1/11/21

 I know I haven't blogged in a while, but I finally feel inspired to write today.

I woke up at six a.m. to my Good Morning Beautiful playlist, but ended up sleeping in until my 8:08 playlist alarm went off. I made some coffee, drank some purified water and had an avocado with salt and lime juice on top. It was enough to hold me until two. 

In the meantime, I watched a beautiful documentary about Quantum Entanglement that I'll provide below. Essentially, quantum entanglement makes two things clear: a particle does not become real until we see it, and that two particles a vast distance apart can still mimic each other. It makes me think of the split experiment and string theory all packed into one.

Quantum Entanglement also caused me to revisit an idea I'd often wondered to myself: while I'm listening to this playlist right now on Spotify, is someone else somewhere in the world also listening to this playlist at the same time? While I'm writing this blog, is someone else somewhere writing about the same thing? It makes me feel less alone in this expansive universe.

Well, someone else has already thought about these ideas and her name is Suzanne Adams. She conducted a Ted Talk where she talked about how to use Quantum Entanglement to benefit her. I'll put it below.

Adams mentioned five ways that you can use Quantum Entanglement to manifest. 

1. Turn up your frequency

    -> Exercise, laughter, meditation (all things you can do right now!)

2. Set a powerful intention to align with LOVE or above

3. Shift your energy to what lights you up

4. Surround yourself with energy that elevates you

5. Stand strong for what is not an option for you

    -> Saying the mantra: Things are always working out for me

I think these are all great ways to use Quantum Entanglement to manifest, and it all coincides with Hawkins Scale of Vibrations:

Realizing where you reside on this scale can help you level up to the next stage. And, according to Quantum Entanglement, you attract what frequency with which you're vibrating. Are you ready to level up? 

The Revenant Review

The Revenant Review

By: Bayleigh Williams

     fandango.com

“If Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t get an oscar for this, I swear…” my cousin said next to me as the credits came up on the screen. I nodded in agreement, mouth slack in utter awe. My mind avalanched with every scene, every word, every sound. I saw this movie in IMAX at the AMC theater and I do not regret the extra money spent.

The Revenant is a movie based on true events in the 1820s about a group of fur traders journeying through the midwest. Among those traders is Hugh Glass played by Leonardo DiCaprio. Glass is the revenant, the one who comes back from the dead after being brutally attacked by a Grizzly and left to his own devices.

First and foremost, the movie soundtrack. From start to finish music supervisors, Ryuichi Sakomoto and Alva Noto curate this intense ethereal sound that tells the story by itself. “The Revenant Main Theme” song howls with wind and weeps with sweeping violin strokes. I wasn’t just watching the movie, I was feeling it, too.

Kudos to Alejandro G. Inarritu for once again accomplishing a dramatic masterpiece the likes of Babel (2006), but even more fervent. Since the movie What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), with Leonardo DiCaprio, Innaritu said in an interview with Hollywood Reporter that “there’s something in Leo that [he hasn’t] seen in a long time.” He said to Leo, “I would love to see you fragile, vulnerable--to see the man that can be broken.”

The star of the show never disappoints. DiCaprio spoke Pawnee effortlessly and a dead man’s suffering even better. Supporting actor Tom Hardy played an equally exemplary role as Glass’ foe, John Fitzgerald. He completely transforms for this character with a complimentary head scar and fowl mouth. While empathizing and marveling in Glass’ trek, I was aghast and disgusted with Fitzgerald’s. They were both extremely well-done and Oscar-deserving actors.

Yet another Oscar-worthy player in the game is undoubtedly the cinematographer, Emmanuel Lubezki known for Gravity (2013). The scenic stills of the bitter Canadian landscape juxtaposed with the harsh vulnerability of the character. Not only that, but the angles made me feel as if I were truly there, right next to DiCaprio.

This movie has changed my perspective on life’s struggles. It gave me a deeper appreciation for what I had and an enlightening message about being human: being human is about wanting to survive. When you achieve that, nothing is more fulfilling. If you want to see a movie that will change your life, then watch The Revenant. It’s a 9.5/10.

October Baby

Photo by: www.adoptedindiana.org
Rachel Hendrix playing the role of Hannah in October Baby

Sometimes movies just don't feel real enough for us viewers to connect with. The story will be too good to be true or the smile won't be authentic enough. Whatever it is, it makes enjoying the movie and learning from it much harder.

October Baby was not that kind of movie, though. It was touching. Hannah (Rachel Hendrix) is a teenager in high school who suddenly finds out her parents adopted her. After this discovery, she goes on a road trip to find her birth mother.

If you're expecting this movie to be like all of the others, it's not. Not only is it different from the rest of the normal cheesy movies, it puts a controversial topic into a possibly new perspective. 

Want a movie that's empowering and realistic? A character that's human--far from perfect? Watch October Baby. It's a five-out-of-five in my book!

Ira & Abby

Photo by: en.wikipedia.org 

  At first glance, this romantic movie may seem like all of the others: sappy, magical, too-good-to-be-true! That's what I was expecting at least. I thought that it was going to be boring and typical. But, Ira & Abby are far from it.
 
  Ira (Chris Messina) plays this neurotic, 33-year-old guy who has trouble starting his life, making decisions, etc. He's in an on-again, off-again relationship with this woman, Lea (Maddie Corman), and he's been seeing a therapist for 12 years. Life really begins to start when Ira's therapist "breaks up" with him. Ira must learn to shed his life jacket and jump right in to the crazy world.

  Along this new step, Ira quickly develops a relationship with a girl named Abby (Jennifer Westfeldt). In a day. And they get married (with their parents' blessing) the day after. This movie is crazy, but it's sweet and charming and quirky, too. Quirkiness is where Messina strives.

  If this description already sounds unusual--just wait: there is so much more craziness; so much more comedy; so much more drama. Ira & Abby will take you on a whirl-wind of experiences, and you'll just have to watch it to find out.Check out Ira & Abby--it's a four out of five!

Humboldt County

Photo by: http://www.imdb.com/

(From left to right) Frances Conroy, 

Brad Dourif, Chris Messina, 

Fairuza Balk, Jeremy Strong 

and Madison Davenport.

Photo by: http://www.imdb.com/

  After seeing the Giant Mechanical Man with Chris Messina, I had to find more movies with him in it. In my pursuit, I found this independent drama about a med-school dropout (Jeremy Strong) who winds up staying with a family of pot farmers! From the description I got, the movie sounded funny and intriguing.

  The opening scene is what made me realize how odd this movie was going to be. Peter (Strong) was so blank and emotion-less, that during the emotional opening scene that could mean life or death--I couldn't help but laugh. There is a lot of this dark, dry humor throughout the movie, where the audience doesn't know whether to be shocked or simply laugh.

  This zany family that Peter stumbles upon is not just a tribe of care-free hippies using pot. This family takes the business of the bud seriously. It may surprise you how normal these people actually are, or it may surprise you how different they all are. Humboldt County teaches the audience to look at things with more than just one perspective; how to understand both sides of a story. Humboldt County is like a nirvana for those who never stop and smell the flowers, think, and actually do what they want. But it's up to the audience whether this kind of a stop is good or bad.

  Filled with excitement, humor and perspective, Humboldt County sheds a light on our society today, our ideals, and our purpose in life. If you want to see a movie that will make you think and change the way you see things, I suggest seeing Humboldt County. The only set-back was that I fell asleep during a little of the beginning, so I will give it a four out of five. Aside from a few slow scenes, this movie is great! Check it out.

The Giant Mechanical Man

Photo by: http://taggart-productions.com

  Ever feel lost in life? As if everybody is expecting so much out of you--and then they're disappointed? Or maybe someone keeps trying to make you be someone you're not. A shiny silver street performer, making a living off of tips. A "permanent" temp, not knowing when she could get laid off. These kinds of jobs are not the conventional way of making a living, but in this heart-warming indie drama, stars Chris Messina (as Tim the street performer) and Jenna Fischer (as Janice) prove to others that they don't have to pencil-push to live life the right way.

Chris Messina, starring as Tim, or the "Giant Mechanical Man"
Photo by: Victoria Stevens of http://anthemmagazine.com

  To be honest, I wasn't looking for this movie to find Messina or Fischer, or the meaning behind life, really. I was on Netflix, looking for movies with Topher Grace (Eric Forman on That '70s Show) in them, because after finishing all of the seasons of That '70s Show, I came to the realization I couldn't get enough of Grace--or any of the other actors, really. Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti) was now in the new Netflix series Orange is the New Black, but I wasn't in the mood for a TV series. I was in the mood for a good movie--and I never heard of Grace being in very many movies, save for Win a Date With Tad Hamilton. So, seeing that he was supposed to be in the Giant Mechanical Man, I decided to watch it.

  Yet, after watching the first few endearing scenes of the movie, I completely forgot about Grace. I was swept up in this whole new world where nobody understands these main characters--yet I felt as if I could truly identify with them. There were these moments in the movie where I found myself beaming, laughing at the crazy things people said, or widening my eyes during intense conversations. Half of the time I watched the movie, I had a sincere smile melted into my face. Now, call me crazy--but if a movie can cause its audience to feel the emotions with them, those actors are doing a pretty darn good job, and so are the screenwriters, the directors, etc.

  Eventually, in the midst of being sucked into the perspective of Janice (Fischer), that is when I discovered Grace's role. His role was a dorky cheese-ball author who tried too hard to be liked. Either he did a great job of method acting, or he got a wig--because his hair was long and to his shoulders. Most of the time he talked, I felt myself cringing. Grace really did play up that geeky part well, especially since I'm so used to his dorky-but-endearing role as Eric Forman in That '70s Show. That show, in my humble opinion, was one of the greatest series' of all time. The characters were so real and so quirky. I got the same emotional reactions out of that show as I did with this phenomenal movie.

  I really loved the cinematography and the genuineness of the characters. I felt like I stepped in to these people's lives for an hour and twenty-nine minutes; cherished their great moments, got frustrated at their awful ones. This movie is full of ups and downs, full of misunderstandings. The ending was sweet and hopeful. I give the Giant Mechanical Man four and a half stars out of five. If you want to see a down-to-earth, enlightening movie with a great cinema crew, I highly recommend the Giant Mechanical Man to you.