Happy Valentine's Day

**You're beautiful...EvErYdAy~ Enjoy the lovely Bruno Mars~**

The Talented Mr. Ripley

“If I could just go back…if I could rub everything out… starting with myself.”

One of the many exquisite lines found in this wonderful dramatic 1999 film based on the novel by American Patricia Highsmith and adapted into screenplay and directed by English Anthony Minghella. Nominated for 5 Oscars that year and garnering 11 wins and 53 other nominations its easy to say this story moved quite a number of audiences.

‘Tom Ripley’ our main character and expertly played by American’s sweetheart Matt Damon won the hearts of viewers everywhere despite his collapsing web of lies. Blonde, American siren Gwyneth Paltrow was believable and poised despite extreme circumstances. And English heart-throb Jude Law who played ‘Dickie Greenleaf’ as well as Australian chameleon Cate Blanchett shone as ‘Meredith Logue’. The late Philip Seymour Hoffman also gives a worthy and eeriingly good performance.

Nail-bitingly good and thrilling at all the right moments this $40 million USD budget soared above and beyond everyone’s expectations and made back a cool $81 million USD a couple months later at the box-office. ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley’ was a heart-breaking masterpiece from the story, acting, cinematography and message of being true to yourself; it is a film that will be remembered till the end of time.

‘JourneywithJair Recommended’ - ENJOY! :))

Trinidad & Tobago

Country of my birth and unique all on it’s own, Trinidad & Tobago became independent in 1962. Trinidad coming from the word ‘Trinity’ (3 ships that rediscovered  the islands with Christopher Colombus) and Tobago from ‘Tobacco’ as Tobacco and Cotton were once a form of agriculture there. Two islands, one nation, that were ruled by the French, the Spanish, the Dutch, the Courlanders and the British (last and longest). Between the countries that ruled them and the people that settled there it’s history is rich and its beauty un-mistakable. 

Our first settlers/natives were the tribes of the Caribs and Arawaks, and after the Europeans settled, they brought slaves from Africa, and then the East-Indian Indentured Labourers. Because of the countries’ rich resources like the sugar-cane plantations, cocoa, tobacco, cotton and discovery of oil, Trinidad & Tobago attracted many others like the Chinese, Portuguese and Syrians. To this day, Trinidad & Tobago is known as one of the more affluent Caribbean islands and is known for its rain-forest landscape, and musical and exotic people who have won Nobel Peace Prizes, Miss Universe competitions and gold medals in the Olympics. A variety of religions, languages and diverse culture still lives on today.

Trinidad and Tobago is located in the Caribbean Sea at the bottom of the archipelago of islands right northeast off the coast of Venezuela (South America). It is heavily forested with hundreds of species of tropical birds and beautiful white and black sand beaches in it’s smaller twin-island Tobago.

In the 20th century Trinidad & Tobago was the only country to produce an acoustic instrument known as the ‘Steel-pan’ (Steel-drum) which was made out of old oil drums. It is commonly used all over the Caribbean and it is recognized not only in steel orchestras but world wide and even taught in schools.

But perhaps what Trinidad & Tobago is known best for is for it’s CARNIVAL. Which has been dubbed  as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. It is an annual event held on Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and is well-known for it’s colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations! 

We are 98% literate and take our sports of cricket and football (futbol) very seriously. The Red, Black and White of the national flag is to symbolize the warmth of the people, the earth and water respectively. The motto: ‘Together we aspire, together we achieve’ reminds us that we can’t succeed on our own but like our varied history we stand stronger together as one! :))

Don't Fish in my Sea

** Poetic and delivered with poise and ease ~ lyrics that get you to that calm place! Gertrude 'Ma' Rainey - EnJoY!!! :))**

Jackie Brown

Nominated for 1 Oscar that year with another 7 wins and 12 nominations was Quentin Tarantino’s Crime-Drama-Thriller ‘Jackie Brown’ starring the foxy Pam Grier. With a run-time of 158 minutes and an estimated budget of $12 million USD this 1997 film not only elevated audience’s heart-rates, but made them hang on every scene as if their own lives depended on it and it quadrupled in profits that year.

Excellent story, execution and exciting dialogue; this film was a magnificent ride into the minds of those who lived ‘fast’ lives and had the ‘street-smarts’ to pull off extraordinary feats. Rated R for strong language, violence, drug use and sexuality, this film is not recommended for children; but adults are sure to not only be entertained but also ask yourself the question how much would you risk to gain the happiness or life you deserve?

Robert De Niro, Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster and Chris Tucker all join in on the fun. There isn't one short beat in this film, it's high energy and fast paced from beginning till end. If you like flight-attendants, action and a few laughs, this one makes for a great night of fun!

Penelope

“I’m happy with me!”

I’d heard about this film from a dear friend, and glad to finally have the opportunity to enjoy. Written by Leslie Caveny (who wrote the American television series ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’) and directed by Mark Palansky. A heart-warming Comedy-Fantasy-Romance released in 2006 which cost an approximate $15 million USD and starring daring Christina Ricci (in one of her ‘tamer’ films), Blue-eyed Scottish James McAvoy, American blonde sweet-heart Reese Witherspoon, and a very lovely deranged Catherine O’Hara.

This was a fairy-tale with several lessons to be learnt; from the way we view the world and the way the world views us. To what parenting really means, and also to be true to and of accepting yourself. The dialogue and quotes within this film were really marvelous as our audience got a healthy scoop of reality despite it’s ‘Once Upon A Time’ beginning. It’s not just about finding ‘true love’s first kiss’ but an adventure in finding love for one’s self. Wonderful cinematography with a cheerful story and special message.

This is one the entire family can enjoy! :)

Beauty & Brains

**A most wonderful and intimate interview with 'The New It-Girl' - Lupita Nyong'o**