Tag: Movies

Lion, the movie I’m recommending

~ Spence's Girl ~ 4 Comments

Recently my lifetime BFF and I did a girl’s day out including a movie that I knew little about.  I’d only caught a few minutes of the Golden Globes (including Meryl Streep’s speech – awesome) and saw Dev Patel introducing the clip of his movie “Lion” up for Best Movie.  I remember thinking how I loved him in “Slumdog Millionaire” and was intrigued by this new movie.  So when my wise BFF suggested this film, I was in.

Accidentally separated from his family as a child, Saroo Brierley returns to India 25 years later to find them. (IMDb)

The movie based on an incredible true story, is both riveting and heartbreaking, the acting superb. The audience seemed enthralled; as the credits rolled no one moved to leave. It was overwhelming in the best possible way and an unforgettable story of love, loss and family.  If you haven’t seen it, I encourage you to do so.

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Worth Watching

~ Spence's Girl ~ 3 Comments

I haven’t posted recommendations of movies in quite awhile. Spence and I frequently come away from the video store discouraged by the few good films being made and end up binge-watching TV shows via Netflix and HBO Now. I believe we aren’t alone. These two movies are well written, cast with truly talented actors and left us feeling entertained and happy for the time spent watching.

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Starring Clint Eastwood, Amy Adams, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman, “Trouble with the Curve” was watched on Father’s Day weekend, apopro with Amy Adams playing Clint Eastwood’s daughter.  The story had humor, family conflict and lots of heart interspersed with baseball.  As Clint Eastwood gets older, he just gets better and the story was one that stayed with us days later.  (2012)

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“Danny Collins” stars Al Pacino in the title role as an aging rock star. With Christopher Plummer as his long-time manager, Jennifer Garner, Annette Bening and Bobby Canavale round out a cast that must have been a director’s dream.  The story was at times funny and touching taking interesting twists that made it unpredictable.  It is a story loosely based on a real-life folk singer, Steve Tilston which you learn when the credits roll adding another depth to the film.  (2015)

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I’m a believer in recommending movies without recapping storylines as I personally hate when people give away too much.  For more info, simply Google these movies. 

Post holiday waking up – holiday movie time

~ Spence's Girl ~ 2 Comments

Snuggling with cats, candles and fireplace ablaze, sipping tea or a glass of Prosecco and watching all movies we own with holiday themes.

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The list we’ve watched starting Christmas Day:

  • The Christmas Story
  • National Lampoon Christmas Vacation
  • Bridget Jones Diary
  • Love Actually
  • While You Were Sleeping
  • When Harry Met Sally
  • Bad(der) Santa
  • The Holiday
  • Rent

What’s your favorite holiday movie? 

  

“Wish You Well”, a book recommendation – UPDATE

~ Spence's Girl ~ 6 Comments

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Since I received a Kindle as a retirement gift, it’s been unusual for me to read a hardcover book, a Kindle is just so……easy! However, Spence doesn’t use a Kindle and is an avid reader with shelves of books decorating our home.

Last week after Spence asked for about the zillionth time “are you ever going to read that Baldacci book, Wish You Well?”  I knew he’d really loved it and decided the time was now.

For those familiar with Baldacci, it’s a very different subject and style from his typical writing – and  likely, his most personal novel. I became hooked very quickly. I don’t believe in giving away the story so I will simply tempt you by saying that it is an endearing tale that is so beautifully crafted both in characters and passages, that it made me “slow down” when reading it. I quite literally savored each moment and didn’t want it to end.

I’m hoping that Hollywood will turn this into a movie…….it would be Oscar worthy.  If you’re looking for a good read, please consider putting this on your list.

UPDATE: Much to my surprise, I found this has been made into a movie, released this year – extremely well done. It stars Ellen Burstyn and Josh Lucas and follows the book beautifully! Read the book first…..

A new toy for the retiree!

~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment
Roku 3500
Roku 3500

So several weeks back, my stepson presented a Roku to my oldest granddaughter as a birthday gift on her 19th birthday.  I quickly took an interest in this as both stepsons are techy guys and I knew they’d give me the low down on what it was and why I should have one.  If there was ever a time in my life to discover this – a streaming stick with hundreds, no probably thousands of movies and TV series that I could stream through a dozen or so sources, this was it.  Not one to shy away from technology (though admittedly I was among the last of my friends and family to learn to text after I realized it wasn’t just a fad), I hopped on Amazon, got out my $50 gift card (Christmas gift) and ordered via my Amazon Prime – incidentally one of those aforementioned streaming sources that I’ve had access to via Prime but was unable to tap into!  Oh joy, oh bliss.  Oh crap!  I couldn’t get it to install on the final step.  The booklet was more of an insert and didn’t talk about error code 011.  After trying to search out the answer online or via their LIVE CHAT channel (68th in line) I just called India (I’m impatient).  I spoke to a nice gentleman who explained that I needed to have my router set to a special security code and my encryption setting needed to be tweaked as well.  “Okay” I thought.  So I called Comcast/Xfininty and was connected to Clayton (coincidentally the name of my first love, but I digress).  Clayton was friggin’ brilliant and within minutes had changed those settings remotely and viola!  I had a working Roku!  Now the choices, the choice were…..infinite.  What to do, what to watch first?

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I started with “Orange is the New Black” and LOVE IT.  Spence and I are retired and in the midst of a cold Michigan winter and with our little pal Roku, have so much to watch.  Put a fire in the fireplace, pour a glass of wine and snuggle with the cats and hunker down as the snow fall.

“Bring me a bottle o’ wine por favor!”

Movies for Foodies

~ Spence's Girl ~ Leave a comment

I LOVE FOOD

Eating, cooking, reading about it . The Food Network is nirvana for me. An enthusiastic reviewer on Trip Advisor, when traveling my journals are full of details on the meals I’ve enjoyed.  I’m always thinking about my next meal. When I see a movie that “feeds” my passion for food, I’m one happy chick. Earlier this year, two stellar food-themed movies premiered, Chef and 100 Foot Journey. They are among the best movies I’ve seen this year.  I’ve added a few older movies, (shown above) that deserve a shout out as entertaining flicks which also feature food prominently.  And even if your life doesn’t revolve around food to the extent mine does, these movies are worth seeing.  Enjoy!