Johnny Depp, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ewan McGregor lead an all-star cast in this criminally funny comedy. After a priceless painting is stolen, shady art dealer (Depp) is recruited by an old rival (McGregor) to get it back. Hilarious shenanigans ensue. He takes the job to try to appease high-maintance wife (Paltrow); and with the help of his man servant, Mortdecai takes on terrorists, the Russian mob and more. Then Jeff Goldblum shows up with a deus-ex-machina ending. (You remember him from Earth Girls Are Easy right?) This movie is five stars for cheese, lethal cheesiness, and real acting, also for special effects.

Presented in a similar style to 'Amelie' here is a hilarious French Foreign Film which incorporates the maximum amount of surprise plot twists. Very clever mis-en-scene you will want to re-watch it. This film is a satire of world arms trade.

This is a great girl positive coming of age film that is LGBTQ+ friendly in theme. Two high school students who have diligently worked hard to get into great colleges realize at the last minute that they have definitely missed out on enjoying their youth. They decide to try to make up for their entire high school career of seriousness with just 24 hours to go before graduation. Super hilarious. Should be a great Teen movie that adults can get behind; also; I should add that Hollywood has come pretty far in the area of gender positive culturally meaningful high school stories for girls. I shed a little tear.

Tiffany Haddish has a tremendous voice; at first you start reading, stop, and start looking for the Urban Fiction sticker because her lingo is very post-modern millenial, and she plainly admits in chapter one that school was a struggle, but it's a fake out. Narrative and writing prosey comedy obviously come naturally and her story is poignant because it tackles alot of 'Life things' that usually get shoved under the rug in a direct way. Bullying, Mental health, Foster care, American Public Education system, L.A. culture, (and what that will do to a person) are just some of the systems our unicorn heroine finds herself in. Also, if you've ever done some dirt when you were younger and didn't know any better and there was also photographic proof because it's the new millenial; you might identify with her story it speaks to that type of experience. (I am stating it in a broad sense to avoid any spoilers.) This is a killer story; which doesn't disappoint. My review isn't doing her justice. It's great knowing that no matter how the story started; she landed on her feet this is her debut novel and it made it to the NY Times top sellers list for several weeks. Boom. Tiffany Haddish everyone!

You won't have to read this entire book to know this is the good stuff. Here is Whoopi Goldberg laying down the law giving you all the advice you ever wanted on how to negotiate you relationship(s). This book also has a sort of Question & Answer; "ask me anything" motif and has considerate wisdom for any sexual orientation. Lastly, she's even willing to tackle the most difficult questions like "How to rebuild trust after cheating?". If you are in a long term relationship which has turned south look no further let Whoopi rescue your future. And I quote: "Whoopi is one of a very elite group of artists who have won the Grammy, the Academy Award, the Golden Globe, the Emmy, and the Tony." Read this it's hilarious.

With the depth and detail of an encyclopedia, Bungay describes the beginning and end of Great Britain’s most famous World War Two air battle that almost ended its life. He describes the selection and construction of the most famous planes to do battle: the German Messerschmitt 109 and the British Spitfire. Bungay also describes the pilots and their attitudes about air battle and their strategies. Bungay details the successes and failures of the German air assault on England by examining many missions and how the British were able to successfully defend by making the German air assaults too costly.

Play your favorite Moana songs at home!

Here is the autobiographical and very comedic memoir of Alyssa Mastromonaco. Here is the true story of a self-made wonder woman of scheduling and advance who worked on both the Kerry and Obama campaigns before 2008, achieving the title Executive Director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Within are all the bloopers, advice, and a palatable narrative of what her roles involved. This is a pleasant non-chronological whimsical tour of an un-usual career path. Assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for operations at the White House from 2011 to 2014 she is now an A+E Networks executive and contributing editor at Marie Claire. Since she worked so closely with the Obamas, hell....even Bernie....you won't want to leave this off your to-be-read list. This is great reading for anyone with interest in politics and especially appealing for any young(ish) women who want to break into the D.C. scene.

Wonderful Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall film which does a marvelous job of giving you a feel for Hemingway if you are not acquainted with Hemingways works they are timeless and he was captivated by the sea. This is cutting edge 1940s action and acting at it's finest back when the takes were long and actors became heavily imbued by their role choices.

During World War II, American expatriate Harry Morgan helps transport a French Resistance leader and his beautiful wife to Martinique while romancing a sensuous lounge singer.

Classic Hemingway.

Here is a refreshing new Disney movie and the first one to be based on indigenous Hawaiian mythology. Fast paced, full of the requisite song and dance numbers and some less involved sidekick characters here is the story of a tribal chiefs daughter who must complete a coming of age ritual before she can take her place as ruler of her people. This is the island movie you have been waiting for, Dwayne Johnsons influence is unmistakable and it's got that laid back beach vibe to even the dangerous scenes making it very universally viewable by the youngest and oldest audience members. You might even pick up some Hawaiian beyond Aloha and Mahalo. Try; Maui no ka oi !

In Tony Morrison's Beloved based on the true story of Margaret Garner a mother is so aggrieved at the world as she knows it and the slavery her family has been entrenched in that she does what only one other classical character throughout history has done: murder her child to spare it the pain of the world. Euripides, the Greek writer from the 5th century BC writes this via his character Medea in one of his plays. Here, Toni Morrison has given us an African-American spiritual version which is a classic which echos an ancient classic that calls for an end to the destruction of slavery across all history. Beloved is haunting and is the Novel that won her the Pulitzer Prize for Literature. Humanity owes her a huge hat-tip for documenting tragic crimes against humanity in such epic dialogue (through which she will be immortalized). Rest In Peace. 2019.

All is not well for the High Druid of Paranor. Forces within seek his position, forces without seek his life. Exile seems the easiest alternative. At least Drisker Arc can stay alive.

Tavo and Tarsha Kaynin were born gifted with the Wish Song’s magic. In Tavo, the gift has taken a dangerious turn, while for Tarsha, the gift brings the ability to heal.

Their parents have shielded Tavo for as long as they could, but he’s gone from killing the neighbors pets to a bully in the village. Sending him to their uncle's farm is making bad matters worse for Tavo. 

Tarsha knows she can save her brother, but only with the skill of a trained Druid. She set out to find a teacher before its too late to help Tavo.

Can Drisker be the answer to Tarsha’s search; and can Tarsha be the motivation Drisker needs to get back all he has lost?

If you have been following the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the name Murhder will give you chills. His life is the stuff of nightmares. Held in a cold, lightless cell by the male who fathered him; the male responsible for the death of his mother... Murder's one goal in existence is get his hands around his Sire's throat and end him.

Sara's brother has one chance to survive. All she has to do recover "the beloved" for a powerful male and he will release her brother - at least that's what he promised. The tool he's leaning her for the job just isn’t what she expected either.

Together, Murhder and Sara find they have more in common than a mission of rescue or revenge.

Yasuke has seen more the world than most. He has learned to speak fluently in most languages used for commerce. His current employer sees that he has the best of everything in exchange for the shield Yasuke’s skills provide.

The Jesuit Order has sent its highest ranking official to Japan to “convert the heathens” to Christianity, and advance Mother Church. The methods he will employ would be viewed as coercion by today’s standards, but in 1590, Jesuits controlled the Black Ships. The Black ships were not just conveyers of Silk from China. The Black Ship Captains were gun dealers whose cannons could tip the balance of power between feuding Lords. In the game of politics, one wrong move killed thousands.

Against this backdrop, Yasuke’s story reads like a stranger in a strange land that learns to embrace his differences and celebrate his deadly skills.

Evan Winter brings different cultural voice to the fantasy genre with a story as rich and compelling as any penned by Tolkien or Martin. 

Omehi Queens have the power to call the Guardians - dragons. The Gifted are women with the ability to infuse Omehi warriors with tremendous endurance and strength during battle, their abilities come at dire cost.  They have survived near extinction, rebuilt their society, and lived in relative peace long enough for  grandfathers to become grandfathers.

The Hedeni have discovered invaders are spreading and taking land that does not belong to them. Hedeni raiders test the stranger’s defenses and find they are not immortal. If they can bleed, they can be killed; and killed they shall be.

Only the "Guardians" will stand between the Omehi and a terrible repeat of a history that ended in defeat.

With all the excitement of a math exam, Klepacki takes us on an uninspired tour of Avon throughout its history. The exception is the fire breathing foreword by Andrea Jung, past CEO, that reads like a revised, feminist Think and Grow Rich. Yes, she got fired. For those who love Avon, they will appreciate the detailed company history and product profiles minus the mergers and acquisitions musical chairs of the 90’s.The book was published in 2005 when Avon was a behemoth and a love of America and Wall Street. Since then it has taken a roller coaster ride down to penny stock value. Can its business model of independent sales reps survive? Should it have gone to kiosks and stores sooner or avoided them altogether? Better advertising? Read the book and you be the judge. The book and company would make for an excellent case study in business school: how did this debacle happen and why hasn’t it been fixed?

This is worth listening to but I was hoping to do a full Ballet Barre to it and it is not that type of Ballet adajio music. It's basically some totally arbitrary classical compositions and some of the Ballets are the more obscure ones such as labayadere so only the true professional is going to know what steps go to which song. If however; you are a classical musican and you want to play along or you're just sick of your own music you need a cleanse than this album could be the low key all purpose background noise of your dreams.

If you haven't been keeping up with the Donald's tweets, faux-pas, and just general incongruencies reading this book could be a good solution. He has undoubtedly been enjoying what he must see as his starring role. Irregardless of where you stand on the fence about his tactical prowess and leading capabilities this inside glimpse is excellently written by Cliff Sims who will earn your respect and keep you engaged and enthused and believing that minimal good is coming out of the four years and that 'loyalty' is getting the job done (No one knows what that job is but it might have to do with running America). I believe Mr. Sims is up to the task of portraying the man in a biased, positive, non-offensive but clearly tongue in cheek manner which will make you apreciate just how awkward it must be to try and uphold a vestige of democracy and want to advocate for the full re-instation of the normal number of positions and advisors to the president in the White house. Democracy needs full resusitation and this book shows the depth of the power of the president for better or for worse so thank you Cliff Sims.

This book is a co-authored wonderful addition to your personal collection of science books. Full of all things relevent to differentiating between Climate Change v.s Global Warming while in professional company or around your friends this pocket sized book is very thought provoking. While this book is not full of any immediate steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint it will motivate you to do something. Read this because no matter what you believe; the temperature in far Northern Alaska was 85 degrees the other day for three days and there are billions of people that need to grow more consious about their carbon footprint. You can lead others to the light if you read this; either way earth is warming and we are along for the ride. 
 

Maleficent is a malevolent fairy whose power and joie de vivre is un-fairly taken from her by a human whom she had trusted and loved. This is a sleeping beauty fairy story re-telling which explores some broken kinds of love and grudges and damaged feelings issues which are a bit complex for the younger kids to grasp. With little violence the film will be tolerable for a wide range audience however the Disney happy ending leaves even the adult viewer with hope and a good feeling. You will really enjoy the sidekick, the plot, and the ending and what Mrs. Jolie clearly put into the role. In fact; this might be her best role.