Blue Valentine

Alright…now when I saw the poster for this movie and heard that Ryan Gosling was starring in it with Michelle Williams, I thought “oooh, this is going to be so romantic”. Heck, the movie is called Blue Valentine. Yes,  I understand that Blue is a common reference color relating to sadness, but I didn’t expect for this movie to be so depressing. I had heard some people relating this movie to “The Notebook”…ummmm….NO! Absolutely NO COMPARISON to the notebook at all!

This story is about a couple who got together despite some looming issues which pretty much get brought back to surface. It’s a story about two lovers who’s spiraling emotions surround resentment and rejection.

This is NOT a love story with a hopeful happy ending. The one good thing about this movie is that it was so darn realistic. Ryan's character reeked desperation and neediness while Michelle seemed evasive and disinterested. They are both EXCELLENT actors and did play their characters to a tee. But, I gotta say... If that is what love and relationships are about…COUNT ME OUT!!! This movie is a prime example as to WHY I am careful about who I decide to commit to. 

I give this movie…

Depression at it's finest

No Boys Allowed

So I know Keri Hilson’s latest album “No Boys Allowed” was released late December but I hadn’t got a chance to buy it until this month. I understand that downloading is so easy, but I really believe in purchasing albums for artists that I truly admire and respect. Keri’s an infamous songwriter with the ability to make me whole-heartedly relate to almost every song she releases. With such a large roster of artists who work with her, it’s no question that this lady is truly talented.  Being a songwriter myself, I give props where props is due and I think Keri knows how to write out what a woman is going through internally, physically and in her relationships.

I’ve been bumping her album in my car for the past week and even though you could listen to the album from top to bottom, my fave tracks are:

Pretty Girl Rock

Lose Control feat. Nelly

Toy Soldier

Breaking Point

Beautiful Mistake

All The Boys

Hustler

“Lose Control” has just been released and I’m looking forward to the video and what track Ms. Keri Babay will be releasing next for 2011.

The Fighter

I know I’m completely late in writing about some of the movies on the list, but it’s better late than never, right?

In November, I saw the trailer for the movie “The Fighter” starring Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale and I knew that I HAD to watch it!

Absolutley LOVE how Mark handles bar dude at 0.38...sigh....

Do I have a great interest in boxing? No. But I do have a huge celebrity crush on Mr. Wahlberg and seeing him super ripped, sweaty and boxing wasn’t something that I was going to miss. So opening night came around and me and my girlfriends decided to check it out. 

I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised that my attention was captured in not only Mark’s hunky physique, but in the true story that this movie was based on. Micky Ward was a professional boxer who had what it takes in order to make a career and name for himself in boxing, but couldn’t take the steps forward due to his invasive family stepping in. His mother was managing his career but couldn’t seem to focus on just Micky as her attention was mainly given to Micky’s older Dicky, who also used to have a career in boxing. Dicky’ s biggest triumph was fighting Sugar Ray in a televised HBO match. The debate though is if Dicky actually won this fight with skill or if it was due to Sugar Ray slipping in the ring.

Mark Wahlberg’s characterization of Micky is spot on, and Christian Bale deserves an Oscar for his outstanding performance in playing Dicky Ward. Within 5 min of watching Christian on-screen I thought to myself “He’ll be nominated for an Oscar for sure”. Let’s see if he gets it …Oscars air February 27^th, 2011. Fingers Crossed!

Through being mismanaged for most of his early career, Micky meets the love of his life, Charmaine who is played by Amy Adams. She as well, plays an excellent role in being sassy, aggressive and protective of Micky when he has a hard time in saying no to his family. Oh! And how could I not mention Melissa Leo who played Micky & Dicky’s mother…again, another Oscar-Winning performance.

This movie was done very well and I really enjoyed all of it. Not only was it based on a true story, but the actors were phenomenal. Hmmm and of course, Mark Wahlberg isn’t a site for sore-eyes either.

I give this movie…

The Seat of The Soul - Gary Zukav

Due to a hectic schedule that didn’t allow much free time, I’ve been slacking on my blog.  This wasn’t how I planned 2011 initially, but what’s a gal to do but catch up, right?

First off, I’ll start on this phenomenal book that I finished reading called “The Seat of the Soul” by Gary Zukav. Again, this was another gem that was listed on my meditational list of books to read provided by my meditation teacher, Lata Sood.

Shout out to Lata!!! These books have been motivational and inspirational in so many ways!!!

While most of the meditational books I’ve read tend to focus on “The Ego”, The Seat of The Soul really broke down clearly how our egos work and how we are ultimately responsible for our happiness. The chapters are short, clear and concise and do not have a lot of mumbo-jumbo. Straight to the point, in your face and tell-it-like-it-is points of view that don’t leave you having to over-think. Many of the chapters, I found relate to how the spiritual world works and how our mind can play tricks on us. Chapters such as, Souls, Karma and Addiction stood out personally for me.

Each of us has our own addictions in our own way. It doesn’t have to be drugs and alcohol, it could be simple ordinary everyday things we incorporate into our lives, and feel an absolute need to do. Heck, reality television can be considered an addiction in it’s own right. The author broke down how we trained ourselves to think, how we armor ourselves in fear of disappointment and how we are the ones that can make the change to stop the cycle of creating negative energy and negative outcomes.

A great read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is on a meditational journey.