The Secret Circle

This show was on CW for only one season and I can kind of see why. When it was originally airing I said so many times it looked dumb. I wasn't wrong, but I wasn't entirely right.

The show feels a lil recycled on so many levels, yet original in it's execution. I liked the acting and the COMPLETELY HOT GUYS! But true to form the good girl isn't 100% good and it's almost like trying to untangle snarls in your hair.

I do think it had potential and was cancelled too soon. It's on Netflix with 22 episodes. Check it out.

Strangers on a Train

Alfred Hitchcock classic about two men whom meet on a train that discuss killing the problems in each other's lives to avoid jail and suspicion.

Of all the remakes and crap out there in Hollywood WHY this movie hasn't been remade is BEYOND me. It's soooooooooooo good. Suspenseful, but not bloody. Dramatic, but not dragging. Witty, but not funny. And DETAILS! UGH!

The one thing I love about older movies from Hollywood is there wasn't a precedence set so there was free range. And it seemed time and detail was taken to making a movie.

Definitely check this out if you want a suspenseful film on your TV set.

Parenthood

I was on a week and a half vacation and watched 4 seasons of this show! I loved it and hated it. It is loosely based on the movie of the same name with Craig T. Nelson and Bonnie Bedelia (Macauley Culkin's aunt/Bruce Willis' wife in "Die Hard") as the parents Zeek and Camille respectively of their four kids (Peter Krause, Lauren Graham, Erika Christensen, and Dax Shepard). Peter Krause plays executive Adam whom is married with two kids (Max has Aspbergers and Haddie is a good girl teen) to blond Julia Roberts aka Monica Potter whom plays Christina. Lauren Graham plays bartender Sarah whom is divorced mom of two teenagers (Amber is rebellious and her brother Drew). Erika plays Julia whom is married to HOTTIE Joel and they have one daughter Sydney who's 5. Dax Shepard plays Crosby who's a perenneil bachelor till he meets Jasmine, a black stripper he hooked up with years ago...and his mixed race son Jabbar.

The part I loved was the relationship between the characters. You don't feel like you're watching a TV show you feel like you're watching a hidden camera in one family's journey.

The part I HATE is clearly the normal thing I should hate which is how some people act. Amber is a self-destructive girl whom falls for EVERY guy not related to her...and Sarah her mom is the same way. They constantly screw up their own lives. I've envisioned myself shaking both while saying "Get out of your own way." And both Zeek and Sarah are HIGHLY ANNOYING! Zeek is the typical overprotective dad/grandpa whom butts into EVERYONE'S business. But Sarah drives me insane. She's that family member/coworker/friend you say "I don't wanna talk about it." And she keeps talking till you finally talk about it and she keeps going and going UGH!

Overall the show is amazing. Got me hooked and I love Max, the son with Aspbergers. He's so honest and refreshing although at times it's "Is he being a bratty kid or is it his Aspbergers?" With this family you seriously never know. My favorite character consistently is Drew. He's the oldest boy grandson but so wise beyond his years. Sure he makes mistakes cuz he isn't perfect, but he definitely impresses me how he puts up with his crazy family.

There are times I feel like they write the characters into a corner for an episode. Like Jasmine's mom says some things to Jabbar and cuts Crosby off and nothing gets said. DRIVES ME CRAZY! Because in another scene another character will do the same thing to the Crosby and he'll rip into them. UGH

This is 40

I'm pretty sure this movie should be retitled to "This is Marriage" because aside from the NASTY fight the two characters have this will be the life of my sister and brother-in-law.

The movie is funny, fresh, and a real take on what single people think marriage is like. The awkward things said. The "I've known you for so long I'm comfortable" moments. The "I know what you're thinking cuz I know you" looks. I actually started to believe these two were married in the movie and I was watching a home video. Doesn't help that these are Leslie Mann's real daughters (Judd Apatow who wrote and directed it is her hubby and the girls dad). 

My niece Averi is SO gonna be like the oldest Sadie, good girl all around but her parents are just so worried she'll be mislead they smother her slightly. My nephew Tyler is Charlotte the funny but doesn't know it kid.

And that's the point. Either you are or know someone that is like the couple in the movie. Aside from the hugely uncomfortable fight scene they have I loved this movie.

Les Miserables

The story of the poor in France interweaving with each other set to music during the French Renaissance. The opening number with Hugh Jackman as a slave being released was informative. Russell Crowe (sigh) His role reminded me of when Pierce Brosnan sang in "Mamma Mia"...just shouldn't. Everyone in the theater laughed everytime Pierce sang. Same effect with Russell. 

The singing reminds me of "Evita" where almost every conversation is a song. There's very little speaking. I liked "Evita" because everyone involved sang really well. This was uncomfortable.

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway are powerful. You can tell they were BORN singers. Anne's voice everytime she sings made me well up and cry. Seriously why isn't she a recording artist? WOW I predict she'll be on GLEE lol Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen have great singing voices too. They weren't powerful and commanding but were good nonetheless. Like Richard Gere in "Chicago." Amanda Seyfreid sounds like a lil bird when she sings. And that's not making fun of her. Think of the most beautiful sounding chirp from the prettiest bird, and that's Amanda's singing voice. High and melodious. I loved it. Reminded me of "Snow White" singing in the forest. LOL I know random huh? I'm pretty sure the other actors were Broadway performers. They had that "Broadway" singing voice.

Overall the movie wasn't bad. I didn't hate it; I didn't love it. It felt like a Broadway show turned into a movie. I will say the CONSTANT singing got me confused as to what was going on with story. Thank God for Wikipedia or I wouldn't have understood what I just watched.

Zero Dark Thirty

I went into "Zero Dark Thirty" wanting to dislike it. I know Kathryn Bigelow has a thing for war movies that look realistic. I tried several times to watch "The Hurt Locker" but it was just boring. ZDT is a female lead action version of THL basically.

The subject matter and Jessica Chastain is what interested me. Kathryn's approach did not. When someone close to Jessica's character dies she barely emotes. Is this the same Oscar nominated actress from "The Help?" I don't get it. I wasn't wowed by anything in this movie. The action in the beginning got my attention. It was VASTLY better than what I expected, but not enough for me to think it was good. It was okay. Personally the real star for me was Jason Clarke who plays Dan. He's an Australian actor who speaks in his American accent perfectly. His face, body, acting chops draw you to the screen moreso than Jessica if you ask me. He shoulda been nominated for Best Actor. 

She had ONE good scene when I wish she did a good performance. I do not think she deserved the Oscar nomination. Anne Hathaway did a better job as "Celina Kyle" in "The Dark Knight Rises" and could've been a great nomination in the Best Actress category.

Silver Linings Playbook

I see why people love this movie. "Silver Linings Playbook" is about Bradley Cooper plays Pat whom is a man whom had a nervous breakdown finding his wife in the arms of another man at their home. When he meets Jennifer Lawrence plays Tiffany , a young widow, his life changes. Yes he's bipolar and socially awkward, but she's the outspoken match to him.

I think of JLaw's performance as two things: 1) the non-singing equivalent of JHud in "Dreamgirls." There's this scene in a diner that is every Actress dream scene. 2) This is her Erin Brockovich role. America's Sweetheart swearing and being inappropriate. AMAZING! When she comes in a scene it's ELECTRIC!

Bradley Cooper shines. It's truly amazing. Here's just a snippet of his awkwardness: Ronnie: Ok my sister-in-law Tiffany is coming over and her husband died. Don't mention it.
Pat: (as Tiffany comes in) Hey you look pretty. I'm not saying that to hit on you just you know. How'd your husband die?

Robert DeNiro and Jacki Weaver play his parents whom try to help him but every parent has their breaking point right?

This movie is amazing. It's a breath-of-fresh-air. I guarantee you've never seen anything like this. Don't believe me? The movie was nominated for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor (Bradley), Best Actress (Jennifer), Best Supporting Actor (Robert), Best Supporting Actress (Jacki). No special effects or huge budget, but this is the type of movie Hollywood needs to make more of.

Interesting fact from my twin (Brandon) Anne Hathaway was cast and ready to play Tiffany in "Silver Linings Playbook" but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with "The Dark Knight Rises" after that movie she did "Les Mis"...JLaw interested but was "too young at 21 to play the part." They let her audition and nailed the role. They are both nominated for Oscars. Anne for Best Supporting Actress and Jennifer for Best Actress. Anne woulda been nominated for Best Actress if she played this role. Tiffany reminds me of Anne's role in "Rachel Getting Married" which she was nominated for an Oscar for.

Sweet Charity

Shirley MacLaine plays "Charity Love Valentine" who's life in NY is less than perfect. She is hapless with love and works as the equivalent of a stripper in today's world at a gentlemen's club. Supporting characters are great but I just felt like this was a musical version of "Breakfast at Tiffany's." I liked it but just felt like I saw this before.

The dance/song sequences are good, and I can see specific moves that Beyonce stole for her "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" and "Get Me Bodied (Extended)" videos. 

Overall very good movie. I don't think I would watch it twice though.

Taken 2

Liam Neeson is back again with "Taken 2" as a former Intelligence Agent who's once again faced with a situation where he's dealing with a kidnapping in his family...this time his beloved ex-wife. She played perfectly again by Famke Janssen blames him for their daughter being kidnapped in Taken 1. And the culprit behind this kidnapping? The father of the man he killed in the first.

This is not giving any surprises or plot away mind you. What's surprising is the reason the man is after Liam's family..."I don't care that my son tried selling your daughter to slavery and kidnapped her, tried to kill you and your wife. He didn't deserve to die. You killed him so...." WHAT?! Up till that point I liked the movie. The ending I won't ruin, but very good. I liked how the action scenes went as well as the relationship between Liam and Maggie Grace. I liked that I didn't yell at the screen once that someone was stupid (except the dad). Overall good movie.

the one where I let her have it

So I couldn't hold my tongue I let her have it. Ripped her apart verbally. As I pegged she didn't listen/understand anything I was saying, made everything about her, and spewed bullshit that made no sense.

Thing is she can argue till she's blue in the face the most important thing is if any other mother on the planet heard their older son had always chastised their younger son for not having a father when the mother knows the entire story and says nothing that's a bad mother. End of story no two sides to the story. Seriously who does that?

I have a feeling after her little speech about wanting peace in her life and how she backtracked saying "oh I don't want you to move out but it seems like that's what you want." She's gonna come up to me w a "peace offering" guaranteed. That's how she works. Ill tell her to shove it.

I haven't told her about me moving to Boston and how far I'm getting w my efforts. One day I'm just going to not be there. That's how I want to leave things. I want nothing more. I will find my dads family on my own. I don't need her and haven't for a long time.

Also I wanna take the time to thank my friends and relatives that listen to me drone on and on about this subject. I think it's best if I contain this topic here only. Get back to being happy.

the one about me not giving myself enough credit

So the hardest thing in the world to do is looking in the mirror and realizing your faults. Of those I have many. One of them is that I don't give myself enough credit.

When I was younger I wanted to go to Western New England College but it was two buses away in one direction so that meant 4 buses a day for 4 years? I didn't hesitate. When I was accepted I did it. Sometimes my friend Areecia drove me in until I finally got a car.

Where is that person today? I moved to Boston and that was the best decision I made. Yes I was running away from my boss and family, but whatever the reasons were they were valid. I should've stuck it out but I didn't give myself enough credit. At the time I had no nervousness or anything.

I think I moved back because I was like a battered woman. You know how she keeps going back because she has no other option in her mind. Do you realize the minute I posted how I am thinking of moving I had a friend offer to put me up till I find permanent housing? She knows the struggles I'm having emotionally and I realized THAT is part of the old me.

My friend Larry once said to me "David, you will be fine. You always are." I will never ever forget that. Somehow I always find a way...or is my team up there looking out for me? haha

Either way I've come to realize I can take alot more than I think. What I'm going through as horrible as it is it's temporary and more are going through alot worse.

I need to be strong and realize this too shall pass :) There is a brighter future for me I just need to perserve.