Gotham

Goodbye Gotham thank you for five years of great entertainment. It is because of you that I appreciate Batman villians more then I have in the past. To Edward Nygma, Oswald Cobblepot and Selena Kyle (who I call Kittengirl) I say bravo and farewell.

To young Bruce Wayne I say you were amazing at all the emotion and pain and my new favorite versions of the character. 
To James Gordon and Alfred I say thank you for always being there for Bruce and helping him on his journey.

The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)

Wow 12 years that is a long time for a TV series to last (in this day and age) but every episode made me laugh and feel a little smarter. To Johnny Galecki (Leonard) Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Simon Helberg (Howard), Kunal Nayyar (Raj), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette), Mayim Bialik (Amy) and even Kevin Sussman as Stuart---Thank you for these great characters you all proved that it is cool to be funny and smart. That comic books and sci-fi movies and TV shows like Doctor Who aren't just for nerds and geeks. Thank you Chuck Lorre and Bill Pardy for creating a show that was always a joy to watch. Here's to another gang of friends who made TV worth watching and who will live on in reruns and this viewer's heart. To the cast and crew of The Big Bang Theory, you did good and to the cast member that never worked yes I am talking about you broken elevator What The Hell?

Mary Poppins Returns (Merry Christmas to me)

I saw that over the weekend Aquaman beats Mary Poppins over the pre-Christmas week being that I am more the Lin-Manuel Miranda over Jason Mamoa type I opted to see Mary Poppins Returns on Christmas morn.

Michael Banks, played Ben Whishaw is all grown up and has three kids of his own and years later he and his sister Jane, played by Emily Mortimer, once again in need Mary Poppins’, played by Emily Blunt, help.

With taking bird umbrella and magic carpet bag in hand, the wind changes direction and down she comes. With Jack, played by Lin-Manuel, by her side Mary and the newest generation of Banks children go on a fantastic adventure.

Mary Poppins Returns gave me all the feels I feel every time I watch the first.

The story is sweet and adds to the first film. The cast is as wonderful.

And the songs are actually perfect in every way.

Along with a family a five still wearing the pajamas it truly was an enjoying time at the movies watching Mary Poppins Returns.

Chris-versary

25 years is a long time to care about a person you have yet to meet.

In November of 1993 I was 13 and Walt Disney Studios released their version of The Three Musketeers. I was already a fan of sword fights, Charlie Sheen and Tim Curry and they were the reasons I wanted to see the movie. Then I saw the last few minutes of a behind-the-scenes look at the movie on the Disney channel and being that he was the one who hosted the sneak peek I got my first glance at Chris O’Donnell.

I watched The Three Musketeers in a theater located inside a mall. Sitting next to me was my cousin, as some of my other family members went shopping. By the time the movie was over I had a new celebrity crush. For the rest of the school year I carried a photo cut out of a magazine of Chris O’Donnell in my pocket and by the time I was a senior his picture was hanging in my locker and in my senior yearbook I wrote his name under the crush category..

It was the 1990s so Netflix was way off and you had to wait a year before a movie was released on something called VSH tape. So from that day forward I made it a point to see every movie he was in on the big screen. Although before I could do that I had to catch up on his previous work and rented or watched on TV what I could.

Scent of a Woman was released the year before. I was too young to watch it then but eventually caught it on TV and yes I enjoyed the famous tango scene (side note: Al Pacino’s dance partner in that scene is Gabrielle Anwar who played Queen Anne in The Three Musketeers). Next I watched his first film Men Don’t Leave a family drama where Chris played Jessica Lange’s eldest son. Then there was Fried Green Tomatoes a film that I have only watched, all the way through, once because (spoiler alert) once his character is killed by a train, what is the point to seeing the rest.

Being the young and good looking boy-next-door type that he was at the time Chris O’Donnell made a handful of romances. My favorite is In Love and War directed by Sir Richard Attenborough and co-starring Sandra Bullock. He portrayed a young Ernest Hemingway. The film took place during WWI when “Ernie” fell in love with an older woman, a nurse named Agnes. A historical drama starring my new favorite actor, hell yeah I am going to see and love every minute.

Truth be told I am not much of a reader so when The Three Musketeers opened I decided to read the classic story and that became something I continued to do with every book to film starring Chris. I didn’t read all of the Harry Potter books but I did read Maeve Binchy Circle of Friends before seeing the film adaptation with him and newcomer Minnie Driver. There was also The Chamber which to this day is the only John Grisham book I’ve read.

I can’t write about Chris O’Donnell without bringing up the Batman franchise. He was one of the first actors in which I went to a movie just because said actor was in it. That being said I was not a fan of the caped crusader until he signed up as Robin. NO I am not going to apologize for actually liking Val Kilmer as Batman and the rest of the cast of Batman Forever. I even have the movie poster hanging in my childhood bedroom and (like with most of the movies Chris is in) I can quote it word for word. Also George Clooney is not as bad as he and everyone says he is in Batman and Robin.

It wasn’t easy to get my parents to drive me to every single Chris O’Donnell movie and that is why for the past 9 years I have enjoyed watching him on NCIS:Los Angeles. Callen, Sam, Kensi, Deeks, Eric, Nell and the wonderful Hetty make each week worth tuning in for (Sundays at 9 on CBS). Chris has also played one of Meredith Grey’s love interest on an early season of Grey’s Anatomy, guest starred on episodes of The Practice and a Two and a Half Men and even had a short lived series on Fox.

I could go on and on about all the films and TV appearances Chris has done. I could even talk about how I make it a point to see and read every interview he gives. And how with each one I learn something new about him. which is amazing for knowing someone for 25 years, it seems in any relationship after the first 10 years you should know everything about each other. Each interview makes me smile and makes a bad day good. I could go on and on but then I would not know where to stop, 


Chris O’Donnell is my heart. I know that doesn’t make sense because he doesn’t even know I exist but he has gotten me through a lot. High school wasn’t easy, like when my crush was dating another new girl who wasn’t me, but I had him on the cover of magazines to cry on when I had no one to lean on.

Thank you Chris O’Donnell for being there for me for the past 25 years. I hope to actually get to meet you in the next 25 years.

Elijah Mikaelson

I left Elijah, played by the fantastic Daniel Gillies, out of the series blog because he was my favorite Mikaelson family member.

I have fallen in love with many fiction characters and in the years that I have watched Elijah he quickly reached the top of my list.

For the first season as much as I liked him I tried really hard not to fall for him because Spike, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was my go to and favorite TV vamp. It sounds weird but I did not want any vampire to change how I felt about Spike and if I did find myself liking another TV vampire it was as if I was cheating on him. That was before Elijah took hold of my heart (quite literally) and never let go. The way he spoke and the way he looked in a suit were just two reasons to love this “dead” man.

Elijah Mikaelson had his demons and for the most part he kept them locked behind a red door but if you hurt his family there was a good chance you wouldn’t live to see the sun rise. In 1000 years Elijah’s main job was to keep an eye on his brother Klaus. It was Elijah who would stop Klaus from going too far and hurting or even killing anyone who got in his way. Elijah cleaned up after Klaus’s messes including falling in love with women his brother once cared for (Kathrine and Hayley being the top two).

Elijah was truly devoted to his family. He did what he could to fight for and take care of his loved ones.

Elijah was charming, beautiful and a good man to have on your side.

I will always love Elijah Mikaelson.

The Originals (2013-2018)

It's not every day a spin off comes along that was better than its parent series but then again there was no family quite like The Mikaelsons on The Originals. Who knew that New Orleans was a city filled with Vampires, Werewolves and Witches. Sometimes a city full of supernatural beings seems like too much but Klaus, Elijah and Marcel kept them from ripping each other apart, most of the time. Some backstory-The Mikaelsons first appeared on The Vampire Dairies as foes to Damon and Stefan. The Originals come from them being the first vampires in existence. When the siblings were young Vikings there mother wanted to protect her family and a curse was placed upon them to live forever. Over a 1000 years later and the 6 siblings are alive and thriving.

Niklaus “Klaus” Mikaelson, played by the awesome Joseph Morgan, was a King who for centuries ruled his kingdom. Once he settled the family in New Orleans they were the top of the food chain; they were loved and feared by those who knew them. Klaus most of all, for he was a both a vampire and (on his birth father’s side) a werewolf. Because of this he didn’t need a wooden stake or fire to harm a vampire who got out of line, his bite alone killed any who went against him. It was pre civil war where he and his brother Elijah come across a teen boy named Marcellus “Marcel” Gerard played by the wonderful Charles Michael Davis. They took him in and taught him everything they knew. When Marcel was old enough he asked to be turned, Klaus would eventually give in to the grown man’s request.

If Klaus was king Marcel was a prince. When the Mikaelsons left the city it was Marcel who took control and there was peace among the supernatural for decades prior to Klaus and his siblings return. While Klaus and Marcel fought, Marcel and Klaus’ sister, Rebekah would fall in love.

Rebekah played by the delightful Claire Holt was one of two Mikaelson sisters. Whenever Klaus was upset with his siblings he would stake them and let them “sleep” in a coffin for decades, this was why the two lovers were apart for so long. Her romantic life may have been unbalanced but Rebekah’s love and devotion for her brothers never changed.

Kol (Nathaniel Buzolic) and Finn (Casper Zafer) were the two Mikaelson brothers who came and went whenever the story allowed.

A few seasons in and we met a 6^th and final Mikaelson sibling by the name of Freya, played by the amazing Riley Voelkel. We quickly learned that she was the oldest of the clan and was forced to live with an Aunt who for centuries taught Freya as she grew to be a powerful witch. At first Klaus did not trust Freya but she would not just gain his trust but also the same love and loyalty that each of the Mikaelsons believed in.

There was Hayley, played by the remarkable Phoebe Tonkin , a werewolf who had a fling with Klaus and somehow became pregnant with his daughter, Hope. Hayley was a tough wolf and a good leader to her pact. She was a wonderful friend and mother who was loved by all who knew her. 

Finally there was Vincent, played by the incredible Yusuf Gatewood . A New Orleans witch (my favorite witch) who just wanted to keep the people and the city safe from any one or thing that wanted to cause harm and destruction. 

Other character who were important with this wonderful series included…

 Camille (Leah Pipes), a psychologist who learned about the truth of New Orleans and the supernatural beings living amongst the humans from her preacher uncle. She would even help Klaus with his demons as they fell in love.  

Davina (Danielle Campbell) a young witch and friend to Marcel who become the most powerful of all the New Orleans witches and went through Hell (the afterlife) and back to find love and a life with Kol.

 And Josh (Steven Krueger), a young vampire and Marcel’s number 2.

These and every character who appeared on The Originals were magnificent to watch. Each episode made me happy and the stories were pure joy. Thank you Julie Plec for an awesome creation.

AND… 

To the cast and crew you have my heart "Always and Forever"

Solo: A Star Wars Movie

Taking a character from a well-known and beloved movie franchise and giving him or her their own movie can be difficult. When it was announced there would be a stand-alone Star Wars film about a young Han Solo fans were excited then there was some stories about troubles on the set and a new director taking over and the same fans got worried and the backlash about the movie began. The internet already hated it even before it premiered in theaters. But this long time Star Wars fan never gave up hope and when I heard Donald Glover (who will always be Troy on Community to me) was going to play a young Lando Calrissian, I knew I had to see it.

When we see Han for the first time he is, what one from the Victorian days, a street urchin stealing from the streets for a watery living creature. All he wants to do is run away from this life and be a pilot. Once he escapes he joins the military and runs into a thief/smuggler Tobias Bennett played by Woody Harrelson. This will be the man who will teach Han what it takes to work outside of the law.

From director Ron Howard, Solo has many reasons to give it a chance.

From the look of Woody Harrelson’s character to the story itself this film is the space western that I have heard George Lucas speak of when he explains the premise of the original trilogy.

Questions I never thought of were answered, like how he got his name and I was excited about learning how what I already knew about Han came to be.  For example I really loved seeing the beginning of Han and Chewie’s friendship. All of which made me like Han more.

The new character, like those in other Star Wars films just add goodness to the universe we love, even the new droid L3-37 (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is such a joy to watch.

What can I say about Lando, charming, delightful, adorable and funny.

The Middle 2009-2018

Have you ever watched a sitcom family and said "They are just like my family."  Well the Hecks may not have been my family exactly but there were quite a few similarities.

The Middle was about a loving family living in a rural town called Orson in Indiana.

There was Mike, husband and father ( Neil Flynn). He was a tall man of little words. He worked at the query and loved sports, the Colts being his favorite team. He may not have always known how to show his feelings towards them and at times they got on his nerves but Mr. Heck loved his wife and 3 kids.

There was Frankie, wife and mother (Patricia Heaton). Although she wasn't great at having a career, first as a used car sales woman than a dental assistant, Frankie was a good person. Even with a broken stove and dishwasher she always had (take out) dinner on the table every night. She loved her husband and three kids, even when they drove her crazy.

The was Axle, the oldest kid (Charlie McDermott). He was a high school football player who slacked off but was still able to get accepted to college. He shared a room with his brother and picked on his sister. He may have not been the perfect son or brother but was there for his family when they needed hm.

There was Sue Sue (Eden Sher), the middle child and only girl in the Heck family. Whether it was cheerleaders or dancing failure did not stop her from trying what she loved. Sue cared about everyone she met and was best friends with Brad. She loved animals and rainbows. Sue Heck was the heart of her family.

Finally and always forgotten there was Brick, (Atticus Shaffer). Being the youngest he was overlooked a lot. Brick and his quips were a staple of the show during its entire run and I loved every little thing he did but my favorite tick was how Brick would repeat words looking down and in a whisper.


The Middle was one of just a handful of shows my dad actually liked. It was the perfect family sitcom and it may have not gotten the ratings and recognition it should of but will always have a piece of my heart.

Black Panther is Here

When he first appeared at the end of Captain America Civil War I immediately liked Black Panther so when the character got his own movie I knew it would be good. I didn't know it would be the money maker and cultural phenomenon that it has become and I couldn't be happier.

When his father dies T’Challa becomes king of Wakanda and the newest Black Panther. A place with advanced technology, Wakanda is an amazing (fictional) country in Africa. Five tribes live in this beautiful land and the people do what they can to keep it as is. No outside contact allows them to thrive. If Wakanda was real I would move there (with their permission) in a heartbeat.

Directed and written by Ryan Coogler and starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B Jordan, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Angela Bassett and Forest Whitaker, Black Panther is the perfect superhero flick. Although everyone was good and right for the role they played my favorite character is Shuri played by Letitia Wright, she is the sister of T’Challa and his head inventor/scientist. She is awesome and funny. Ms. Wright stole every scene she was in. It was her character who designed the Black Panther costume and ALL of his gadgets including what I call the ultimate self-driving through virtual reality car (and plane). But Shuri isn’t the only kick ass female in the movie, ALL of Wakanda’s warriors are women and they rock.

Black Panther is a comic book movie that has truly deserved all the praise it has gotten and once you see it will leave a lasting impression long after you leave the theater.

Carl Grimes 2010-2018 (TWD series)

CARL!

When we first met you 8 years ago you were just a kid who loved his mom and thought his dad was dead. You were sweet and didn’t want to ever hurt anyone let alone kill another human but in the apoyloclise a boy has to grow up. Unforantally you had to grow up faster than those your same age, You killed Shane to protect your father, you came face to face with a deer and had a moment of piece before you were shot and brought to Hersall’s farm, you became quick friends with Michonne and after helping her give birth to your sister you, out of pure love, killed your mother. Although you lost an eye after getting shot (again) you never gave up hope.

Carl, you were the future of this new world but more importantly you were the reason your father, Rick, did what he did. He cared for and loved you and in doing so was able to help a group of good, fighting men and women survive. I truly believe it was because of your friendship with her that your father allowed himself to fall in love with Michonne.

Carl, your dad handed over his official sheriff’s hat to you and you wore it every day with pride, you were a son to Rick and Lori and brother to Judith (who you named) . A friend to Michanne, Enid and the rest of Alexandria. You were a fighter against all those who would show you harm and helped strangers when you believed one needed help. A killer of Walkers. And in the end you believed in a better world.

Carl Grimes, I miss you but will never forget the boy who grow to be a brave young man (in just months) and when all is said and done I will never eat chocolate pudding in the same way again.

R.I.P. CARL

Heath Ledger Remembrance Day

“I miss you like the sun misses the flower, like the sun misses the flower in the depths of winter” (A Knight’s Tale 2001).  Every year on this day I think of this quote from my favorite Heath Ledger film.

This year marks 10 years since Heath Ledger’s death at the age of 28.

9 years ago Entertainment Weekly Magazine ran a cover story for the first anniversary of his passing and while I couldn’t bring myself to read the article I still wrote a letter to the editor. In the following issues that letter was edited and published. That was the day I started calling myself a writer.

10 years later and I still can’t bring myself to read that, or any, article about Heath Ledger. Not written in the original e-mail that I sent to EW was how for days right after his death I felt as if I had been kicked in the stomach. I know that grieving over the death of a man I never got the chance to meet sounds stupid but from the first moment I saw him on screen in The Patriot in 2000 I was hooked and became an instant fan. Heath Ledger was talented and beautiful. He was a reason to go to the movies, in fact I am sure there are a couple of movies he was in that I would not have seen if he wasn’t a part of them.

10 years and I still miss going to a film to see him. He was so good, I’ll even go so far as to say he was one of the best actors of his generation.

10 years later and I still think of Heath Ledger. I think of ALL the movies he could have made. Every movie I go to the theater to see I think of him and of what could have been.

10 years later and since watching his final film (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus 2009) I haven’t been able to bring myself to watch more than 10 minutes of any movie, including the ones I have memorized, he is in when I come across one on TV. There is three or four that I have yet to see because I never got around to doing so when he was alive and now may never watch them.

10 years later and I still remember how it felt as I watched my local news and not wanting to believe it when the anchor had to report that Heath Ledger was dead.  

 10 years later means that Health Ledger has been gone more years then I knew he existed.

I woke up that particular morning early and happy to watch the Oscar nominations live on TV and went to sleep heartbroken.

It doesn’t feel like 10 years have gone by since Heath Ledger passed away but life does still go on. I still have dreams to make come true. Dreams that include the stories I write being published. A life where I am a Hollywood director and making good films with ALL of the actors of whom I care about, love and admire.

I don’t ever again want to feel the way I did on January 22, 2008.

For an actor who is irreplaceable I will always love, never forget and will keep my promise to Heath Andrew Ledger.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Question-Who was your first fictional character crush?


I am pretty sure my answer is Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) 

(source: Senior High School Year Book '98)

and 30 years later my love for him is still strong. I waited a long time to see Luke on the big screen and after the tease we got of him at the end of The Force Awakens I was anxious and excited for his return in Star Wars: The Last Jedi.


It was well worth the wait. I should add that as the decades passed by, a cute young man who wanted more for his life than to be a farmer on Tatooine became an even more handsome older man who has seen and been through a lot, now a little darker and unsure of the future


For as much as I love Luke Skywalker with the new films comes new characters. As the story continues it is good to see that Finn (John Boyega) and Rey’s (Daisy Ridley) beautiful and undeniable friendship continues to be a crucial part of the story, but as much as a like them it is Poe (Oscar Isaac) who has quickly become my favorite newbie. What can I say he makes me laugh and his attitude towards fighting an enemy is bold if not following the plan and he seems like a good fun guy to hang out with, but it is his “love” for a droid named BB-8 that makes him a good human. Then there is General Hux (Domhnall Gleeson) who, because I always tell the truth on this blog, I don’t remember from the previous film but this time I noticed him and for a bad guy I truly enjoyed him.   


But we met them in the last film. In The Last Jedi we meet a few more characters. The standout performance for me was by Kelly Marie Tran who plays Rose, when Finn first comes across her she is smart and adorable and soon becomes a key element to the story. Speaking of adorable characters I already mentioned BB-8 who although a “robot” is fun and sweat. I may not always understand him but I will always worry about him. Here we have more new creatures that make this film come alive-the funny, cute and furry Porgs and the beautiful Crystal Critters.


As for the story itself, written and directed by Rian Johnson the film picks up where the last one left off. After all it is that continuation that makes each Star Wars trilogy an epic adventure. Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is growing in strength and Rey is doing everything she can to be his equal. In fact it seems that a new element of The Force is discovered by way of excellent scenes featuring the two actors.


The look of the film is as wonderful and amazing as expected. There is a part of the movie that takes place on a glamorous planet full of rich and fancy upper class characters to look at but not so nice to know. 


Lupita Nyong’o, Andy Serkis, Gwendoline Christie, Anthony Daniels, Laura Dern and Billie Lourd also star


The Last Jedi is a perfect addition to the Star Wars franchise. Once again each actor (those we have met and the newbies) brings all he or she has to the telling of the story. Thrilling and breathtaking it has everything fans have come to love about each movie. I am faithfully looking forward to whatever happens next.


Cheers to the cast and crew of Star Wars: The Last Jedi and to Carrie Fisher I send love to a life and career that will never be forgotten.

Winter in Western NY (Quick take)

I am not sure if my writing talents can truly describe the cuteness that I saw driving around but since I didn't have a camera on me I shall try.

A field of snow deep enough that it makes it difficult for a man to walk through but one was and as he did so he was paving a path for a dozen or so small goats to follow, in a single line, behind the man.
Also three prefect deer ran across the road and leaped into another snowy field on the other side.

What one sees when they have to leave the house because of Cabin Fever in the winter.

My top ten TV moments of 2017

In no particular order...

1. Season 7 finale of The Walking Dead (Battle of Alexandria)

2. The Flash Musical (nothing better than Jesse L Martin, Victor Garber and John Barrowman singing together)

3. Finn's drug withdrawal on General Hospital (Michael Easton should try for a Daytime Emmy this year)

4. Randy proposing to Max (2 Broke Girls Season Finale)

5. Abe vs Simcoe fight (final season of TURN Washington spies)

6. The Middle (Final Season)

7. The Orville (First season)

8. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (since the election)

9. The season finale of The Royals

10. Live tweeting Chicago Med and winning a cast photo

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Beautiful to look at and amazing acting by all, from director Kenneth Branagh.

Dear Ben Affleck and Matt Damon,

If you want to get back on the women of Hollywood good sides you can bring back Project Greenlight without the Weinsteins and instead of a contest I submit my unpublished novella as a screenplay for what is in my mind an indie film.

Dear Hollywood

Now that Harvey Weinstein is out it is time for a woman to be in charge of the industry. Here is my resume...

A love of movies for my entire life...

A deep hatred for Donald Trump

I have never committed murder, sexual harassment or abuse (of any kind). I don't do drugs, illegal or prescription, although if I'm in a state where weed is legal I would try a brownie. I enjoy a glass of wine once in a while. Thank you for your consideration.

Blade Runner 2049

As I wrote a few weeks ago, there are a few actors to whom I go see a movies because he is in the movie, Ryan Gosling was one on the list. So even though I haven’t seen the original Blade Runner I had to see Blade Runner 2049.

 At almost three hours Blade Runner 2049 is a slow paced, intriguing sci-fi film. Gosling stars as K a new version of the firsts film Replicas, who is a cop tracking down older, rebellious replicas. He doesn’t like doing so but it is his job and that is what he was designed for. When he is not doing this he lives a lonely life in a small and dingy apartment.

The story takes a few twists and turns but overall a good plot. The main thing I want to say about this film is that with all the tools in his filmmaking toolbox the Director (Denis Villeneuve) creates a whole world on film. I felt like I was there walking with K in 2049 Los Angeles. The look of every scene was both beautiful and unsettling.

Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard 

And Robin Wright and Jerad Leto also star

If you want to see a single character on an epic journey check out Blade Runner 2049

Stronger film is filled with strong performances

Before I go any further I have a confession to make, there are a handful of actors whose movies I go see just because said actor is in it. I spent the 1990s going to Chris O’Donnell movies and since the early 2000s with Josh Hartnett, (gone but not forgotten) Heath Ledger and Ryan Gosling. When you see a movie for this reason you end up seeing a few bad apples. So when I watched Stronger because it happens to star Jake Gyllenhaal I was happy it ended up being a delicious good apple.

Stronger is the true life story of Jeff Bauman, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, a young man who in 2013 was at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when a terror attack changed his life forever. One of the homemade explosives took off both of Jeff’s legs and the film follows him as he copes with his family, fame and healing.

When Jeff wakes up in the hospital his family is there and what a group of characters they are. as they become the heart and center to this wonderful film. Miranda Richardson portrays Jeff’s mother Patty. The two share a small apartment and as much as she loves her son, she may love herself a little more. Her hair isn’t perfect, her clothes are baggy and she smokes like a chimney so you know Hollywood didn’t create her and she truly could be anyone’s mom. Richardson steals every scene she is in and that is a good thing.

The rest of the family is just as colorful and brilliant to watch. Throughout the film Jeff is struggling, he is angry at himself and the world and his family do what they can to support him. He and his brothers spend a lot of time at their favorite bar and in one memberable sequence they get into a fight with fellow patrons and are thrown out. Afterwards they spend the night causing trouble, as a group of young men do, wreaking havoc on a playground and in the streets of Boston. Also helping Jeff on his journey is his on again and off again girlfriend, portrayed by the amazing Tatiana Maslany, all she wants to do is help him and to stand by his side as he gets his new legs.

 At times it is not easy to be there for Jeff but as the story grows so do all those involved.

Finally I came to Jake Gyllenhaal’s incredible performance. As a handsome and successful actor he could have played Jeff as a true American hero, polished and perfect in every way, a man who fought the good fight and came out on top. In fact he didn’t have to make himself seem so small, grimy and insecure but if you have every watched a Jake Gyllenhaal film you know he is an actor who knows it’s the little things that make a character worth caring for. Watching Jeff in the bathroom for the first time without legs shows how even the simple tasks become difficult, Gyllenhaal made the scene heart breaking yet determined.   

That and all of the performances (even those who only appeared in a scene or two) are what makes Stronger the brilliant film that it is.

I also have to admit that I am not a fan of “inspired by actual events” films, especially when that event happened within my lifetime. I didn’t know the story although I am sure it was on the news and internet and to be honest I didn’t care so I was skeptical when I walked into theater one. Directed by David Gordon Green and written by John Pollono based on the book by Jeff Bauman and Bret Witter, Stronger doesn’t focus on the manhunt of the terrorist but on those who were affected by their actions. It could have been big, bold and preachy. It could have been the good guys against the bad guys. Instead this small film was about so much more. Stronger concetratraed on the important things in life. For instance when Jeff gets the dressing changed on what is left of his legs for the first time the viewer ends up feeling his pain. Not because of the screams of agony but the expression in his eyes. You can tell a lot about how a person is feeling by just a look on his face and the look on Gyllenhaal’s face is of sadness and pain and makes for a much bigger impact. More than once does the actor make you feel what the character is going through by such subtle moments throughout the film   

The movie had just the right amount of patriotism, humor and sap. It was a well-made film that had a good story to tell and that is why I am happy I saw (and you should go check out) Stronger.

          

A history lesson on Dunkirk

Imagine yourself standing on the shores of what under normal circumstances would be a beautiful beach hoping it’s not your time to die as enemy planes fly overhead. That is how the World War II drama film Dunkirk begins. Over  400,000 men in uniform taking cover in a place where none is to be found. Men who just want to make it across an ocean and see home again. Is Dunkirk a film about a little known event in British military history, yes. Is it a film worth watching? Yes and let me tell you why.

Directed and written by Christopher Nolan, from opening shot to ending cridits Dunkirk is a thrilling and beautiful film. A true story taken from World War II about the British and allied evacuation from Dunkirk, France. A story about what it means to be a soldier and a human. A story about what it takes to survive a battle. With the beach being the prime location Nolan also takes us to the skies and on the water. It is difficult to write about a film when most of the cast is unknown to me and they wear the same uniform and have accents making it especially challenging to learn the names of the characters but that’s not going to stop me.

Dunkirk opens on Alex, played by Harry Styles (yes from the boy band One Direction but stay with me because while it is always nerve wrecking when a teen singing idol takes a stab at dramatic acting sometimes things work out, look at Justin Timberlake) he is running through the streets of the city and from there the viewer is with him as his story unfolds. A single soldier without a regiment or commander he finds others along the way who just want to make it through the battle. In one anxious scene he and his fellow soldiers are in the hull of a capsized ship trying to keep still with the enemy nearby.

Then we are in the skies as British pilots try to stay in the air as they protect those on the ground.

The other piece of the story isn’t about soldiers at all but the civialns who were called upon by the miltary to help for their own ships cannot make it. This is where having a large population of citizens who own a boat and being an island nation comes in handy . One of these regular folks is a man named Mr. Dawson played by Mark Rylance, he along with his son Peter, played by Tom Glynn-Carney and Peter’s friend George played by Barry Keoghan. The three of them brave the fight to save as many men as they can.

Although there is very little dialouge Christopher Nolan has made a film that leaves a lasting impact for days afterwards. Every scene, every fight was from the point of view of those involved. Although at times loud (after all it is war) Dunkirk is a tense film putting you on the edge of your seat. I felt claustrophobic during scenes that took place in tight spaces, and I cried a few time-from joy and sadness. And I felt as Commander Bolton, played by Kenneth Branagh felt throughout the film.    

A great job by all those who had a part in making this film.

I have watched a few World War II movies, some like Pearl Harbor over and over until I had it memorized and some that were critically acclaimed like Saving Private Ryan. With Dunkirk I have learned something new about this time in history and will watch it again.