Saturday movie review: Creed

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I loved the original ROCKY. The first sequel not so much. All the following sequels? I refused to watch them, as the magic was gone.

The ROCKY magic is back, only it now goes by the name of CREED.

 CREED movie

I must say I was a bit hesitant to pay good money to see CREED, but it won the...

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Saturday movie review (and giveaway!): Angels Sing

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I stand firm on waiting until after Thanksgiving to listen to holiday music and watch holiday films — except for HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, which takes place primarily during Thanksgiving deeming it acceptable to watch then.

Now that the turkey has been officially gobbled and gone, holiday music and films are fair game. Consider such viewing begun!

Angels Sing DVD

To be quite honest, holiday films often seem cheesy to me. And corny. But that's okay, that's to be expected. And pretty much accepted. In that vein, I admit that...

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A Brave Heart, plus GRAND Social No. 174 link party for grandparents

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A Brave Heart

A Brave Heart film

My husband and I watched an incredible documentary yesterday called A BRAVE HEART: THE LIZZIE VELASQUEZ STORY, courtesy a free, no-obligation screener from the filmmakers. It's the amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring...

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Saturday movie PREview: Grandma

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As I've been chasing kids, reading bedtime stories, playing at the park, and all kinds of other fun stuff with Bubby, Mac, and Jak, I've not watched a film to review this week.

So you get this: a preview of an upcoming film that will likely resonate—in one way or another—with most of us here.

It's called GRANDMA and stars Lily Tomlin, among others.

GRANDMA movie

And here's the...

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Saturday movie review: Runoff

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What might a loving wife and mother do in hopes of pulling her family from the brink of financial disaster? It's that question that creates the intrigue and suspense in the beautifully filmed, understatedly acted RUNOFF, an independent film written and directed by Kimberly Levin in her narrative film directorial debut.

runoff movie 

Betty (Joanne Kelly) loves her husband, her two sons, her farmland community...

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Saturday movie review: Like Sunday, Like Rain

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I've been intrigued with the idea of nannies since long-ago watching Julie Andrews make a magical, musical difference with her charges in MARY POPPINS and THE SOUND OF MUSIC. While parents seemingly blew off their children, a nanny could make a child's world far more enriched and delightful than parents would likely ever manage.

Like Sunday, Like Rain

I longed for such adventures as a child. I still can't help but fall in love with books and movies featuring nannies who—often unexpectedly—become far more beloved, important, and relevant to the children they care for than the kiddos' parents could hope to be.

LIKE SUNDAY, LIKE RAIN is one such movie. And though...

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Here and now: April 23, 2015

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My life, here and now...

here and now 

On my mind...

Calming thoughts and uplifting songs that will (I hope) keep me calm and far from freakout mode when I undergo another MRI on my brain this morning. I swear, the more MRIs I...

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Saturday movie review: Black or White

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Considering the racially charged tensions and horrific acts of violence that have recently occurred in our country between whites and blacks, I expected the movie BLACK OR WHITE to be far more powerful than it turned out to be. Instead, the film landed itself a firm spot on my list of Mostly Meh Movies.

black or white film 

BLACK OR WHITE starring Kevin Costner and Octavia Spencer is billed as...

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Saturday movie PREview—and giveaway: The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

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The last time my husband and I went to see a movie at the theater, we did as we always do: Jim headed off for the popcorn while I made my way to the theater to nab our seats. As I sought out the correct theater, a middle-aged couple walked just ahead of me. Suddenly the woman stopped in her tracks as her hubby kept walking. The woman was mesmerized by the movie poster in the hallway.

As I got closer, I realized what had caught her eye... and I joined her in front of the colorful, oversized promotion for THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL.

second best exotic marigold hotel

"I can't wait to see this! Did you see the first one?" she asked in dreamy tone.

"Oh, yeah," I said in an equally smooth voice as we...

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