Pound the Alarm

**Yesss WELCOME to the land of CARNIVAL! It’s time to celebrate – Trinidad & Tobago – Pound the Alarm ;))

Blue Valentine

3 Wins and 20 Nominations including an Oscar Nomination gives only a glimpse of the range of magnitude of this 2010 romantic drama. Colorado filmmaker Derek Cianfrance, who writes and directs this film gives us a pretty hard dose of reality in what one modern day love story may be like. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams pair up as a present-day couple who fall for each other but are quickly forced to discover each other despite their issues, faults and mistake that sews them together forever.

With only a budget of 1 million dollars, loads of odd camera angles, and plenty fierce sex scenes, there wasn’t much romance to find in this film at all. Flowers and kisses can only take you so far in the romance class; still I absolutely loved this film; because it gave its viewers true authenticity of some couple’s lives. Sure we can fall in love at first sight, but rarely are two people who are un-whole find wholeness within already crumbling personas.

This film shouts the importance of people getting to truly know and love themselves first despite their dysfunctional pasts and also alerting couples to take a closer look at what they want for their futures and with each other. If you truly love someone then it isn’t that easy to call the relationship quits; but if the other is unwilling to work with you or work on themselves, then it was never meant to be! One must go through joy, tragedy and travel together to know if you work well as a communicative team; they must look directly at their mates actions, verbal and non-verbal – one always can tell if someone truly cares about them; because they treat you as they would themselves with utmost love and respect.

Filled with immense sadness as Gosling who played Dean gave his maximum in the relationship; he was a ‘real’ man despite all the elements that were against him. We always ask why things end the way they do; but no-one gives an answer…

I think if we became silent and paid attention more to those who truly care and are there for us through the rough times and ‘feels’ us here on this spiritual journey – we’d have a much clearer understanding and gracious joy! J

Every Man for Himself

It’s funny how life is; and the paths we take over and over again until we see the trail that we’ve somehow missed before. In life we do not get consistent results and we do not always find things cool to the touch; we are constantly tested so that through our life experiences we will find new truth and re-assuring lessons that will infuse within us abundant joy and eternal gladness.

When you are not free and are riddled with fear, dumbfounded by malevolent words and discouraged by nasty ways; remember that prayers are always powerful. A prayer is not something that needs to be shouted out on the mountain tops or done in some sort of special ritual way. It is, simply, becoming one and having closeness with your creator. Spending time when you feel low or otherwise to just check in and give thanks or ask for guidance. Prayer is a wonderful way to have a personal conversation with the Universe/God. It is by doing this that you are connected to the heavenly truth and comfort and with that truth you become free from the selfish ways of man.

More and more we see our societies being greedy, selfish and spiteful in their words and actions. Instead of uplifting, sharing and loving, we compete, push-away and show off. Since when is it of good character to trample on the dreams of others? Such funny times we live indeed; that we break down and fight against each other instead of being humble and rising together. When they laugh, ridicule you and say they love you but certainly don’t mean it – let them be – don’t listen to their un-kind words – rebuke their slander and fear they try to impose on you and make a decree to do just the opposite; to use your talent and desire for joy; for positive change; for peace; for love; for truth; for glory! For using your treasures in this way is the most fulfilling; the most stimulating to your hearts; and in turn you will be blessed in sound body and mind. J

Be complete; become whole, by plugging in to the beauty of nature, the beauty of the Universal love and joy that only your heavenly creator can activate access to. It is within you, within all of us and prayer is what helps this power to flow. So flow my darlings, and mirror your love and respect for yourself also to your fellow man, we are all on paths, trails and the ultimate journey to truth, understanding, trust and ALL the love you yearn but don’t get enough of on planet earth! J

Bless-up!

Jair J

Complainers

I remember once when I complained about some things about where I lived and my darling friend at the time said, “Well, Jair, if you have all those problems, then you can just move back home!” I found him preposterous at the time; but indeed he was right. As a matter of fact, if you complain about something, then you should do entirely the opposite. Remove yourself from the situation or ‘go back from whence you came’.

I think complaining isn’t the most charming of things; nevertheless it is good to vent or express discomforts or anxiety when they arise. It isn’t wise to keep these emotions or feelings bottled up inside; these stresses when left inside harbor ‘dis-eases’ within the body, causing a number of ailments to occur. Besides complaining we can relieve our stresses of the day, weeks or years by releasing it in clever or artistic ways. We can use subtle approaches like counting to 10, breathing deeply or literally walking away from a situation; these work for some people; for others I would recommend, driving to a faraway field and screaming, playing tennis, squeezing a ball, punching a bag or simply crying.

Besides complaining, I find that we should instead of pointing fingers and criticizing and judging because things aren’t a certain way, that we, according to Gandhi – become the change we wish to see in the world. We curse, we complain, we condemn but we never offer solutions and we never propose a helping hand. How self-seeking we’ve become to think that the world revolves around us only. Sure, this is THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE; but seriously there are other people living in your world; all who believe it’s ‘the story of their life’ also.

Be mindful; think before you speak, reflect before you complain; and don’t ask why is this happening to me? Instead, accept what is brought to you, adapt to the change, and learn from it so that you are better prepared if it should happen again. Easier said than done; I know – but not impossible – for everything is possible with the flow of the Universe/God. Travel with it. Trust it. Share in it. All is as it should be. Give thanks! It could always be worse...J

The Roommate

This 2011 horror, thriller, drama was certainly a treat! I absolutely loved the classic 1992, ‘Single White Female’ and it was wonderful to see the changes and similarities in this modern day twist of a ‘looney’ roommate. Usually I don’t approve of filmmakers remaking classics, as I feel that if something is done right the first time, there’s no need to mess with it; however in this instance it showed other scenarios; the many ‘other’ scenarios that could happen in instances with crazy roommates.

Sonny Malhi and Nick Bylsma did a great job at adapting the original script of ‘Single White Female’ by John Lutz and Don Roos. It was surprisingly entertaining despite its PG13 rating and was filled with many elements of bolting gore as did the first film. Not by any chance did this film surpass the model of ‘Single White Female’; but certainly it was pleasantly predictable with all the right punch lines and jolting excitement! J

Leighton Meester stole the show; with a lovely spectrum of acting abilities and LA Native Minka Kelly whom got her ‘big break’ from ‘Friday Night Lights’ played the adorable ‘normal’ roommate well. Having ‘eye-candy’ Billy Zane whom you may remember from ‘Titanic’, ‘The Scorpion King’, and ‘Back to the Future’ added even more of the pleasure with his smooth operating role as ‘Professor Roberts’.

Typical Los Angeles, fashion designers, and the sweet, new roommate just goes to tell that ‘everything’s a show’, you never know a person, until you really get to know them! J

Don't bite meh

** Lovely Caribbean Calypso classic - Mae Mae by the Mighty Sparrow...
Yuh making me feel so sweet - stop Sparrow stop! :)) **

Slam Dunk

Everyone loves a winner! We love the most beautiful, most successful, most rich, most charming, most philanthropic, most courageous, funniest people. If we said we didn’t, we’d be lying. But the truth is that there will ALWAYS be greater and lesser persons than yourself, and there will always be someone more beautiful, more successful, more charming or more anything than you! We are spiritual beings on a human journey all here to accomplish different wonderful things at different times in our lives. The wonderful thing about life is that not one person possesses all these great things – it is spread about between a multitude of people. We all have charms and faults, strengths and weaknesses and that’s what make people so interesting and special.

In life we prefer to make ‘slam dunks’; which is an American slang derived from the sport of basketball which means, ‘dunking the ball in one try’ or ‘slamming or putting the ball through the net’; which in turn obtains the team points. Just as we love ‘slam dunks’ so too do we love success at one go. Well, life may be like that for basket ballers but for others who don’t play a game or the sport of basketball it has no precedence or importance in the real world.

In the real world success, does not usually come overnight. It takes time, patience, and years of practice. It also takes something called ‘faith’. When we let faith take precedence and importance in our lives, it not only gives us confidence and optimism, it also gives us a healthier and more positive outlook on life. Just as human-beings have strengths and weaknesses, there are also some that will be lost in a life of negativity and jealousy. Life without encouragement, motivation, or love can cause others to become corrupt, lost, sick and bitter – and in turn they unconsciously reject anything or anyone that tries to become better or make them better. It is not their fault – they simply aren’t able to accept or understand.

I find this very common nowadays, as things become more accessible, convenient and technologically advanced, people have become more and more insatiable and expect things faster than ever. They have become a people of instant gratification – and if they don’t get things straight away, they reject, curse and change focus almost automatically . In almost all aspects of life, whether it be personal or business we can see this shift and because of greed, jealousy or wanting to be the one that ‘slam dunks’ or becomes the ‘winner’; they’ll do whatever they have to do to gain their material or power-fix; even if it means hurting their fellow man.

Just as there is closure in life, beginning with birth and ending in death, so too does closure play out in everything else; it works in circles. Once you demonstrate abilities and strong desires to accomplish something, working towards it becomes a reality in our lives. It is necessary to add faith in the mix because it reminds us that all things ARE POSSIBLE with God/Universe; and once we trust that these desires were placed in our hearts for a reason, we realize that there are no blockages, only change of course to lead us on the right path on our journey to success! Faith works and with that positive outlook it will only bring you joy – for what you are promised can never be taken away from you but only teach you sacrifice, suffering but ultimately revealing your highest good – your ‘slam dunk’ – your success! J

We all like closure in life; whether it be closure in a story, closure in a bad relationship, or closure in a dream not yet realized – don’t fret my darlings – once you practice faith, you will obtain understanding and endurance in accepting life as it flows, for we are not born winners, scholars or beauty-queens – we are pruned, practiced and tested before we get reach our goals.

Slam Dunks are lovely indeed, and the more you practice faith, trust and truth, the easier they’ll become – everyday you become one day closer to achieving your hearts’ desires. Everything is going along just as it should – moving in perfect timing, symmetry and revelation – work at what you can – and allow God/Universe to do it’s part. You’ll not only receive a ‘slam dunk’ but beauty, charm, grace and truth! J

Bless-up darlings!

Jair J

The Box

I remember when this film first came out; I didn’t know anything about it, but one of my friends’ raved at how good it might be. He said we definitely had to watch it together and then have a discussion afterwards. It wasn’t the actors we were thrilled at seeing but certainly from the preview; it was the story that had us amped up!

And indeed ‘The Box’ had a magnificent premise; however it was disappointing to see what Director Richard Kelly did with the story. Based on the novel ‘Button Button’ by Richard Matheson and released on 2009; this sci-fi, mystery, drama seemed more mystery and suspense than anything else!

Wide-smiled Cameron Diaz and ‘Superman’ James Marsden I assumed did their best at portraying these dull, indecisive and maladroit characters. Really a wonderful beginning and idea, however the film fell flat on its face! There were too many loose ends and too many instances that left the audience in enormous stupor and bewilderment. Scores of things did not add up; had the writer or director spent more time in research and script development in pre-production, a much healthier, clearer and complete story could have been.

Frank Lagella though who played Arlington Steward did a brilliant job at being the calm villain and his experience and distinction made for a sensationally awful sight! A great attempt, but because of lack of explanation, ‘running noses’, ‘peace signs’ and ‘poor decisions of damnation’ made it considerably laughable towards the middle to the end of the story.


I believe this stories message was to express that, yes, you can do what you want, but if you aren't mindful; you will have to suffer the consequences...

Appel d'amour classique

** En attendre dans la joie, danser, chanter, rire, aimer vous...ma doux-doux! :))

9

It’s not every day that one becomes ‘touched’ by a fine movie; these days it’s far and few between the junk and nonsensical stories without a message of truth and hope. But here comes a story, animated nonetheless that does indeed just that! 

The movie ‘9’ written by Pamela Pettler whom you may remember from such films like ‘The Corpse Bride’, and ‘Monster House’ along with the mastermind behind ‘Lord of the Rings’ Shane Acker, came together to produce a story of heart-warming adventure, of fighting for what you believe in, of bravery, honour and love; a story so expertly put together that many times one could forget that there weren’t ‘real’ human actors playing the parts.

Directed by Shane Acker and soundtrack by Deborah Lurie and Danny Elfman; this film was certainly a marvelous expression of what passionate team-work can produce! Think ‘Jurrasic Park’ meets ‘Wanted’ and you’ll have an idea of the brilliance this 2009 film turned out to be. With a budget of an estimated $33 million and with the voices of Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, and Christopher Plummer, you know that these film smarts made good use of all they had. J

It’s interesting to see how we humans keep making films about a post-apocalyptic future; it boggles my mind, why aren't we learning to love faster and protect and rebuild now our beautiful home – planet earth…

The Passage

When you’re an adventurer and an explorer by nature, it sure is dreary sitting around in a place that’s become foreign for you without a hill to climb, a place to drive to or others to share in on the fun and excitement that’s lurking out there. And when that hits you, or you’ve just come to a screeching halt, you’ve got to do the next best thing; pop in a good ole’ movie! J

2007’s ‘The Passage’ written by English Neil Jackson and directed by English Mark Heller took us on a journey through the beautiful Morrocco. I felt that it was a wonderful attempt and no doubt not the easiest to film abroad however with a few different choices it could have scored them more than one nomination and one win at the Durango Film Festival, their $5 million budget back or even a higher IMDB rating.

I found the story an adventurous one, and certainly felt the thrill throughout the journey as I too could relate on taking chances and going with the flow in a foreign country. It’s not always pretty, but the thrill is high and the adventure is being aware of your surroundings and trusting your instincts; it’s the greatest feeling! Heller managed to wrap the story nicely at the end, explaining to the audience how and why the events unfolded as they did and cleverly used repetition and flash backs to alert the audience that because a country may be crumbly and primitive, it doesn’t make it’s people any less intelligent than their counterparts. It’s all relative and all connected, in this thing called life! J

I feel that despite the budget, the lighting could have been better in the caves instead of huge moments of stark darkness, and even some of the camera work could have been steadier during the cross-country shots. I would have also liked to see some of the photos that were taken throughout the film – in the darkness and otherwise since it was an integral part of who the main character was. I also wished there would be a reason that they revealed that they only had 9 days left in the country. 


I felt that Israeli co-star Sarai Givaty who played Zahra was a pretty face but gave quite a ‘ Blondie’ performance; the fact that she spoke English perfectly and yet found the world ‘picnic’ an enormous mystery, it did not give her character much depth at all. There were several other instances that did not follow through either, but alas that is the character and perhaps not necessarily the actress.

I loved the tracking scene of the main character American Stephen Dorff who played Luke, when he discovered the hidden and decrepit market-place and the dynamic between the 2 friends during their stay in Morocco. I also enjoyed how they kept the mood humble yet majestic, with lovely shots of the mountains, marketplace and Arabic music! J

I'm Ready & Waiting

**Im ready and waiting for you…

Who Moved My Cheese?

Rummaging around in my father’s library I came along many biographies of great men like Mandela, Gandhi, some books on Biology and Chemistry, scores of Stephen King and also many spiritual books. I looked further and in a small crevice was a neat and small book called ‘Who Moved My Cheese?’ it looked like light reading and so I gave it a whirl. J

What a remarkable and uplifting parable-type story about change that can be applied to all aspects of your life, be it business or personal. It spoke about going past your fears and enjoying the adventure of life and explained that change continually occurred, whether one expected it or not. Written by Dr. Spencer Johnson, he used 4 characters with different characteristics and attitudes, called: Sniff (who could smell change early), Scurry (who goes into action), Hem (who resists change) and Haw (who learns to adapt to change). He explained that the fear that we build up in our mind is worse than the situation that actually exists and that we should not take ourselves too seriously and laugh when things don’t go right.

Life isn’t fair; and we aren’t owed anything! Therefore we need to be strong, take it lightly and move with the flow; in other words, adapt quickly instead of feeling sorry for ourselves. Change usually is a good thing.

Some critics have knocked the book a great deal, saying things like it was too simplistic and Johnson made them feel like infants; others felt that it couldn’t be applied to their lives. I disagree strongly and indeed enjoy the fact that it was simply written; because in this way it can easily reach the masses and not only be shared with scholars but also even children, and if we are able to share this treasure from a younger age, then these young minds will be molded with a much brighter and stronger perspective on how they can handsomely adjust with confidence and motivation when change arises as it always does! J

Like ‘The 5 Languages of Love’ it makes for a great book for discussion among family, friends, business and even lovers! J

Coraline

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Director Henry Selick isn’t known for one of his greatest works; in fact many would not even associate his name with the film, ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’; everyone thinks of another great director Tim Burton. But in fact Henry Selick directed Tim Burton’s ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ and he did both write and direct ‘Coraline’.

Always looking for adventure! And who can blame young Coraline who’s frustrated with her new home and old house; who knows how many wonderful and exciting treasures there are to uncover!? Coraline voiced by Dakota Fanning, Wybie voiced by Robert Bailey Jr., and parents of Coraline voiced by Teri Hatcher and John Hodgman was a whirlwind of aesthetic animation; from decrepit and decaying darkness to pristine and jovial images! J A wonderful message of ‘the grass is not always greener on the other side’ and about knowing to be a good judge of character.

Beautiful soundtrack and stimulating from beginning to end, even jolting at some moments; a magical and magnificent journey for the entire family! :)

Couples Retreat

In 2009, this film brought the house down with giggles and laughs by the absurdity and slap-stick comedy; simple story-line with  wonderful yet predictable twists. Writers John Favreau and Vince Vaughn wrote splendidly and relayed their vision to Director Peter Billingsley. Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, John Favreau, prodigy Kali Hawk, crazy-fun Tasha Smith, Cuban Faizon Love, Swedish Malin Akerman were among the names in this cast. I imagine it must not have been too difficult to capture the comic timing between them because the scenes and situations throughout were extremely amusing! J  

There is a tremendous amount of sexual content, so I wouldn’t recommend it for a good-ole’ family fun type night. A beautiful tropical island and equally beautiful cast, some things are bound to ‘go-down’! This film taught us that what may look good on the outside doesn’t mean it’s all good on the inside and that relationships are ultimately about balance, respect and openness – if it just goes along – then take a step back and remember when you used to be spontaneous and free!

A belly-full of laughs and “aww” moments; a little of ‘why-the-hell-am-I-not-on-that-fab-island’ envy syndrome! J

Time of the Season

** Give it to me easy! What's your name? Whose your daddy!! - LoVe this tune! :))

Awakenings

Oh how I adore Robin Williams! His character was just as heart-warming and thought-provoking as usual. Based on a true story by Oliver Sacks, screenplay adapted by Steven Zallian and directed by Penny Marshall, this film was a delightful treat! This 1990 biography drama brought the story that people not only awake from a coma or mental slumbers but also how people can awake in the spirit of love; reviving not only our motor skills but also our hearts. J

Robert De Niro did a marvelous job at capturing an encephalitis and catatonic patient; it scored him a nomination for best supporting actor that year. He was so believable that it gave everyone a new awareness of what he felt. It was tough to watch him on his journey and see the changes that he went through but it gave a clearer perspective and shed light also on the feelings and issues families also suffered during this epidemic in 1969.


It was simply made but filled with comedy, tears and plenty of miracles! Just an all-round feel good movie! :)

CONfidence

What an appropriate title for a movie; for these days more than ever it seems that scams and greed run prevalent. In fact to be selfish enough to take from others without a conscience, one really needs to be ‘confident’ – confident enough to deal with the demons they lie with at night.

This 2003, crime-thriller was action-packed and echoed a similar story-line to 2001’s ‘Ocean Eleven’; the hot seller those days and that my friends equals BIG money! Forget art and entertainment; and see if you also can recognize the vampire trends when it happens! J

Dustin Hoffman, Rachel Weisz, Morris Chestnut, Paul Giamatti, Donal Logue, Luis Guzman, among others were part of the ‘star-studded’ cast. Writer Doug Jung and Director James Foley make wire transfers and off-shore accounts in Belize look easy! No fancy footwork, camera angles, cinematography or action sequences but exciting enough twists to keep the audience interested. It’s always fun to see good actors transform themselves into different characters and succeed at doing so, as in the case of Rachel Weisz who plays smart prostitute Lily and Dustin Hoffman who plays the eccentric crime boss Winston King.

Entertaining enough – especially when everybody drives away in a convertible home-free and millions of dollars richer; but let’s leave the swindling to the movies, because in real-life they’ll catch up with you one way or the other! J

Who You Are

** And you fall and you stumble, and they will curse you and laugh at you and keep breaking you down - but be blind to them - keep your vision on the prize - and the weak will become great * You know who you are - so trust your instincts and stay true to your calling! **

I stare at my reflection in the mirror:
"Why am I doing this to myself?"
Losing my mind on a tiny error,
I nearly left the real me on the shelf.
No, no, no, no, no...

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
(who you are [x11])

Brushing my hair, do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah!
The more I try the less it's working, yeah
'Cause everything inside me screams
No, no, no, no, no...

Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are!

Yes, no's, egos, fake shows, like WHOA!
Just go, and leave me alone!
Real talk, real life, good love, goodnight,
With a smile, that's my home!
That's my home, no...

No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
Yeah yeah yeah

We Need to talk About Kevin

Films, at times can be seen a lot like abstract art – a masterpiece – for those who can relate. Anything, out of the ordinary, no matter what disturbing subject matter if you tickle the critics fancy; well then, the awards are sure to roll in. J

‘We Need to Talk about Kevin’ is probably a film that would never peak my interest but then again as a film-maker and a lover of story-telling one needs to give even the grim and insipid films some time to win you over. This film didn’t win me over but it sure won a lot else – nominated for a Golden Globe with 16 wins and 29 nominations! It goes to show that even if you didn’t make back your $7 million dollars at the box office doesn’t mean you didn’t win the hearts of all who had the stomach to finish watching it.

This 2011, drama, thriller starring the enigmatic Scottish Tilda Swinton and ‘funny-man-gone-straight’ John C. Reilly was written and directed by English film-maker Lynne Ramsay. There was disturbing violence and behaviour, sexuality, coarse language and wild transitions. Deliberately slow in nature and filled with droll characters it took a while to figure out if it was a serious film or not. Once the audience realized that it was really about a psychotic relationship; then it made a bit more sense. I found it hard to relate to because the characters and life situations seemed to be all a dream and then by the middle to the end of the film – I realize that it is simply through Eva’s (played by Swinton) eyes and her point-of-view.

I felt that the story line was filled with potential and that the serious subject matter was cause to really divulge in the drama of the situation - however I felt that they turned the dial down to 2 and felt the characters weren’t as vivacious and passionate to the situation as they should be. I can see though that this film was delicately thought out with incredible amount of time dedicated to even the smallest things; this film had great heart!

Break-out actor 19 year old, Ezra Miller, who’s been on the acting scene since 2008 is sure to have a wonderful future in film. His performance in this movie alone from the spectrum of demented and troubled soul to ball of sunshine all in one take is bloody remarkable! And he holds a calm-coolness and self-assuredness with his characters similar to Johnny Depp and Leonardo Di Caprio.

Probably not my first choice or my last choice; but a masterpiece for those who see it nonetheless! J

Arabian Nights

** We have almost forgotten how strange a thing it is that so huge and powerful and intelligent an animal as a horse should allow another, and far more feeble animal to ride upon its back – Peter Gray

The Devil's Advocate

“Vanity, definitely my favourite sin.”

The intensely talented Al Pacino, the lovable and charming Keanu Reeves, the seductive and chameleon Charlize Theron, and the incredibly gorgeous Dane, Connie Nielsen, all shaken together to produce a film of a lifetime! In 1997 writers, Andrew Neiderman and Jonathon Lemkin’s vision came to pass, by the esteemed direction of Taylor Hackford who is known for his work on ‘Ray’, ‘Proof of Life’ and ‘Dolores Claiborne’.

Expert story-telling from start to finish, the audience was informed every step of the way. Dramatic and mysterious always, this thriller showed us the spectrum of true love and guilds of betrayal. It goes to show that money isn’t everything, that our time here is short and instead of chasing the paper, it is better to learn lessons and advance along spiritually, than be tricked into blood money that never guarantees everlasting happiness.

‘The Devil’s Advocate’ scored 1 win and 5 nominations and it’s easy to see why the cinematography, landscapes and camera angles were bold and breathtaking and the acting superb! I found the dialogue at times terribly wordy, but it is something to be expected knowing that the viewers would be delighted with every word Al Pacino delivered.

Some of my favourites being:

“I’m the hand up Mona Lisa’s skirt. I’m the surprise Kevin. They don’t see me coming: that’s what you’re missing.”

“Guilt is like a bag of f*cking bricks; all ya gotta’ do is set it down!”

“And we’re standing from one deal to the next; who’s got the eye on the planet, as the air thickens, the water sours, and even the bees’ honey takes on the metallic taste of radioactivity? And it just keeps coming, faster and faster. There’s no chance to think, to prepare; it buys futures, sells futures, when there is no future.”

“What are you?”

“Oh, I have so many names.”

“Satan.”

“Call me Dad.”

When you’ve met someone with a bizarre personality, and an equally bizarre gift and they want to give you the world; you may want to think twice about that relationship, it could be Al Pacino or your ‘other’ Dad! Remember that the price of success is hard work, determination and dedication to the job at hand! J

Passion

** Between men and women there is no friendship possible. There is passion, enmity, worship, love, but no friendship. – Oscar Wilde

La dispute

If there’s anything to guarantee besides death in this world is that one is guaranteed to be alone with one’s thoughts. “Yeah babe! It’s just you and me babe; you and those thoughts that roll around in your head!” Everybody’s got some; distinct and significant to the individual. Through my readings, it is said that your thoughts don’t always have to be a bad thing; what we need to do though is differentiate between the good and the not so good; it is also understood that because of continuous circumstances within one’s life specific thoughts would generally bombard the mind.

No rocket science here; but because of our hurdles and stumbles there is no need to accept, retire or be bitter in life. Life goes on! Move along with it darlings. Remember, despite its sham and drudgery, it is still a beautiful world – so be un-afraid to truly live, to truly face the suffering, and to allow yourself to heal! When we hold on to hurt brought on by another it does not amount to any good; it only holds us back from our blessings. Let your low days and moments be the fuel to rise up and continue moving forward with pride, with grace, and with whispers of hope. Let your thoughts be light, let your thoughts be of truth, let your thoughts be all you wish them to be – and smile that indeed one day they will materialize! J

I will leave you with a lovely quote that reminds us that what we witness and abide with in life does not make who we are – but only hark to strengthen our steps and our spirit! J

“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That is the message he is sending.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

So my darlings, learn to forgive your fellow man; for as they say; they know not what they do. They also are on a journey of self-discovery, of truth, and hopefully of resilience! Be that light and pass it on with that unique and radiant elegance – only you know how to carry as you do! J

Bless-up!

Jair J

**Vous manquez de France, vous manquez ma doux-doux!

Double Jeopardy

Another selection by the parents; and not entirely a bad choice; sure it was another Ashley Judd ‘court-type-thriller’ but the action I must admit was pretty ‘on-the-money’; wish the parents would have as much enthusiasm for my film projects also.

Written by David Weisberg and Douglas Cook and directed by Bruce Beresford, this 1999 crime, mystery, thriller scored 1 win and 3 nominations. Although more than predictable Judd did a grand job naturally at portraying the strong and calm ‘don’t-wanna’- mess-with-me-lady’! Triple the action but they didn’t get the stains out! J I loved how the film kept its audience alert and interested every step of the way. Gorgeous landscapes, clear dialogue, and just enough sentimental moments to keep the viewer’s drive going; ‘Double Jeopardy’ not only educated us about the law but also taught us the lengths a woman is supposed to go for her child.

Ashley Judd, Tommy Lee Jones, and Bruce Greenwood, tell us the story that sometimes you don’t always have to play nice! J Especially after you’ve been convicted of murder wrongfully and punished for a crime you did not do.