People Like Us - Movie Review

I woke up at 2am this morning. What dragged me out of bed at that ungodly hour? My life passion and dream, that’s what. 

From 2am – 10am I had an eight hour bout of pure creativity. In those eight hours I successfully managed to fill up a 150 paged notebook back to front with notes for my latest novel: The Other Woman. I also managed to turn my hand blue. Oops.

The Other Woman is a really personal story for me to share with the world and an absolutely unique concept and idea, regardless of what you may think because of the crappy, temporary title. 

I started it in September last year but by the end of October I could not bring myself to touch it. It has taken me months to pick myself back up, dust myself off and get back on the proverbial saddle as they say – but I finally have. 

This book has so much potential and in the early hours of this morning I was struck wide awake by an almost supernatural force of creativity.

I tried to go to sleep after that, really I did – but the words just kept swimming around in my head, wanting to be set free. So I sat down in front of my laptop after pouring ANOTHER cup of coffee (I swear I'm literally buzzing right now,) and I wrote 80 pages out.

I can’t give away my blurb to you all just yet but know that a literary masterpiece is under-way!

With that being said, here is today's post, a quick movie review on a film I recently has the pleasure of watching:

Sam, played by Chris Pine and his horrendously hairy eyebrows is a smooth-talking salesman who was never necessarily close with his music loving father. Nevertheless, upon his passing, Sam feels he is entitled to some sort of an inheritance.

When one of his dads old friends meets up with him to deliver a leather pouch filled to the brim with rolled up wads of cash, Sam could hardly believe his luck. Then, he finds a sealed envelope with a set of instructions inside, telling him where and who to get the money to.

Sam contemplates ignoring the note and keeping the money for himself, who would know anyway, right? But curiosity gets the better of him and he goes to investigate who the people are who supposedly deserve the money more than he does.

At first he is filled with his own theories of who this woman and her young son are to his late father, until eventually the shocking truth is revealed when he follows her into an AA meeting.

Once he knows who she is will he reveal who he truly is to her as he grows close with her and her rebellious son?

Will he hand over the money or decide to keep it for himself and move on with life as though he'd never met the woman who in one shocking confession, changes his life and purpose of it forever more?

Will he run away like he's become so good at doing or will he embrace this new discovery with open arms?

Watch it all slowly unravel before you in this gorgeous mixture of drama and affection.

It is relatable, raw and real.

Overall, a good movie with a strong cast to watch if you're in the mood for something slightly more serious with an added sprinkle of spice.

My father made a rather nasty comment nearing the end of the film, saying, "Good God! I've only just realized that's Michelle Pfeiffer playing his mother!"

He's right though. Although I wouldn't exaggerate and go too over-dramatic the way that he did, the woman has unfortunately not aged well at all.

Something about her will always be beautiful to me though.

Have you seen this film?

What were your thoughts?

Have you seen any other good films recently that you could recommend to me?

Enjoy the weekend ahead bloggers'! It's just around the corner.

Letters to Life

Dear 25th June - Please hurry up. I'm dying over here! Need to get paid now! 2 months of unpaid leave while you go gallivanting around Europe is great and everything... until you get back. I've barricaded myself into my house, in front of the fire and have been doing NOTHING for far too long now.... going slightly crazy.

Sincerely, Broke and Desperate.

 

Dear Trusty Nikon Camera - Not so trusty anymore, huh? Please get well soon? Please?! I hate using my Blackberry to take photographs. Not cool.

Sincerely, Still Desperate.

Dear E. L. James - Stop with the cliffhangers!!!! I do not want to keep reading your naff writing... but now I just have to see what happens next! Argh!!!

Sincerely, Shamefully Hooked.

Dear Hot Water Bottle - Your presence would be greatly appreciated right about now. It's getting cold and lonely at night. I know you've been in hibernation mode for the past couple of months, somewhere in the back of a cupboard or something... but I think it's about time you came out now. Please and thanks.

Sincerely, Ice Block.

Dear Toaster - Stop burning my toast you devious bastard. You're forcing me to drink.

Sincerely, Not Impressed.

Dear My Service Provider - Please stop suspending my account. It's getting old now. I need a phone :(

Sincerely, Even More Desperate (and starting to get liver problems...).

Dear Inglot Cosmetics - Come to South Africa. If you do... I'll be doing the below:

Sincerely, Underprivileged.

Dear Facebook Hackers - SCREW YOU! WHY?!

Sincerely, Currently Experiencing Liver Failure.

Dear Fellow Bloggers - Thanks for checking out my blog! If you enjoyed it, following me on GFC, Bloglovin' and Facebook would be much appreciated. Pop me a comment below with a link to your blog and I'll be sure to check yours out too!

Sincerely, Oh screw it! Bottoms up!

The French Riviera - France

 

The Billionaires Playground.

 

Around my friends and my trip of a large slice of Europe, this was one of our stops. After winding through the roads of The Swiss Alps and cutting through Italy, we finally arrived.

 

You really cannot hide your awe and complete fascination in Nice. It is a truly magical part of France, with glorious villa's overlooking the yachts and cruise ships slowly gliding along the aqua blue water.

 

We spent our time here visiting the famous Fragonard Perfumery where we were given a lesson on how perfume is made. We were taken on a tour around all of the labs and got to experience each of the stages in the process.

There is a lovely retail area at the end of the tour where you can buy a bottle of your preferred scent to take back home with you as a souvenir and let me just tell you here, there are some pretty beautiful smells to choose from so come with some cash ready!

If you're in a big group like we were, you have the option of buying a box-set of your preferred perfumes which entails a great discount; they also make great gifts for your friends and family. There are some divine men's cologne's available too so don't think your man won't even slightly enjoy a quick trip here too!

 

Thereafter we all ventured into the heart of the town where a really friendly French lady went above and beyond to accommodate us all at her teeny-tiny restaurant for lunch! It's a tough world out there - every restaurateur wants you to come and experience a meal at their cafe!

Each place will offer you a certain discount or lead you in with promises of no service charge. You've really got so many options, it's great!

I really enjoyed a number of fabulous cocktails and an oversized bowl of delicious pesto pasta, but all of the food was pretty amazing! 

 

After lunch the weather warmed so we all strolled along the streets, letting the sun wrap around us in the afternoon light. All of the markets were set up with vintage bargains, tourist souvenir stalls and clothing stores. I hunted down the first bikini in my size and bought it on a whim, wanting nothing more than to go and jump into the icy water of the French Riviera. You just have to, don't you!? No matter how cold it is, how could you come all the way here from across the globe and not!? I stayed in that water for a good ten minutes before dashing across the pebbles to a nearby clothing store with Damian and buying an, 'I Love Nice,' towel to dry off with.

 

The beaches are nothing like what I am used to back home. They are adorned with pebbles! It was so weird to get used to that compared to the silky, sandy beaches I am used to where you can lie out on your towel and doze off - but it added to the atmosphere and made it just that much more beautiful.

 

We all climbed up the castle park known as the Ascenseur Du Chateau which a few of us were dreading slightly as we were still knackered from our hike up The Eiffel Tower.

Stairs were the last thing we wanted to see... but once up at the top, the views were absolutely breath-taking.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Nice, if anything it was far too short!

Where has your favorite place been in your travels so far?

xx

Playing For Keeps Movie Review

Rotten Tomatoes literally slays this poor film with bad reviews which shocks me because I felt that this was actually a very decent movie!

 

It was a sexy, funny, vibrant film that I truly and thoroughly enjoyed. It had a great cast too! Gerald Butler, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Uma Thurman, Jessica Biel and Dennis Quaid are but a few of the actors / actresses making appearances in Playing For Keeps.

 

It is the story of a former professional soccer star that has moved to Virginia to be closer with his son and ex-wife (Biel) who is now engaged to another man.

At this stage in his life, George (Butler), is jobless and doesn't really have a plan in life.

He takes his son to soccer practice and is infuriated by the pathetic soccer coach who has absolutely no idea what he is talking about. As the coach is constantly on his phone and never had the time to pay full attention to the kids, George finally snaps and shows the team how it's really done.

The kids enjoyed his coaching so much so that he is requested to take over permanently, which he accepts after mild consideration. This thrilled all of the kids and parents too, particularly the moms!

 

Now George must deal with three of the soccer moms blatant attempts to pursue and seduce him time and time again, his ex-wife re-marrying and an incredible job opportunity that arises that would mean packing up and moving away from his family.

 

Will he accept the job offer and his wife's decision to move on with her life or will he continue to stay and fight for his family, batting off seductive mothers along the way?

 

This is a lovely movie that the whole family can enjoy. It caters for both men and women as a feel-good, romantic comedy feast with a story-line based around sports.

 

I am definitely giving this movie thumbs up!   

10 Years Movie Review

Channing Tatum. Enough to make me watch any film if you just mention his name.

I'd seen the trailer and thought it looked quite good, so I booked it out at the rental store and settled down to watch it with my folks last week.

 

One of the girls I work with told me that she didn't enjoy it. She told me that is was a bit, 'all over the place,' but I decided to give it a go anyway.

 

My take on it:

It was a sloppier, messier version of Love Actually, based on a group of old school friends at their ten year high school reunion. It tells the unique stories of each friend, going in depth into each person's life after ten years.

 

The whole film is based on one night which makes it slightly slow paced but I wouldn't say it was a bad film. I enjoyed it. There is a certain warmth to it that kept it going.

 

It is not a film I would rush to see again or recommend to someone who is bored and needing something to do... in all honesty after a few days I have appeared to have forgotten quite a large portion of the film which is saddening because a film should be something that sticks with you for a while after you watch it.

 

I'll never have a high school reunion due to moving around so much at that age unfortunately, so that made me feel slightly envious which wasn't a good tone to set but that is just my own personal problem.

 

Overall, it's a good cast and each actor / actress gets their own shining moment, but the predictability of it completely ruins it.

 

Did anyone else notice though, just how BIG Tatum looks in this film??? I couldn't help but be shocked! Please tell me someone else noticed??