The Revenant (2015)

When I began writing this piece, the Oscars were around the corner. I wanted to watch a few Oscar nominated films, and my picks "Joy" and "The Revenant" were no disappointments.
Ever since the Titanic, when I was crazy in love with Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), I have waited for his Oscar win. Will 'The Revenant' cinch the deal for Leo?

Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), the father of a half-native son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) and a frontiersman in the early 1800's is part of a crew of fur trappers. And like in any group there are friends and foes. John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), a sadistic and greedy crew member, isn't too fussed with Glass. Out scouting alone one day, Glass is brutally mauled by a bear and a devoted crew refuses to abandon a fatally injured Glass. They decide to take him along on a makeshift stretcher but the unfavorable conditions gets the crew to realize that Hugh is only slowing them down. They reach a unanimous decision to pay John Fitzgerald and Jim Bridger (Will Poulter), a volunteer, to look after Glass to his last breath and thereupon in the event of his death to give him a respectable burial. John is determined to collect the sum promised to him on all account but has two obstacles to overcome - Jim and Hawk. In the harsh and bitter cold, Glass is left to die in a shallow grave. But the memories of his dead wife is his saving grace and gives him the strength to face brutal blizzards, outwit the Arikara, fight hunger and infection and seek the ultimate redemption.
The amazing cinematography will make you live, breathe and experience every moment of the film.
'The Revenant' was nominated  for and won numerous awards like the BAFTA, the Golden Globe and the Academy as well.
But the one sentence all acclaimed actors want to hear is ~ and the Oscar for 'Best Actor' goes to .... Need I say more. 👏

Word for the day :-
revenant - a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead

The Hateful Eight (2015)

A Quentin Tarantino fan are you? Rest assured - you won't be disappointed. You wouldn't find me at the movies too often and if I am, then you would not catch me anywhere near a Tarantino Film. This was to cut the better half some slack who is always accompanying me to watch some "inane, sappy" nonsense.

There I was, munching on some popcorn and hunkered down in my seat preparing myself for the blood and gore to come. Sigh ...

It is years after the Civil war and there is a blizzard bearing down on rural Wyoming and Major Marquis Warren (Samuel Jackson) is looking to hitch hike to Red Rock. Accompanying him are three dead  wanted criminals, with huge bounties. Warren hails down a stagecoach that is occupied by John Ruth (Kurt Russel) who has handcuffed himself to his bounty, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Daisy who is alive and kicking, has a substantial bounty on her head and that makes John not too trusting of anyone. However, he agrees to give the Major a ride with a promise that they would lookout for each other.
The blizzard soon catches up to them and it's brutal, forcing them to wait it out at Minnie's Haberdashery. And there await the other members of the 'Hateful Eight'.

The movie is divided into six chapters (Tarantino Style) and keeps up the suspense. The effects were great and I was shivering, my husband insisting it was the air turned on low and not the biting cold blizzard.
Word for the day :-
axiomatic -  self-evident or unquestionable

Happy V-Day

I was probably 7 or so when I first heard of Valentine's Day. I was instantly intrigued and I wanted to know everything. From what I gathered, and correct me if I'm wrong, it's a day you celebrate your love for someone dear. I was excited! So I went home, grabbed some paper and my color pencils and got down to it. Now who got lucky that day? My mum, of course. I don't really remember what went on it but I do remember her being surprised and pleasantly so.

Numerous Valentine Days later this year I want to say Thank you and I love you - to all my friends from ages past to this day. We may not meet too often but your presence in my life is truly treasured. You've been a part of all my ups and downs; you've helped heal many wounds and shared in my joys, wiped many tears; you've been my strength, my pillars and my confidantes.

I hope you've all found your Valentine's, like I have mine, and may your lives be enriched and filled with the love of your family and friends;

Lots of happiness and many good times, yet to come. What more could I wish for!

My perfect Valentine's Day number - The Carpenters crooning "The Top of the World"

Insatiable is my hunger for .... Books!

When we first moved into our new house in the early 80's, it was something akin to 'Little House on the Prairie'. It was not the house itself but the surrounding flat-lands. With no telephone and few neighbors, we were literally cut-off from the rest of the world. There weren't too many children to spend time with and I grew with up with books being a constant companion. My parents, who were avid readers themselves, would surprise me with a book every birthday, Christmas and Easter. And I was on 'pins-and-needles' till i could dive in to my new read. I had some 'read-along' ones that I absolutely adored and my trusted Sony Walkman soon transported me to a land of giants, witches, ogres, leprechauns, dwarfs, princesses and fairies of the fantasy world.

My newly crowned King of thrillers

The magic has not faded. I am a voracious reader  and, if possible,  I am even more in love with books today than I was then. I look forward to a trip to the bookstore and for the umpteen time I wish I could buy them all and give them a home.
When I was asked why I loved reading - I had an answer to that. Books don't judge, I said, and they are always waiting to be held, the words leaping out to wrap around me, just like a warm blanket on a cold day.  A temporary escape from reality. Can anything beat the smell of a book - the feel of brand new pages waiting to be opened and the mysteries within its folds explored or even one from the library or a second hand bookstore for that matter, waiting for a new home ..... I don't think so!

Live it up, a little!

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight

Jim Reeves - I Love You Because

In Oslo, Norway, 1964 and lucky are the ones who could hear it, as was and is ...

And Chorizo it was ~ Bon appetito!

It's still mildly cool - a tad - bit chilly in the morning but getting warmer as the day progresses. So I thought, before the onslaught of the summer heat, and the need to stay away from too much spice, why not make chorizo today! And that is exactly what I did. My little twist to the dish were a few raisins and a dash of fish sauce (I know, I know! You're probably thinking - "what are you thinking?").

Sangria time!

But it turned out pretty good, if I may say so myself. Spicy, as chorizo goes, and sweet and tangy with loads of fresh tomatoes! And lovely warm whole wheat bread to go with it. Delicioso!!
🌸
I was lucky growing up cosmopolitan and living the confluence of different cultures. However, I go back to my roots with this dish.

Fisherman in Kerela, Clicked in Dec. 2012

Kerela fish (Indian salmon) curry, on a bed of fluffy white rice and some coconut spinach

🌺

 

Steaming hot puttu, flavored with freshly grated coconut, a smattering of sugar and ghee ... Just the way I like it.

Not to forget my morning cuppa! ↗

Enjoy Ellen and Puttu!

🌼                           

Lovely hung curd whisked with palm sugar, topped with cinnamon powder and demerara sugar and baked to perfection!

🌷

The perfect start to a hot summers day - flattened rice prepared with ground nuts,

garnished with freshly grated coconut, chopped cilantro and juice of a freshly squeezed 🍋 a.k.a. poha