Movies & Books

Today I've been sorting through some photos from last summer and came upon this one.  Such a gorgeous shot of Lake Superior and if I try real hard I can feel the sun on my face and the breeze off the lake......oh, .........back to reality as it is only January and yes, it is still snowing.  So if you're looking for a diversion like a great book or interesting movie ... I've got a suggestion.

I saw Revolutionary Road a few weeks ago.

In a nutshell, The Wheelers, April and Frank are a young couple living the American Dream in 1955.  She's a housewife caring for their two children while Frank works in the city as a salesman.  They live on Revolutionary Road.  Frank is dissatisfied with his job and April's dream has always been to become an actress but she has resigned herself to the life she now lives.

You can tell that this isn't a "feel good" flick and it's not.  Watching Revolutionary Road is like watching a train wreck you know is going to happen but you simply can't turn away and the reason you can't turn away is because of the stellar performances by both Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet and the incredible writing.   It is depressing (NOT a date movie), brutally honest and disturbing.  In some instances you feel like a voyeur as the movie reveals itself so intimately.  If you appreciate a film that is thought provoking and brilliantly explores the dark essence of family/life relationships and broken dreams...give it a go.  It will stay with you a long time after the movie ends.

For Christmas Kelly gave me " Room" by Emma Donoghue.  This was a book I could not put down.  I've attached a You Tube clip that will give you a good understanding of what the book is about.  It is a powerhouse.  At first I thought the premise is of a young boy and his mother living in captivity in Room would be terribly sad but the entire novel is told with Jack doing the narrative and for some reason it does not come across that way.  Riveting, chilling, intriguing and beautifully written.  Another piece of art that stays with you long after you've closed the book.