerful in capturing the fear, excitement, and passion for their interactions with their alien visitors.  The movie also does a great job of being completely unpredictable.  You have no idea the plot twist until the end and once you do, you realize how brilliant it all is.  This film focused on the raw aspects of human emotion, the importance of nations working together, and the power of what unity can do for the human race.  Good timing right?  I'll let sleeping dogs lie with that one.  Back to my point.  If you are in the mood for a well acted, directed, and most importantly, written movie- go see this and soon!  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Hacksaw Ridge: Just One More

I fell in love with the concept of this movie when I saw the trailer.  It is based on a  true story and has so much heart.  With the recent events of our U.S. elections, I think many need to see this to regain their faith in humanity.  If you need an escape by seeing a feel-good movie, I definitely have the movie for you.

Desmond Doss didn't grow up in the best household.  His dad was a drunk who often times would hit Desmond's mother.  At one point, Desmond could't take it anymore and pulled a gun on his dad.  He never shot it, but the terror in realizing he could have killed a person made him sick with regret. So on that day, he vowed to never touch a gun again.  This does't seem too difficult, except for the fact that he also decided to join the army as a medic.  All Desmond wanted to do was save lives and he felt a duty to serve his country.  He never thought his decision to never touch a gun would get in the way of this path, but he was quite wrong.

Not only did the army not agree to this notion, but they tormented him.  It wasn't uncommon that Desmond would wake up to beatings from his bunkmates.  It got so bad that he was sent to jail on his wedding day.  Luckily his persistence and passion to stand up for what is right remained and eventually others began to appreciate him for that.  The true appreciation came during the war when he and his troop were at Hacksaw Ridge at war with the Japanese.  It was gruesome and many died tragic deaths.  Desmond didn't let this stop him from what he intended to do which was save as many as possible.  So among the gore and death, Desmond began his rescue in treating as many men as possible.  Even when his entire team had gone back to the campsite, Desmond was still trying to find living beings an send them back down to the others.  He kept repeating his prayer over and over which was, "Just one more Lord, please just let me find one more."  Desmond didn't stop until he saved 75 men.  The beautiful bonus of this movie is that it is based on a true story.

IMDB gave it an 8.7/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it an 86%.  I would definitely give it a 9/10.  The compassion for life this man had was astounding and Andrew Garfield did an amazing job of portraying Desmond.  I must warn you that the war scenes are pretty horrific, but you are so engulfed the whole time that it doesn't take away from movie.  It was directed by Mel Gipson and I must say- Mel did it right with this one.

Dr. Strange: A Movie Review

I knew I had to see this movie for two reasons: 1. It is a Marvel movie and 2. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch.  I know, now you need to go see it too if you haven't yet.  After seeing the trailer and hearing from friends who saw it the night it came out- it seemed like it was going to be "trippy" with the action scenes which did concern me, but I am happy to report that even with all its trippiness- it was an awesome movie.

Dr. Stephen Strange is a successful and talented doctor who seems as if he can do no wrong.  He is known for complicated procedures and his confidence (some may say cockiness).  He has a lot of reasons to be confident as he has conducted and advised in very advanced surgeries.  He is on top of the world and nothing can bring him down.  Until a devastating crash destroys his future by wreaking havoc on the main tool he needs in his profession- his hands.

Dr. Strange tries every procedure he can and contacts the best of the best doctors but all seems hopeless as his hands continue to have tremors.  Then he stumbles across a place where others in his situation have not only overcome, but came out stronger than when they began.  Stephen has no idea what he is in for, but he will try anything.

Stephen learns quickly that he is going to have to open his mind with his new plan.  This isn't advanced medical procedures. No, this is finding the powers from within.  To a scientists, it all seems crazy which is exactly what Stephen thinks at first.  As time goes on, he learns to open up the world he has always known and discover he has more to him than his science background and arrogance.  Stephen begins to discover another world in which he needs to enter in order to protect the world he has always known.  The question is, will he be able to separate himself from what he thinks he knows and the unknown?

This was an excellent movie that got great ratings. IMDB gave it 8/10 and Rotten Tomatoes gave it 90%.  I would go in between the two with an 85%.  The graphics were insane and the acting was excellent which is no shocker there when you have Benedict Cumberbatch and Rachel McAdams.  It had action, sopecial effects, humor, and a deeper meaning.  I think comic movie goers and those less familiar with Marvel will both enjoy.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children: A Movie Review

If you are not a Tim Burton fan then you should really stop reading after this sentence.  If you don't know who that is then think The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Corpse's Bride, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory (The Johny Depp one), etc.  Okay so hopefully now you get my drift.  By this point if you are still reading, I can safely assume you are a fan of Tim Burton and will therefore appreciate this movie for all its quirkiness, or you are bored and need something to read.  Either way.....enjoy.

The only person Jake has ever connected with was his imaginative Grandfather who always told him stories as a young boy of adventure and magical beings.  After his passing, Jake knew there was more to those stories and felt they may possibly have been real.  His parents were concerned for his mental well-being so sent him to a therapist who surprisingly convinced them to allow Jake to travel oversees to the land his grandfather told him about where he could finally see if any of it was true.  Jake soon finds out that not only were the stories true, but these people were still alive and needed him.  Jake only ever viewed himself as ordinary, but soon found out he was as peculiar and special as his new found friends.  He would even have to utilize his abilities to save them from the evil that lurked near.  Would these kids have what it takes to defeat deathly monsters?

When you see the title and even watch a trailer, this appears to be a movie for kids.  The previous teacher in me is here to beg you not to take your young children.  This movie has definite magical elements and would be entertaining for children, but also has sinister characters eating eyeballs, throwing knives, and all kinds of disturbing fun.  I think the absolute youngest should be 5th grade.  Obviously to each there own, but don't say I didn't warn you.   I hope my previous statement doesn't deter anyone from seeing this movie as I thought it was very well done.  You can definitely see Tim Burton's vision and if you appreciate his creativity, you will really enjoy it.

Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 64% and IMDB gave it a 7.1/10.  I think those who like this kind of movie would give it a higher rating so am willing to give it an 8/10.  Again, this is for a specific audience who appreciates the creative and eccentric.

Inferno: A Movie Review

If you are a fan of National Treasure but favor Tom Hanks to Nicholas Cage- do I have the movie for you.   Inferno is directed by Ron Howard who also directed The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons. I have to be honest, the critics are calling this "his fourth domestic flop," but I must say this was a suspenseful movie that the typical movie goer would enjoy.

Robert Langdon finds himself waking up from a head wound and amnesia.  His only hope at finding out what happened is through Dr. Sienna Brooks who is treating him.  The two escape an armed official who is shooting at them and eventually discover how Robert got here and what they need to do.  It appears a man named Bertrand Zobrist (bad ass name) is convinced the world has a massive population problem and all humankind will suffer a mass extinction if they don't do anything about it now.  His plan is to kill 2/3 of the population with a plague he has created and will release with a detonator.  Together, Sienna and Robert are to find a way to stop his plan from occurring and hopefully save humankind.

The first ten-ish minutes of this film are intense which sets the tone for a rather stressful movie, but that subsides as the clues begin to unfold.  I always appreciate how these films, based on a book series, capture many ancient European beliefs and art forms in discovering the world's secrets.  Those who love solving mysteries and finding clues will love this.  For me, it was the suspense along with the huge plot twist 3/4 into it that sucked me in.  Looking back, I now see the small forshadowing that occurred, but was really surprised at the turn it took.  Not to give it away, but let's just say you really can't trust anyone in this movie.  Like anyone.  

Rotten Tomatoes was not friendly, but they never are unless you're an indie film so don't be too dismayed by the 20% rating.  I think IMDB was closer with a 6.5/10.  I would give it 6.5 as well.  I loved the storyline and just think the world of Tom Hanks and upcoming Actress Felicity Jones (She's in the new Star Wars flick!) did an amazing job.  My only issue was the ending.  They took way too long to as they spent a lot of time prolonging the action scenes, but that's what happens in action films so I can look beyond that. Regardless, it was an engaging movie that I am glad I saw in theaters.

Studio C Holiday Preview Experience Fall 2016

For those who get geeked when a new movie season is upon you- do I have an event for you.   Imagine being able to preview a glimpse into each movie in order to decide which you want to see.  Studio C does that for us and after attending two of these events, I highly recommend my fellow movie goers to attend the next one!  

Studio C is an affiliate of Celebration Cinemas who honors their VIP members, or frequent movie goers, who not only attend their movies often, but also use their rewards cards.  An email is sent to such VIP members when events such as this one occur and all you do is type in your information plus who you'd like bring with you.  All of this is free- even the popcorn. Once you arrive, you receive a list of the previews playing at that event and can choose anywhere in the theater to sit. I recommend showing up early so you can sit in the premier, lounge seats. There are several drawings where you have the opportunity to earn free popcorn buckets, t-shirts, posters, and movie passes. They also have appetizers to market their excellent, Oscar's Bistro.  Once the previews start, you watch about 20 previews, enjoy a 15 minute intermission where refills are a must, then finish the remaining 20 previews.  I know 40 previews sounds like a lot, but the entire event is 2 hours so it really does  go by fast.  Plus, the previews are short and entraining so you never feel like time is dragging.  Once your experience is done, you have the option of filling out a survey so you can help the theater know what their viewers are interested in seeing while entering in for a chance to win a gift card.  Overall, as a movie aficionado who enjoys the entire theater experience, this is truly an enjoyable event.

Instead of listing all 40 movies, I am going to highlight some top movies and who may enjoy them.  So feel free to check them out and make plans for your next movie experience!  Major kudos to Studio C located in the heart of Okemos, Michigan for another wonderful event. 

If You are Looking for Entertainment and Action:

Rogue- Star Wars fans rejoice!

Assassin's Creed- Based on a video game plus the actor who plays Magneto- can't go wrong.

Passengers- Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence awake to find they are all alone and in space.

Bleed for This- Successful boxer gets into severe car accident who fights his way back into the ring.

Doctor Strange- The actors in this line up are ridiculous in such a good way. 

If You are in the Mood for Suspense:

Shut In- A mother who is the caretaker of her son welcomes another boy into her home in need of support, only to find strange and scary events occurring. 

Nocturnal Animals- A women with a past who did something terrible to her previous husband finds out not all can stay in the past.

Arrival- Amy Adams plays a character who may be the only way we can communicate with aliens who enter Earth. 

Allied- Starring Brad Pitt.  A man finds out his wife, and mother of his child, may be a German spy and if so, he is ordered to kill her. 

If You are Looking for a Feel Good Film:

Hacksaw Ridge- Andrew Garfield plays a man who enters the military with one rule- he refuses to use physical force or a fire arm on another soul.

Trolls- A cynical troll finds purpose when he has to save his happy-go-lucky friends from the harsh reality he has lived through.  (Kid Friendly)

Moana- Moana and a Hawaiian God are on a mission to save her people.  (Kid Friendly)

A Monster Calls- A boy whose mother is dying has a special friend to help him cope with his emotions. (Kid Friendly)

If You Want a Good Laugh:

Office Christmas Party- Jason Batemen and a solid, comedic crew put on a hilarious film where an office Christmas part gets a tad out of hand.

Almost Christmas- A zany family with their share of differences gets together for the holidays. 

Bad Santa 2- If you enjoyed the first one then you will have no problem seeing it's second rendition of a Santa gone wrong. This time with the help of Mrs. Clause.

Not Him- James Franco plays the boyfriend who wants to marry a man's daughter, but there's only one problem-the father is not impressed and will do anything to get his daughter not to marry this nut case. 

There were many more I didn't mention but think we have a solid line up this season with some awesome movies!!  Check out more Studio C events below!

https://celebrationcinema.com/studioc

Jack Reacher- Never Go Back: Movie Review

I've been debating this blog for a few days now.  I keep thinking I only want to blog movies that I think you should see in the theater, but a girlfriend told me that it's good to see blogs on all the movies I see- this way people can decide if it's worth seeing or not.  Going off my last sentence, I know this isn't starting out to well, but I will leave that for you to decide.

Jack is continuing his off-the-grid life when he decides to pay an old friend a visit.  He soon finds out she has been arrested and being held in a high security prison since she is a major in the military.  Jack knows something is off and does what he does best and ignores the rules to break her free.  The two are on the run and on a mission to not only clear her name, but also reveal the true criminals,  as the major was on the verge of uncovering  a conspiracy in which two men under her watch were murdered by an unknown source.  For obvious reasons, the more she found out, the more of a risk she was so they made sure to bring her down before she could do the same to them.  Little did they know, she had Jack in her corner.  As our plot continues, Jack finds out he may have a daughter who is in grave danger as a way to get to Jack, so he rescues her and has to play parent while also making sure the now trio make it out of this crazy mess alive, while also bringing down the bad guys.  This should't be too hard......

This sequel rated 7/10 on IMDB and received a whopping 62% on Rotten Tomatoes. I am actually going to disagree with IMDB, which does't usually happen, and say they are being a little too nice.  I would give it a 6/10.  It was definitely a movie you can wait to see from the comfort of your couch and microwaved popcorn.  There just wasn't anything really drawing me in.  Yes it is still amazing how Tom Cruise can participate in these action scenes and not seem any different than 20 years ago, but that's about it.  I think it would be  great movie for the hardcore Jack Reacher fans or those like me who just really want to see a movie and have seen everything else.  For everyone else- just stay home. It lacked depth and like most films that spend a ton of attention on the action, it missed on the acting components.  

The Girl on the Train: Movie Review

For me movies are about the experience.  Whether it be a night of hand holding and popcorn sharing with your significant other, a family event where parents and grandparents join to see a movie on a holiday, or a group of friends seeing the latest movie they've been waiting for at midnight- yes you are seeing a movie, but you are also making memories.  This was one of those times the night I saw The Girl on the Train.  I went with girlfriends from work and was surrounded by other females in the audience who were seeing it with their girlfriends. Yes there were couples too, but you could tell this was a movie many gals wanted to see with their friends.  What struck me with this movie was that it was not your typical "chick flick."  This movie was based on a book about  an alcoholic who gets herself mixed up in a murder and eventually finds out she could have been the killer, if only she didn't drink so much causing her to forget what she did that night.  Yeah......not your typical girl comedy, romance, or whatever else us girls like to see.  It was such a great movie though and I think showed a lot of symbolism and unity for women so who else would you want too see it with other than your girls?

Rachel wasn't always an alcoholic.  It started after several failed attempts to have children with her husband, Tom.  Not being a mother was more than she could handle so she did what she could to mask the pain by drinking away her sorrows.  One affair and divorce later, not on her end, and she finds herself alone and without a job.  All she has is her liquor and many episodes where she stumbles into her old home where her husband and his new wife and baby now live, or leaves harassing messages on her ex's voicemail. Instead of looking for a job, she takes the train each day to the city so it looks like she has a job to her roommate.  This is where Rachel becomes obsessed with a couple she sees on her commute.  She fantasizes about this couple she sees out of her train window each day because they remind her of what she used to have.  One day something seems off and she sees the woman kissing another man.  This sets Rachel off and convinces her she has to do something about it.  She ends up getting off the train and into one of the worst nights of her life.  She wakes up the next day covered in vomit and blood then finds out Emma, the girl she'd been watching, is dead.  Rachel has all of these flashes of what she think may have happened, but she doesn't know what the truth is.  She even gets the gumption to tell Emma's widow of Emma's affair she thinks she was having.  The more involved Rachel gets the more she feeds off of it since it gives her a tie to Emma and her life.  The question is, did Rachel kill Emma and will she ever remember what really happened that night?

When movies are based on books people tend to hate on the movie and claim the book is better.  I won't do that.  I know the movie is going to have differences and I don't care.  I read books because I like to read and I see movies because I like to see movies.  One does not discount the other from my perspective.  I did enjoy that the movie followed the same pattern as the book where it shows various perspectives from different character's eyes.  Some parts of the movie we find out more behind Emma's secret life she lead before her death and others we see the life Rachel used to live before the alcohol took over.  Towards the end, you even see what really happened when Emma died.  For whose who have not read the book, I will not spoil it for you but just know- you are going to have your mind blown when you find out what really happened to Emma.  Emily Blunt does not fit the physical description of Rachel in the book, but who cares?  She portrayed her character perfectly when it comes to the struggle and raw emotions she experienced.  It was truly a talented performance on her part.  This movie rated 44% on Rotten Tomatoes and 6.7/10 on IMDB.  I do think the pacing felt off, but would still give it a 7/10 for an excellent plot, suspense, and emotional appeal. 

The Accountant: Not Your Typical CPA

The trailers had me on this one.  You need to stop reading right now and go watch one.  I'm serious. Do not come back until you've watched it.  Trusting that you followed my not so subtle directions, you will be equally as pumped as I was to see this movie.  Take an unassuming career as an accountant, throw in high functioning Autism for said accountant, then get him involved in some ridiculous crime fighting and you've got yourself an awesome date night movie or movie with the guys (or girls.......don't kill me feminists).  

Christian Wolff leads a quiet life.  He helps others with their taxes in his small firm and goes home to his quiet house where he eats alone, goes to bed, then wakes up and does it all again.  This is what any neighbor may believe.  However this is far from the truth and members of the U.S. treasury department on are onto him as they notice his familiar face in several high case dealings with global accounts of high end bad guys.  Christian is a wiz at math, there is no doubt about that, so leave it to him to crack an impossible funding leak in a huge corporation which leaves him and his new accomplice on the hit list of someone who'd din't want to be discovered leaking money.  So now we've got the U.S. Treasury after him as well as trained hit men.  In a typical scenario, this may seem like a scenario where our guy does not make it out alive, but I am here to tell you that our friend Christian is nowhere near typical.  Traveling from base to base with his military father who had him trained by several in mastering the arts of fighting and self-control, Christian doesn't need help when it comes to killing the enemy.  The problem is, will he be able to save his friend/love interest in time or will it be too late?

This movie received a whopping 49% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.9 on IMDB.  I would give it a solid 8/10 myself.  It had the perfect amount of twists and turns to keep you entertained and each character had such a compelling backstory that led them to where we meet them in the film. The acting crew was strong with my fav Anna Kendrick and a wonderful performance by J.K. Simmons (for you younger crowd readers- think the Dad from Juno).  I highly recommend it for both its entertainment value as well as the complexity it offers. Lots of depth and a great plot.  

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty: Book Review

That title is enticing right?  I had this one on my waiting list for awhile and when it finally came out, I couldn't wait to dive in.  As with every Liane Moriarty book that I have read since Big Little Lies, I had high hopes that would be just as good.  It was pretty close.  I can't say it is the equal of Big Little Lies, but it offers the same complexity of the characters and a plot that you are forever trying to figure out what the hell really happened!  Similar to Big Little Lies- you have to wait until the end.  I promise you- it is worth the wait.

Clementine and Sam have a crazy life, but a seemingly strong marriage.  Clementine is a cellist and Sam is her biggest supporter, along with their two beautiful and lively daughters.  Sam is organized and Clementine is a free spirit, but this is how they balance one another and it has worked since day one.  It seems even with their hectic balance, nothing can come between them.  This all changes the dreadful night of the barbecue.  One bad decision changed their world as they knew it forever and they knew once that line was crossed, they could never go back.  Things between them would never be the same.  Most likely their marriage and life as they knew it, was soon to be over.

Erica and Oliver are a true team.  They both come from lack luster home lives.  Oliver's parents were and still are alcoholics.  Erica's mom has struggled with hoarding ever since Erica can remember.  It was so bad during her childhood that she often found solace with her best friend Clementine and her family.  Erica and Oliver have a secret though and they need Clementine's help, which is what they were supposed to be doing the day of the barbecue.  It was a planned afternoon tea in which Clementine, Sam, and their daughters were coming over to have a chat and hear all about Oliver and Erica's big talk.  Unfortunately, Erica's neighbors, Vid and Jasmine had to ruin it all by having  ridiculous barbecue.  Little did Erica and Oliver know that this barbecue would change everything their little Type A minds had planned and even change their friendships with Clementine and Sam forever.

Vid and Jasmine were the life of the party.  Vid loved having people over and Jasmine loved seeing Vid happy so she went along with it.  So not to her surprise did Vid plan a last minute barbecue with his neighbors and their friends.  Vid had a little thing for the cellist and was fascinated by classical music which she played beautifully. Jasmine remembered meeting the couple once before and feeling as though her and Vid had hit it off well with them.  What harm could a little afternoon barbecue do?  A few hours and drinks later, Jasmine found herself in the middle of quite the scene.  Clementine and Sam were in awe by Jasmine and Vid and Jasmine knew she had the power to "rock their worlds" so to speak.  Sadly, this tempting scenario is what caused the horrific events to occur after and bring her regrets she would never be able to shake.

As you can see, this book's plot is solely based on a pretty intense barbecue in which several adults had way too much to drink and made some not so great choices.  I can't tell you what happens since it'll blow everything and I really want you to read it.  I can tell you that throughout most of my reading, I was convinced I knew what was going to happen and then Liane showed me I was wrong by throwing in her infamous plot twists.  It was a suspenseful page turner that I highly recommend. 

Magnificent 7: Magnificent in Its Own Way

This movie choice was a compromise on my part.  When you see two movies a week, it makes it tricky to always see a movie you are necessarily dying to see.  It is also important all the movies you see are not only appealing to you when you have your partner in crime tagging along in all the movie going adventures. So when going into this one, I knew it was more for my husband and the craving for popcorn than anything else.  Plus, let's be honest-I just love going to the movies.

Our setting is the Old West where towns are small, the land wide, and the sun hot.  We meet our friend Chisolm who is a talented bounty hunter.  Chisolm runs into a woman who is desperate for his help as her town has been over-run by thieves.  Once Chisolm finds out that these thieves are lead by the one and only Bartholomew Bogue, he knows exactly what he needs to do.  So Chisolm (played by Denzel Washington) finds some of the most talented, gun slinging cowboys he can to help him defeat Bogue. The question is, with all their skill and smarts-will it be enough?

I was pleasantly surprised by this one.  I am not a big fan of western movies and could do with living my whole life and never watching a cowboy flick, but this movie had heart and excellent action scenes which made it worth the watch. Denzel Washington's character had a secret agenda that you don't see until the end, but made for an excellent revenge scene.  Other actors aiding int he success of this movie were Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawk.  Knowing what you know about Chris Pratt, we definitely have humor, but there was definitely more than that.  Rotten Tomatoes gave it 63% while IMDB gave a 7.2/10.  I would have given it a solid 7/10.  It was entertaining and you did;t feel like you were watching a 2 hour and 12 minute movie.  My dad loved it and my husband thought it was ok.  To give you some perspective; my dad is a hunter/fisher who knows his way around a car.  My husband is a pop-punk, music loving, hipster who would much prefer a trip to Chicago over a fishing trip.  So if you are more like my dad, than this movie is for you.

Indie Film Series at Studio C: Little Men

One of the many things I love about Studio C in Okemos is their Indie Film Series. This fall they are showing a different indie film each week and this week I had the privilege of seeing Little Men.

Jake and his parents are forced to leave their Manhattan home when his grandfather passes away, leaving them his Brooklyn apartment.  Jake isn't too thrilled at first but is excited to make a new friend when he meets Tony.  Tony is a Brooklyn raised talker who makes friends with anyone he meets and the great thing about him is that he passes no judgement to others.  Jake is a reserved, artful soul who doesn't make friends as easily so relies on Tony for friendship.  The pair are two peas in a pod.

Their friendship is challenged when Jake's Dad is forced to evict the tenant of the dress shop below his apartment.  You see, Jake's grandfather left his dad his apartment but also the store he was leasing.  What he didn't inform his son was that the tenant was paying an extremely low rent amount which wouldn't survive long.  Once realizing the tenant wasn't going to make adequate rent, the eviction process began.  The bigger problem was that not only was he evicting a woman from her business and only source of income, but she was also Tony's mom.  After Jake finds out what his dad has done, he cries to him pleading as he can't imagine someone he loves making such a harsh decision.

This was a heartfelt story that conveys how decisions adults make can and do affect their children.  The writer did an excellent job of portraying the inner conflict many of the characters had. Even side characters such as Jake's mom who was fully aware her income was the only income supporting her family, had their own layer to add to the film.  It was rated 7.2/10 on IMDB and an astounding 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.  I would definitely give it an 8/10.  It wasn't my favorite indie film as so far, nothing beats What Mazy Knew, but it was well written, well directed, and well acted.  I have to stay Tony and Jake played by Michael Barbieri and Theo Taplitz were nothing short of amazing.  A must see for my fellow indie film goers.

Bridget Jones's Baby-Or Should I Say Baby Daddy

For for those who are Bridget Jones fans, please don't be mad when I tell you that this is the first Bridget Jones movie I've seen.  However, when I saw the previews for this I thought it looked like the perfect chic flick and am happy to report that I was right.

Bridget finds herself at another birthday which ends the same as they all have- she is alone. After this dreadful birthday passes, she convinces herself this year will be different and begins a new path of self discovery and finding her next Mr. Right.  Seeing Mr. Darcy, the love in her life that extended over the better part of a decade, with his wife was the best motivation to do so.  Her spirited friend invites her to a girls weekend at a festival where Bridget meets the handsome Jack who ends up giving her a fun night of passion which she hasn't had in quite a while.  Bridget reverses the usual and ends up being the one to sneak off that next morning after Jack went to fetch them both breakfast.  Bridget comes back home to reality and attends a christening where she runs into Mr. Darcy, again, who informs her he is divorced.  The two reconnect and have their own night of passion.  I know what you are thinking; Bridget is definitely getting her fair share of action these days.  This all comes turns into a conundrum when she finds herself pregnant and in her own version of a Maury Povich episode wondering who the father is.  She natural has a hard time telling both men she is pregnant with what could be either one of their children so she does a slightly dishonest approach and just tells them she is pregnant on separate occasions which allows both to assume the baby is theirs.  Soon enough she comes to her senses and reveals she isn't sure who it is.  The guys do exactly what you'd expect of both.  Jack, who runs a successful dating website and knows all the perfect things to do, stays and embraces all of it making sure she knows how amazing he is and would be as a father.  Mr. Darcy runs fast as this is all too much for him to deal with.  Things do get better as both men end up being in her life during the pregnancy and pleading to stick around to support her and father their children until they find out who that actually is.  Meanwhile, she pursues her relationship with Jack since she feels her and Darcy had their time.  Jack says all of the right things, is convinced they are a perfect match, and as much as she'd like that, she continues to question herself and their relationship.  The fleeting thoughts of Mr. Darcy and their history are flooding her mind and heart.  Bridget knows this isn't really a matter of who the father of her child is, but who she should bewith and who she wants to be with.

This movie rated 77% on Rotten Tomatoes and 7.5 out of 10 stars on IMDB.  I would have rated it a 7 myself.  It was definitely entertaining.  My favorite part was the beginning when Bridget has a sing-a-long with herself in her apartment.  She is definitely relatable and you can't help but adore her.  I felt it to be very predictable because you know from early on who she will end up with.  What did surprise me though was who ended up being the father.  I was convinced I knew and even told my friend this in the middle of the movie.  I can admit when I am wrong and indeed was.  If you are looking for a fun chic flick or were a fan of the previous Bridget Jones movies, you will adore this one.

Snowden: The Government's Worst Nightmare

Do you remember hearing about that guy who leaked all of that important, classified information which exposed the CIA and their tactics to literally spy on all of us?  Well this movie is about that guy and his name is Edward Snowden.  This film is a dramatization based on true events and I have to say, Oliver Stone killed it.  

Edward Snowden joined the military for the same reasons many others have-he wanted to defend the country he loved.  That all came to a halt when he broke his legs and was discharged.  Snowden had other talents though and those talents were evident when he joined the CIA.  Snowden believed he could make a difference in the world and fight for his country through his work and talents in the cyber world.  His supervisors quickly learned how intelligent he was and therefore Snowden was quickly placed in jobs and projects that were very important but also introduced him to knew information that he never realized could be possible.  One example is when he discovered the government had the ability to not only see every text, email, and other methods of communication, but also viewed citizens in realtime through computer cameras.  They indicated this was to keep everyone safe and at first Snowden tried to believe it, but the more in-depth he got with central intelligence, the more wrong it felt until he couldn't do it anymore.  Snowden tried to voice his concerns, but quickly realized that was dangerous territory and things would't change unless he did something big.  

Snowden reached out to a small group of journalists and leaked valuable information which showed how the basic human right to privacy had been secretly confiscated.  Snowden knew how severe the consequences could be, but wanted to do the right thing which to him was letting the public know.  As soon as the media leaked the classified information and Snowden performed an interview explaining in more detail just how much was going on out of the public eye, Snowden then left the country and was able to find a safe place in Russia where he still lives to this day.

I have not done a fact check to see what was true and not true with this movie nor am I going to go into my thoughts on if I think he was right or wrong.  What I can tell you is that this was a fantastic movie.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays an excellent Snowden even down to the voice.  There is an awesome part in the end of the movie where the interview starts as Joseph but changes to Snowden himself and this is where you can really see the similarities.  It was a compelling story that portrayed the turmoil one young man went through when he joined a program thinking he was savings lives only to discover he was invading privacy in an attempt to do so.  You feel for him and what it does to his relationships as well as his health.  The inner conflict he has is astounding and was definitely portrayed well in this movie.  I highly recommend seeing it whether you are familiar with the real-life events or not and then go home and put tape over your cameras on your PCs.  

Florence Foster Jenkins: One Woman's Passion for Music

Most of the time my movie adventures are with my husband, relatives, or friends, but once in awhile I get to enjoy a good film by myself. To some this may be odd, but there is something about seeing a movie by myself that makes me happy.  Usually on these rare occasions, the movie ends up being an indy or unique film that I really enjoy.  This movie was definitely the latter.

Florence Foster Jenkins was an heiress who had a passion for music.  She lived for it and made sure to fund it and support it at all times.  It was often you would find her surrounded by musical geniuses such as Sinatra.  She loved it so much that she aspired to be an Opera singer, but had no idea how much her vocal skills were lacking.  This is probably because her husband did everything he could to ensure his wife had a constant group of supporters and rather charmed life.  You see, Florence contracted a disease from her first husband and was unable to have children.  Her current husband, played by the charming Hugh Grant, was a devoted supporter of his wife.  He paid good money for everyone around her to cheer her on and make her believe she was far more talented than she actually was.  This usually tended to work out well, but went too far when Florence found a way to sing at a well-known opera house in New York.  Her husband was terrified of what would happen once an audience filled with people who didn't know of Florence's voice nor the appropriate response that her other supporters had been accustomed to.  He also caught wind that a reporter would be attending this event.  He tried convincing her not to go on, but couldn't break her heart and tell her why, so the show went on and you'll just have to see it to find out if her singing pulled through after all.

What I loved about this movie was that is showed the importance of being compassionate for others.  It is true, this woman had the equivalent sound of nails on a chalkboard, but was it worth crushing her spirits when she did't have much else that was important to her besides music?  She had this image of a successful woman with musical talent, but in reality she had a sexually transmitted disease, no children, and a sort of arrangement where her husband spent his days with her but went home to his girlfriend at night.  It is really sad when thinking about it, but when you see her surrounded by those she loves and music, you see why everyone acts as they do.  They do it for their love of Florence.  It was a witty movie with lots of spirit and I loved the decade it represented.  If you are a fan of the early-mid 1900's, you'll love this movie.

Sully: Tom Hanks Reminds Us He's Still Got It

I'm sure many of you remember that crazy story about a pilot who landed a plane in the Hudson River several years ago.  This was an extraordinary case because all 155 passengers survived the crash, let alone the severely cold temperatures which would have killed many of them had they not gotten rescued sooner.  I remember seeing the news reports and thinking what a hero the pilot was.  I had no idea that this same man was also being scrutinized for his landing as some felt he could have safely landed the plane back at the airport from which he took off.  Yeah......people suck.

This film gives us an inside picture of that entire day in which the plane took off then shortly after, literally ran into a flock of birds.  This caused the engines to malfunction and gave the pilot seconds to decide his best course of action.  He determined the safest route was to land in the Hudson River and refused to leave the plane until all passengers were off.  He also wouldn't be interviewed or meet with the mayor at the time until he had a count that assured all passengers survived.  As days since the crash passed, he and his copilot were investigated by the commission which was proper protocol to ensure the best course of action was chosen and that he was in good condition to fly.  When things started to get challenging was when computer simulators were stated to have shown the plane could have landed safely back at the airport had he chosen that option, which seemed to show he did not make the right choice and infact endangered 155 souls.  I know........poor guy.  It was up to Sully to show the commission how computers may be able to predict outcome, but there is one thing they were missing-human input and real life events.  Would he be able to prove this or would he be forced into early retirement and changed from a hero to zero?

I was worried this movie would be a long one as it was directed by Clint Eastwood and let's be honest folks, his movies are great but do tend to drag on a bit.  I am happy to report that it was well paced and did such a great job of portraying how intense it was in the air that day and the internal conflict Sully went through as he began to doubt his own efforts.  Even if you are not familiar with this real life event and just want to see a good movie, I highly recommend this.  I mean come on, it's got Tom Hanks who apparently is always going to kill it on the big screen.

The Light Between Oceans: A Movie Review

I knew this movie was going to be a tear jerker, but was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't just another sappy movie. I was constantly questioning who I agreed with and contemplating what I would do if I was in the same situation. I still can't answer those questions, but can tell you this movie will pull on your heart strings while making you think and reflect about right and wrong.

Tom and Isabel lived on an island as Tom's job was to man the lighthouse and monitor the ocean view.  It was a quiet place to live, but they had each other which was all they needed.  As time passed, they tried to have children but were left with two devastating miscarriages.  The first miscarriage left the couple disheartened and the second destroyed Isabel.  All she wanted was to be a mom and she felt this dream to be impossible.

One day Tom saw what looked like to be an abandoned boat wash upon shore which would soon reveal itself to have a man (dead on arrival) and crying baby. He called for Isabel who came running over and whisked the baby immediately to console her.  After talking and arguing about what to do, they decided to keep the baby and buried the man.  Isabel convinced Tom to go against his judgement and to raise the baby as their own.  Tom would do anything for his wife and this decision, he knew was wrong, but had to do for her.

After Tom, Isabel, and their daughter Lucy became accustomed to their life together, Tom accidentally met Lucy's real mom back on land and heard the terrible story of how her husband and baby were missing and presumed to be dead.  Hannah, Lucy's biological mother had a feeling her daughter could still be alive and held on to all hope of finding her as it was all she had left.  This crushed Tom as he couldn't be responsible for a mother losing her child.

Tom began sending signs to Hannah that her daughter was still alive and eventually, Hannah was able to find her daughter.  This also meant the daughter Isabel had raised and loved as her own for 4 years would have be literally grabbed from her reach, leaving her heart broken and hating her husband.  Poor, little Lucy did not know her real mother and wanted nothing to do with her which caused Hannah to begin to think maybe she should give her back as she would do anything to make her daughter happy.  Meanwhile, Tom was in jail for kid-knapping and refused to allow any charges to be brought against his wife.  His fate would be in Isabel's hands who still loathed him.  Would Isabel be able to think past her own heartache to save her husband, and would Hannah return her only daughter whom she once lost to the family who raised her? These questions pose the true difficulty of making choices based on what we want versus what we should do.

This film was well done.  The story line was engaging and the acting authentic.  I must warn any who have struggled to have children or suffered miscarriages that it will be hard to watch.  The scene when Isabel realizes she is loosing her second baby before it is born is still vivid in my mind.  The ending was definitely not predictable which was one of the characteristics I liked about this movie.  I really couldn't tell which way they would take it.  Just don't forget the tissues when you see it.

First Comes Love by Emily Giffin

This book is bitter sweet for me as it is the last book I had left to read written by Emily Giffin.  My love for her books began with Something Borrowed and continued when I read Something Blue and Baby Proof.  Little did I know how many others she still had.  First Comes Love was recently published in June 2016 and did not disappoint.  If you are an Emily Giffin fan, you will surely love her latest.

Josie finds herself on a relentless mission to begin her next step in life.  She is 38, a first grade teacher, and no husband or kiddos in the picture.  She feels her time ticking but can't seem to find Mr. Right.  This is probably because she let him get away many years ago on that dark night she tries to forget every minute of every day.  So how convenient when she finds out that his daughter will be in her classroom this year and his beautiful wife will be her parent volunteer.  Just perfect.  Josie does have her best friend Gabe by her side and to kick her butt when she needs it, as well as a wonderful family along with her sister Meredith.  Okay, maybe not a wonderful family, since their whole world came crashing down when Daniel, her brother died.  One tragic car accident took his life and therefore molded the rest of her and her families' lives forever.  As sad as it was, Josie doesn't like to think about it, especially since she has a secret that only her and Gabe know about the night her brother died and this is one secret nobody can ever know.  So Josie does what she can to avoid that night and memories of her brother at all costs.  This happens to drive her sister Meredith nuts and continues to add to the forever growing wedge between them.

Meredith can't seem to see the good in her sister.  Everything she does is for herself and this is something Meredith cannot understand.  After all, Meredith is living in the house her parents used to own because she knows this will make them happy, and she even married her deceased brothers best friend which she is beginning to think was more for him or her tie to her brother then for true love.  Meredith begins to realize she needs more to her life and brings this up to her husband Nolan, but also gives him the notion that maybe she never really loved him the way she should have.  All of this is too much to handle so Nolan, in an attempt to save his marriage, makes Mere go to New York for a few weeks to find out what she really wants.  As hard as it was to leave, Meredith leaves Nolan and their beautiful little girl in Atlanta to figure out her life.  She ends up getting more than she bargained for when her sister joins her and finally tells Meredith a secret she's been keeping since the night their brother died.

In thinking back to all of Emily Giffin's books thus far, I'd say my favorite was Something Borrowed and my least favorite was The One and Only.  This one would definitely fall in the top four of the eight.  It was a good story about the bonds of family and how devastating the long term affects can be in losing a sibling.  It also portrays a true portrait of two very different sisters and how much they love one another even though they consistently clash.  Lastly, Emily gives another view into marriage and shows us a side of marriage that isn't cheating, but isn't full of passion, it's a marriage where two who loved the idea of what being together meant to them that they never paid attention to the fact they really weren't in love. After reading many of Giffin's books, I am starting to worry about her own marriage since this is the 4th one where a woman doubts her feelings for her husband.  I hope Mr. Giffin doesn't read these.

If you are looking for a love story, this is not it.  Nonetheless, it was well written and keeps you interested.  I also liked the tie-in this story had with Love the One You're With as she overlapped characters from that book with this.  I liked when she did this before with Something Borrowed, Something Blue, and Baby Proof.  So until her next book is out, I am off to read the latest from another loved author.  Stay tuned!

Don't Breathe: The Scariest Movie of the Summer

I think my friend said it perfectly when he asked, "Who do you root for in a movie when you have three people robbing a blind man, and then the blind man tries to kill them for doing so?"  That is a pretty spot on question which outlines the main events of this movie.  Three young adults living in the slums of Detroit think they've finally found their break when they find out a blind, retired, Military Vet has hundreds of thousands of dollars after he was paid a settlement when a woman killed his daughter in an auto accident.  They assume it'll be an easy job with the whole him not seeing thing going on, but they were wrong.  Dead wrong.

Rocky, Alex, and Money (dumbest name ever) begin their mission of breaking into the Blind Man's home and find it to be pretty easy minus a few hiccups, like the vicious  dog awaiting them.  They use their expertise to put the dog to sleep and break into the home only to find the Blind man sleeping in his bed.  Money takes the job to put gas in his room to keep him sleeping and then joins the others downstairs. Little do they know it didn't work and he surprises them downstairs.  Yes he is blind, but he still has keen senses and not only attacks Money (who has a gun), but kills him with his own weapon.  This leaves Rocky to hide in the closet as the Blind Man thinks Money was the only robber.  He checks a safe which holds all the money, and also happens to be in the same closet where Rocky is hiding.  She may be freaked out, but she is still ready to take that she came here to get so watched him enter the code and takes the money after he leaves. Alex finds her and together they try to get out of the house, but are constantly held back as the Blind Man boards up ever window, every lock.  He also finds out they are there when he stumbles on the two other pairs of shoes in the kitchen. They are trapped with nowhere to go so they attempt the only route they can think of which is the basement which leads to the shed outside.  In their attempt to escape, they find they are not alone.  There is a woman stuck down there with her mouth taped and an article in her hand.  It tuns out, this is the same woman who killed his daughter.  They can't leave her down there so try to help her escape as well and almost do so, until you know who joins them in the basement and turns off the lights.  Of course this doesn't throw him off but completely altars their senses and makes it very difficult for them to maneuver, let alone escape.  They are stuck down there with a trained killer and most likely will not make it out alive, but they fight like hell to ensure they do.  The question is, will it be enough?

This movie scored high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes which is rare for a scary movie.  It was obviously filled with suspense, but not in a cheesy way. You felt bad for the man a first, but then saw how twisted he was which only got worse, that you had no choice but to root for his robbers.  The ending was one intense scene after another as it kept changing its course.  Just when you thought it was going to end on a peaceful note, another twist was thrown at you.  If you are like I was when seeing the trailer and thought the movie looked really scary but really good, you will not be disappointed.

War Dogs: Guns, War, Money

David, a licensed massage therapist, is reflecting on his accomplishments or lack-there-of.  He is business minded but can't seem to catch a break.  His last resort is spending his life savings on bed sheets in hopes of making a profit in selling them to retirement centers.  When that obviously doesn't go over well, he feels at a loss.  So how convenient that his childhood friend Efraim comes back in town and introduces David to a world he never knew existed.

Efraim is the owner of a company who sells weapons to the military.  As he explains the process to David, David is conflicted with how legal and ethical it is, but can't deny the monetary gain to be had.      He gets an extra push to enter the world of gun running when his girlfriend becomes pregnant.  David feels he has no other choice.  It seems safe, I mean he stays in the office and runs the whole program via internet and phone calls.  That is, until he and Efraim find themselves traveling from Jordan to Bagdad to deliver a truck filled with guns.  He keeps all of this from his girlfriend as he knows her take on the war and general and knows what he does just wouldn't go over well.  To him, it's to support them which justifies it.

Life seems to be getting better as the money pours in and David finds a high end place in Miami for his love and their beautiful baby girl.  In fact, things couldn't be better.  Then David and Efraim meet Henry, an expert gun runner who can't do trades with the US military since he is on the Terrorism Watch List.  Henry is the key for David and Efraim to get the deal that will bring them millions.  David is leery of the whole deal especially when he finds out Efraim has screwed over those close to him in the past, but Efraim reassures him they are partners and this deal will close and make them quite profitable.  In order for this new deal to work, David must spend several weeks in Albania where thousands of rounds are to be packaged and distributed to Afghanistan.  The first glitch occurs when he sees the weapons which were supposed to be all from Albania, were actually from China and therefore banned to be used in a deal with the Pentagon.  The guys come up with a solution to repackage them in undisclosed boxes to hide their origins and find the right Albanians to do the job for a cheap price.  This is when things get a little hairy.  Efraim starts to show his true colors which David was previously concerned with and puts David in a life and death situation.  Efraim also hasn't been paying the Albanians for their services in packaging.  It all ends up being too much for David and he pulls out of the deal only to be investigated by the FBI once they get a tip from someone from Albania of illegal packaging going on.  I guess Efraim should have kept his word on paying those working for him.

This movie had it all; a great story line, acting, and suspense.  It is based on a true story and gives you another aspect of War you may not have been privy to before.  I never realize how much money was involved.  One scene even explains how much it costs to fully dress one member of the military, $17,000.  Yep.  I also appreciated how the movie showed just how easy it can be to let money win over what is right.  It was an excellent action packed movie that I highly recommend.

Sausage Party: The Title is a Dead Giveaway

I saw this movie a week ago and have been processing exactly how I wanted to go about blogging it.  My typical method is to portray who I think will like each movie I review.  Yes, I'll throw in my opinion, but still try to find the good in each.  That isn't to say I couldn't find good in this movie or think of who would enjoy it, I just was amazed at how far the context was taken and how ignorant I was to not realize the adult humor would be that "adult."

If you saw the previews, you know that the premise is basically the world of grocery store food and its perspective of life, specifically what happens when it leaves the store.  That is the innocent side of the movie that I thought I was seeing.  Yes, I ignored the title and thought maybe that was a joke or that there may be a few minor innuendos.  I was quite mistaken.

This is a tale about a hotdog, hotdog bun, and their friends on a mission to find the great beyond....which is really life outside.  They have visions of how magical it will be.  Food and humans living together in bliss.  So of course they find it traumatizing when they find out what really happens.  The horror they discover when they see their friends being ripped into pieces and eaten by these monsters called humans is pretty drama.  I have to be honest, ever since seeing this, I feel a little guilty when taking a bite.  It is up to them to let the others know what happens, which prove harder than they realized.

The actors behind the voices are some greats such as Kristen Wiig (one of my personal favs), Seth Rogan (who also directs it), and many more which only add to the many hilarious scenes.  On a deeper level, you can see fun being poked at many real-world issues such as various races not getting along, how many have a tendency to believe what makes them feel better versus the ugly truth, and those extreme personalities we all know and love....or not.

Overall the movie had hilarious scenes and the basic story plot was entertaining, but there is so much more.  This movie is not for the faint of heart.  You must really enjoy adult humor and please, please leave the kids at home.  I don't even think your just under 18 year old children should be seeing this. There are many sexual innuendos throughout the whole movie and each scene becomes more and more extreme.  I don't want you going into this thinking you'll see some mildly humorous adult jokes because then you'll be like me who was sitting with my mouth open in shock most of the movie.  It wasn't that I hated it, it was just more than I anticipated.  I have a more naive or innocent humor though so if you can handle it, then by all means see it, but just remember you have been warned.  If you are curious, just Google the last scene of the movie and I am sure you will get an idea of what I am referring to.

Jason Bourne: You Know His Name

I know not everyone is a fan of sequels and agrees many movies tend to do a little too many of them. I typically agree with this notion, except for the Bourne movies.  You can't deny their suspense keeps you watching and when you hear the next one is out, you're curious.  If that isn't you, then you probably don't want to read any further.

Jason is back, but this time he is approached by Nicky Parsons who has found some secret info on who Jason is and why he was chosen to be a trained killer.  This truth is something Jason has always needed, so he agrees to work with her in hopes of finding it out.  Their plan spoils when Nicky is killed by a ruthless assassin who is on a mission of his own to kill Jason.  Even though Nicky isn't physically here, she still leads Bourne on the right path to important files that give him intel on how his father was connected to the CIA and even had a lot to do with him being selected and then molded into the killer he became.  One of the leaders of the CIA, however, does not want Bourne to find out this information in fear of it being leaked and the CIA being exposed, or more importantly the corruptness of it all.  The further into this Bourne gets, the more they are after him and he soon finds out the man who killed his father is also the assassin trying to kill him now.  With the help of a new member of the CIA team, Heather Lee, Bourne is closer to finding out what really happened to his father and how Bourne got to where he was for so many years.

Meanwhile, a successful social media company who has typically worked with the CIA in allowing them access to customer's identities, finally severs ties only to gain them as an enemy.  CIA Director Robert Dewey, will do anything to ensure he gets what he wants which is Jason Bourne dead and the owner of the social media company punished one way or another.  It's up to Bourne to figure out a way to deal with his inner demons and decide what he needs to do.  Does he kill the man  who killed his father and the man who led that mission, or does he find another way with less death since that seems to be what he has surrounded himself by?

What I loved about this movie was the pace, suspense, and storyline.  It didn't drag on like some action movies do.  It also didn't seem redundant in its context.  This wasn't an already been done movie in the Bourne Legacy which to me is a compliment to the series since there have been so many movies made.  The suspense had me watching intently for the next twist and Matt Damon did not disappoint.  An awesome summer, action film.

Love the One You're With: Emily Giffin

Ellen is living the perfect life.  She is a successful photographer living in New York with her husband Andy, a successful lawyer.  Andy is handsome, funny, affectionate, and perfect in every way.  To top it off, his sister also happens to be Ellen's best friend since college.  What more could a girl want?  Ellen soon finds out when her ex, Leo, randomly runs into her at a local diner.  Leo isn't just an ex, he is the guy who broke her heart and left her to mend it without much closure.  Her emotions return after their run-in and even though she tries, she can't seem to get away from him.  The question is, does she really want to?

Leo, a journalist, asks Ellen to accompany him to California to photograph a major interview he has with a big-time celebrity.  Ellen knows this will be good for her career, but turns him down as this wouldn't be the respectful thing to do to her marriage.  Leo in all his persistence manages to make it happen anyway and Ellen finds herself on a plane to California with her sister to do the shoot.  Of course she mentions none of this to her husband or her best friend.  The shoot goes very well and as they return to New York, Ellen and Leo feel a lot of feelings return from many years ago.  Ellen still listens to her mind and says goodbye to Leo upon returning to New York.

As weeks pass, Ellen finds herself not only still thinking about Leo and their past, but also begins to notice how lack luster her and Andy's relationship really is.  The passion she and Leo had just doesn't exist with her and Andy, but she loves Andy and knows he's a great husband.  Her conflict grows and she begins to take it out on her marriage.  Then Andy drops the bombshell and tells Ellen he wants to move back to Atlanta near his family and join his father's firm.  This should be good news as Ellen loves Andy's family and she would get to live near her best friend.  But she feels an impending sense of doom.  Ellen loves New York and the life she has built here.  What if Atlanta robs her of her identity?

Atlanta proves to be what she had feared.  The stay-at-home and take care of the house life is just not for her.  Their new friends are also well-to-do and a little too "judgey" for her tastes.  It also doesn't help that she still has Leo on her mind.  So as soon as her and Andy get into an argument, she emails Leo about their last shoot and he begs her to do another one with him.  She debates it but as they talk back and forth, she finds out that her so-called best friend kept something big from her all those years ago. You see, Leo cam back for her, but Margo never told Ellen.  Was it too late?  Could she ruin her marriage to go back to Leo?  What should she follow between her head and her heart?  She had to find out so she took the job and made a plan to see Leo. To do this one final job then see what transpires, but on the night before she is to leave, she confesses it all to Andy whom obviously is not okay with this.  She knows if she goes she'll lose him forever, but if she stays she will always wonder.    What is a girl to do?

Emily Giffin definitely threw in her infamous plot twists with this one.  I honestly could't predict the outcome as I read.  The internal conflict Ellen was facing was evident.  You could feel those intense, raw emotions she had for Leo, but also knew she loved her husband so much.  There were often times I was mad at her, just because I knew what I wanted her to do.  Which to me shows good writing because I was hooked from the start.  A great read if you are in the mood for a suspenseful love triangle for sure.