Escape Room

Now that I have finished reviewing the movies that I saw over winter break I can catch up with the movies I've seen in the new year, the first of which was Escape Room.  It is not a great movie but I saw it at a late night screening with a rowdy crowd on opening weekend so I had a lot of fun watching it.  Six strangers are recruited to participate in a mysterious escape room for a chance to win $10,000:  Zoey (Taylor Russell), a painfully shy physics student, Ben (Logan Miller), a struggling alcoholic, Jason (Jay Ellis), a cocky stockbroker, Amanda (Deborah Ann Wolf) an Iraq War veteran suffering from PTSD, Mike (Tyler Labine) a former coal miner, and Danny (Nik Dodani), a gaming enthusiast.  It begins as a ordinary game with complex puzzles to solve as they move from one elaborate room to the next.  However, each of them have secrets which are revealed in the puzzles and the consequences for not solving the puzzles in time are deadly.  As one survivor emerges from the final room, the purpose of the game is revealed.  As I mentioned, this is not a great movie but I didn't really expect it to be.  In fact, I actually liked it more than I thought I would because of the clever premise, the design of the rooms (especially the optical illusion room), as well as the tense and suspenseful action sequences.  The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is the ending because, not only does it slow down the action in an attempt to explain it all in some really clunky scenes, the explanation lacks any credibility and includes a groan-worthy cliffhanger (a blatant bid for a sequel).  This movie could have been so much better but it wasn't awful.  Take a group of friends to a late night screening for a fun night out.

At Eternity's Gate

The last film in my winter break movie marathon was At Eternity's Gate, a tragic portrayal of Vincent Van Gogh's final years starring Willem Dafoe in the title role.  Unlike many traditional biopics which focus on one linear event after another, this film is very episodic.  Van Gogh was inspired by nature so there are many scenes of him walking through the fields of Arles, looking up at the sky with a blissful expression, painting the same tree over and over again, and even rolling around in the dirt to more fully understand its properties.  These scenes are beautifully rendered, often with the camera following Van Gogh closely as wanders through the countryside or from his point of view as he looks at something he wants to paint.  This film explores his madness with disturbing scenes of lashing out at school children for bothering him and physically posing a woman against her will for a painting.  His isolation is also explored and it is heartbreaking whenever he parts from his brother Theo (Rupert Friend), a Paris art dealer who supports him financially, and Paul Gaugin (Oscar Isaac), another painter with whom he argues over technique.  The aspect of this film that I enjoyed the most is his understanding that he sees the world differently from everyone else and that, while contemporary audiences may revile his paintings, he is creating works for people who haven't been born yet.  There is a wonderful scene when Van Gogh is visited by a priest (Mads Mikkelsen) at the asylum and he says that when he paints he touches eternity.  Dafoe gives an incredibly nuanced performance because the Van Gogh that we meet in this film is not necessarily sympathetic but Dafoe makes us feel every bit of his suffering.  While I understand what director Julian Schnabel was going for, namely to make an "artistic" film about art, I sometimes struggled while watching it because of the slow and deliberate pace.  Not everyone is going to enjoy this but it is beautiful and profound.

The Lion in Winter at PTC

Last night I went to see The Lion in Winter, the current production at Pioneer Theater (I will review the final film in my winter break movie marathon tomorrow).  It is Christmas Eve 1183 and King Henry II of England (Esau Pritchett) has summoned his family to spend the holiday together.  This includes his sons Richard (William Connell), Geoffrey (Damian Jermaine Thompson), and John (Austin Reed Alleman) as well as his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine (Celeste Ciulla), who has spent the past ten years as his prisoner for staging a rebellion against him.  Since King Philip of France (Grayson DeJesus) is pressuring him to wed his sister Alais (Maryam Abdi) to the heir to the throne, Henry uses this opportunity to decide the succession.  He advocates for John simply because he knows that Eleanor wants her favorite son, Richard, to be the next king.  This pits brother against brother as they scheme, manipulate, plot, and form and break alliances.  It is so much fun to watch.  But the real fireworks come in the scenes between Pritchett and Ciulla as they spar with each other.  Their performances are melodramatic and completely over the top but this is really effective because everything they say is a calculated performance for an audience of one.  They have great chemistry together and I found them to be riveting.  The princes are the ultimate pawns in their parents' battle with each other and, while they sometimes come across as caricatures of the oldest (Richard is the leader), middle (Geoffrey is ignored), and youngest (John is petulant) children in a family, they each have their moments of vulnerability. What I liked most about this production is that, while it is set during the 12th century, it still has a contemporary vibe to it with a message that modern audiences can relate to (when Eleanor says, "It's 1183 and we're still barbarians," it got a huge response from the crowd).  This modern aesthetic is reflected in the set and the costume design.  There are the traditional Gothic arches but they have LED lights on top which change colors during scene changes to reflect the mood.  The costumes have medieval silhouettes and include chain mail and cloaks lined with fur but they feature very modern fabrics and colors (John and Geoffrey even wear athletic shoes).  I really enjoyed this play and would recommend it (go here for tickets).

Note:  The Lion in Winter is one of the very first plays I saw at the Utah Shakespeare Festival when I was in college.  I was fascinated by Eleanor of Aquitaine, as a character and a historical figure, which prompted me to research her and watch the Academy Award winning movie starring Katharine Hepburn in the role.  Good stuff!

Ben is Back

I really wanted to see Ben is Back over winter break because, ever since I saw Manchester by the Sea, I've become a huge fan of Lucas Hedges.  It is a very powerful, but depressing, film that explores a mother's love for a child under any circumstance.  Holly Burns (Julia Roberts) is a frazzled mother trying to wrangle three of her four children through a nativity rehearsal on Christmas Eve.  Upon returning home she notices a visitor on her front porch.  It is Ben (Hedges), her oldest son, who has unexpectedly returned early from a rehab facility.  Holly is thrilled to see him, if a bit wary, but his stepfather Neal (Courtney B. Vance) is concerned and his sister Ivy (Kathryn Newton) is openly hostile.  It is soon apparent that Ben's behavior has ruined previous holidays for the family but Holly allows him to stay with the condition that he remain within her sight at all times.  When the family returns home from church, they discover that the family dog is missing and Ben suggests that it has been kidnapped by someone angered by his return.  This prompts Holly to take Ben out looking for the dog but it soon becomes a journey through Ben's troubled past which not only horrifies her but forces her to confront the person her son has become.  The tragedy is that while she is trying to save Ben from his former associates, and himself, she is also trying to save the holiday for the rest of her family.  As with Beautiful Boy, this film brilliantly portrays the effect that addiction has on everyone surrounding the addict and it is heartbreaking.  The fact the the action takes place over a 24-hour period gives the film a sense of urgency and I like the fact that Ben's past, and future for that matter, is only hinted at rather than explicitly stated because the uncertainty is more unsettling.  Roberts gives one of her best performances to date, conveying so many emotions with just a single look, and Hedges gives an unflinching portrayal of a manipulative liar who shouldn't be trusted.  Their scenes together are fraught with tension and this elevates a typical addiction drama into something incredibly poignant.  I highly recommend it.

Creed II

I really wanted to see Creed II when it was first released but I somehow never made it to the theater (maybe it was because I saw Bohemian Rhapsody so many times in November).  I decided to make the time over winter break and I am so glad I did because I really loved it!  When Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) wins the WBC World Heavyweight Championship, he is pressured into accepting a fight with Viktor Drago (Florian Munteanu) who is the son of Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren), the Russian prizefighter who killed Apollo Creed in the ring.  Thinking that Adonis is taking the fight for the wrong reasons, namely to prove something to his father, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) refuses to train him.  Adonis is heavily outmatched and essentially loses the fight but retains the title because Viktor hits him when he is down and is disqualified.  Meanwhile, his fiancee Bianca (Tessa Thompson) has given birth to their daughter Amara who is born deaf.  Adonis eventually realizes that he wants to fight for her and agrees to a rematch in Moscow after a brutal training regimen in the desert with Rocky.  The climactic battle between Adonis and Viktor is exciting and everything we have come to expect from the Rocky franchise (I cheered out loud) but it is the emotional journey that both fighters take that make this movie so good.  Both characters are weighted down by their respective fathers' legacies and they have to overcome those expectations in order to win.  I really liked that Viktor is a sympathetic antagonist and, while I wanted Adonis to win, I really felt Viktor's pain, especially in the scenes with his mother (Brigitte Nielsen).  Jordan and Stallone give very affecting performances and I really liked the chemistry between Jordan and Thompson.  Definitely go see this inspiring movie, if you haven't already!

Bumblebee

I am not a big fan of the Transformers franchise because I think they are mostly big CGI messes (I haven't even seen the last few).  However, I was very intrigued by the prequel Bumblebee and decided to see it next in my winter break marathon.  The rebellion started by Optimus Prime on Cybertron is not going well so he sends B-127 to Earth to set up a base of operations.  A Decepticon, Blitzwing, follows him and, even though he is seriously injured, B-127 kills him and then scans a 1967 Volkswagen Beetle.  He is discovered in a junkyard by a teenage girl named Charlie Watson (Hailee Steinfeld) who has withdrawn from the world from grief over her father's death.  She gets him running and nicknames him Bumblebee but this activates a signal which is detected by two more Decepticons, Shatter and Dropkick, who come to Earth looking for him.  Shatter and Dropkick join with Sector 7 led by Colonel Jack Burns (John Cena) to track down Bumblebee and this leads to an epic confrontation.  To my surprise, I really enjoyed this movie because it is so heartwarming and entertaining.  Bumblebee is an actual character, rather than a CGI caricature, with a distinct personality and the relationship between Bumblebee and Charlie is very real.  He helps her learn to trust again and she helps him figure out his purpose on Earth.  I loved it when Bumblebee, who can only communicate to Charlie through song lyrics on the radio, plays "Girlfriend in a Coma" by The Smiths to tell her that he doesn't want anything to happen to her during a battle.  Speaking of music, this is filled with great stuff from the 80s.  I just about lost my mind when I heard the beginning of "Save a Prayer" by Duran Duran!  This movie is a lot of fun, exactly the reboot this franchise needed, and I recommend it if you haven't seen it.

Mary Queen of Scots

I have always had a fascination with Scotland in general (my grandmother was born in Scotland and my great-grandfather fought with the Gordon Highlanders in World War I) and Mary Stuart in particular (I chose her as a research topic in my AP European history class) so I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Mary Queen of Scots for quite some time.  It was next in my winter break movie marathon and I actually really liked it.  After Mary Stuart (Saoirse Ronan) is widowed, she returns to Scotland to rule despite the objections of her half brother, the Earl of Moray (James McArdle), who has ruled as regent in her absence and of John Knox (David Tennant), a Protestant cleric who objects to her Catholicism.  She then makes a disastrous marriage to Lord Darnley (Jack Lowden) who ultimately betrays her.  When she is forced to abdicate the throne, she is left to the mercy of Queen Elizabeth I (Margot Robbie) who is envious of her beauty, bravery, and motherhood.  Elizabeth, acting on the advice of her male counselors, including William Cecil (Guy Pearce), eventually condemns her.  There are historical inaccuracies and it is a bit salacious but I really enjoyed this movie.  The narrative is framed by the fact that even though both women dislike being told what to do by the men surrounding them they are very much controlled by them and, if left to their own devices, they might have been friends and allies.  I found this to be very effective.  Both Ronan and Robbie give outstanding performances as the capricious and sometimes foolish Mary and the insecure yet imperious Elizabeth, respectively.  My favorite scene is a very theatrical meeting between the two of them, which probably didn't actually happen, where they size each other up.  It is masterful.  As with most historical dramas, the sets, production design, and costumes are beautiful and I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the darkness of Mary's court and the lightness of Elizabeth's.  I am probably biased by my interest in Mary Stuart but I would recommend this movie.

A New Year's Celebration

What better way to ring in the new year than by attending a concert with the Utah Symphony!  Last night (I will resume my winter break movie commentaries tomorrow) my friend Angela and I spent a wonderful evening listening to the orchestra play six dazzling pieces under the baton of guest conductor Xian Zhang (who was quite expressive and fun to watch).  They began with Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 1 by Joan Tower which was quite dramatic because the only musicians on stage were the horns, brass, and percussion.  I really enjoyed the timpani at the end of the piece!  Next came selections from The Sleeping Beauty by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky which, of course, I absolutely loved.  I really enjoyed the Lilac Fairy's theme (which represents good) and Carabosse's theme (which represents evil) and how they are continually reintroduced as the two of them struggle with each other.  Next, the orchestra played Concerto No. 1 for Violin and Orchestra by Karol Szymanowski with Concertmaster Madeline Adkins as soloist.  I was unfamiliar with this piece but it was quite spectacular!  I was very impressed with Adkins because she not only played with great technical precision but she interpreted the piece with a lot of emotion.  It was a brilliant performance!  After the intermission, the orchestra played a waltz and a polka by Johann Strauss, Jr. and I pictured couples twirling at a New Year's Eve Ball in Vienna during these pieces.  They were so lively and exuberant!  The concert concluded with the Suite from Der Rosenkavalier by Richard Strauss.  This was simply delightful and I especially enjoyed the themes played by the oboe.  It was an amazing night of music and I definitely recommend getting a ticket for tonight's performance of the same program (go here).

Note:  After the performance, I was invited to an after party at the BTG wine bar downtown and Angela came with me.  This is not something I would normally do but it was really quite fun.  I actually mingled with a few people and got to talk to the conductor very briefly (she is adorable).  There were hors d'oevres, desserts, and several different wines served and I felt very sophisticated (I even wore a dress!) partying with the Utah Symphony!

Welcome to Marwen

The next movie on my winter break list was Welcome to Marwen.  I was really looking forward to this but I didn't like as much as I thought I would.  This movie tells the true story of Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell), an artist who creates and photographs a miniature village called Marwen to deal with the PTSD he suffers after a vicious assault.  In the scenarios he creates with dolls in Marwen, Mark becomes Captain Hogie, a WWII pilot, who is continually attacked by Nazis, who represent his actual attackers, and saved by the women in his life:  Roberta (Merritt Weaver), who works at the hobby shop where he purchases items for the village, Anna (Gwendoline Christie), his Russian caregiver, Caralala (Eiza Gonzalez), a waitress at the bar where he works, Julie (Janelle Monae), his physical therapist, and Nicol (Leslie Mann), his new neighbor across the street.  The village also includes a Belgian witch named Deja Thoris (Diane Kruger) who keeps bringing the Nazis back to life and won't let him get close to anyone.  Mark must find a way to confront Deja, the doll in Marwen and what she represents in real life (which is easy to figure out if you can match colors), so he can face his attackers.   It is a compelling story and Carell gives an affecting performance but there is just something missing.  Most of the of the movie, unfortunately, takes place in Marwen.  It is almost as if the filmmakers wanted to show off their dazzling stop-motion animation techniques with the dolls more than they wanted to tell Mark's story.  I was left wanting to know more about Mark and the women in his life rather than their alter-egos who act out battle after battle.  Also, there are quite a few subplots that are brought up but then quickly abandoned without resolution, particularly the fate of his attackers after their sentencing hearing.   I can't help but feel that Mark's story is more interesting than this Hollywood version of it (I've heard there is a documentary called Marwencol which chronicles this story much better).

Vice

The next movie that I saw on winter break was Vice which tells the true story of how Dick Cheney (Christian Bale) goes from being a ne'er-do-well who flunks out of Yale to arguably the most powerful and influential Vice President in history.  It chronicles his positions as a Congressional intern, an aide to Donald Rumsfeld (Steve Carell), the White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford, the Representative from Wyoming, the Secretary of Defense under George H. W. Bush, the CEO of Halliburton, and, finally, the Vice President under George W. Bush (Sam Rockwell).  Politics aside, I found this movie to be incredibly disturbing.  Writer-Director Adam McKay employs many of the same techniques used so effectively in The Big Short, such as fast cuts, montages, and a narrator who speaks directly to the audience to explain complicated terminology (most notably the unitary executive theory which states that the President controls the entire executive branch and that neither the legislative nor judiciary branch can tell the executive branch what to do) but they are not as effective here because, in my opinion, the satirical tone doesn't fit the subject matter.  These characters are portrayed in a comical manner while doing truly reprehensible things and it was very off-putting to me.  Cheney appoints his cronies to cabinet positions as if he is (literally) playing a board game, he creates focus groups to find words and phrases that are more palatable to the unsuspecting public for his egregious actions, and he cherry picks intel to support going to war with Iraq.  Through it all he comes across as a cartoon villain.  Furthermore, I don't think this movie gives us much insight as to who Dick Cheney really is or what motivated him.  Christian Bale completely transforms himself for a nearly flawless impersonation but Cheney is such a bland figure that it doesn't seem that remarkable.  Amy Adams (as Lynne Cheney), Steve Carell, and Sam Rockwell give great performances but that really isn't enough to elevate this tone deaf mess of a movie.  Give this a miss.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

As I usually do, I spent a good portion of winter break in darkened theaters watching movies.  Now that winter break is over I will review all of the movies I saw over the next few days.  After we decorated gingerbread houses with Sean and Tashena we all spontaneously decided to see a late movie.  Tashena really wanted to see Ralph Breaks the Internet, a movie I wasn't really planning on seeing, so that is what we picked and it was so much fun.  Wreck-It-Ralph (John C Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) are still best friends at Litwak's Family Fun Center and Arcade but Vanellope is getting bored with the predictability of her game, Sugar Rush.  Ralph decides to create a new track in Sugar Rush to keep Vanellope happy but she overrides her player to test it out resulting in a broken steering wheel.  Since Sugar Rush is no longer made, the only way to get a replacement steering wheel is on eBay.  Mr. Litwak thinks it is too expensive and turns the game off.  Ralph and Vanellope decide to get the part they need themselves by entering the internet through a wifi router.  While looking for eBay, they have a series of adventures which teach them the true meaning of friendship.  What I liked most about this movie is how clever it is at portraying the internet.  I especially liked the characters of Yesss (Taraji P. Henson), the personification of the algorithm that determines trending videos, and J.P. Spamley (Bill Hader), the personification of clickbait pop-up ads.  I also loved the cameos by popular Youtube personalities, especially my favorite Flula Borg.  Sean loved all of the pop culture references, especially Fortnite.  Tashena loved the Disney Princesses and the hilarious shirts they wear when they are just chilling with Vanellope (I loved Moana's shirt).  This movie is a lot of fun but it also has a clever story filled with heart and dazzling visuals so, if you haven't seen it already, I highly recommend it!

2018: Year In Review

I didn't do anything really monumental in 2018 (both of my parents have fragile health and I just don't feel good about going on any overseas trips for the foreseeable future) but I did have a lot of fun with a few shorter trips here and there.  Here are some highlights.

Sundance Film Festival

Spring Break Colorado Avalanche Trip

Hamilton in Denver

Hamilton in SLC (go here, here, and here)

U2 in Las Vegas

Colorado Rockies Road Trip

Hamilton in Las Vegas

Southern Utah Road Trip (go here, here, and here)

Camping Trips (go here, here, and here)

Thanksgiving Break Colorado Avalanche Trip

Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert

Korver Is Back! (go here and here)

Most of my favorite moments happened spontaneously and, looking back, I am so glad that I said yes to so many adventures this year (even though people sometimes think that I am crazy).  I have a few adventures already planned for 2019 and I can't wait to see what other trouble I can get myself into!  Happy New Year!

Favorite Movies of 2018

This year I saw 120 new releases in the theater so, once again, I thought I would compile a list of my top ten of 2018.  This list is a rather unusual one because it includes some unexpected choices but each one of these movies really resonated with me in one way or another (click the title to read my original review).

10. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again

This movie was definitely the biggest surprise of 2018 because, since I wasn't a fan of the original, I didn't even plan on seeing it.  The second trailer caught my attention so I decided to give it a chance.  I am so glad that I did because I enjoyed this feel-good movie from the first number ("When I Kissed The Teacher") to the end credits ("Super Trouper").  I loved the charismatic performance of Lily James (who can really sing and dance) and Donna's story is actually quite poignant.  Also, how can you not love Cher singing "Fernando?"

9. Mission: Impossible - Fallout

It is unusual for me to include an action/blockbuster in a year-end list like this but I really loved this movie.  The action sequences are intense and unrelenting, including the much hyped HALO jump (which is spectacular), multiple car and motorcycle chases through Paris, a foot race across the roof of the Tate Modern, and an aerial helicopter chase through the mountains of Kashmir.  It goes without saying that Crusie, who performs the majority of his stunts, is absolutely amazing in the action sequences but he also gives Hunt some unexpected vulnerability as he deals with the consequences of his actions in both the present and in his past.

8.  Green Book

This is a movie that I liked more and more after thinking about it for days after watching it.  The story is a bit formulaic but it works on the strength of the lead performances.  Ali and Mortensen have great chemistry as their characters banter back and forth and it is a joy to watch them interact.  I also really enjoyed the message of overcoming prejudices by getting to know someone who is different which is something that is very important to me.

7.  Can You Ever Forgive Me?

This is a darkly comedic film in which a deeply flawed character eventually finds a sort of redemption (one of my favorite themes).  Melissa McCarthy gives a brilliant performance (earning some early Oscar buzz), turning Lee into an incredibly sympathetic character despite her behavior.  I liked the juxtaposition between Lee and Jack (Richard E. Grant) because Lee is misanthropic and difficult while Jack is full of charisma and charm.  They have some fantastic dialogue as two lonely people who only have each other banter back and forth.  I actually found the character of Lee to be refreshing in that she is unapologetic and I really enjoyed this film.

6.  First Man

This is the very human story of Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and his journey from a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base to be the first man to walk on the moon with the Apollo 11 mission.  It is incredibly intense, putting the audience right in the middle of the action with Armstrong as he experiences the claustrophobia of being in a tiny space capsule, the jarring vibrations of lifting off, and the disorientation of being in space.  I think this is a brilliant film and I am now in awe of what Armstrong and the other astronauts accomplished.  I wish more people had seen it.

5.  First Reformed

This film is a brutal portrayal of a man in torment with an incredible performance by Ethan Hawke that left me completely shattered.  It grapples with ideas of despair and hope (I really struggle with the darkness in the world tight now and sometimes I lose hope) but the ambiguous ending can be interpreted as either damnation or salvation.  It is brilliant because I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

4.  BlacKkKlansman

This film is incredibly powerful and thought-provoking.  I had an almost visceral reaction to some of what I saw on the screen but I also laughed out loud in many places.  Spike Lee does a masterful job in creating a film that is funny and entertaining but also has a definite message that is particularly salient for our times.  I love John David Washington's riveting portrayal of Ron Stallworth and I love the idea that fighting hate needs to come from within rather than through violence.

3.  A Star Is Born

I was completely blown away by my emotional response to this tragic love story.  Bradley Cooper gives an incredible performance and I was particularly impressed by the fact that he co-wrote many of the songs and that he sings and plays the guitar live on screen.  I've always respected Lady Gaga as a gifted musician despite her rather outlandish stage persona and she, as expected, gives a tour de force performance while on stage but she is also very believable in the role of a singer who doubts herself.  It is an intimate portrait of two flawed characters that has a sort of redemption at the end.

2.  Mary Poppins Returns

I had a huge smile on my face while watching this heart-warming and whimsical movie about how Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) returns to help save Michael Banks and his family.  Blunt and Miranda are absolutely delightful, the children are adorable, the songs are a lot of fun, the choreography is spectacular, and the visuals are stunning!  It is practically perfect in every way and I suspect that I will watch this again and again whenever I need a dose of happiness in my life.

1.  Bohemian Rhapsody

It should come as no surprise that this is my favorite movie of 2018!  I don't know when I have been so emotionally impacted by a movie as I have been by this one.  I know it has flaws but I love it so much.  I love the music of Queen and I find Freddie Mercury's ultimate redemption (reconciling with his family, resolving his differences with the band, coming to terms with his sexuality, finding someone to love, and giving the performance of his life) to be so affecting and life-affirming.  I also love Rami Malek's tour de force performance as Freddie because he not only captures his incredible showmanship in every staging of a Queen performance but he also brilliantly portrays his vulnerability.  I am so impressed with Malek's passion for this role and everything he did to prepare for it.  I continue to be so obsessed with this movie!

Honorable Mentions:  You Were Never Really Here, Blindspotting, Leave No Trace, Eighth Grade, and The Death of Stalin.

Back Together

During Kyle Korver's first two seasons with the Utah Jazz I had season tickets with my aunt and cousins.  We always had so much fun together at the games!  Now that Korver is back in Utah we decided that it would be fun to get back together for a game so last night we saw the Jazz play the Philadelphia Seventy-Sixers.  It was just like old times!  The Jazz started really well.  Korver had a great first quarter with a nice jumper and a really deep and-one three pointer before the buzzer and ended up leading the team in points.  It was a lot of fun cheering for him.  The Jazz stayed with the Sixers in the second quarter and ended down five points going into the half.  During the second half of the game the Jazz couldn't get anything going.  The Sixers basically had their way with them to win 114-97.  It wasn't a very good game but it was so great being with my aunt and cousins.  We have so many memories of watching Jazz games together!

Christmas 2018

Yesterday my family celebrated Christmas together and it was one of the best holidays we've ever had!  It was a wonderful day and it began with opening presents.  I was given strict instructions to be at my parents' house at 8:00 am and, of course, when I got there we still had to wait for Sean and Tashena!

According to tradition we all take turns opening one present at a time, starting with the youngest (Sean) and working our way to the oldest (my Mom).  It is so much fun watching everyone open their presents, especially Sean and Tashena.

Tashena's big presents were some white Nike shoes to match the red ones that she got for her birthday (she needs shoes to match her home and away basketball uniforms), a backpack for all of her athletic gear, the nicest water bottle that I have ever seen, a hoodie, an electric blanket, and a bunch of smaller items.

Sean has lots of different gaming platforms and he got a bunch of new games for each of them.  He was so happy and he spent the rest of the day either downloading or playing games.

I got a new camera, AirPods, Seasons 1-3 of Mr. Robot on DVD (because I am a little bit obsessed with Rami Malek), the companion book and the soundtrack to Bohemian Rhapsody (because I am really obsessed with this movie), an initial necklace, and a new Kyle Korver jersey!

After opening presents, Marilyn and I went to see Mary Poppins Returns which was just delightful once again.  In the evening we had a wonderful dinner and then played another epic game of Shanghai rummy.  It was honestly the best day ever and I am so glad that I got to celebrate with my family!