jennifer lawrence – Sydney Aaliyah Michelle

WIP: The Movie Bloghop

Published on February 27, 2014 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle22 Comments

It’s time for the WIP: The Movie Bloghop. I love this bloghop. It satisfies my inner movie mogul persona.

Thanks so much to Kyra Lennon and Rachel Schieffelbein for bringing it back.

My soon to be released debut Novel Another New Life is about a eighteen year old piano prodigy who goes away to school in order to escape the reminders of her tragic childhood, but she soon realizes escaping her inner demons may prove more difficult.

I tried to create a young cast, but one with the talent to pull off the serious subject matter. This is not your typical teen drama.

For the lead character, Miranda Preston.

I figured an Oscar winning actress could pull it off. Jennifer Lawrence is my Miranda.

For the love interest and football star, Troy Anderson.

Chace Crawford as the right attitude and the right hair to play my leading man.

The witty southern belle looking for love and Miranda’s roommate, Darcy Albritton.

Ashley Benson is so cute, charming and can break hearts all over Austin.

I picked a theme song for my novel during the outlining process and it inspired me and allowed me to create the feel of the story through out the writing process.

Pink featuring Nate Reuss – Just Give me a Reason. Plus, Pink has her real life husband Carey Hart in the video and they are my celebrity couple role models.

Who would you pick as your perfect cast for your WIP?

The 5 Obstructions Blogathon – Obstruction 1

Published on June 13, 2013 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.

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SQM-Silver Linings Playbook

SQM – Silver Linings Playbook

Published on March 6, 2013 by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle9 Comments

It 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