What the Beck???
Happy Day after Christmas!!
May it be restful!!
Bucket List Update
Academy Award Nominated Movies
starring: Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Chris Pratt
plot – Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane who is the general manager of the Oakland A’s baseball team. Billy and Peter Brand begin trading and obtaining different players until he has created a new winning team.
This was a very good movie. I am not a big baseball fan, like my Mom – the ultimate Cubs fan, but I liked this movie. Pitt is relentless in creating and getting the team he wants. If you like baseball, this is a movie for you.
starring: Jeremy Irvine, Peter Mullan, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup, David Thewlis
plot – This is a WWI movie that was filmed in England and various places in Europe. A boy raises and trains a beautiful horse. The horse is sold to the boy’s dismay. This film follows the journey of “Joey” the horse who is now used during the war effort. Joey changes hands from the English to Germans to French and finally back to England.
This was a FABULOUS movie. I am a huge horse lover and I cried on and off through the entire movie. Joey is breathtakingly beautiful. This is a MUST SEE movie for any animal lover out there.
2011 Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
starring: Tom Hanks, Thomas Horn, Sandra Bullock, Zoe Caldwell, Dennis Hearn
plot – This is the heart wrenching story of a boy named Oskar, who lost his father on 9/11. Oskar finds a key and proceeds to search the city for the lock. He and his Mom are not communicating well. The search and actually discovering the key’s rightful owner change Oskar’s world.
I LOVED every minute of this film. Thomas Horn is fabulous as Oskar as is Sandra Bullock as his Mom. I loved the relationship between Oskar and his Dad (Tom Hanks). This is a must see movie.
starring: DanielDay-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn, James Spader, Hal Holbrook, Tommy Lee Jones
plot – This movie shares the battle Lincoln faced trying to abolish slavery by passing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.
This was a well done movie. Many of the other movies about Lincoln focused on the battles, while this film focuses on the politics of passing legislation that would change the country. I enjoyed this movie.
starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter
plot – This movie takes place in France is the 1800s. Jean Valiean is pursued by Javert, a cop after he breaks his parole.
This is the second time this movie has been on this list. The initial nomination was in 1935. I definitely liked this version better, probably because the filming is better. It will never be a big favorite of mine, however.
starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Tandom, Goutam Belur, Adil Hussain
plot – A family is moving their zoo to Canada when their ship capsizes. One of the sons and some animals survive. This is the story of Pi and his journey to survive being lost at sea.
This was an excellent movie. This movie followed Pi as he was stuck on a raft in the ocean. I had a lot of emotions as he was stuck with several wild animals. I cringed, but as the movie progressed, rooted for Pi to be successful.
2012 Silver Linings Playbook
starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert DeNiro, Jackie Weaver, Chris Tucker
plot – Bradley Cooper plays Pat Solatano who is freed from a mental institution by his mother. He lives at home and has a long way to go before he is back with his wife. Jennifer Lawrence is his savior as she distracts him and helps him learn to dance.
This was a really good movie. Cooper was surprisingly good in the role of a neurotic man. Jennifer Lawrence is also great as an equally obsessed woman. This was fun to watch.
starring: Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kerry Washington, Samuel L. Jackson
plot – A freed slave is separated from his wife and returns to Mississippi to locate and free her. He is helped by a German bounty hunter.
This was a great movie. Jamie Foxx is amazing as Django, the D is silent. The story was extremely well done. I did have to look away from the screen when there was violence involving the punishment of the slaves, but it fit the movie. The ending was extremely violent and really bothered me.
starring: Jeff Bridges, Hallee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, Dakin Matthews
plot – A remake of the original story of True Grit with John Wayne. The story of Mattie Ross hiring Rooster Cogburn to hunt down Tom Chaney, her father’s killer.
I was a huge fan of the John Wayne version. Jeff Bridges is very good in the role of Rooster, but he is no John Wayne. The story was well done, but I prefer the original version.
Toys, Toys, Toys
Everywhere!
These two girls can make a real mess.
I liked the way the quilt turned out. 
This photo is a little blurry, but I
