Saturday is Horror Day #13 - Stonehearst Asylum, Mary (2019)

 Stonehearst Asylum

Edward Newgate (Jim Sturgess) is a new doctor who has gone to Stonehearst Asylum to obtain practical experience in order to complete his education. The asylum is run by Silas Lamb (Ben Kingsley), who has what Newgate finds to be an unusual method of treating his patients. He makes no effort to cure them, claiming that they are happier as they are. And he allows them the freedom of the asylum. Lamb's assistant, Mickey Finn (David Thewlis) is rude and crude, with a twisted sense of humor. Newgate finds himself drawn to one of the inmates, Eliza Graves (Kate Beckinsale). She is beautiful and enigmatic, and he longs to learn more about her.

Wondering about Lamb's methods and philosophy, Newgate explores the asylum and discovers more than he bargained for in the form of cells containing inmates who are locked up for some reason, including a man named Benjamin Salt (Michael Caine). They question who he is even as he questions them as to why they are there. But can he believe what they tell him? Can Salt be the real superintendent of the asylum?

Are the inmates really running the asylum?

I wasn't sure what to expect with this film, based on a story by Edgar Alan Poe (which one, I have yet to discover). I figured out the twist right away, but after that, all bets were off. If you've ever seen the film Asylum, you might know what I'm referring to. Otherwise, I won't give that away, although it's fairly obvious early on.

The settings are well done and very turn of the century, as 1899 is about to become 1900, which event

must of course be celebrated. I think it was well written, and has quite the cast. David Thewlis is quite the chameleon. He can play the sweet, mild-mannered Remus Lupin, or this maniacal madman who doesn't ever seem quite right. Kate Beckinsale is a tragic figure as Eliza Graves, who supposedly bit off her husband's ear, which is why she has been placed in the asylum. A fact that Mickey Finn doesn't hesitate to bring up. Look for a funny moment when Newgate finds humor in Finn's name.

While this film may not be filled with jump scares or the traditional trappings of horror, it has its own horror and creepiness factor, which leaves you wondering until the end what is going to happen. Guess if you like, but I bet you won't see it coming. I give this a solid 4 stars.

Mary (2019)

David (Gary Oldman) and Sarah's (Emily Mortimer) marriage is foundering on the rocks, after Sarah's infidelity, but they are working at staying together, for themselves and for their two daughters. When David runs across a less than perfect ship for sale, he envisions their future as the owners of this vessel, which they will use for charter tours and which will provide for their future. Sarah wants to say no, but she's not really in a position to go against David's wishes, so she bites her tongue and agrees to the purchase, although it will take everything they have and then some.

They decide to take the family on a trial run/vacation, and head up toward Bermuda, along with the crew, which consists of David's friend Mike (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo), and a young man named Tommy (Owen Teague). Tommy and the older daughter Lindsey (Stefanie Scott) hit it off right away, and it seems to be smooth sailing...

until it isn't.

Sarah thinks she is seeing and hearing things, and Tommy thinks the masthead, which comes from the original vessel, speaks to him. Younger daughter Mary (Chloe Perrin), who is artistically inclined, is drawing strange figures, for no apparent reason. The further out to sea the ship goes, the worse it gets. Sarah is beginning to think there is an evil entity on this ship, and it's after her family!

This wasn't a bad film, but it wasn't a great film either. Not really scary, maybe a couple of jump scares. My biggest problem is that the story behind what's going on doesn't really make sense to me or explain anything. The acting and directing aren't bad (look for Gary Oldman's manager in a small role at the beginning). But the story is definitely lacking, and if you can't become invested in the story, what do you have? A movie that tries too hard and achieves too little.

If you're a fan of Oldman, you might enjoy it. Or if you like creepy spirits on a ship in the middle of the ocean. I'll give it a shaky 3 stars and say everyone meant well, but it just didn't work well enough.

Baby it's Cold Outside!

Well, it's winter, what do I expect, right? Doesn't mean I have to like it or think about it. So I think I'm going to indulge in some warm thoughts and fantasies because frankly that sounds like a lot more fun.

So, everything being equal and no holds barred, where would be a good place to be that isn't here and cold? (The temperature was almost zero this morning when I left for work! Yipes!)

Isn't that beautiful? It's Tahiti. Hmmm, where else?

And now Hawaii.












What else? Something to drink, of course!

All right, maybe it's not tropical or fruity, but right now it sounds a whole lot better lol

Now, I think I'm lacking something else on that nice sunny tropical beach, something else hot that will help keep me warm

Gary Oldman, of course!  Hotter than hot, hot, hot!

Okay, that takes care of me on the beach rather effectively, so more hot things.

Chile ghost peppers - hottest peppers in the world!

Wow, what a combination - volcano and lightning! And very beautiful too!

Something a little less dangerous to cuddle up to, plus you can cook food on it, such as wienies and s'mores!











And now some hot things just because I can

Now if that didn't get you hot, I can't help you lol

I'm visiting with JC Wallace today and I'm talking about When Will I See You Again. See you there!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Why Dr. Smith is a better father to Will Robinson and other Sundries

There's a station called ME TV where you can watch lots of vintage shows. Some are classics, some are

gems, and some are not so good,  but there are a lot of memories there. On Saturday nights, they show Lost in Space, right before Star Trek TOS. I've seen Lost in Space, of course, grew up on it, loved it. My favorite character was Dr. Zachary Smith (maybe that says a lot about me, since he's supposed to be the villain of the story, or maybe it says something for the others that he's the most interesting person there lol). When the film was made, and that role went to Gary Oldman, I was ecstatic. Not so much when the film came out, which is not Gary's fault, and it didn't stop me from seeing it a few times at the theatre.

And actually, what I'm about to say holds true for the movie as well as the series, but it's the series I'm talking about right now, because it's fresher in my mind.

Dr. Smith, for all his faults, was a better father to Will than John Robinson.

He spent more time with Will, there's no denying that. John Robinson spent little time with his family, the quintessential working father so common at that time. And yet, he certainly wasn't working a 9-5 40 hour job. He could make his own hours. He chose to do what he did.



Dr. Smith was a mentor to Will, a role-model, if you will. Will obviously cared for him, and looked out for

him, stood up for him and pleaded leniency when maybe he didn't always deserve it. Obviously, he learned a lot from the Doctor, including compassion. Great job, Zachary! And fie on you, John Robinson, for failing as a parent. And no, Maureen wasn't much better, but she was a little more attentive.

I'm a little behind on what I've been watching, but here goes. Hell's Kitchen ended last night, and quite happily, with Ja'nel winning a spot as Gordon Ramsay's chef, beating out Mary. I knew Mary couldn't win, she didn't have it in her. I had made an early prediction that the last two standing would be Ja'nel and Jon. I came close. Jon was cut at the last moment. Great job, Ja'nel!










Master Chef is down to 7 chefs now. In a surprise move, the top 6 chefs didn't cook in tonight's episode.

Instead, each of the judges brought back a contestant they felt had gone too soon - Bime, Brie and Linn. They competed against one another to see who would come back to Master Chef. The challenge involved cooking as many perfect fried eggs as they could. In that challenge, Linn was eliminated, leaving Bime and Brie to duke it out. They had to cool a huge Alaskan salmon, with potatoes and asparagus, and the six contestants were to judge, along with Joe, in a blind taste test. In the end, the vote went to Brie, and she's back. My favorite is still Luca. He's emerging as a strong contender these days, so don't go counting him out!

For all intents and purposes, Food Network Star is done. The final three made their pilots, and America voted. Now we wait the result, in next Sunday's episode. I was sad when Chad was eliminated. I still think he has what it takes. But I'm rooting for Russell now, and I hope he and his culinary sins make it!







A new season of Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell just started. The show is okay, if somewhat predictable.

There's also a new season of Top Chef Masters. I've got two favorites there, Chef Neal Fraser and Chef Sang. There is a twist to this season. Each chef brought a sous chef, and the sous chefs compete first, and their actions often come back to haunt their chefs. Sometimes immunity, sometimes a penalty. Tonight's episode was very interesting,****Spoilers**** with the masters feeding the cast of Days of our Lives. They were divided into three teams to represent Sex, Murder, and Greed, and their food had to reflect those themes. Three chefs, thanks to their sous chefs, had penalties. One sat in jail for 30 minutes, one was in a coma for 30 minutes, and one was in a crime scene for 30 minutes, at various stages of their cooking. In the end, Chef Odette was sent packing.

Well, that's it for right now, but next time I want to talk about Crossing Lines, The Glades and The Bridge. And Hannibal too, even though the season is done.

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

Vampire Bite Blog Hop

Velcome! And no, I don't want to drink your blood lol

Well, maybe later :)

When I saw the opportunity to participate in this blog hop about vampires, how could I refuse?  I couldn't!  Even though I have another one going on the same day, for Valentine's Day. But double your pleasure, right?  So now, on to my second Blog Hop! Stay tuned to find out how to win! And don't forget to check out the other participants of this fun blog hop here!

So, let's talk about vampires, shall we?

I have had a love affair with vampires ever since I read Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and watched the Bela Lugosi classic film version of the book. I thought he was intense and very sexy. When the film first came out, back in the 30’s, so did a lot of women. Bela had the perfect voice and accent to play the Transylvanian count. He came from Hungary, where he was actually a very successful and renowned stage actor. He came to Hollywood with high hopes, but things didn’t quite work out as he hoped, owing in large part to the very thick accent he could never lose. This was compounded by a drug addiction gained after surgery, which haunted the rest of his life, forcing him to take less than stellar roles, as many actors are forced to do to make a living. He died only a couple of days into the shooting of his last film—Plan 9 From Outer Space—and it shows. Low budget to begin with, they replaced him with somebody’s dentist, who was taller than Lugosi, and had him spend most of the film with his cape drawn over his face. The plot was almost non-existent, and ridiculous, and this rates as one of the worst films I’ve ever seen.

But I digress.

I also fell in love with Barnabas Collins, the tragic vampire from the long-ago ABC soap opera Dark Shadows, which was certainly unique in its use of the supernatural in a daytime series. I devoured the books, and drooled over the star, Jonathan Frid. There’s a story told in my family that I scared my little brother (who is seven years younger than I am) with tales of my vampire friends. So badly that he hung a crucifix from his bed for protection. Nice story, but patently untrue, and only told years after the fact. I’d be willing to swear my brother never possessed a crucifix. We never went to church, even.

But I loved vampires. Very much. So it was only natural that my first book should feature one. Originally, his name was Derek DeVille. I chose DeVille because that is the pseudonym that Dracula uses when he goes to London, in the novel. Derek was the name of a friend of mine’s young son, and I liked it. The two names fit. Derek he stayed for a long time. But back when I wrote it, there were no e-books, and getting published was a lot harder than it is today. So Dark Love was put aside for other pursuits. One of those was role playing, in games at such venues as Live Journal, Greatest Journal, and now Insane Journal.

For one of those games, I needed to make a vampire character. I couldn’t think of another name, so I used Derek DeVille, which was familiar to me. I figured what the heck, it’s still my character, and nobody would ever make the connection. Except that a strange thing happened. The role playing Derek took on a life and character all his own. One distinctive from the book Derek. And I decided he needed a book of his own.

Fast forward a bit. I’ve begun to be published, and I ask myself: what about Dark Love? I dust if off and think about submitting it. But I realize I can’t do it with a second Derek DeVille, not when I want to use the other one. So I need a new name. The first name I came up with was Gabriel Brandon, and I tried that, but it didn’t feel right. I finally settled on Eric Vargas, and I really liked that. So Eric he became and Eric he is.

Eric is blond, with long hair, usually tied in a tail at the nape of his neck. I love long hair in men—no lie. I find Eric very sexy. So does my heroine, Samantha Kane. Samantha is the name that would have been given to my son Chris, had he been born a girl. And as he was the last, I’ll never have a Samantha, except in this book.

I set the story in St. Louis, because I live there. The museum doesn’t exist, except in my mind. I used actual settings for parts of it, including the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. I gave Samantha my interest in vampires, and the Tarot, and my red hair.

Parts of the book were hard to write. In fact, there’s one chapter that even I have trouble reading. But sometimes you just have to go where the characters take you. Sometimes, too, it’s awesome how things work out when you write. I was stuck on the ending, not sure where to go, when something that was in the news at the time kept demanding my attention, and my brain put things together, and wrote an ending. Only after it was written, did I realize that it had been foreshadowed earlier in the novel. I just love when things work out like that. I won’t tell you what it was, that would be spoiling, and I try not to do that.

To this day, I still love vampires and love to write about them. I have other vampire characters to love and explore. And werewolves too. It’s a lifelong love, I’m sure.

Dark Love was published in January 2011, but late last year I pulled it from the publisher, and am currently seeking a home for it.

I’m still fascinated by vampires, in film and books. I’ve read all the Twilight books (and refuse to watch the films because the casting for Edward was so atrocious, plus the previews I saw looked like a bad made-for-TV movie). I’ve read some of the Vampire Diaries books and was talked into watching the series. I have to say this about that – I really don’t care for the series. There is only one reason why I even bother to watch, and his name is Damon Salvatore, aka Ian Somerhalder. He is sex on legs, and to die for! He is my avatar on FB, and incredibly gorgeous! He is also my dream casting choice to play Judas in the film version of Revelations. If he ever leaves the show… well, the show will die, so it doesn’t matter.

Another show I loved that featured a vampire was Moonlight. Mick St. John was to die for! How criminal that the show only ran for one season - which I happen to own, I might add. Good thing Alex O'Loughlin is in Hawaii now, shooting Hawaii 5-0, although I still miss Mick.

And of course, I'd be remiss at not mentioning the vampire whose actor stole my heart almost twenty years ago! I'm sure you'll recognize this very handsome face!

That’s enough about vampires for now, I know you have lots of other authors to visit, so have a great time!  Oh wait, the giveaway, right?

I will give two readers their choice of my books. If you want to play, tell me who is your favorite vampire and why. Don't forget to leave an email address, otherwise I have no way of reaching you!  Have fun!

Day 2 of the Purrfect Giftatastic Christmas Blog Hop!

So today I got around to addressing my Christmas cards - I know, better late than never, right? - and it occurred to me to wonder - how did this tradition start? So I looked it up and here's what I found out at the Big Site of Amazing Facts:

Christmas has been celebrated for many centuries, but the custom of sending greeting cards at Christmas didn’t begin until 1843.

That year, an Englishman named Henry Cole wanted to send his friends a note wishing them happiness at Christmas. He hired an artist named John Horsley to design the world’s first Christmas card.

This card showed a large family gathered around a table. On each side of the picture were smaller scenes showing people giving food and clothing to the poor. The message read: “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.” Christmas cards haven’t changed very much since then, have they?

Christmas cards didn’t become popular in the United States until about 30 years later. Today, Americans send about four billion Christmas cards a year, that’s 20 for every person!

A California man once sent more than 62,000 Christmas cards in a single year!

Well, I thank you, Mr. Cole. And the greeting card companies thank you too!

So today is my grocery shopping today, and though it's not time to get Christmas dinner, it's time to think about picking about some eggnog. Although it is sinfully rich and loaded with naughty calories. But it's only once a year, right? Actually, maybe instead of eggnog, we'll get something we were recently introduced to. Rumchata. What is Rumchata, you ask? It's a delicious blend of rice, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, sweet dairy cream and Caribbean rum. You can mix drinks with it, add it to coffee, or drink it straight from the bottle. Thanks to my son, Chris, for sharing this with us recently! If you're looking for a satisfying holiday indulgence, look no further!

We aren't putting up a Christmas tree again this year, haven't had one since the last one died of old age, haven't been able to afford a new one. Frankly, it's not a big deal. It's just Sarah and me, and we're fine without it, although some day I'd like to get one and decorate it with pictures of naked men. But that will be for my room. When I get a new house, maybe I'll start decorating again. But our presents are wrapped and visible where they can tantalize us with wondering what's in them. Don't need a tree for that lol

So, let's play a game, shall we? If I had a Christmas tree, what would I like to see under it tagged forme?  Hmmm, that's a no-brainer, especially for anyone that knows me.  This is what I want - clothing optional :)  

Well, I can't top that lol  What would you like to see under your tree, no holds barred, sky's the limit?  Tell me!  Keep enjoying the hop and keep on hopping!

Lawless Review

Lawless  

Director/Studio/Author: John Hillcoat/Pie Films, Inc./Nick Cave

American release date: August 29, 2012

Format, Genre and length: Theatre/Historical Action/115 minutes

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: R

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★

The Bondurant brothers—Forrest (Tom Hardy), Howard (Jason Clarke), and Jack (Shia LaBeouf)—are getting along as best they can in depression-era Virginia. They run a little diner and gas station in Franklin, but they have a more lucrative source of income that involves running moonshine. They don’t have to worry about the law—not only is the local constabulary in the know, but they’re also customers.

Synopsis:

Legend has it that the Bondurants are invincible, and sometimes the boys believe that story themselves. Forrest is short on words, but what he does say carries a punch. Jack is still young, but he’s eager to learn and he hates the way that they often blow him off. He plots and schemes with his best friend, a crippled young man named Cricket who’s a mechanical genius, experimenting with making his own brand of white lightning. When he first spies Bertha Minnix (Mia Wasikowska), he is smitten with the young girl. Unfortunately for him, she’s the daughter of a very protective minister, and when Jack shows up unexpectedly at one of their services, he’s not prepared to have his feet washed by Bertha, and bolts from the premises as though a fire was lit under him.

Bad news arrives in Franklin in the form of a new special agent, Charlie Brakes (Guy Pearce), who’s determined to do things his way, and to have everybody in the county knuckle under to his rule. He is a nasty piece of work, and right away he and the Bondurants butt heads.

A young woman named Maggie (Jessica Chastain) shows up one day looking for work, and Forrest hires her when she tells him she’s tired of life in the big city, she’s looking for something easier.

One day Jack witnesses a remarkable sight. He spies a man with a Tommy gun shoot up a man in cold blood. He knows who the killer is—the infamous Floyd Banner (Gary Oldman). He makes eye contact with Banner and the killer winks at him before he drives away. Later, when due to circumstances their paths cross again, that first meeting will stand Jack in good stead.

When the rest of Franklin gives in to Brakes and his bullying tactics, the Bondurants refuse to cave and find themselves standing alone. Jack is determined to pull his weight, so that he can be worthy of courting Bertha, even if he does run when he sees her preacher father heading in his direction. He gets his chance to shine when Forrest unexpectedly ends up in the hospital, showing that he is true Bondurant material. The brothers are doing well for themselves, but how long can that affluence last when Brakes is bound and determined that they will knuckle under to his authority?

Commentary:

Based on a true story, this is a tale of three brothers and their struggle to survive during hard times. The tagline for this film is: When the law became corrupt, outlaws became heroes. I read a criticism of the film, before I saw it, and one of the comments involved Tom Hardy’s accent, claiming it was thick, and hard to understand, and not well done, but I didn’t find that to be the case at all. I had no problem understanding him, and I thought his portrayal of Forrest Bondurant was well done. In fact, my daughter, who watched the movie with me, said she thought he could have used a little more of an accent, not less. I recently saw Tom in Tinker Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and that character and this were totally worlds apart. He has a rather chameleon-like quality, similar to another actor in TTSS, who also plays in Lawless, veteran actor Gary Oldman. Of Mr. Oldman’s performance, all I can say is I wish he’d had more scenes; he lights up the screen every time he’s on it. I liked Jason Clarke as the often volatile Howard. I used to watch him in Brotherhood, and before that I saw him in the film Rabbit Proof Fence. You wouldn’t know he’s Australian; he does accents very well indeed. Shie LaBoeuf is great as the young, up and coming Jack Bondurant. I loved his scenes with his friend Cricket, as well as his wooing of the young religious girl, played by Mia Wasikowska, whom I saw in Jane Eyre and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

I enjoyed the plot and the writing, and there are some rather stunning visuals in this film. I grew to like and root for the Bondurants, and I prayed that they would not come to a bad end. If you want to know whether they do or not, you’ll have to see the film. Lawless is a violent film, so I wouldn’t recommend it for young children, but teenagers and up should be fine.  I rate this film 4 stars.

Early Happy Birthday, Gary!

Those people who know me well know that my favorite obsession...er, actor... is Englishman Gary Oldman. I've been head over heels for him for over eighteen years. He's just as beautiful to me now as he was then, even more so. I'm sorry that he lost his bid for an Oscar this year for his performance in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, but being nominated was something, anyway. As far as I'm concerned, the Oscars are fairly meaningless, as they are not a true barometer of talent, or what was the best in any given field, but a political fashion statement. But let's put that aside and concentrate on Gary, shall we? I would have done this tomorrow, but tomorrow's Wednesday, and that means Wednesday Brief, so a day early.

Gary was born March 21, 1958. I am not going to give his bio here, it's easy to find. I'm just going to post some pics and say Happy Birthday to a very talented and incredibly handsome man!

I think this is my favorite picture of him ever!

He was so dead sexy in this! Who could tell this man no? Not me! I loved the backstory with Mina in this. I cried when she broke his heart for that sissy Harker (horribly played by Keanu Reeves). This version comes closest to the book that I've seen. I really hate the Frank Langella version. I saw it at the theatre and wanted my money back.

From the movie he was nominated for, Tinker Tailor Soldier, Spy. Unfortunately I haven't had a chance to see it  yet, but I hear it's quite good.

Apparently, Gary gave up the Golden Globes to wear Prada. And yes, he once played the Devil. Appropriate!  Not to mention, he looks very hot in that. Of course, he looks hot in anything - or nothing!

Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather. I had loved Sirius before Gary got the role, I only loved him more afterward. My all-time favorite HP character, the one I've played the most, and written more fanfiction about. He didn't die, by the way. That was a vicious rumour started by Lord Voldemort.  (Shhh, don't try to burst my bubble!)

Here lies Mason Verger... literally. Character from Hannibal. I love the Hannibal series, and was totally ecstatic when Gary got this role. If you didn't know it was him, you wouldn't recognize him. He added his own touch to the part, of course. If you watched the movie but didn't read the book, let me tell you that that was not how Mason died, being thrown to the boars by Cordell. His sister killed him, using a huge eel. But Margot Verger is missing from the film. I believe there were credit issues involved with this film.

I really liked Shelley Runyon (obviously, I use the name in my email!) Surprisingly, since Shelley is a staunch Republican and rather conservative. Although he is painted as the villain in The Contender, he really isn't, and he is simply upholding his ideals. However, there were issues with the script, I know. Makes me wonder if movie studios aren't as difficult as publishers to work with at times.

Norman Stansfield - The Professional. I love this film, and I love Gary in it! This is one I can get my son to watch with me, also the next one I'm going to post. This was Natalie Portman's first film, and she's awesome in it.

Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg - The Fifth Element. This may have been written when Luc Besson was a teenager - and yes, in some ways you can tell it is - but it's still a good film and I never get tired of it.

Commissioner James Gordon - Batman Begins and Dark Knight. Great films, I loved them, can't wait for the next one. My daughter likes to refer to him here as Ned Flanders, because of his moustache.

Who could possibly resist this smile?  Not me!

Dead fucking sexy!

Air Force One. Alas, he dies at the end, kicked off Harrison Ford's plane. Good film, though, and he's good in it.

So in conclusion, I wish to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the sexiest man ever!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GARY, AND MANY MORE!

♥ Julie