The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

You never know what treasures you will discover in the world of cinema. One such treasure is The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008). It's about the young son of a Nazi commander who befriends a Jewish boy in a concentration camp. 

The film is based on the novel of the same name by John Boyne and directed by Mark Herman, who also wrote the screenplay. It features Asa Butterfiled as Bruno (the son of the Nazi commander), and Jack Scanlon as Shmuel, the Jewish boy. 

Beautiful cinematography by Benoit Delhomme, haunting music by James Horner and masterful editing by Michael Ellis, this film is truly a masterpiece of cinema. 

 The ending is powerful and horrific. Be warned.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008)

Morgan and Diane

Morgan and Diane as Ruth and Alex in 5 Flights Up (2014)

My two favorite actors star together for the first time in 5 Flights Up,
a romantic comedy about a long-married couple who move out of the
home they've lived in for years. I haven't seen this film yet.
I'm waiting for it to come out on Netflix.

Take a peek at my Morgan and Diane scrapbook:

Diane in Annie Hall (1977)

Morgan as Hoke in Driving Miss Daisy (1989)

Diane as Nina Banks in Father of the Bride (1991)

Morgan as Sgt. Major John Rawlins in Glory (1989)

Diane as Bessie in Marvin's Room (1996)

Morgan as Red in The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Diane as Annie in The First Wives Club (1996)

Morgan as Detective Somerset in Se7en (1995)

Diane as Georgia in Hanging Up (2000)

Morgan as God in Bruce Almighty (2003)

Diane as Erica Barry in Something's Gotta Give (2003)

Morgan as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris in Million Dollar Baby (2004)

Diane as Daphne Wilder in Because I Said So ((2007)

Morgan as Lucius Fox in Batman Begins (2005)

Diane as Bridget Cardigan in Mad Money (2008)

Morgan as Carter in The Bucket List (2007)

Diane as Colleen Peck in Morning Glory (2010)

Morgan as Nelson Mandela in Invictus (2009)

Diane as Beth in Darling Companion (2012)

Morgan as Monte Wildhorn in The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)

A Train Wreck

Boy oh boy, there's nothing like a train wreck sequence!

It all started with Buster Keaton's The General (1926)

                       
                                                                                                  

The Bridge Over the River Kwai (1957)

Silver Streak (1976)

Runaway Train (1985)

Back to the Future III (1990)

The Fugitive (1993)

Unstoppable (2010)

Super 8 (2011)

The Story of Film: An Odyssey

Last year when I subscribed to Netflix, I was browsing through titles and came across a documentary series called The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2012). As a film buff and life-time student of the art of cinema, I was intrigued. This series is controversial to some as it tackles traditional ideas of filmmaking and cinematic history and turns them on their heads. Not everyone will agree. 

I find this series fascinating, educational and inspiring. Take a look at the trailer to get an idea of what you'll be getting into if you decide to watch the series.

What inspires you most about cinema?

Z is for Zane Beadles

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

Zane Beadles was born in Casper, Wyoming in 1986. He played football for the University of Utah and received All-American honors. He was considered one of the best offensive lineman available for the NFL Draft in 2010 and was picked up by the Denver Broncos. Here in Cheyenne, we love the Broncos. It's considered our home team. In 2014, Zane left Denver to play for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Are you a football fan?

Y is for Yellowstone

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

My first and only trip to Yellowstone was in the summer of 1976. I was 19 and traveled with Hubby and his parents (who were visiting from Pennsylvania). We stayed in a rustic cabin, caught trout at Yellowstone Lake and saw the magnificent water falls. We checked out Old Faithful and the hotsprings. We saw bears, moose and deer. One of these days I will return. It's my destiny.

Have you ever been to Yellowstone?

X is for boX

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

As a Wyoming writer myself, I'm embarrassed to say I've never read C. J. Box. I have repented and am now reading my first Box novel "Nowhere to Run." WOW --- I can't put it down. Living in Wyoming, I'm pretty excited about the familiar places in Wyoming where his stories are set. "Nowhere to Run" is part of Box's Joe Pickett series. Joe is a game warden in Wyoming and the stories are mystery/crime dramas with a western flair.

Have you ever read a C.J. Box novel?

W is for Wolves

Welcome to the 2015 A to Z Blogging Challenge! Each day for the month of April I will be posting alphabetically from A to Z and my theme is Wyoming.

The Gray Wolf is a controversial subject in Wyoming. In 2012, they were removed from the listed of Threatened or Endangered Species. However, in 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service restored protections of the wolves, even though they are no longer listed as "threatened or endangered." Some Wyomingites are against the wolves because they kill farm animals and pets. Others are for the protection and preservation of the species.

What are recent controversies in your state?