REVOLVED CRESCENT LUNGE (PARIVRTTA ANJANEYASANA)

Revolved Crescent Lunge {Parivrtta Anjaneyasana}- is an intense and deep standing twist. This posture strengthens and elongates the spine, groin, chest, lungs & shoulders. It also increases stamina and balance.

Think of this posture as a cleanse; it rinses, revitalizes and detoxifies all internal organs. This includes the liver, kidneys, spleen and digestive system.

Here, it’s important to maintain the placement of your feet by keeping your front knee over your ankle. The pelvis and spine should elongate making it possible to lift your ribs off the thigh. Depending on the side, lift your elbow to the outside of your thigh.

Don’t rush this pose. Be patient and mindful. Twists oftentimes evokes a feeling of wanting more so it’s important to discipline your body and mind.

HALF MOON POSSE (ARDHA CHANDRASANA)

I have come to understand that Half Moon Pose {Ardha Chandrasana} brings forth this idea of dexterity. This helps demonstrate that the interdependence of certain actions in your body are mutually dependent.

Half Moon Pose allows any type of being to tap into different balancing energies. Such energies could be calmness (like the moon) and intensity (like the sun). The idea of being calm and intense is contrasting, but without the other, they both cease to exist. Ponder this in simple terms: opposites attract.  

Think about the movie OVERBOARD. A rich, snobbish woman who suffers from amnesia ends up falling in love with a poor carpenter. By the end of the movie, the woman discovers gratitude and love and the carpenter learns how to stick up for himself. Ease is discovered!

In Half Moon, your core is the connecting link to it all. While extending your torso in one direction and the uplifted leg in the other, Half Moon educates us on how to balance, tolerate and grow an awareness to something that’s disorienting. Eventually, we will find comfort.

With practice, discipline and determination one will eventually stabilize the rooted foundation and twinkle with confidence in all directions.

ATTEMPTED HANDSTAND

It’s the quirky thing to do, to attempt a handstand until you get it right. I need to engage my core and align my arms and gently distribute my weight to properly balance over my hands.

CRESCENT LUNGE

High lunge, or crescent moon (also called Alanasana)

Crescent Lunge is a hip flexor, meaning it opens up your hips and your chest. The pose itself symbolizes power as much of your core is used to hold your upper body up.

A PERFECT MURDER

Directed by Andrew Davis &Written by Frederick Knott and Patrick Smith Kelly

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Michael Douglas, Viggo Mortensen

Runtime 107 minutes

Summary: Commodities trader Stephen Taylor (Michael Douglas) is married to Emily Bradford (Gwyneth Paltrow). Emily is romantically involved with artist David Shaw (Viggo Mortensen). Aware of this affair, Stephen researches David’s past to discover that he has jail sentences and has scammed other rich women.

When you peel away the obvious layers of storyline that comprises of a suffering marriage, a trust-fund baby and an extra material affair, the focal themes I wish to analyze are negotiation and survival.

We’ll analyze some of the characters in A PERFECT MURDER and then I’ll touch upon things in my life.

Michael Douglas plays the ultimate son of a bitch; a money hungry New Yorker who will stop at nothing until he wins. He’s controlling and keeps two steps ahead of everyone involved in the game. As the story unfolds, we soon discover that his business is in trouble and he’s pretty much broke. He leads a very large lifestyle so admitting to this defeat is highly unlikely for him.

From the get-go, we as the audience understand that Stephen’s marriage to Emily is a sham; it’s not a happy nuptial. We also also learn that Emily is having a steamy affair with artist David Shaw. It appears that he’s the opposite of everything in her world, especially to Stephen. He doesn’t care about the fancy lifestyle; the lavish parties and how much money she’s worth…

What’s exciting about this story is that we’re exposed to twists and turns we don’t necessarily anticipate from the start; at least for me.

What I did not anticipate was Stephen’s business failures and the fact that David has a history of felonies. Furthermore, I discovered that both men are more common than we think: they’re both desperate for money and crooked of the law. They will negotiate ways to make money that are illegal, because money to them is their purest form of survival. Emily is a trust fund baby and has access to tons of money. Is her life worth saving or do these men prefer her money?

After pondering Stephen and David’s histories to consideration, their negotiation tactics made more sense to me. I am not saying I condone their characters, however, they negotiate to survive in a way that makes sense to their gross personalities.

Emily will soon have to investigate her delicate situation by placing her thinking cap on in order to endure and protect herself. Her brilliant thoughts will allow her to negotiate on the law’s side to outlast both Stephen and David’s survival.

Emily’s investigative negations are fair and legal; Stephen and David’s are not. That’s the significant difference here in terms of who will get further. When negotiating a survival tactic for any situation, big or small, staying rooted, honest and true to yourself are musts. Emily negotiates with herself. She will turn over her husband and her lover to authorities to remain lawful and survive.

I’ve seen this movie a handful of times throughout the years. I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I love watching movies that take place in New York. On top of its Manhattan back drop, the thriller keeps me hooked and engaged. Time passes quickly while watching yet it still allows me to escape.

When viewing A PERFECT MURDER in terms of negotiation and survival, it really got me thinking about some deep struggles I have in my life. How do I negotiate through them in order to survive? What do I need to tell myself to get through? Now let me be clear, I am not dying nor are my problems life threatening. They are issues I need to cognitively and fairly work through nonetheless. Once I do, I’ll survive them and tackle the next hurdle that stands in my way.

I’ve had a rocky relationship with my father throughout my entire life. We’re best friends and I adore him, however, he comes with baggage that I am not always willing to take on. I, myself, am not a perfect angel, however, I think I am a little more in touch with myself than he is.

My dad loves me and provides me with everything I need. He also has a temper and has verbally abused me from time to time. The verbal abuse, in turn, has shattered my self esteem and caused me much mental distraught. At the end of the day, I want my dad in my life. So how do I negotiate the appropriate boundaries in order to survive through our tumultuous relationship?

I realize the connection I am trying ot make here is a major leap from A PERFECT MUDER, but I do believe that nobody has a perfect life and issues are personal and significant to each individual no matter what they are. Everyone needs to negotiate whether its with themselves, their spouses, their friends, their lovers etc.. in order to survive the outcome at hand.

What situation(s) have you’ve negotiated through in order to find the right kind of survival?

Yoga Pose: Hurdlers Pose {Eka Pada Koundiyanasana II} – strengthens the abs and the arms and takes a ton of work from all parts of the body. The abdominals must negotiate with the arms nad the legs of the body in order to balance the survival of this pose.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Directed by: David Fincher

Written by: Eric Roth, Robin Swicord

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Tilda Swinton

Runtime: 2 hours and 46 minutes

Logline: The movie tells the story of Benjamin Button; a man whose life begins with him aging backwards. He is born an old man, and dies as a small baby.

 Some people venture to art museums to see a cherished piece of art by some renowned artist. They check out displays from Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Dali, etc… I feel like there’s this notion that art can only be seen in specific and logicalforms and I don’t think that’s true.

What I do know and what I concretely feel is that art, in any arrangement or display, tells a story; there’s meaning and truth behind whatever it is you’re looking at.

I view lots of movies that I consider to be “moving art”. Visually and graphically, certain motion pictures are stunning. When you combine story with an exquisite backdrop, emotional connections and parallels are established between the viewer, the story and the characters. The takeaway is more than visceral.

THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON reaches me on so many levels.

For starters, I’m incredibly drawn to the story. Within this supernatural tale, there are so many important themes I find relevant to my life. So in addition to being attached to the narrative, the production design (the overall look of the movie) is beautiful. This is art!

There’s a captivating love element that’s presented in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON. It’s beautiful and tragic. It’s real and raw. It’s the kind of love I yearn for. Nothing perfect, however, something that’s worth waiting for.

Daisy (Cate Blanchette) and Benjanmin (Brad Pitt) have one of the most authentic love affairs I’ve ever seen on screen. There’s no Hollywood ending here, which is why I find it so tangible. It’s clear their connection is real from the get-go, but their relationship does not begin and exist until the timing strikes. Timing is everything.

I try to focus on that element in my own life. When the timing is right, everything will work out. In order to see that through you need a tremendous amount of patience. Sometimes I yearn for instant gratification. It would feel so right in the moment, but not so much right for my future. With that being said though, I want some of my life questions answered. When will I fall in love? Will someone ever love me? Will I find an occupation that truly makes me happy? When will my timing strike?

Another motif I wish to ponder is this idea of something good lasting? Sometimes when things in my life actually go right, I think, this is dumb luck, this will not last forever. I contemplate that life in general is hard work. You need to work hard to get yourself through the bad, and work even harder to keep the good, staying good.

There’s a line in the movie where Benjamin advises his daughter on the following.

For whatever it’s worth it’s never too late or in my case too early to be who you want to be. There’s no time limit. Start whenever you want. You can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. You can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of. If you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again.

 I mediate to these words. As I mull them over, I feel my skin rise. Will I have the strength to get through the bad, to work for the good and to live a life I am proud of? Is it a combination of hard work and right timing? What are my rules?

I now want to tie everything back to my opening paragraph of this post, because in life and in art, there are “no rules to this thing”.

Any art form draws a kind of sensation. In the instance of THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, my passion and sentiment is not necessary logical. It needs to be peeled, layer by layer. With this film, I begin with story; beginning, middle and then the end. Thenceforth, I study the characters. I draw congruencies and inconsistences to my own life. And irrevocably, as a participating audience member, I look at this voyeuristically; I match the story with the various colors seen on screen, the shadows to the character’s behaviors, the costume design and the makeup to different actions that take place etc…

Yoga Pose: Corpse Pose {Savanna} to Fetal Pose — this evokes the idea of death and rebirth.

ROMANCING THE STONE

Directed by Robert Zemeckis

Written by Diane Thomas

Starring Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito

Runtime: 106 Minutes

Released in 1984

Summary: A romance writer from New York jets to Columbia in hopes of saving her kidnapped sister. Along the way, she finds herself on a wild adventure of thrill and romance!

Do I love this movie? No.

Is it fun? Sure.

Is this the most average title for an exciting picture like this? Absolutely.

So, I’ve been on a romance kick lately. It’s probably because, subconsciously, I am looking to fall in love. Whatever the reason, this routine has led me on a Michael Douglas binge. I’ve already written about BASIC INSCT and now I want to have a gab about ROMANCING THE STONE.

Released in 1984, just three years before I arrived out of my mother, the film tip toes behind similar plot scenarios we’ve seen before; single woman is living alone in search of a fairy tale kind of love. ROMANCING THE STONE contains elements of fun adventure movies like RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK with hints of humor and spirit.

Also, when you’re traveling from New York City, there’s no better place to find love than Columbia with all the marijuana and drug lords you can dream of! Additionally, there are mud slides, endless gun shots, swinging vines and human eating alligators. And… to top it off, there’s sexy American men who pose as the ultimate desperado.

Michael Douglas plays a witty, adventurer; the prototype any single girl would want in their bed. I know I would. He’s confident, he’s sexy and he knows how to weed whack (and I don’t mean in that sense, perverts!). As we watch these two characters walk through tall plants, JACK COLTON (Michael Douglas) whacks down the branches that stand in their way to clear the path ahead.

What I did appreciate about ROMANCING THE STONE, is that this wasn’t the average demeaning “man saves woman” kind of story. In the actions sequences displayed, Jack Colton was not always leading Joan Wilder (Kathleen Turner). Sometimes, she helped him out too and I don’t think the viewer would necessarily expect this. We’re used to a Superman / Louis Lane situation. Superman saves Louis and that’s that.

I think both characters in ROMANCING THE STONE needed rescuing in some way, so their relationship stood on equal ground. They were both lost in their own world; alone and lonely. Finding one another was the common denominator that defined their romance.

MEREDITH GREY

I have been shamelessly falling asleep to Grey’s Anatomy for the past few weeks. It’s streaming on Netflix and I need noise in the background to fully kick into REM Sleep. I don’t have a television in my room so I view on my computer.

As the ongoing reflections of my own life unfold in my mind, I can’t help but think about Meredith Grey. As a fictional character on a soap opera type show, her situations are extreme. While shaping the narrative landscape of the show, the writers will purposely make her circumstances extra intense to keep us as the viewers hooked.

I think an immediate connection for me, is this idea of falling down; hitting rock bottom and finding new ways to pick yourself up; to keep moving when the going gets rough.

Meredith is cool as shit and exudes a ton of confidence. I think confident people are generally strong; they’re willing to roll with the punches and shake things off.

To elaborate on this thought, I think when I have a scarce of confidence or suffer from a lack there of, of self esteem, I wallow in my problems. It takes a lot of energy to even want to move forward. I have to build myself up with positive mantras to take the next step.

Meredith’s life is nuts and her sequence of obstacles becomes totally unrealistic. At one point she’s almost blown up by a bomb, her mother passes away, her best friend moves to Switzerland and oh, the love of her life dies leaving her a single mother of two kids.

When Derek dies, Meredith shuts the world out; she disappears for a while without a trace.

When I get down, I totally isolate. I shut my phone off; I close the world out. In that moment, it’s what I need, however, long term it makes me feel worse.

Can anyone relate?

While writing this post, I can’t help but correlate the idea of self to the root chakra.  The root chakra, located at the base of your spin aligns all other chakras and if your root is out of whack the entire energy line is out of sync. Your root chakra is located closest to earth.

When your root chakra is aligned you feel safe and grounded; confident.  One whose root chakra is stable allows them to more assured with decision making.

Yoga Pose: Frog Pose {Malasana} – The squat pose positions our bodies close to the earth, and assists in calming us down.

SHATTERED GLASS

Directed by: Billy Ray

Starring: Hayden Christensen, Peter Sarsgaard, Chloe Sevigny, Rosario Dawson

Written by: Buzz Bissinger, Billy Ray

Runtime: 94 Minutes

Summary: The true story about a rising journalist who was on top of his game. As time progressed, his editor uncovered that over half of his stories were fabricated.

I remember watching this movie for the first time in my high school journalism class. It was shown to us so we could truly understand the obvious ethics of journalism. Since then I’ve come back to it several times. I don’t have a rhyme or reason why, I just really like the movie.

Stephen Glass was a rising journalist at an emerging paper in Washington DC.  The narrative story of Stephen’s rise and fall happens at a quick pace to keep us as the audience involved. Furthermore, the characters are easy to connect with. Even though Stephen severely breaks the law, you can’t help but feel bad for him. His actions are intolerable, however, he evokes sympathy as he is his own worst enemy.

To this day, I think to myself, “How bad does he feel about this actions”. When someone commits any crime as bad as that, how do they tolerate such guilt?

I started pondering certain consequences after some of my negative actions. I’ve never committed a crime or plagiarized a story, however, I have hurt people’s feelings and spread rumors in the past.

When I do something bad, whether its telling a lie, hurting somebody’s feelings etc… I usually become super anxious. My body is physically reacting to my bad behavior. On top of physically being uncomfortable, I ruminate certain thoughts in my head over and over. I think “you are such a bad person”, “what the fuck is wrong with you”, “you deserve absolutely nothing” over and over in my head.

Last week somebody told me a secret about a social acquaintance that I know. I innocently told all of my friends over dinner during a bachelorette. The tequila was flowing and it caused me to word vomit.

A few days later when I was back in Chicago, the cannon ball of guilt hit me hard.

I started regretting my actions. I would literally be driving in the car and the ruminations would begin. At one red light I would think:  why did you open your mouth. Green Light: you fucking suck.

I told myself that I NEVER want to feel like this again; lesson learned.

That evening I did a hot yoga class and reflected upon my actions. I guess sometimes you need to do things that make you feel like shit to understand the consequences of acting out of line.

Yoga Pose: Triangle Pose

THE HUNT

Directed by: Thomas Vinterberg

Written by: Tobias Lindholm & Thomas Vinterberg

Starring: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Alexandra Rapaport

Runtime: 115 minutes

Summary: A kindergarten teacher who lives a lonely life gets caught in a horrendous situation. He becomes the town pariah when a young girl wrongly accuses him of sexual abuse.

This movie is a character portrait about a good man who suffers from unfortunate occurrences and terrible accusations. It also displays the catastrophic result of untrue rumors in small town societies.

Lucas (Mads Mikkelsen) is caught in the middle of a tricky puzzle. Young children have vivid imaginations and adults have their fears and suspicions, rightfully so.  The anatomy of this character that we see on screen, mimics our civilization in so many ways; especially when you peel away the layers one by one.

Lucas is a beloved kindergarten teacher. All the kids at school love him. He’s a wonderful teacher, he’s a wonderful friend and a wonderful father. All of this is shattered when his best friend’s daughter, Klara tells the school that he has misbehaved with her physically.

His reputation in this small town is instantly shattered. His son, who believes his father, becomes ostracized. In the town they reside in, the beliefs are as follows: children never lie.

I was so poignant when I watched this movie. I was emotional because the mere thought of any adult taking advantage of a young child burns a hole in my stomach. For me, that’s the most unfathomable act anyone can commit.

And on the contrary, it split my heart to see a man, whose character could never commit such a crime be accused of actions such as that. For a viewer to get so wrapped up in a character like that is intense and haunting. It takes a good actor like Mads Mikkelsen to display such a range of dramatic emotion.

THE HUNT left me with a sinister which was two fold. As mentioned above, taking advantage of any young child is horrendously grotesque. And to see a man like Lucas accused, was equally immeasurable to watch.

In society today, especially in small towns, word of mouth allegations spread like wild fire. As a person living in this kind of culture, I’ve learned over time not to open my mouth about occurrences that are sensitive unless I have the hard facts. I don’t judge until I am fully educated.

I have totally been in those situations where I believed a lie about someone or something and it was totally false. Instead of stopping it, I was ignorant and blathered about it. It not only proved that I lacked logic and intelligence, but I contributed to the hunt of the rumor

DIRTY DANCING

Directed by: Emile Ardolino

Written by: Eleanor Bergstein

Starring: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach

Runtime: 100 minutes

Summary: A teenage girl learns about love, adult responsibility, stepping outside her comfort zone and how to do The Dirty Boogie!

DIRTY DANCING is a classic, however, I don’t actually love the movie. DIRTY DANCING is fun filled with great performances, however, I find the narration (especially in the first act) to be a bit slow.

I am partial to it because it represents this idea of forbidden love; opposites attracting while staying true to their core identities.

The film takes place at a family resort, somewhere in upstate New York. The people who stay there are presumably wealthy types. The staff who serves them are lower class. Here’s a classic plot scenario that’s been done in so many films before (rich girl falls in love with poor boy).

The staff at this resort range in terms of responsibilities. There’s the wait staff, the cleaning staff and the dance staff. Johnny (Patrick Swayze) is by far the best looking dancer; he’s a total bad ass and would regularly not fall for a girl like Baby (Jennifer Grey). Baby is an intellect; she’s sheltered; she comes from a wealthy family. Baby is a guest of this fancy resort.

So here we go… Baby (Jennifer Grey) falls in love with Johnny (Patrick Swayze). Their love and their chemistry is certainly not instant. It slowly evolves. Their eventual caring for one another is what triggers my soul each time I watch DIRTY DANCING. They’re both so different, however, their love sanctions them to find a common ground.

At first, Johnny barely pays attention to Baby, he does not even notice that she’s there.

A situation soon arises.  Johnny’s best friend Penny gets pregnant. Penny decides she does not want to keep the baby and needs to get an abortion. The only time the doctor can see Penny is on a night where she and Johnny are meant to do a number at a near by hotel. To help save the day, Baby offers to fill in for her. Johnny and Baby partake in the dance number together. Johnny not only has to teach Baby the entire routine, but the basics of dancing. It’s clear that Baby is attracted to him, however, it’s not yet clear if Johnny’s feeling reciprocate.

This entire sequence resonates emotionally for me. I think about myself in this kind of setting and I don’t mean having to fill in to do a dance number. Let me elaborate. Have you ever liked someone; had a crush on an individual and had to engage in activity that shows your vulnerabilities and weaknesses? That’s so fucking scary! Thoughts immediately run through my mind like like does he think I’m weird, he must hate me, etc…

As they get to know one another, there’s this energy that opposites really do attract. Baby does not change her values and nor does he.

At first, Baby’s actions cause Johnny to belittle her. For example, every time there’s a crisis he says that she runs to her “daddy” to ask for help. He doesn’t understand why she wants to change the world. In Johnny’s eyes, Baby is naïve. Johnny comes from a different background and has been exposed to different things. Once Johnny gest to know her, these characteristics that once bothered him, now endear him. Johnny in turn, is arrogant and egotistical; Baby grounds him.

The next defining moment I want to touch upon is when Baby confesses her feelings to Johnny.

After their dance number, Penny is in horrible medical trouble. Baby, of course, runs and asks her daddy for help since he’s a doctor. Baby’s father shuns Johnny. He believes Johnny is the reason Penny is knocked up. Baby then goes to Johnny’s cabin.

She enters and it’s awkward; they make small talk. Their body language is timid.

She apologizes for the way her father treated him.  She continues talking. Johnny says to Baby, “the reason people treat me like I am nothing is because I am nothing”. Baby says, “That’s not true, it doesn’t have to be that way”. Johnny realizes he’s never met anyone like Baby – someone who wants to change the world and who isn’t afraid.

Baby responds “I am scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel when I’m with you.” There’s a pause. The music plays. She asks him to dance. They dance and their love is in full bloom.

Watch the scene here.

Baby, while maintaining her true self, values and beliefs wins over the guy who has such a hard exterior. He adores her principles and it makes him love her more.

anyone to really love me for who I am. There’s this guy in my yoga class who I have a total crush on. I so badly want to be confident and bold and go up to him and say hello. I suppose it’s human nature to be shy, however, I truly believe a guy like him would never fall for someone like me.

Baby and Johnny defy those very odds I am so afraid of. I desperately want to be vulnerable around someone; to be my best self and my worse self.

I realize DIRTY DANCING glorifies this idea, however, this hurdle remains very real to me.

Can anyone relate?

Yoga Pose: Heart Chakra, High Lunge with Shoulder Opener, Wild Thing

BATMAN

Released: 1989

Directed by: Tim Burton

Written by: Bob Kane, Sam Hamm, Warren Skaaren

Starring: Michael Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger

Runtime: 126 minutes

The other day, I was having an in depth conversation with a client about movies and how if a film doesn’t gross enough money, it’s not “good’ by Hollywood standards. This prompted me to ask him if he knew anything about the deal Jack Nicholson negotiated when he signed on to play the Joker in Batman.

In the late 80s’, when Tim Burton shot BATMAN, comic book movies were not quite the enterprise that they are today. Warner Bros wanted to hook the story with some major star power to mitigate any and all risks. Michael Keaton (as BATMAN) was their first cast and he remains my favorite Batman to date. Additionally, the studio wanted Jack Nicholson to play the villain role as Joker. Based on what I have researched, Nicholson’s fee (at that time) was $10 million /per film. He also had a shit ton of star power. He used that power to drive a brilliantly negotiated contract.

Nicholson, agreed to play the role for a much lower fee than he was usually commissioned for. He complied to this with the understanding that he would get a piece of all future Batman earnings, regardless if he was in them or not! This doesn’t’ translate to just box office sales; we’re talking Batman toys, memorabilia and oh… the Chris Nolan Batmans…

Fuck, I purchased this film on iTunes the other day. I paid Jack!

I LOVE action movies, especially when they involve a sexy Michael Keaton in a cape, running around, saving the world and hooking up with women. Action is always a good diversion for me.

Every time I watch BATMAN, I immediately become immersed with the world that is Gotham City.  Even as I view it now (I’ve probably seen it 100 times), I might be sitting in my bed, but feel as if I am not in my bed; I am transplanted into an alternate universe. Props to the production design on this film.

In the world that is Gotham City, we watch a character dual between Batman, who represents all that is good verse The Joker who is evil and nasty. We also understand the back story on each character. We get why Batman fights so hard to keep the peace. As a child, he saw his parents murdered. Joker, a not so great man before he became super evil, was pushed into a pool of poisonous chemicals. He did, however, become the Joker against his free will.

I think I cared more about the relationship between BATMAN and The Joker than I did about Bruce Wayne and Vicky Vale (Kim Bassinger). She was great and it was fun to watch them (even with minimal chemistry) however, when it comes to watching connections, I need more emotion; more sex!

And emotion there was when it came to Batman verse the joker or to simplify this; good verse evil. This got me to thinking.  Maybe everyone has a Batman and a Joker within. It correlates to the very image of the angel one one shoulder and the devil on another. How often do we give into our bad side over our good?

Yoga Pose: {Svarga Dvijasana} Birds of Paradise

To achieve this pose, the balance between the opposites is achieved.

The challenge is to balance the rooted strength of your standing leg with a blossoming openness in your torso and extended leg.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Written and Directed by: Matt Ross

Starring: Viggo Mortensen, George MacKay, Steve Zahn, Frank Langella

Runtime 118 minutes

Summary: A father raises his six children in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. He is forced to take them from their paradise when his wife (their mother) dies. Together they venture into the real world, which brings up a plethora of unforeseen challenges.

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is all about family and I think its fair to say that every family is different in their own way. This is good because it makes everyone unique and from there, different values are defined.

Viggo Mortensen plays Ben. Ben, a heavily devoted father, raises his children in the wilderness. He instructs them through rigorous training so they can learn to protect themselves. Additionally, he home schools them in the wilderness. They can read, write, speak and understand several languages, play instruments, cook, etc…  They really are all hyper intellectuals. His eldest son secretly applies to a handful of Ivy league universities and gets accepted.

Raising your family in the woods, away from the outside world, raises moral questions for sure. To me, the idea makes me feel light. It makes me feel less anxious about my daily worries.

For example, I find myself constantly on my iPhone. I scroll through Instagram, snap chat, emails, text messages etc… it’s a habit that I really hate, yet it’s subconsciously engrained in my daily routine. In the woods, Ben and his family do not have electricity when night falls. They sit around a fire. They discuss ideas, they sing songs, they dance. This movie made me feel spiritual and soulful.

My only quandary I had was this whole idea about social interaction.

When someone is away from the world like that, they rely on themselves and their surroundings. It’s important though to meet new people; people that are different from you and connect with them. I think connections with other are key to learning about yourself. You will agree on things and disagree on things. Those kinds of exchanges define your values.

If you read reviews on this movie, critics all over the country talk about how Ben is portrayed as a bad dad, where as I felt the opposite.

I have a long history of ups and downs with my father. Today, he’s my best friend, but it took us a while to get there. The one constant I’ve always had with him, is that I know he’s always loved me. Our parents are people too and sometimes; people have a funny way of showing things. We’re human.

Watching Ben on screen reminded me of my dad. My dad is far from perfect, but he’s my dad. Ben raised his children in a certain way and for a while it worked, but as time progressed, there were flaws in the system. His love, however, was constant.

He also has a back and forth relationship with his parents. I love my grandparents, but boy are they set in their ways. It’s their way or the highway. My dad, for whatever its worth, beats to his own drum… and honestly, it’s more like a Congo! That dynamic between Ben and his mother and father in law correlates to my dad’s situation with his family.

What are your family dynamics like? Please share 🙂

Yoga Pose: Tree Pose {Vrksasana}

Looking at a tree we are conscious of alignment, uprightness and strength. There is BALANCE between the spread of the branches and the root system that expands in width and depth. When balance is out of whack, the tree will fall down. Seeking that equilibrium, however, is reasonable to re-obtain.

THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS

Directed by: Chris Renaud

Written by: Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio, Brian Lynch

Starring: Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Jenny Slate

Run time: 87 minutes

Summary: Max the terrier’s’ quiet life is turned upside down when his owner takes in Duke, a stray whom Max instantly dislikes.

This core idea, which is what do our pets do when they’re home alone is golden. It’s why I wanted to see THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS. Furthermore, I think it’s an inspiring proposition to get families and kids to see the movie.

Animal lovers, like myself, oftentimes wonder what their pets do all day long. I sit at my day job in film texting my family pictures of our bulldog Patch. We say, where’s Spoogie? (We call him Spoogie, pronounced SPOO-GEE).

My brother and I have debated getting a doggie cam, but realistically I think our baby just sleeps all day.

So, I LOVE the way this movie starts and I LOVE the way it ends. The in between lost my attention with its tangled story line. The beginning shows what each animal does when their owners leave. Some don’t care (like the cat) but others cry and some sit by the door.

When my brother leaves each day for work, Patch sits by the door and cries. So needless to say, the characteristics portrayed on screen were spot on.

I also appreciated the way the writers took certain temperaments of different breeds and intertwined those traits into the build of each character. One of the stars, Gidget, a little Pomeranian, fierce as the night, is fluffy and full of energy. That’s how most Pomeranians are. They bark a lot, they’re intense, but they’re very focused and loyal to the one’s they love. My girl Jenny Slate lent her voice to Gidget and did a fantastic job.

As the movie was drawing in on its final act, it showed all of the dog’s reactions to their owners coming home. One of the doggies got so excited to see his mom and dad, that he peed! There’s a new black lab puppy that just moved in next door to me. The other day I was playing with him near my elevator (his name is Duke) and he accidently peed on my foot!

A little over two years ago, my brother came home with a little bull dog puppy named Patch. I remember hopping off a flight from New York; so eager to meet him for the first time. I reminisce walking into my dads, hearing his little puppy bark from his crate. His little innocent eyes gazed out at me. I was an auntie for the first time and it was my job to make sure this little guy got everything he needed; to be fed, to be walked and to be loved.

To this day, the love I have for Patch is beyond. When Patch stays with me, everything is about him. We wake up and he goes right out, he gets his breakfast before I get my first cup of coffee – no questions asked. Patch is incredibly grounding for me; both physically and emotionally. Grounding is a natural way to improve stress and anxiety.

Have you ever walked barefoot on the sand and recalled this feeling that your leg is super attached to your body? Sometimes when my anxiety is super spiked, I feel as if I am having an out of body experience; my arms are not attached to my torso; I kind of feel disoriented in a way. Grounding brings me back down and makes me feel super present and in the moment.

When I pet Patch, I am totally in the here and now. When I care for him, it deepens this sense of purpose for me, which ultimately allows me to relax.

Yoga Pose: DOWNWARD FACING DOG

BASIC INSTINCT

Directed by: Paul Verhoeven

Written by: Joe Eszterhas

Starring: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, Jeanne Tripplehorn

Summary: A violent, debarred police detective (played by Michael Douglas) investigates a brutal murder, in which a seductive woman (Sharon Stone) is the main suspect.

Before jotting down my own thoughts, I decided to skim through some previously written reviews. Critics all over were fairly mixed and I suppose if I were to critique this film like a true cine-file, I would be too. On top of wanting to bone a 1992 Michael Douglas, I actually loved this movie. It occupied my time with mystery and intriguing characters. I was attracted to Michael Douglas’s character (would have climbed him like a tree) and fascinated with the confidence exuded by Sharon Stone.

But I aim to tackle BASIC INSTICT from a completely different angle as it got me thinking about self confidence, in general.

As I watched BASIC INSTINCT, my reflections were two fold. I thought about this idea of  lust and self confidence.

I first pondered on a relationship I once had that was purely based on sex and lust. Emotionally, I received nothing, which eventually made me feel depressed. It also depleted my self confidence. Each time we slept together, my level of self confidence lowered. You could tell by my behavior too, because I continued to go back for more.

Lust is a powerful thing and is driven by physical attraction and fantasy. Sexual desire can triumph over what someone actually needs from a relationship. This kind of sexual attraction obliterates common sense and intuition. For me, the lust I had for this person fueled this idealization of what I wanted our relationship to be and it was never going to get there. Shame on him once, but shame on me twice. The more I gave into this sexual lust, the further I opened myself up for bitter treatment.

Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) is blinded by his lust for Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone). Residing as an already a troubled cop, his sexual desire for her clouts certain judgments on solving the murder mystery at hand.

This leads me to my second point. Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone) vibrates the screen with sexuality and confidence. She gets what she wants. She makes men fall in love with her. She’s also a successful writer. I am not one of those girls that necessarily makes men stop in their tracks. There’s a list of physical reasons I can name, but I believe on top of superficiality, I lack a certain self love.

I am good at what I do, but I doubt myself in terms of career. I am afraid to ask for more money; I struggle to fight for my self worth in the work place.  A lack of confidence holds me back on many things I want to do.

When you have self love and self confidence, that kind of energy shines from within. It attracts people to you. I wish I had more confidence; I wish I believed in myself more.

When you meet me for the first time, it’s often hard to tell that these feelings exist from within. I am bubbly, energetic and loud; however, that does not always mirror my insides.

The story of BASIC INSTINCT was fuled by lust and the self confidence of Catherine Tramell.

Yoga Pose: Cat- Cow {Bitilasana}

This pose is simple, yet it provides necessary benefits like breathing. It helps with the spine. Benefits include better posture and breathing.

It might get sexual imagining two people getting it on in Cat-Cow #meow

21 GRAMS

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Written by: Guillermo Arriaga

Starring: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Danny Huston, Benicio Del Toro

Runtime: 124 minutes

A happenstance hit and run unites a critically ill mathematician, a grieving mother, and a born-again ex-con.

The story in 21 GRAMS evolves non-chronologically. Telling this story out of sequence is imperative because it plays with our idea of perception. There are moments where we as the audience; the observing spectators know things before the characters even realize they’re happening; and vice versa. Although I barley passed physics, I comprehend the laws that define time. In 21 Grams, the past, present and the future cease to co-exist in natural order, but works as measures unfurl and consequences are faced. 21 GRAMS gets away with altering time because it moves back and forth between these three stories whose common denominator lie in this horrific traffic accident.

21 GRAMS is tormenting and utterly depressing. I think that’s the reason why it ultimately allows me to escape. The acting is stellar, which allows for pure tragedy to take place. No matter what mood I am in, I am focused purely on the story. The actors embody the pain of the characters so when I watch them, I understand how they feel. 21 GRAMS is like piecing together the saddest puzzle in the world.

21 GRAMS also offers up this idea of unexpected connections. Relatable coincidences happen all of the time. Do you ever stop and say: what a small fucking world.Although these chances are far more dramatic than anything I’ve faced, it feels real.

I want to focus in on this idea of coming to peace with yourself or a situation.

Naomi Watts plays Christina Peck. Peck, a once drug addict has found recovery in her family. Her husband and two daughters bring her joy, happiness and stability. In one defining moment, her world is knocked upside down. Her husband and daughters are killed in a hit and run car accident. Not knowing what to clutch to, she relies on substances to make her feel numb.

Although the situation I currently find myself in is far less dramatic, I am in miserable at my job. The people bother me, the work bothers me and I find myself not challenged in the slightest. I am angry about it. Yesterday, I started crying at my desk due to frustration so I walked out. My energy feels unbalanced; it’s as if my body is rejecting this occupation, this lifestyle.

At the end of the movie (although it’s up for the audience to decide) Peck finds peace with the passing of her family.

I want to take charge of my yoga practice, take charge of this blog, take charge of my happiness. I am the only one who can control that.  Although I can’t predict my future, I am coming to peace with making a change. Making an occupational change, making a life change. It’s kind of like my release. As I strive towards this change, my chakras become more aligned. I breath out all that anger and frustration.

Has anyone ever made a drastic change in their life?

Yoga Pose: Garudasana {Eagle Pose}. In Eagle Pose your body might feel awkward and constricted, but you can still ride the wind like an eagle. “Riding the wind” means riding the flow or energy of any situation or any challenging pose. Keep pushing through the discomfort to find the comfort.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL

Directed by: Curtis Hanson

Written by: James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger

Runtime: 138 minutes

#TGIF guys!

It’s Friday night. I have a hot date with my bulldog and my mom and I’m not one bit upset about it.

After I run a hot bubble bath and pour myself a glass of red I am going to turn on one of my favorite movies called L.A. CONFIDENTIAL.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL is based on the best selling novel by James Ellroy. The film explores the dark side of Los Angeles in the 1950s. During that time, Hollywood was presented to the average American as the capital of sophistication filled with rich wigs and movie stars. We soon learn how the LAPD turn a blind eye to corruption; how the tabloid rags get their tip offs and how pimps pay for their call girls to have plastic surgery to make them more closely resemble well-known movie stars.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL softly resembles Roman Polanski’s CHINA TOWN, both film noirs. Film Noir is a cinematic term used to describe Hollywood Crime Dramas. One can usually distinguish a film noir movie by its unconventional style; dark lighting and a particular composition of visual elements. Protagonists and antagonists usually comprise of private eyes, cops, gangsters, fugitives and femme fatales.

We are introduced to three erratically different cops who are thrown together during various investigations. Flamboyant narcotics detective Jack Vincennes (Kevin Spacey), the macho man Bud White (Russell Crowe) who saw his mother brutally beaten to death as a boy and straight-laced, brown nosing Ed Exley (Guy Pearce). Their personalities and character traits string together perfectly.

Bud White is my quintessential dream hunk. He’s hot, strong, angry and very protective over woman. I used to have fantasies about sleeping with him.

The three cops are once again looped into a brutal murder investigation. A bloody massacre occurred late night at a diner. Quickly, the case initially closes. The LAPD arrest of three African-American men, however, Vincennes, White and Exley suspect that it’s a set up. They happen to be right.

As they quietly continue to probe and question various suspects, they stumble upon a man named Pierce Patchett (David Stratharin). Patchett resides in a beautiful home nestled deep in the Hollywood Hills. Some of his money comes from a call girl service he runs. The hookers he provides all resemble Hollywood stars. One of the hookers, Veronica Lake look-a-like, Lynn Bracken sleeps with both Exley and White. Her heart, however, lies with White.

L.A. CONFIDENTIAL is pure entertainment. It’s filled with corrupted cops, powerful men, endless lies and beautiful women. It’s kind of like reading a really well written “US WEEKELY”.

I am continuously drawn to this story because it really allows me to escape. I’m also infatuated with the love element weaved into the narrative. I dream about being with a guy exactly like Bud White. Bud White falls for Lynn Bracken. Although Lynn is beautiful she’s certainly imperfect. He sees through all of that and cares for her deeply.

Their love story gives me hope. I know it sounds strange, but I crave a love like that. The way he looks at her; the kind of people they are. Both Bud and Lynn are deep and sympathetic. They’re also not rich in funds. In fact, when you peel away their layers of brutal cop and high class hooker, they’re actually quite ordinary.

I hope someone like Bud White will someday love me for all of my imperfections.

Yoga Pose: Urdhva Mukha Svanasana {Upward Facing Dog}. This pose opens up the chest and the heart. It also deepens the spine.  Upward facing Dog taps into Chakra #4, the heart chakra. This is the wellspring of love, warmth, compassion and joy.

FILM FORMATS & THE EVOLUTION OF DIGITAL FILMMAKING

Movie making began in the late 1800s. Motion picture cameras were invented and film production companies started to establish for business. Telling stories on screen soon became a lucrative form of entertainment. It’s important to remember that movies were made without any sound until 1927.

Back in the day, films were formatted in a width size of 70mm. What is 70mm, you ask?  70mm film is a wide high-resolution gauge for still or motion picture photography. 70mm images are large, bright and oh so beautiful. These type of lenses hold sharpness and contrast across the entire frame. 70mm is twice the size of a standard 35mm Academy standard. If you’re sitting in the movie theater and the film you’re watching is 70mm, an ant for example, will appear to be the size of a dinosaur. Furthermore, you see a crisper and more detailed image. Most cine-files prefer and adore the 70mm format. Quentin Tarantino, for example, has expressed that all films should be made in this structure. Christopher Nolan and Paul Thomas Anderson, among others, agree.

Now that we have a better understanding of what 70mm is, I would like to tell you all a story.

Once upon a time, a night out at the movies was a sought out happening. People would dress up, have a cocktail and trek out to see the latest flick. Today, seeing a Broadway show used to be like going to the movies. As populations increased and the demand for movie theaters heightened the screens got smaller and the 70mm stock prices increased. 70mm was soon pushed away and adopted by the Academy standard 35mm format before the rise of digital.

35mm, also shot on film stock (or film celluloid) has a similar feel to 70mm, but contains much smaller aspect ratios by half the size.  Most movie theaters today are still equipped to play 35mm. We still get a bigger and brighter picture, but not quite as large as 70mm (refer to the picture above).

I have heard before that history tends to repeats itself. Today, screens continue to shrink in size becoming smaller and smaller. People are now watching movies on their iPhone, iPads, smart phones and computers. In this new digital age, brand new versions of films are able to crux down the image size to whatever scope your screen is without compromising resolution. The reason being is that most films are now physically shot on digital instead of film celluloid (70mm & 35mm).

Lots of movie theaters today show movies on DCP. DCP stands for Digital Cinema Package. This is a collection of digital files used to store and then convey digital cinema. This technology speeds things up and is much cheaper than shooting on film (70mm & 35mm). Shooting digitally provides filmmakers with new tools and innovative techniques to tell their stories on screen. Digital film allows us to see movies in 3D and to stream video on the internet. Some say this format is less authentic.

Filmmakers like James Cameron and George Lucas swear by digital shooting. They have boosted 3D movies by making such hits like AVATAR and STAR WARS in the digital formats. With digital shooting, filmmakers have endless options on elevating their stories. For example, they can dive into special effects using some of the latest technologies. The flexibility with digital special effects allows audiences to view an object in a more realistic way. There’s always a chance, however, that it will look artificial.

Take the beloved character Yoda for example from the STAR WARS series. In the later movies, Yoda is brought to life in a more realistic way due to digital shooting and technology.

I urge you all to take a peak at a documentary called SIDE BY SIDE. Yes, it stars Keanu Reeves, but don’t turn your noses up so fast. He takes audiences on a tour of the past and future ways of filmmaking and this groundbreaking evolution of digital cinema.

What formats of film do you all prefer?

Yoga Pose: Savasana {Corpse Pose} leading into fetal pose, leading into Sukhasana {Easy Pose}

When a yoga practice is about to conclude you honor your body and the room’s energy in Corpse Pose. This symbolizes the death of the practice. Your mind is still; you are at peace.

Your body then awakens with breath and minimal movement leading one into fetal pose: the re-birth.

Finally, with that movement reach your arms up overhead and draw your knees in towards your chest to press yourself up into Easy Pose. Your body is grounded and centered.

YOUTH

Directed by: Paolo Sorrentino

Writer: Paolo Sorrentino

Starring: Michael Caine, Rachel Weisz, Harvey Keitel, Paul Dano

Runtime: 124 min

I have now watched YOUTH two times. The first time, all by my lonesome and the second with my mom. I really wanted her to see the film it so I promised to watch it with her. We’re cuties like that.

I was utterly captivated by the visuals and emotionally stirred with the music. I am listening to the soundtrack as I write. Throughout YOUTH’s two-hour runtime, each character that I encountered was emotional, beautiful and tragic. I can’t help but identify with those characteristics (especially the beautiful factor – wink, wink)….

YOUTH takes place in a rather majestic setting. Enter in on a luxurious spa in the Swiss Alps. If truth be told, at first, I was not entirely certain whether it was a rehab or a hotel as the people coming and going were mostly famous actors, writers, musicians, sports figures, etc… But in fact, it’s a rather stunning hotel, located in the greenest of fields and the bluest of skies.

Two of the guests we meet are Fred Ballinger (Michael Caine), a composer, and Mick Boyle (Harvey Keitel), a movie director. Both are veterans in their respective fields and also happen to be life long friends. At this point in their junctures, the two of them have grown old, however, you soon come to understand that their history is quite colorful; much like the scenery surrounding the hotel. They are now coming to terms with their age. What they had, what they did; the music they composed; the movies they made is reality no more.

Youth evoked this sort of spiritual enlightenment inside me. A parallel ambiance could be compared to my mediation period in yoga. I am deep in thought and still in space and time. YOUTH is also like a meditation. It focuses on the sentiments of aging, friendship, love, loss and pain. This idea of growing up is represented with such melancholy and I cannot help but reflect on where I stand in my own life as well as the relationships I currently have.

I am 28 years old. I am young and have my entire life ahead of me, but right now, I feel paralyzed. I live in Chicago and work in film, but feel completely trapped. I also feel misunderstood. Sometimes I think I am way too unconventional for the people around me; even my close friends.

I have this desire to run away, go explore and take a risk. Something holds me back and to me it feels tragic. I say I am trapped because I am so bogged down in this very moment. It disables me to glimpse at even the faintest light at the end of the tunnel. Does anyone identify with this? Most days I breath through it and ride this unsteady wave. Other days I am flooded with anger and rage.

For this reason alone, the film is completely tangible to me. I have no choice but to believe that everything will be ok. I do not strive for perfection because I don’t believe that’s realistic. But I strive to feel content, strong and free. I need to let go.

Yoga Pose: Happy Baby Pose

When we control our minds and senses in meditation, focusing on internal reality and renouncing external claims, the potential manifests: A happy baby is born.

DIGGING FOR FIRE

Written by: Joe Swanberg & Jake Johnson

Starring: Jake Johnson, Rosemarie DeWitt, Orlando Bloom, Brie Laron

Runtime: 85 minutes

DIGGING FOR FIRE illustrates that marriage is more than just two people “being together” by a binding law. Commitment is intense and glows with life force. This phase of life is full of choices that result in comprise and sacrifice.

DIGGING FOR FIRE tells the story of Tim (Jake Johnson) and Lee (Rosemarie DeWitt). Lee, an LA yoga teacher, accepts an offer from one of her rich clients to housesit their fancy home in the Hollywood Hills. Their stay is quickly complicated. Tim’s discovery of a bone and rusty old gun in the yard urges him to keep digging… Lee asks Tim not to dig any further and reminds him that his focus should be on the family taxes. The argument sends them on separate and unexpected weekend adventures.

While the two separate for the weekend, questions of parenthood (they have a son), sex, identity and ageing are contemplated. Swanberg allows us to dive into Tim’s head and heart. He is mystified and perplexed. He loves his wife, but can he live up to her standards? He is tempted with the idea of infidelity. Will he throw it all away?

DIGGING FOR FIRE brings each character to an emotional edge; situations test their weaknesses and strengths.

I am currently not in a relationship. I live a pretty single life so this idea of sacrifice and commitment feels a bit foreign to me. Majority of my friends are either married or engaged so I can fully apprehend that being together requires give and take.

DIGGING FOR FIRE allows a person like me to somewhat step into the shoes of a married couple. To be with someone forever feels good, but I know that some days will be rigid. I am excited by the idea of falling in love but afraid of so many things. I am petrified of getting hurt and unsure of how much I want to change. Only time will tell.

Can anyone relate?

Yoga Pose: Camel Pose

Camel Pose releases one’s emotional center and opens us up to vulnerability