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SPICYWATCH

And the Academy Award Goes To...

27/2/2019

3 Comments

 
The big movie event happened on Monday night, the Oscars. And although I wasn't exactly on the money with all of my predictions, I didn't do too badly.  I honestly believe that all of the winners were extremely worthy of their accolades and as usual I really enjoyed watching the glitz and glamour of the night. 
The highlight of the evening for me was definitely Olivia Colman's stirring and emotional acceptance speech for Best Actress in a Leading Role, I loved how she humbly got overwhelmed about her own talent and good fortune, blew raspberries at the camera and tearfully showed a very human and adorable side of herself to the world. 
Most awkward event of the night was definitely Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's provocative performance of Shallow, as they draped themselves over the piano and each other for the duration. Come on Cooper, your wife is sitting right there! All those sultry looks and longing glances, get a room guys, the writing is on the wall....here comes the next Brangelina! Seriously though, it was just plain weird and awkward. I do love Gaga but she is just OTT sometimes, and the fact that she has just left her partner has certainly exacerbated the Cooper affair rumours. However, to be honest, I really don't give a shit if they are hooking up or not really, but who doesn't like a good Hollywood scandal from time to time? 
Most swag definitely goes to Spike Lee whose style (or lack thereof?) is both inspiring and amusing to me. I also loved his acceptance speech for Best Adapted Screenplay and I respect his general lust for life attitude. 
Most satisfying award recipient for me was Alfonso Cuarón taking Best Director for Roma, because he deserved it so completely. That film was a piece of personal perfection for him, and it was wonderful to see him basking in the glory of praise for that. 
As always I loved the whole event, and now I cannot wait to sink my teeth into some new material that may prove to be worthy of some 2020 Academy Award attention. 

Just in case you missed any of it, Here is the full list of 2019’s Academy Award winners as they were presented on the night:
Documentary (Feature) — Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Free Solo
Actress in a Supporting Role — Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Makeup and Hairstyling — Greg Cannom, Kate Biscoe, and Patricia Dehaney, Vice
Costume Design — Ruth E. Carter, Black Panther
Production Design — Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart, Black Panther
Cinematography — Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Sound Editing — John Warhurst, Bohemian Rhapsody
Sound Mixing — Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin, and John Casali, Bohemian Rhapsody
Foreign Language Film — Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Film Editing — John Ottman, Bohemian Rhapsody
Actor in a Supporting Role — Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Animated Feature Film — Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman
Animated Short Film — Domee Shi, Bao
Documentary Short Subject — Rayka Zehtabchi and Melissa Berton, Period. End of Sentence.
Visual Effects — Paul Lambert, Ian Hunter, Tristan Myles and J.D. Schwalm, First Man
Live Action Short Film — Guy Nattiv and Jamie Ray Newman, Skin
Best Original Screenplay — Nick Vallelonga, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly, Green Book
Best Adapted Screenplay — Spike Lee, Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele, BlacKkKlansman
Original Score — Ludwig Goransson, Black Panther
Original Song — Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt, “Shallow,” A Star Is Born
Best Actor in a Leading Role — Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Best Actress in a Leading Role — Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Best Director — Alfonso Cuarón, Roma
Best Picture — Green Book
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CASINO
Release Date: 1995
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 178 mins 
If you haven't already seen this movie, go out and rent it as soon as you can. Martin Scorsese's Casino is a piece of cinematic brilliance that I believe was his most ambitious, and easily his most underrated, body of work to date.  
Spanning three decades, Casino chronicles the true story of a faction of the mob that ran the Las Vegas casinos. We get to see all of the greed, scandal and dirty tactics that went on behind the scenes at the casinos, but we also bear witness to all of the revolting dramatics that occurred in their obviously strained private lives. 
This is a complex movie showcasing the absolute best of Robert De Niro as smooth talking Sam "Ace" Rothstein. This was a role De Niro was born to play, and he does it perfectly. Sharon Stone deserved the Oscar for her flawless portrayal of Ginger, and Joe Pesci is terrifyingly psychotic as Nicky Santoro. 
FINAL SAY: Take the gamble.
5 Chilli Peppers

3 Comments

And the Nominees Are...

24/2/2019

2 Comments

 
The 91st Academy Awards are on tomorrow, which on top of the Golden Globes and the SAG awards I watch every year. This year I will be watching with a couple of good friends over coffee and nibbles, and I am so looking forward to it. I have managed to see almost all of the nominated materials over the course of the year and I am always keen to see if my personal opinions line up with the big guns at the Academy. 
If you haven't stumbled across the Academy Award nominations yet, here is a run down of the big ticket awards (the ones that I like to know the winner of the most). If you are more interested in the sound, design, costume and cinematography awards then check online for those nominations. 
I have underlined who I think the Academy will more than likely give it to and then my personal choice is in bold. 
Best Picture 
Black Panther
BlackkKlansman
Bohemian Rhapsody
The Favourite
Green Book
Roma
A Star is Born
Vice

Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale, Vice
Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born
Willem Dafoe, At Eternity’s Gate
Rami Malek, Bohemian Rhapsody
Viggo Mortensen, Green Book

Actress in a Leading Role  (Huge snubbing of Toni Collette in Hereditary here)
Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
Glenn Close, The Wife
Olivia Colman, The Favourite
Lady Gaga, A Star is Born
Melissa McCarthy, Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Actor in a Supporting Role (Huge snubbing of Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy here) 
Mahershala Ali, Green Book
Adam Driver, BlackkKlansman
Sam Elliot, A Star is Born
Richard E Grant, Can You Ever Forgive Me
Sam Rockwell, Vice

Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams, Vice
Marina De Tavira, Roma
Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
Emma Stone, The Favourite
Rachel Weisz, The Favourite

Animated Feature Film 
Incredibles 2
Isle of Dogs
Mirai
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse

Directing
Spike Lee, BlackkKlansman
Pawel Pawlikowski, Cold War
Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite
Alfonso Cuaron, Roma
Adam McKay, Vice

Foreign Language Film
Capernaum (Lebanon)
Cold War (Poland)
Never Look Away (Germany)
Roma (Mexico)
Shoplifters (Japan)

​As usual, the horror and sci-fi industry gets another shafting, as does some excellent art house material yet again, but no surprises there really. And even though I do believe that Toni Collette was the actress of the year in Hereditary, and Timothee Chalamet was epic in Beautiful Boy  (and hey what about Paddington 2?) I won't be boycotting the proceedings. In spite of my moaning every year, of course I'm still going to watch the awards, I love the glitz and glam of it all!  And who knows? Roma could repeat the 1997 A Life is Beautiful effort  and sweep the Awards ceremony this year, it feels like it could be time to turn a spotlight on quality foreign cinema again. 
The 91st Academy Awards will air on the NINE network at midday in Australia tomorrow (Monday 25th February) and then again at 7.30pm on GEM if you want to see them yourself.
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LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL
Release Date: 1997
Rating: M
Running Time: 116 mins 
A period tragicomic drama directed by and starring Roberto Benigni, who shot to fame after he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Best Original Dramatic Score and Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards.
Set in the 1930's, Life is Beautiful tells the story of a playful Jewish Italian book shop owner named Guido that has his life turned upside down when he and his son become victims of the Holocaust. With his own blend of humour and imagination, Guido attempts to protect his son from the real horrors of the Nazi Concentration Camp. 
Part of the idea for the movie came from Benigni's own family history, as his own father survived a three year term at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, so this was a very personal body of work. Benigni himself is just fabulous as Guido, bringing charisma and ingenuity to his character that translates beautifully.
​I adored this film, it made it me laugh and it also made me cry. I didn't think that it was an insensitive holocaust movie, as some people believed it to be, but rather a hopeful and endearing piece that speaks volumes about endurance and creativity. 

FINAL SAY: Buon Giorno, Principessa! 
4 Chilli Peppers

2 Comments

Fighting Compulsions

20/2/2019

2 Comments

 
I have been listening to a really interesting audio book all about habits, it discusses why we have them, how they are formed and how we can create new and better ones. Obviously I am really interested in the topic of habit and had just recently blogged about good and bad habits on Spicywatch, so it seemed like a wild and also pleasant coincidence when this book popped up on my audio book recommended list free of charge! Bonus! So it was with much eagerness that I started listening to it and then ended up bingeing the whole book over the past four days and although some of the information wasn't exactly a revelation to me, some of it was downright fascinating. 
The most interesting thing that I discovered about habits was how you can easily create new ones. Well, I must admit that when I say easily I say it quite loosely, because creating new habits is actually far from easy when you really get down to the brass tacks of it. According to research, the theory of it only taking around 21 days to create a new habit is absolute horseshit. It actually takes an average of 66 days to create a new habit, and that's the average so some people can require 100's of days to form a new habit, so it's safe to say that my theory of change taking substantial time is actually factual, so I was always right about that. 
However, what I did find fascinating was the fact that managing our compulsions for instant gratification was a major factor in the success of our new habit creations. Basically, if you can focus on the long term benefits and not the short term gratification, then you are more likely to create good habits that will set you up for a better life. How do I know this? Well, a Harvard study was done on 1,000 four year old children in the 1970's where they gave each child one marshmallow and told them that they could eat it right away. However, the children were also told that if they could leave the marshmallow alone and wait whilst the tester left the room, then when the tester returned they could have two marshmallows.  These children were all middle class children without any known external factors or diagnosis that may affect results; and their results were recorded.
The children were called back 40 years later as adults approaching their mid-life, and questioned about their lifestyles. All of the adults that had eaten the first marshmallow as a child and sought instant gratification had lower incomes, less employment opportunities due to  their lower academic performance and had in many cases suffered from more marital and parenting problems and had a higher percentage of issues around substance abuse and alcoholism than the group that had waited for their second marshmallow as kids. 
So what does all of this mean? That if you eat the marshmallow at four then you're doomed to a life of less? No, of course it doesn't! It means that if you know that you are an instant gratification kind of a person, then you will need to work a lot harder to maintain good habits and also conscientiously teach yourself to modify your impulses and focus on the long term greater good. Which basically means that YOLO isn't going to cut it if you want to get the best out of your life. 
The good news is that no-one is a hopeless case and that anyone can make their lives better and adopt better habits. The secret is that by making bad habits harder to get to and good habits more rewarding, you can trick your brain into wanting to do more of the good stuff. For example, if what you want to achieve is more exercise then only let yourself watch your favourite show or listen to your really exciting novel or podcast when you are exercising. Or, if you want to stop drinking as much wine in the evening then make it harder to access by not having it the house ready to go, or putting in shitty tasks that you have to do to get that wine like doing two loads of laundry or picking up dog shit in the yard first and you will soon associate the wine with crappy feelings. Sounds pretty simple, but it's not because remember that you need to do it for around 66 days or more before your brain kicks into gear and accepts it as a new habit or lifestyle change.
So, yeah, it isn't really easy to make awesome or new habits, but the really great news is that it is never impossible. According to the habit book, you are literally never too old to create new and better habits in your life, so my best advice is to commit to a long term good habit and then just get a hustle on for goodness sake! There is no better time than right now!
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AMERICAN HUSTLE
Release Date: 2013
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 138 mins

Directed by David Russell, this 70's crime romp based on an actual FBI undercover investigation, is a magnificent mix of madness, comedy and deception. Rife with flamboyantly dressed criminals and speckled with fabulous '70's hits, this movie is a winner from start to end, mostly due to the faultless delivery of its strong and capable cast.
Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his seductive scamming partner (Amy Adams) are forced to assist an arrogant FBI agent (Bradley Cooper) with his plans to expose a group of New Jersey power-brokers and the mafia through the corrupt connections of Mayor Carmine Polito (Jeremy Renner). 
Basically it's con-artists, criminals and Feds uncomfortably rubbing shoulders, and it's not a pretty sight. Bale, Renner and Cooper have fully committed to their hideously funny roles and Adams and Lawrence are bringing their best in every respect. This may be the most fun that I have had with a crime drama in a very long time, it's unmissable. 
FINAL SAY: You're nothing to me until you're everything. 
4.5 Chilli Peppers 
​

2 Comments

I Want to See More of You

17/2/2019

4 Comments

 
There are some actors that I just can't get enough of. Every time that I see them in a trailer for an upcoming movie I get really excited because I am enthralled by their talent, dedication, diversity and onscreen presence. Some actors just can't put a foot wrong in my mind, they always give 100% and they never seem to be cast in crappy pointless movies, but sometimes I wonder if it is just their presence that makes a movie a winner for me.
I believe that on some occasions that certainly may have been true, particularly if I am only interested in the actor from a pervy perspective. Hey, don't judge me, I am human, I know a super hot actor when I see one, but the super hot actors (Michael Fassbender you know that I am talking about you!) aren't always in great movies, in fact they are often cast in pretty shitty movies quite a lot. I almost walked out of Assassin's Creed (almost) and if Fassbender hadn't been shirtless for 70% of that film, I definitely would've left!
However, I digress, what I am trying to say is that the actors that really have me riveted to my seat during a film are actually not the 'hot' ones, they are the ones that have the most stage presence. The actors that I feel an emotional connection to when they are on screen are the actors that I want to see more of, and there are quite a few of them that I just can't get enough of.
Here is my list of the top ten best actors (that I just can't get enough of) who are still on screen at the moment. 
1. Michael Shannon: He always plays such a nasty bad guy and  such a sweet good guy, I just love his intensity so much. 
First love moment: the good advice older brother in Mud. 
Favourite Shannon role: the creepy weirdo in Bug.
2. Kate Winslet: She is a gorgeous creature and a super talent. I adore her British accent and her advocacy of 'less photoshop more realism' for famous women. 
First love moment: Hugging a deshevilled and red dress clad Harvey Keitel in the back of a ute in Holy Smoke.
Favorite Winslet role: Her confused gorgeousness in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. 
3. Mahershala Ali: I can not look away when this man is on screen, he just demands attention and I am happy to give it to him.
First love moment: The unlikely drug dealing father figure in Moonlight. 
Favourite Ali  role: The uptight pianist in Green Book. 
4. Olivia Colman: I loved her way back when she was Sophie in Peep Show, and she has just gone from strength to strength since then. 
First love moment: The achingly damaged charity shop worker in Tyrannosaur.
Favourite Colman role: The clueless queen in The Favourite. 
5. Sarah Paulson: Paulson is easily the one of the best things about AHS and one of the reasons that I am so hooked on the series. I adore her beauty and her unwavering commitment to non-conformity and self empowerment for women.
First love moment: Tortured and enduring wife of Fassbender in 12 Years a Slave. 
Favourite Paulson role: Gorgeous ex-love of Mark Duplass in Blue Jay.
6. Timothee Chalamet: Okay, I admit he is young and gorgeous, but he is also extremely talented and he has so much range for such a young actor. That chiselled face, I cannot look away and I don't want to!
First love moment: His first love summer in Call Me By Your Name. 
Favourite Chalamet role: His heartbreaking drug addicted arse in Beautiful Boy. 
7. Sam Rockwell: So much swag and talent in such a small guy. He is insidious, he is in absolutely everything and does all genres well; he is always terrific. 
First love moment: His solo space-capades in Moon.
Favourite Rockwell role: The racist, angry and volatile cop in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.
8. Octavia Spencer: Charming, this women is so damn charming and her smile makes me feel so happy. She is super talent and an inspiration to plus sized women everywhere. 
First love moment: 'Eat my Shit' Minny in The Help. 
Favourite Spencer role: Brilliant African American NASA lady in Hidden Figures.
9. Amy Adams: Why is this woman not drowning in accolades? She is clearly one of the best actresses of her generation, she can do no wrong in mind. 
First love moment: Gorgeous double crossing grifter in American Hustle.
Favourite Adams role: Alien conversationalist in Arrival.
10. Paul Dano: Recently blew my mind in Escape at Dannemora, Dano always brings something memorable and noteworthy to the screen. 
First love moment: Dealing with Daniel Day Lewis' milkshake rant in There Will be Blood. 
Favourite Dano role: Love inventor in Ruby Sparks. 

Who are your favourite actors? Leave your comments below, I'd love to know who you love to watch. 
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99 HOMES
Release Date: 2014
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 112 mins

It is so unsettling to watch people being forcibly removed from their homes when the bank decides to foreclose. This bold movie from Ramin Bahrani doesn't sugar coat the realities of tying yourself to a home loan during a boom period, only to suffer the consequences when the market nose dives again. It is the reality of this movie that it makes it so harrowing and difficult to watch, but also so deeply poignant. 
Unemployed and down on his luck tradie Dennis Nash (Andrew Garfield) is evicted from his family home along with his son and mother (Laura Dern). Ruthless real estate broker Rick Carver (Michael Shannon) offers Nash a job after he repossesses his home, and gives him the chance to gain his family home back, but the stakes are high. 
Tremendously well cast, this movie is passionately delivered. Michael Shannon never falls short on a script and has rapidly become one of my favourite actors, and it is easy to see why with films like this. 
FINAL SAY: America doesn't bail out losers. 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

4 Comments

Reaching Greater Heights

13/2/2019

2 Comments

 
Only a few short years ago I recall writing on this blog with great anxiety about my daughter Zoe leaving home to go to University. I was a total mess at the time; a mess of worry and a mess of emotions. I was filled with a strange and unsettling mixture of pride, melancholia and knee-trembling fear that I haven't really come up against since then. I suppose that letting your children leave home to find their own place in the world really does have it's own unique set of emotions. A set of emotions that can't completely be defined or replicated, and equally cannot be forgotten either.  
I recall that one of my blog entries at that time was entitled But I don't want you to go.... and it was filled with my deep concerns and neurotic carry on about how Zoe could ever cope without me, and also what my life would look like without her around 24/7. I know that at that point in my life I just could not imagine what it would feel like or look like to not have Zoe there all of the time, it was such a foreign idea to me; an idea that I didn't really want to entertain.
​And now here I am, preparing to see Zoe graduate from University tomorrow and wondering what it was that I was so worried about when she left home a few years ago and about how my life and hers, turned out to be just fine, in fact better than fine, pretty damn great! And there is something really comforting about that. You see, I now have the knowledge that in spite of our greatest fears and anxieties we can adjust, we can move forward and we can achieve marvellous things as well. 
Tomorrow Zoe will take to the stage in her gown and tassel mortar-board and she will become a University graduate, the first University graduate in our family and we just couldn't be more proud of her. And she did it on her own, in a new town without us beside her to bolster the waves and lead the way, she did it all on her own. Now I could say that it was because we are such epic parents that she could manage all of this, but I honestly can't take the credit for all of her hard work. This one is Zoe's and Zoe's alone, she did it and she did it so well that she's been invited back to complete her honours as well. Woohoo - you go girl!
This whole experience has not only made Zoe grow up and learn about life, but it has also made Craig and I grow up and learn about life as well. We've changed a lot over the last few years that Zoe has left our home, and we have had a glimpse at what life looks like when you have less chicks in the nest to tend to as well. And you know what? We survived and we thrived, and we are all still close and we all enjoy each others company. I also now know for sure that just because your chicks fly the coop, that doesn't mean that they won't come back to roost for a spell every now and then, and that they aren't still your chicks in every way. 
Letting them fly is difficult because you're so damn worried that they will fall without you, but I cannot tell how incredibly good it feels when they don't fall at all, but when they actually soar to greater heights than you could ever reach yourself. Words just cannot describe it and nothing I write will ever do it justice, so I am not even going to try, but I'm pretty sure that you get the idea. 
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WADJDA
Release Date: 2012
Rating: PG
Running Time: 98 mins
This is the first feature length movie that has been shot entirely in Saudi Arabia, and the first feature length film to have ever been made by a female Saudi director - Haifaa al-Mansour. Wadjda won numerous awards at international film festivals and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 86th Academy Awards and the BAFTA Awards. 
The story revolves around Wadjda, an 11 year old Saudi girl who dreams of owning her own bicycle. But riding bikes is frowned upon for girls, and her mother is constantly distracted by her husband who is planning to take a second wife, so Wadjda plans to win the money for herself by competing in a Quran recital competition. 
This is a beautiful story about the power of the human spirit. Through the eyes of the director we also get small glimpses of the everyday hardships that the women in Saudi Arabia face on a day to day basis; presented in a matter of fact and non judgmental way that works incredibly well. 
If only there were more determined girls like Wadjda in Saudi Arabia then maybe there would be more freedoms and less limitations for the women, and this movie beautifully illustrates how something as simple as a bicycle can be so empowering. 
FINAL SAY: I will get a bike, and then I will beat you in a race. 
3 Chilli Peppers

2 Comments

Food Glorious Food

10/2/2019

4 Comments

 
This week I was fortunate enough to go to Underbar restaurant in Ballarat for dinner. For those of you that haven't heard of Underbar yet, please allow me to explain it to you. According to their website, Underbar (pronounced oon-de-bar) is a Swedish adjective that means delectable, divine, gorgeous, lovely, marvelous and wonderful; which is a pretty good description of how amazing this place actually is. With only 12 seats in the restaurant and only one Friday or Saturday evening dining opportunity, this place is not easy to get a table at, but the wait to get one is totally worth it. 
Zoe and I, with the help of two of my dearest friends, indulged in the inspired chef's seasonal tasting menu with accompanying wines on Friday night; which allowed us to share in four hours of delicious eating, indulgent drinking and cosy conversation to kick off our weekend and celebrate Zoe's upcoming graduation on Thursday next week. 
It's pretty hard to describe the food that you eat at Underbar, and you could never really say that going to Underbar is 'going out for dinner' because it is really more of a culinary experience than a dinner. In saying that however, don't think that you are not going to be fed enough at because nothing could be further from the truth. You are doing nothing but eating and drinking on and off for the duration and by the end of the evening you are bursting at the seams and completely satisfied and content. Let's just say that you need to be in it for the food to go to Underbar. I slept like a baby after we got home, and slept in for the first time in an age on Saturday morning as well. Talk about ultimate contentment! 
10 courses of deliciousness were enjoyed in total. Beginning with nibbles, we then headed into appetisers, meandered through two entrees, delighted in three mains and then rounded it all out with two desserts and finished with delicate liquored jelly sweets; the courses just kept coming and coming and nothing disappointed. Chef Derek Boath clearly has a passion for good food and local produce and it is such a rare privilege to be able to observe a dedicated chef busily at work in the kitchen, giving your dishes his personal and intense attention to detail with lavish flourishes and impressive creativity. 
I tried new foods, I 'oohed and ahhed' at the incredible presentation of the dishes and I ate like a queen for a day. I cannot recommend the entire experience enough. If you haven't looked into a seat at Underbar yet, you really should. This restaurant is a bucket list experience that everyone should do at least once in their lifetime. Yes, it is pricey, but it is also worth it and I think that it was excellent value for money, Underbar is definitely a dining experience that you will never forget. 
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CHEF
Release Date: 2014
Rating: M
Running Time: 115 mins 

Feel good movie of the year in 2014, this is a crowd pleaser. Having seen it with four other women, not one of them didn't think that it was charming. The Cuban soundtrack is very seductive and adds to the fun element of the movie, it's almost impossible to not tap your foot and hum along. The story revolves around Chef Casper  (Jon Favreau) a 5 star chef who has lost his mojo and his credibility following a scathing review. In an effort to get some passion back into his life his ex-wife (Sofia Vergara) encourages him to open a food van and cook from his heart, making simple but unbeatable Cuban food. With the help of his best friend (John Leguizamo) and son (darling newcomer Emjay Anthony)  he takes his van on the ultimate foodie road trip across the USA. 
An amazing all star cast flesh out all of the bit roles including Robert Downey Jr, Scarlett Johansson and Dustin Hoffman, making this latest offering from John Favreau a delicious treat indeed. 
FINAL SAY:​ Food Porn! 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

4 Comments

The Habits of Happy People

6/2/2019

0 Comments

 
In my last blog entry I was discussing the need to cull some bad habits out of your life to make room for the 'good' ones. And what I need to be clear about is what I actually mean by 'good' habits. Well, when I say 'good' habits, basically what I am talking about are the things that you can incorporate into your daily life that will make your life happier and more fulfilled. Now I do know that that is going to look different for a lot of people, because one person's idea of happiness and fulfillment may be a bottle of wine every night after work, which is fine, but it's hardly a 'good' habit is it? What I am talking about are really good habits, things that you can incorporate into your life right now that will make you feel better, look better and just generally help you to get more bang for your buck when it comes making the most of your time and increasing your overall enjoyment levels on a daily basis. 
Try not to think of my tips as definitive, but more advisory. I honestly do try my best to actually do these things myself, so I am not coming to you lightly when I say that these things work, however I am also not going to lie you and so therefore must admit that sometimes (regardless of how well I manage my time) that I just cannot always fit everything in all of the time.
However, these things are hugely beneficial and are genuinely part of my personal wellbeing regimen, and even if you can only adopt one or two of them, I guarantee that you'll notice a difference to the quality of your life as well. 
GETTING PRODUCTIVE:
  • Get up early - before 6am. 
  • Stack the dishwasher or wash the dishes as you use them.
  • Don't leave all of your laundry to the weekend, do a load every other day. 
  • If it will only take 10 minutes to do, then do it immediately. 
  • Turn off your phone and electronic devices by 9.30pm.
  • ​Clean out your wardrobe every 6 months and donate to charity shops.
  • Have a household budget that you stick to and have a seperate savings account for special events, holidays or incidentals. 
  • Listen to people closely so that you don't need do-overs. 
  • Leave work at work, your free time is yours. 
LOOKING BETTER:
  • Eat breakfast.
  • Don't smoke.
  • Don't binge drink.
  • Take off your make-up and brush and floss your teeth every night before bed  - no matter what!
  • Learn how to dry body brush and do it twice a week.
  • Drink more water. 
  • Go for a 30 minute (or longer) walk every day.
FEELING BETTER:
  • Meditate (or at least tune out completely) for 20 minutes a day.
  • Take up a daily yoga class on Youtube (it's free and you can do it in your PJ's at 6am!).
  • Get a professional massage at least twice a year.
  • Take a daily probiotic. 
  • Pet and play with your cat or dog everyday. 
  • Read for at least 15 minutes a day - even if it's just a magazine. 
BECAUSE IT'S AWESOME TO DO:
  • Meet up with friends for dinner and/or a movie once a fortnight.
  • Keep a personal journal - you'll be astonished by how much you'll learn about yourself over 12 months. 
  • Cook your own meals.
  • Plant a vegetable garden and eat your own produce. 
  • Listen to music and make playlists of your favourite songs. 
  • Find your signature scent and only wear it on the weekends. 
  • Laugh -  at the world and at yourself, don't take anything too seriously. 
  • Plan regular escapes from your everyday routines -  these don't need to be big or extravagant. 
  • Call your parents regularly. 
  • Have integrity, stay good to your word and be reliable. 
  • Listen to Podcasts and audiobooks when you're on the go. 
  • Incorporate hugge into your home. 
  • Learn to accept your body and who you are.
  • Be thankful, your life is terrific and being grateful will keep you smiling and on your A game. 
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EASY A
Release Date: 2010
Rating: M
Running Time: 92 mins 
This movie really surprised me, I wasn't expecting anything from it, and then it came out of left field and proved to be a funny, intelligent and enjoyable watch. The screenplay was partially inspired by the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and was met with mostly positive reviews upon its release. 
Olive (Emma Stone) is a tame teenager with a good reputation, however, she succumbs to peer pressure when she is asked about her weekend by a popular and outgoing friend. Olive feels the need to embellish the truth and pretend that she lost her virginity. Soon rumors are spreading around the school like wildfire that Olive is promiscuous, so Olive decides to use the school's rumor mill to her advantage. 
This is easy to watch and entertaining, Emma Stone has a genuine likability that translates so well on screen and she is fabulous as the gutsy and clever teen Olive. Hardly a revelation, but Easy A is a worthy use of an hour and half of your time. 
FINAL SAY: The rumors of my promiscuity have been greatly exaggerated. 
3 Chilli Peppers

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Cull the Bad Habits

3/2/2019

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As you get older you realise that the only way to maintain all of the important things in your life and make the most of the time that you have, is to create good habits. Creating good habits takes time and energy, and sometimes money as well depending on what you are wanting to achieve, but if it is a better life that you are seeking, then good habits are what you need to cultivate. However, in order to make room for these good habits, you have to cull some bad habits first. You have to cleanse your life of that which no longer serves you. So let's take a look at what I believe are the top five bad habits that many people have that are holding them back from living better and happier lives. 
1. Wasting Money
Our society is designed to rob you of your hard earned money, don't let that happen. Do not let yourself waste money and time buying things that you don't need or replacing things that you already have that still meet your needs. You do not really need the latest phone, pair of shoes or gym membership to a gym that you have no intention of going to. Make wise choices with your money, consider the options before you purchase anything and always ask yourself 'do I really need this?' before you tap that card. Treat your earnings with respect, you give up a lot of your personal time for them. 
2. Complaining
No one ever became a better person because they could find problems or point out the shit they don't like. Whinging is petty, dull and non-productive. Try to look for solutions to problems and always try to find the positive in everything you encounter, you will not only be more likeable, you'll also waste less time. 
3. People Pleasing
Everyone wants to feel loved and appreciated, but let's be honest, it is impossible to make everyone happy all of the time. So forget what everyone else expects or wants from you and focus on what you want to gain out of life. If spending time with certain people makes you feel ill, then just don't do it. If your boss is killing you with unreasonable demands, then tell them so. Putting personal boundaries in place will not only save you a lot of time and anxiety, but it will more than likely also gain you respect from others. Generally, people do prefer it when others are up front and honest about where their limitations sit and what they will and won't tolerate, so be transparent and don't worry about the haters. 
4. Wasting Time
So many people are shithouse at time management. If procrastination, disorganisation and over sleeping are wasting your life away then you need to get that shit sorted ASAP! Learn to be disciplined about how you spend your time and how much time you will allow yourself to waste doing mundane and unproductive things like checking social media, watching TV or surfing the internet. Leave work at work and focus efficient systems and earlier morning alarms to get the most out your time. 
5. Eating Poorly
Skipping breakfast, eating on the run and settling on toast for dinner is no way to treat your body. Your body has to last you a very long time, and if you continue to stick insufficient and low value crap into it, it is going to fail you. Three nutritionally balanced meals a day are vital to your overall well being, and you deserve nothing short of that. Where you can, eat communally because shared meals create conversation which is also great for you and try to prepare most of your food yourself. Shop for your own food, care about the quality of the food that you eat and find out where it has come from and where it was sourced. Food and water are a privilege and you should value them highly and respect your body by feeding it regularly with quality products, in turn your body will thank you by looking better, being stronger and giving you more energy to exercise and soldier on if you do happen to fall ill. 

Okay so, in my mind those are the top 5 nasty habits that hold people back from having more good habits and rituals in their lives. If you can get those 5 bad habits sorted out then you can incorporate more of the good stuff into your life and begin to live a more abundant and fulfilling lifestyle. But more on that next time.....
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SIN CITY 
Release Date: 2005
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 124 mins
If you like neo-noir action thrillers than this movie is for you. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, Quentin Tarantino and Frank Miller, and based on Frank Miller's graphic novel series Sin City, this is a rich and beautifully realised depiction of an American city called Basin City that's teaming with gun-toting sexy broads, boozy renegades and gutsy mercenaries.  Shot with a unique colour processing fashion which renders most of the film in black and white, apart from some select items that are starkly retained to full colour to add a pop of contrast and effect. This effect was greatly received by critics and landed Sin City a Technical Grand Prize at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival for it's visual shaping. 
The story follows three interweaving story lines. One story focuses on a muscular tough guy searching for the person responsible for killing his beloved Goldie. Another story tells a tale about a man that is fed up with the corrupt law enforcement in the city and decides to take matters into his own hands, and another story focuses on a cop that is willing to risk his life to protect a girl from a deformed pedophile. 
The cast is slick and stellar, including Bruce Willis, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba and Benicio Del Toro, to name but a few, but it was Mickey Rourke's portrayal of bullet proof Marv that stole all the limelight here, a role that clearly resurrected his career from the ashes. 
This is not like anything I have seen before, it's grimy and nasty and yet so intensely beautiful at the same time. The second instalment  released in 2014, Sin City - A Dame to Kill For  just couldn't maintain the brilliance of the first, skip it and just enjoy the first one for of its visual pleasures and disturbing behaviours. 
FINAL SAY: The most beautifully stylized graphic novel ever. 
3.5 Chilli Peppers

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