Tag: bradley cooper

The 5 Obstructions Blogathon – Obstruction 1

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle10 Comments

Obstruction1

Silver Linings Playbook

Necessary disclaimer:  This is harder then I thought, but it made me look at the movie from a different perspective. I guess that is the point. Here is my negative review of Silver Linings Playbook, a movie that I loved.

Typical when you have a film with such a great cast, the movie doesn’t have to do a lot to be considered good. The good cast can carry a not so good movie.  When you have a good movie, the cast of characters can be a distractions.

That almost happened with Silver Linings Playbook.  They created an amazing story with compelling, touching and sad, but hopeful characters with real life problems, but the choice of cast pulled you out again and again from what could have been a perfect movie.

Bradley Cooper played Pat, a guy who suffered from bi-polar.  He was fixated on getting his life back after he returns from a stint in a mental institution.  Bradley Cooper is gorgeous, sexy as hell, his voice has a melody to it.  He can be the playboy, he can be the sweet sensitive type. He can be the hero, and the villain,  but he doesn’t get anywhere near crazy.  He never quite got there for me and it was hard to believe him in that role.  He needed to go all the way and unfortunately, he feel a little short.  He may have tried to act crazy, but he was still to attractive to be believable.

Jennifer Lawrence played Tiffany, a recent widow with her own issues of mental stability.  I admit she had issues, but come on, real issues are choosing to replace your younger sister from competing in a ‘to the death’ survival game in order to return hope and morale to your home town.  Now that girl had problems.  I don’t mean to sound flip, but when I saw the movie, I keep thinking Katniss, you have enough to deal without taking on Tiffany’s problems.

Finally, you have Robert DeNiro as Pat’s father.  Robert DeNiro is one of our all time greatest actors. He has stared in, carried and played so many characters. To see him relegated to such a supporting role was hard to see.  DeNiro isn’t a small actor and this role needed subtle that a great actor like him couldn’t settle into.  He stoled every scene an I don’t think he was supposed to.

Don’t get me wrong, some times a great movie needs great actors (see The Avengers), but for the tone of this movie, it would have benefits from letting the characters, and not the cast, speak for themselves.

Related Post:
SQM-Silver Linings Playbook

SQM – Silver Linings Playbook

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

tbn_14284b48d7c67458It appears this movie is either loved or hated. And, those who hate it do so because it hits so close to home.

I though it was great. Honest and messy and raw and unexpected, with great dialogue. Bradley Cooper is greatness. DeNiro as always is greatness. Jennifer Lawrence on the cusp of greatness.

Yeah, I liked the movie.

Quotes of Note

Tiffany (Oscar Winner Jennifer Lawrence):

“Can we get through one fucking conversation without you reminding me that my goddamn husband’s dead?”

“You’re not a standup guy today, Pat!”

“I opened up to you, and you judged me.”

“I was a slut. There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy, but I like that just like all the other parts of myself.  I can forgive. Can you say the same for yourself, fucker?  Can you forgive?  Are you capable of that?”

“Yes, I’m Tommy’s crazy whore widow. Minus the whore think, for the most part.”

“I have a problem?” You say more inappropriate things than appropriate things.”

“I do this! Time after time after time. I do all this shit for other people and then I wake up and I’m empty. I have nothing.”

“You’re killing me!”

Pat (The Adorable Bradley Cooper):

“You have poor social skills. You have a problem.”

“The only way to beat me crazy was by doing something even crazier. Thank you. I love you. I knew it from the moment I saw you. I’m sorry it took me so long to catch up.”

“I’m not flirting with you.”

“I just see that you made an effort, and I’m gonna be better with my wife.  I’m working on that. I wanna acknowledge her beauty.  I never used to do that. I do now. Just practicing. How’d Tommy die?”

“I was trying to be romantic.”

“The world will break your heart ten ways to Sunday. That’s guaranteed. I can’t begin to explain that. Or the craziness inside myself and everyone else. But guess what? Sunday’s my favorite day again. I think of what everyone did for me, and I feel like a very lucky guy.”

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Related Post
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Review – Tim’s Film Review
Movie Review:  “Silver Linings Playbook” – SparklyPrettyBriiiight

My Weekly Update – Touched Me

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle7 Comments

imagesI watched The Word last night.  The movie was strange, but as  a writer, it was interesting and it touched me. It made me rethink what I was doing and why I was doing it. Some of the lines that made me think:

“I’m not who I thought I was and I’m terrified that I never will be.”
“Words ruin everything.”
“I wanted so badly for it to come from me.”
“I loved words more than the women who inspired me to write.”
“At some point you’ll have to choose between life and fiction.  The two are very close, but they never actually touch.  They’re 2 very, very different things.”

Have you seen it? Have you ever thought what if it doesn’t happen for you? Why do you write? 

Editing

I have on my list to edit my first novel. My issue, I can’t get started. Now I think I know why. I am too focused on what I hope it’s supposed to look like.  Really, I mean what if I waste all this time editing and the book still isn’t good enough.

Reading

As writers, we are supposed to read, and I love to read. Lately, reading has been an emotional freeway for me.  There are times when I read something so amazing, it inspires me. Then other times, I read something and am totally defeated.  No way will I ever be that good. I finished The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien and Gabriel’s Redemption by Steve Umstead.  Highly recommend them both.

You might be surprised about which one made me feel what?  Have a guess? 

Site Changes

I added a few new pages. Check them out and let me know what you think.

    • Sydney Reads – my reading list and reviews of the books I’ve read in 2013.
    • Sydney Watches – my list of movies seen in 2013
    • Sydney Edits – my goal is to record a daily edit journal under this tab.

This change was inspired by Angi Black’s post – The Break-up – Angi writers a letter to herself.  The letter starts – “Dear Old Me, I’m sorry darling. You have to go.” Good stuff, give it a read.

Post to Revisit

Passive vs. Active Voice – The Most Effective Tip I’ve Ever Read – Me, too.  My CP tells me to watch my passive all the time. These tips helped me identify my passive’s better.
New Look and Balancing Life – I am job hunting and have to much time on my hands, but when I do find a job these are good tips to finding the balance.
All Things in Moderation – Even Writing Advice – I am trying to focus the writing advice I am acquiring. If that makes sense.  That is why I am so excited with the Progressive Book Club.  It’s a book club were to discuss writing books.
New Followers
My Side of the Story
The Art of Storytelling by Leslie I. Benson
Debra’s Written Words
Lufira
Amicia Rai
 

Next Week’s Schedule

I’ve got two Blog Tour Post coming up created by The Masquerade Crew.

A Court Room Drama Blog Tour – The Homicide Chronicles by Ralph Shamas
A Post Apocalyptic Blog Tour – Since Tomorrow by Morgan Nyberg

100books

Here’s another blog challenge I’ve joined for 2013.  I hope it’s ok to join more then one.  Whatever motivates me, right?

How was your week?  Anything you’re looking forward to in the coming weeks? 

Sydney Quotes the Movies – Limitless

Published on by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle11 Comments

What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?

Good tag line = Good movie. Great actor (Bradley Cooper is totally underrated), Great visuals (I love time lapse photography used in a movie) and Great use of light (on the drug; bright and clear, off the drug; dark and dull) = Great movie.

Limitless was visually an awesome movie.  And the lines, oh the lines. Such great lines. Here we go . .

“You see that guy? That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problems looks this way? Only a writer.” Opening line of the movies. Bradley Cooper plays a guy name Eddie who is a struggling writer. He has a book deal already, which is annoying, but turns out the book was in his head, he just needed help getting it out. As a writer, I can related.

“Time someone shook up the free world and got things done.” Eddie is offered a drug to help him tap into the full capacity of his brain. He sees what he wants and puts a plan together to achieve it. We can all take a lesson from that — you know, minus the drugs.

“I don’t have delusions of grandeur, I have an actual recipe for grandeur.” Eddie is trying to get in on the financial world, after writing his book in four days (hate him). He has to talk his way into his new career. It works.

“My capacity for self sabotage wasn’t boundless after all.” Eddie was trying to get his girl back. She dumped him because he was such a loser. Self deprecating charm worked, they got back together.

“Don’t wear the same coat and suit. This isn’t The Matrix.” Eddie finds himself in danger and hires a couple of bodyguards. In his directions to them, he references one of my favorite movies. It was a funny line in the circumstance.

“You should really be glad about this, because you know me working for you, you’d end up being my bitch.” DeNiro’s character was the experienced business man who had paid his dues and got to the top and although he didn’t want to give in to this brass new young hot shot, he had no choice. He wanted the deal. Turns out he still tries to keep the upper hand over Eddie, but once again, our Eddie proves to be “50 moves ahead.”

Another star of this movie was the city of New York itself. Really makes me miss NYC.
Good suspense filled action movie with a gorgeous star, acting royalty veteran, shot in the greatest city in the world. You can’t go wrong.