Sail Away

** It's okay to take time for yourself...sometimes you just need to go with the flow & sail away...

August: Osage County

What a terribly remarkable movie! In all it’s squalid splendor! Written by Tracy Letts and Directed by John Wells, this 2013 Drama starring great veterans like: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney, Sam Shepard, Scottish Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Julianne Nicholson, Juliette Lewis, Benedict, Margo Martindale and child star grown up Abigail Breslin.

This story may be like many stories of dysfunctional families, but as we know there are many secrets withheld, surprises found out, and misery ensued within most family structures. This film just amps up the chaos and demonstrates incredibly magnificent acting chops, scenarios and ghastly secrets. As ugly as the situations were, I found myself glued with attention to all the family tragedies and tensions which made for a momentous ride.

With a budget of $25 million USD, they managed to rake in $37 million USD at the box office  as well as 9 wins, 2 Oscar nominations and 44 other award nominations. Meryl’s performance was a force to be reckoned with and she reminded me very much of an Elizabeth Taylor in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolfe’. Enjoy it once or many times over. ‘Journey with Jair’ recommended! 

Keep the Laughs

**Remember you are exactly where you're supposed to be in this moment in time - take it easy, keep it cool and don't forget to LAUGH! :))

Fear Not

I’ve been greeted by a specific type of people lately; simply put - our youthful generation. And I’ve realized even though I’m hugely part of this generation I feel most times that I’m different or don’t fit in too well at all. It is evident that our people nowadays are living in great fear. I don’t speak of the Boo!-Halloween-Scary movies-type fear but instead fear of Success, fear of Traditions, fear of Not measuring up, fear of God, fear of Truth, fear of Faith, fear of Friendship, fear of Romance, fear about just about everything! And as to not deal with things they’re fearful about they try to forget it all and pretend it’s not there or it doesn’t exist. 

Sure we’re evolving as a human race, but sometimes I feel that fear takes grip of the majority of our race because we’re afraid of embracing our imperfections in order to make them better. Fear kills our minds and our hopes, and it makes it hard for us to see where we ought to be going. Our hearts are shut off - it can’t grow, because we are afraid of exposing it to life! 

Life isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t seem fair - but your journey is yours alone. Special and specific to you - embrace that. Rise above the odds and don’t give up.The storms won’t stop coming, so you can choose to be swept away and afraid, or fight the anger of the heavy winds even if you’re in your most tender moments - we must not be intimidated with tragedy or hell, instead we must trust that our story isn’t over yet! It’s not our turn yet, but it’ll soon come. What have we got to lose?

Our generation believes that because things didn’t work out for some people that it’s why they should run away from traditions and rebel. Tradition is a map, a guide that helps us along our journey; just because someone before you got lost doesn’t mean you will too! Our present is always a slight variation of the past so why not withhold some guidance and tools for when the times get rough. We are never alone, people before us experienced the same wants, hurts, highs and lows so why live in fear when you can adopt traditions that will give you strength when you need it most?

Of course we will be lost without it, afraid without it because we try to forget what preceded us - about the everlasting love, joy and guidance from our heavenly source. We mustn’t let the fire die, it’s the only way for us to light the way. Fear is a long road where we stumble in darkness; there are no secrets - there is nothing to fear - we all journey through this jungle in life. Times change, but our problems remain the same - it’s virtues and values that have always been repeated to wake us up from our nightmares.

We value virtue although we don’t speak about it. We think it’s too hard, it’s scary because we might fail, but would you rather speak about the cheats, the wicked, or the whores? The way of a soul without fear is one that aspires to tradition and virtue, this can bring you great happiness because you are working towards something you know worked for others; others who had the experience. Living in fear is living in constant misery. Day in and day out…”I got it under control…” But do you really? Sorry to break it to you darlings, but you really aren’t…as the saying goes - “Patience isn’t a virtue, it’s an achievement!”

The Mind

**It's good to unplug, turn-off and rest sometimes...:))

Saving Mr Banks

Also another favourite at the Oscars this year and also another tear-jerker - this 2013 biography-comedy-drama starring English Emma Thompson, American Tom Hanks, Irish Colin Farrell, American Paul Giamatti and American B.J. Novak to name a few was a movie that will change your view on Mary Poppins.  Writers Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith delved into the life of author P.L. Travers before her beloved book became a best-seller and also into the bizarre relationship she had with Walt Disney before her book became a bona-fide film. 

I’m not quite sure how much of this film is true but it gave viewers an inside look of P.L Traver’s idiosyncrasies’’ as well as why the story ‘Mary Poppins’ may have been her most passionate work. Emma Thompson wraps her heart and soul into this character splendidly. And gives us a hilarious look into the current and past perceptions of her mind. I was also taken aback by the phenomenal acting chops of usual bad-boy actor Colin Farrell on his remarkable transition into a loving but troubled father. Paul Giamatti also struck a chord with me - melding and committing to his role that was everything more than supporting but something much bigger.

Directed by John Lee Hancock (The Blind Side, Snow White and the Huntsman) this film was remarkably shot, casted, executed with a run-time of 125 minutes, 11 wins 56 other nominations and with an estimated budget of $35 million USD grossed an immense $83 million USD at the box-office. Viewers are reminded that family is really the most important relationships of all. 

Nebraska

Nominated for 6 Oscars that year and another 34 wins and 105 nominations this 2013 adventure-drama written by Bob Nelson and directed by Alexander Payne made me laugh out loud at many moments but also easily become teary-eyed. This film starring Bruce Dern who plays ‘Woody’ and Will Forte who plays his son ‘David’ had wonderful chemistry and shared deep believability with the characters they married with. I wasn’t particularly drawn to this film but always studying film and it’s life characters - one would have to take time especially to focus and learn from those which win awards - which by most standards means that it touched viewer’s hearts.

With a run-time of 115 minutes, a quadruple worth of profit at the box-office and a heap of awards and nominations - it’s safe to say that this simple road-trip from Billings, Montana to Lincoln, Nebraska wasn’t just an ordinary trip but instead an extraordinary one that changed the lives of all the characters involved. The acting is VERY good in this film and although slow and shot in black and white there is great comic timing and a magnificent visual style portrayed in the camera-work used.

I think the film speaks depths into the confusion that happens with the elderly as well as a lesson in strengthening, trusting and protecting your family even if they happen to be over 60 or 70 years old. It’s a film unique to a specific place in America however one the audience can relate to in families found everywhere. I absolutely loved it!

Lucy

So there’ve been 101 reviews and rumors about French Luc Besson’s new film ‘Lucy’ starring brilliant American bomb-shell Scarlett Johansson. Many of which seem harsh, and some of which is certainly true. Tis' true also that there have been similar concepts already expressed in film - like 'Limitless' and 'Inception' but what if a story delves a bit deeper. Here’s my two-cents on this 2014 fantasy-action-sci-fi film.

Written and directed by the infamous scuba-diver instructor turned writer/director Luc Besson (Fifth Element, Colombiana, The Big Blue) and one of my favourite French directors brings to us his newest piece of work ‘Lucy’ - with an estimated budget of $40 million USD in just one month he grossed a whopping $117 million USD and the film is still in theaters worldwide. With a run-time of 89 minutes this modern-day story takes place in a number of places including France and Taiwan. Expertly executed and backed by loads of research (it took Besson 10 years of it) the audience goes on a thrilling ride into the minds of the human-being and what indeed it is capable of. 

There was talk of Angelina-Jolie to play the lead in this film, whom I admire and think would execute believably also - I do believe Scarlett did a great job at bringing this ‘Lucy’ character to life. In fact I enjoyed watching her transition from a dopey, simple party-girl into an alluring and mysterious entity. Morgan Freeman joined in on the action as well as international superstar of Asia Min-sik Choi who plays our film’s villain ‘Mr. Jang’. I felt that this idea was a wonderful one and viewers not only were able to enjoy the ride but had their brains tickled as well - asking that fine question - “Who are you and why are you here?”

Wonderful cinematography, CGI, pacing, and soundtrack with few disturbances in regards to better execution of this wonderful idea. That is, the one line, “I know who everybody is”, line, having co-stars unable to see what ‘Lucy’ sees as she’s more advanced than they are, as well as making Scarlett a more believable character if she would perhaps fluently speak some of different languages in the places she visited. 

All in all - a wonderfully wicked addition on Besson’s part! Enjoy the ride & Open your minds!