Bossman Tina says ''I only bring it up, to explain why I'm not going to talk about it.''

Bossypants witty flow entertains us and establishes Tina Fey as not only a smart writer, but a clever woman with sharp jokes. Her phase from a smothered only child, to awkward teenager, compared to boss of ''30 rock'', is one hell of a ride. 
She explains her hilarious account of a half Greek , quarter German young Tina with bushy eyebrows and a bowl hair cut along with her ordeals as well as success' in her life. Her chapter on the headmaster that is her father, who Alec Baldwin labelled as "quite
something", demonstrates a strong father figure which she describes so accurately and lovingly.
Tina has many laugh out loud moments like when her and a friend watched Tina Turner live on TV, while wondering out loud how cool it would be to have your name on stage that big. A awkward moment later, she reminds her friend of her name again and the equilibrium returns...
There are more funny yet cringing moments when she describes her awkwardness so convincingly. Like when she explains how she kept a boyfriend who would only meet her at night in his car, obviously outwardly ashamed of her. She explains how she still felt attracted to him while he told her stories about his new girlfriend.
Her playful contradiction is endearing to read as she jokes about everyday topics. 
''I feel about Photoshop the way some people feel about abortion. It is appalling and a tragic reflection on the moral decay of our society…unless I need it, in which case, everybody be cool.''

Just to refresh your memories, you may remember Tina as Mathlete teacher Ms Norbury from Mean Girls. She was accused by Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) of being a drug pusher... No?

Mean Girls (2004)

Tina actually wrote the screenplay for Mean Girls (2004) which was a huge hit and was actually inspired by real life events whereby Janis was based on Tina herself in high school. Her SNL team mate Amy Poehler played Mrs George, another hilarious comedian who starred in Baby Mama alongside Fey.

My personal perception of Tina Fey is one of normality. She seems like a everyday person who describes her life like ours. Her relatable character even though she runs a television show which employs two hundred people, is uncanny as she describes a temp job during college as depressing. Her stories of youth and of her life now, reflect a woman who has worked hard to reach her desired post.

''Bossypants'' was quoted as having ''kind of humour that can cause beverages to travel through the reader's nasal passages unplanned'' and with this, I agree. This book is a must read, though serious at times, and in parts revealing the pathetic nature of teenagers, it is a straight talking account of Tina's life from the horses mouth. Her matter of fact style of writing, employs a sarcasm I never thought possible in a biography. 

EAT, PRAY, LOVE.

''Eat, Pray,Love'' is a story of pain through divorce. 

Liz Gilbert played by Julia Roberts is a writer enduring a sticky divorce with a husband who is confused about his goals in life. With a fancy house and what seems to be a loving marriage, Liz doesn't seem content in her non existent happiness. She prays to god on her bathroom floor to give her a ultimatum and she gets one. Her decision to divorce, throws her husband who assumed their eight year marriage was indeed perfect. His desperate plea for one thing  to keep Liz only during the divorce settlement, was heartbreaking if not slightly sweet.
And so her life begins as she meets and falls for  David (James Franco), in New York . He plays a young and terrible actor who meditates to keep sane. Their screwed up short relationship gives Liz the ammunition she needs to change her life.

So she leaves to Italy to eat for four months, devouring every pizza, plate of pasta and cups of wine she missed for so long. She also learns Italian with a teacher and gains a familiar group of many close friends. 
Still recovering from her divorce, she then retreats to India to meditate and come to terms with her life and stress and mostly to pray. Along the way she meets some inspirational characters who help her just as much as she assists them in their problems spiritually. 

She then returns to Bali to speak to a medicine man who forsees the future. He has many surprises for her and she enjoys the wonders of this island. She finds something unexpected in Bali which she may keep for life.

A beautifully poignant movie by one of my favourite actresses. It relinquishes how much problems can affect one's life and sometimes all you can do is leave and take a break in order to mend. 

Creep By Jennifer Hillier

A masters student, the gorgeous Ethan Wolfe, seduces his professor Sheila Tao. They continue a rockin affair and just as she ends it, their relationship turns sour when he pursues to kill the woman he loves. Creep is the correct word which lingers in the air, as the turn of events in this novel will be etched in your mind for days. 
With an addiction to physical love, Sheila struggles to let go of her lover, but also to tell the truth to her soon to be husband Morris. A successful man who banished his drinking addiction with the help of his fiancée , Morris finds it hard to deal with Sheila's affair and past life. A twisted few weeks later, Sheila's marriage and life are both in trouble as she is locked away by Ethan to pay for her ways. A hunt for Sheila begins and all the clues of this tale begin to add up.

Sheila Tao?

A exciting novel which uses a psychological approach to explanations of human behaviour. Creep (Little Brown) delves into how one's past highly affects their future and the scarring events in childhood which adults may never forget. A first novel by Canadian writer Jennifer Hillier, this story chronicles the shame of Sheila's secrets which have the potential to ruin her life. An error in judgement and a psycho later, she is in serious trouble as her fiancée reports her missing.           

Hillier's description of Ethan Wolfe, brings to mind a beautiful psychopath. A smart and claustrophobic obsessive individual, on a selfless pursuit of destruction.  Ultimately, there are many twists which Hillier cleverly presents in disguise which will have you gasping in shock. An excellent exciting new talent I can't wait to read more from. 

Ethan Wolfe?

Here is Radio-head's "Creep" which will make more sense to you soon...

The Help

Based on bestselling novel by Kathryn Stockett and starring Emma Stone, this comedy/drama begins along the basis of a topic we know too well... Racism. 
Living during the reign of the KKK in their town, the tenants of Jacksonville happily hire black maids to clean ,cook and raise their children whilst treating them badly throughout. Through no fault of their own, these maids work hard to earn a living, never being rewarded for their kindness and patience. 
Though at times harshly racist, the film uses Miss Hilly's character to represent racism in it's softest form. A pretty, popular woman with a rich husband, dream home and family is belittled by her stinky attitude toward her black maid Minnie. Miss Hillys suggestions to her friends to get separate toilets for the "negroes" who carry diseases, begins many a problem for the folk of Jacksonville. 

Miss Hilly

Emma Stone plays "Skeeter" a curly haired budding writer on a quest for a career unlike her friends who go fishing for husbands. Her mother and friends dissapointment of her lifestyle alongside her kind treatment of the maids is shocking to her peers, which is why she uses her writing skills to investigate theses women and their evil antics toward the help.
 There are many heartbreaking moments in this film, some shocking you, some making you turn away and others making you want to cry. Miscarriages, broken relationships, old age and the shattering of friendships alongside the reality of racism in the past may shock you. 

Emma Stone playing "Skeeter"

But if anything, there are many, many hilarious moments which you won't believe are able to appear in a storyline with such depth. 
A lengthy yet worthwhile depiction of distinction and proof, that we are all people, no matter what colour or creed. 

With A Cherry On The Top

   

I recently met Cherry Healey, a mother and creator of documetaries lately showing on BBC Three.

She engages with the audience superbly as she allowed us to follow her wedding, childbirth and  recent motherhood with her daughter Coco.  

Aside from personal voyages, Cherry faces some of our worst fears and exposes them from every angle. She explores parenting issues and follows the story of a ruthless, disobedient teenager whose mother constantly worries, compared to a mother who controls every aspect of her daughters life academic and extra curricular. 

Cherry then focused on body image, a taboo topic we often fear on a daily basis surrounding the idea of what is beautiful? 

Cherry gets a make-over

As it turns out, it really depends on many factors.Of course we all see beauty differently, but Cherry is in shock as she scrolls through her old diaries and reads her teen thoughts on her own body image. Her shock continues as she hears from younger girls who hate everything about their bodies and looks, and see beauty through orange tan and overload of make-up. 

Focusing on differing topics each episode, Cherry's Cash Dilemmas delves into ones spending habits whereby Cherry lives the two extremes of living with no money and having too much. She searches through dustbins outside restaurants and food shops for free dinner compared to spending without checking the labels and trying to find a balance. 

She is now at times compared to Dawn Porter which I personally do not understand because of Cherry's different stance on certain issues. 

An exciting new talent which I'm looking forward to seeing more of. 

I wonder what's next?

Sharing Is Caring.. A Poem I Found Through The Grapevine

“I remember when I owned everything

The sun and the moon and the rain, my domain.
Stretched and yawned along the astral plane

The universe is a toy in the mind of a boy.
And life is a movie too, starring you.
Your whole family’s the cast and crew.
That’s a little secret between God and you.

But ain’t it strange how it all makes perfect sense?
Once your life becomes evidence of the need to feel
Love is more than Real.

Because your mother’s love might seem insane,
That’s ‘cause she really knows everything.
Too bad it takes so long to see what you’ve been missing…

(Love like that can’t be measured anyway)
Too bad it takes so long to see what you’ve been missing
(Love like that can’t be measured anyway)
Too bad it takes so long to see what you’ve been missing
Too bad it takes so long to see
Too bad it takes so long…

‘Cause the Real is a construct
It’s the raw nerve’s private zone
It’s a personal sunset that you drive off into alone.”

Classic Animation

"The Lion King" 3D will be returning to our screens soon, along with Rafiki's laugh, the creepy Hyenas of Pride Rock as well as Mufasa and Scar's brotherly battles on the African planes.

 Battles of power and exile beside exhibitions of love, makes this story a classic family tale. It's popularity has outweighed and exceeded primary expectations resulting in a re release seventeen years after it's release in 1994. 

It's success has led to DVD best-seller in rank of sales and the award winning London theatre production which remakes the story perfectly with an astounding precise nature.

Though many other Disney classics have been re released, here are some other examples of animations which are still personal favourites to this day.

The tale of "Thumbelina" (1994) is a heartfelt one following the orphaned little girl who is literally tiny. Her longing to see the world beyond her mothers farm is answered but not quite in the way she had envisioned, as she is stolen from her bed by a toad. Her beauty attracts many creatures in the forest as she makes a tiring trip through different seasons in an attempt to go home. However, her quest is slowed down as she falls in love with a prince, who cannot seem to find her either. This is a beautiful story which will have you watching again and again. 

Anastasia(1997) narrates the story of a young princess who escapes from her home at a young age due to a battle in her family's castle. Her reunion with her family is long overdue, but masked identities and a complicated family past against a evil character named Rasputin, gives the film that action element.

Mulan (1998), a tale of a woman's strength as she joins the army to honour her family in China. Since women were not allowed to join, she has to disguise herself as a man whilst fulfilling all of her duties as a daughter. A riveting storyline with an excellent cast including Eddie Murphy.