When I sit down and think about my life, really think, there are so many things I am passionate about. It makes me wonder if you can have too much passion in your life. Can too much passion overwhelm your life, causing you to spread yourself to thin… thus never achieving greatness in any one area?
The following quote comes to mind: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” ~ Harriet Tubman
The thing is I don’t know that I really want to change the world. My passions aren’t about earth-changing, life-altering, global-effecting issues. My passions are about: watching my children live, laugh, and love; experiencing the natural talents as I watch my husband on the golf course; spending quiet time as I put my thoughts on paper creating a new world for my readers; giving my time to the local community theatre and performing on stage with some amazing actresses and actors.
You see, I have had big dreams and amazing passions in my life… they are what took me to L.A. to pursue a career in film… However, what I have discovered, in my Blah Blah years, is that my true passions aren’t out there somewhere in the world undiscovered, but instead they are here, in my home, with my family close at hand.
So, as my all time favorite actress Audrey Hepburn once said, “The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”
You see… the love I give to my family is my passion and through them my passion drives me!
or fans of The Haunting of Hill House comes
a dark tale of a mansion haunted by a legacy of tragedy and a family trapped by
lies.
Margot and Myron Spielman move to a new town,
looking for a fresh start and an escape from the long shadow of their past. But
soon after they buy Rawlingswood, a foreclosed mansion rumored to be haunted,
they realize they’re in for more of the same…or worse.
After a renovation fraught with injuries and
setbacks, the Spielmans move in to the century-old house, and their problems
quickly escalate. The home’s beautiful facade begins to crumble around them
when their teenage son uncovers disturbing details of Rawlingswood’s history—a
history of murder, betrayal, and financial ruin. The Spielmans’ own shameful
secrets and lies become harder to hide as someone or something inside the house
watches their every move.
As tensions build
between the family members, the home’s dark history threatens to repeat itself.
Margot and Myron must confront their own ghosts and Rawlingswood’s buried past
before the house becomes their undoing.
MY 2 CENTS / THE
CRITICAL POINTS:
No One’s Home has been compared to The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, which I’ve read… It’s scary. This book, although good, does not compare. It just didn’t live up to the hype.
WRITING (★★★★): Pulley is a great writer. Her descriptive
text is beautiful and she does a great job of pulling you into a scene. However,
this book covers the story of five different families, at five different
periods in time; the Rawlings family 1922-1931, the Bell family 1936-1972, the
Klussman Family 1972-1990, the Martin Family, and the Spielman family – present
day. Although the writing is good and the stories are interesting, going back
and forth between the different time periods only pulled me out of the story.
Each time the story shifted, I had to take a moment to think back, figure out
who these characters were and what their story was. That was a huge distraction
for me. Although I can see this story working really well as a movie, shifting
from one period to the next with lighting changes, appropriate set dressing, and
costumes for each time period, it just didn’t work for me as a novel. I see the
film done in a similar manor as American Horror Story, which actors playing
multiple roles within the time period – almost a reincarnation of spirit sort
of thing.
STORY (★★★★): The story is well thought out although
maybe could have been structured a little better. I think this could have
worked really well as a series of short stories… a collection of stories that
take place over the years all centered around this one house in Shaker Heights.
CHARACTERS (★★★★): I wasn’t really sure who the main
character was. The back of the book reads as if Margot and Myron Spielman are
the main focus, but then their son, Hunter pulls more of the focus when
reading. Then, you have to consider all of the other families you’re learning
about. The Spielman family isn’t given any more “screen time” or “ink” than any
of the other families. So, what family did Pulley really want this story to be
about? I think we could have learned so much about the history of the story and
been drawn in more to each of the stories if this were a collection of short
stories.
APPEARANCE (★★★★★): The cover is beautiful. It even has the
feel of the cover from The Haunting of Hill House although this one is set in
blues were as The Haunting of Hill House is more oranges and Yellows. Whoever
designed the cover, I give them credit. The creepy old house with the single
light in the attic really does draw you in. I noticed this one on the shelf the
instant I walked past and even before reading the back, I knew I was going to
read the book. That to me, is the sign of a really good cover.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
D.M. Pulley lives in northeast Ohio with her husband, her two children, and a dog named Hobo. Before becoming a full-time writer, she worked as a Professional Engineer rehabbing historic structures and conducting forensic investigations of building failures. Pulley’s structural survey of a vacant building in Cleveland inspired her debut novel, The Dead Key, the winner of the 2014 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Since then, Pulley has sold over a half a million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into eight different languages.
Pulley’s historical mysteries shine a light into the darker side of life in the Midwest during the twentieth century, when cities like Detroit and Cleveland struggled to survive. Her latest novel, No One’s Home, unravels the disturbing history of an old mansion haunted by family secrets, financial ruin, and murder. The abandoned buildings, haunted houses, and buried past of the Rust Belt continue to inspire her work. Learn more at www.dmpulley.com.
Check out my YouTube channel and the video
review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
Also by D. M. Pulley
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What if the last
victim of Cleveland’s infamous Torso Killer got away?
In 1938, a serial
killer terrorizes Cleveland, Ohio, leaving a trail of bodies along the rails
and riverbeds. Ethel, a street-hardened woman who’s lost everything, takes refuge
inside a city mission only to find that its righteous facade conceals the
darkest of secrets. As she wanders the twisting corridors, it becomes clear she
may never leave the mission alive.
Sixty years later, the
police discover the body of Alfred Wiley, dismembered in a disturbingly
familiar way. His daughter, Kris, finds herself pulled into Cleveland’s
haunting past as things he never told her begin to surface. Stolen books about
the unsolved Torso Murders, missing archives, serial killer chat rooms, and an
abandoned city mission are all somehow connected to his disappearance. The more
she learns of her father’s obsession with the Torso Killer, the further she
stumbles into a madman’s sights.
Separated
by decades but trapped in the same killer’s web, Ethel and Kris must unravel
the truth behind the city’s most notorious unsolved murders . . . or die
trying.
2014 Winner — Amazon
Breakthrough Novel Award — Grand Prize and Mystery & Thriller Fiction
Winner
It’s 1998, and for
years the old First Bank of Cleveland has sat abandoned, perfectly preserved,
its secrets only speculated on by the outside world.
Twenty years before,
amid strange staff disappearances and allegations of fraud, panicked investors
sold Cleveland’s largest bank in the middle of the night, locking out customers
and employees, and thwarting a looming federal investigation. In the confusion
that followed, the keys to the vault’s safe-deposit boxes were lost.
In
the years since, Cleveland’s wealthy businessmen kept the truth buried in the abandoned
high-rise. The ransacked offices and forgotten safe-deposit boxes remain locked
in time, until young engineer Iris Latch stumbles upon them during a renovation
survey. What begins as a welcome break from her cubicle becomes an obsession as
Iris unravels the bank’s sordid past. With each haunting revelation, Iris
follows the looming shadow of the past deeper into the vault—and soon realizes
that the key to the mystery comes at an astonishing price.
When Althea Leary
abandons her nine-year-old son, Jasper, he’s left on his uncle’s farm with
nothing but a change of clothes and a Bible.
It’s 1952, and Jasper
isn’t allowed to ask questions or make a fuss. He’s lucky to even have a home
and must keep his mouth shut and his ears open to stay in his uncle’s good
graces. No one knows where his mother went or whether she’s coming back.
Desperate to see her again, he must take matters into his own hands. From the
farm, he embarks on a treacherous search that will take him to the squalid
hideaways of Detroit and back again, through tawdry taverns, peep shows, and
gambling houses.
As he’s drawn deeper into an adult world of corruption, scandal, and murder, Jasper uncovers the shocking past still chasing his mother—and now it’s chasing him too.
I LOVE to read… Sometimes my ‘To Read’ list grows a little to large, but those are the times I love the most. Right now, I’m celebrating my amazing OCTOBER BOOK HAUL!
Comment below and let me know how many of these books you’ve read and which one you recommend I start with! If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the book cover, the title, or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Local police have announced that they’re closing the investigation of the suspected drowning of 37-year-old painter Colleen Westcott. She disappeared on April 11, 2010, and her car was found parked near the waterfront in Cleveland two days later, but her body has never been found.
I close the online search window, annoyed. These articles never have enough detail. They think my husband’s first wife disappeared or they think she is dead. There’s a big difference.
When you read this book, you will make many assumptions. You will assume you are reading about a jealous ex-wife. You will assume she is obsessed with her replacement – a beautiful, younger woman who is about to marry the man they both love. You will assume you know the anatomy of this tangled love triangle. Assume nothing.
One sister has everything. Her twin hates her for it. Would life be better without Ali? Probably. At least then people might notice Morgan. Ali’s always gotten everything-she doesn’t even realize how much Morgan resents her.
Two truths and a lie. Vivian, Natalie, Allison, and Emma played it all the time at Camp Nightingale. But the games ended the night Emma sleepily watched the others sneak out of the cabin into the darkness. The last she – or anyone – saw of them was Vivian closing the cabin door, hushing Emma with a finger pressed to her lips.
Amber Reynolds wakes up in a hospital. She can’t move. She can’t speak. She can’t open her eyes. She can hear everyone around her, but they have no idea.
Every six months or so, some conspiracy nut starts in with “what they aren’t telling you” and “These are the things they don’t want you to know,” and you know what? Not one of them has produced verifiable scientific evidence that the Intestinal Bodyguard is harmful in humans.
Author Catherine Coulter delves into the terrifying mind of an escaped mental patient obsessed with revenge in this next installment of her riveting FBI series.
In a future so real and near it might be now, something happens when women go to sleep: they become shrouded in a cocoon-like gauze. If they are awakened, if the gauze wrapping their bodies is disturbed or violated, the women become feral and spectacularly violent…
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
I huge thank you to my Book Fairy, Stacy Kingsley – zombie author – CLICK FOR HER WEBSITE. PLUS, you should totally check out her books below:
In
Gotham City, mentally-troubled comedian Arthur Fleck embarks on a
downward-spiral of social revolution and bloody crime. This path brings him
face-to-face with his infamous alter-ego: “The Joker”.
WARNER BROTHERS STORY
LINE:
Joker
centers around an origin of the iconic arch nemesis and is an original,
standalone story not seen before on the big screen. Todd Phillips’ exploration
of Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, a man disregarded by society, is
not only a gritty character study, but also a broader cautionary tale.
MY 2 CENTS:
This
film is fantastic. It probably isn’t for everyone. I know it received a lot of
negative reviews and a bunch of criticism for the amount of violence. However,
it I feel that it also deserved some praise – both for the writing and the
acting. I think the risks taken by writers Todd Phillips and Scott Silver were
great. Before seeing the film, I was a bit concerned. I had heard that there was
talk about extreme unnecessary violence. I had no idea what to expect. However,
after seeing the film, I can honestly say that wasn’t the case at all. After
watching the John Wick movies, which are just riddled with violence to the
point that it is hard to remember a scene without violence, this film is more
drama than violence. In fact, the first time Arthur Fleck ever kills anyone, it
is in self-defense. Sure, it is clear in that moment you can tell he is enjoying
it… and that is where you start to see the typical evil of The Joker come
through.
Writing/Story: ★★★★★
WOW! The origin story for The Joker has always been
a bit confusing for me. I never really understood it and it has always seemed a
bit unrealistic and contrived. However, writers Todd Phillips and Scott Silver really developed a believable,
heart wrenching backstory that allows the audience not only to understand why
and how Arthur Fleck becomes The Joker, but to also sympathize with his
situation and even root for him at times.
This
film really forces the audience to think about mental illness, how we as a society
often fail to give the appropriate care, attention, and medical treatment to
those that really need it. Arthur Fleck is functioning in society, it’s a struggle
but he is doing it. Then, when the funding for his state funded therapy is
cancelled and he can no longer talk to his therapist and get his medications he
spirals downhill.
Cinematography ★★★★★
The camera angles used during some of the scenes
were truly beautiful and helped to pull the right emotional strings of the
audience. One scene in particular was when Arthur was dancing down the steps
and the camera is lower down, staring up at him. The joy he is portraying is
both frightening and delightful at the same time.
Another case would be when Arthur has been beaten
down and the camera is low on the ground with him. As an audience member, being
down there on the ground with him, you feel his pain, his fear, his anger, and
just a complete rush of helplessness.
The way this movie was filmed really made me feel
like I was watching a Martin Scorsese film, such as Taxi Driver, The King of
Comedy, or even Raging Bull. After seeing the film, I read some reviews that said
this same thing. However, were other people complained about this, I really
liked it. I’ve always really liked Martin Scorsese’s film style.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
Joaquin
Phoenix was brilliant in this film. I can’t think of another actor that could
have played this role in quiet the same way or with the same amount of
emotional connection. There are so many moments throughout the film where I was
just swept away emotionally, and brought to tears even, because of what Arthur
was going through. It isn’t because I agree with the violence and the killing,
but its in the moments, such as the first time he attempts standup comedy, or
when he is beaten down in the street (more than once) where as an audience
member feel his fear, his pain, and his torment.
In
an interview, Phoenix stated that perfecting the Joker’s laugh was the toughest
part of playing the character and I can completely see why. Laughter is usually
associated with joy and delight and comedy, however, when he laughs you see his
struggle with pain, depression, and anxiety. It is in complete conflict with
the act of laughing. He stated that he watched videos of people who suffered
from pathological laughter in order to get it just right.
Joaquin
Phoenix stated that he had been “interested in the light of Arthur for
lack of a better word. It wasn’t just the torment, it was the joy, his struggle
to find happiness and to feel connected. To have warmth and love. I don’t think
of a character as tormented.” Ultimately, I feel that Phoenix was able to bring
out all of Arthur’s deepest emotions and make him a character that audience
members can both related to and sympathize with.
FUN FACT:
Robert De Niro‘s
role as Murray Franklin, the talk-show host who gives Arthur Fleck his big
break, and even the name The Joker, is an ironic role reversal from De Niro’s
role in The King of Comedy
(1982). In that film, De Niro played Rupert Pupkin, an unsuccessful,
mentally-unstable comedian who stalked and kidnapped his favorite talk-show
host, Jerry Langford (played by Jerry Lewis).
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“The
worst part of having a mental illness is people expect you to behave as if you
don’t.”
“I
used to think that my life was a tragedy, but now I realize, it’s a comedy.”
TO SUM IT UP:
This
film is a dark, terrifying, gritty, raw, and often uncomfortable character study
of a man who has been mistreated, abused (both emotionally and physically), and
overlooked by everyone in his life. This film dives into how the circumstances
of life and long-term abuse have affected Arthur Fleck physically, emotionally,
and mentally. I highly recommend seeing it on the big screen so you can get the
full effect of the amazing camera angles and larger than life closeups.
Have
you seen JOKER? If not, you should. If you have, let me know your thoughts, in
the comments below. As always, I recommend seeing this film for yourself and
forming your own opinion.
Check out my YouTube channel and the video
review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
Remember, #WritingWednesday is an EASY, STRESS-FREE, weekly writing challenge.
Read the
writing prompt below,
Spend 5
minutes writing (in your own voice or the voice of a character you’re writing) whatever
comes to mind,
DON’T
EDIT what you write! IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE PERFECT!
The goal is 5 minutes of creativity.
Today I am writing in the voice of Phoebe, the main character in PURSUIT (Book 4 in the Blood Angel Series)… BONUS – She also makes an appearance in my upcoming novel The Beast Within!
Today’s writing prompt:
Do you have a tattoo? What is it and why did you get it?
I’m a tracker. I work for the High
Council. Unlike most trackers, I wasn’t born with the blood. My sister was; she
was naturally talented. I had to learn the skill, through the taking of the
blood ritual. To be honest, blood tastes disgusting. The first time I tried
it, I nearly vomited. But that isn’t want you want to know about. You asked
about my tattoos. Yes, I have them. Many, in fact.
Most are runes. They are mostly along my arms, but I have a few on my back and my upper thighs. They help protect me from the evils I encounter while I’m hunting. They also help remind me of my roots, where I came from and where, someday, I might return.
In my family, I was always the most
artistically inclined. That earned me the privilege of branding those that came
after me with our family’s mark. I won’t share that with you, but I will tell
you this; there is power in my bloodline and those that recognize the mark
respect it. It gives me strength and courage. Its my moral compass.
Alright,
now it’s your turn. I’d love to see what today’s writing prompt inspires in
you. So, if you are willing, go to the comment section below and start typing.
Take 5 minutes and let’s see what you come up with!
Do you have a tattoo? What is it and why did you get it?
What books have made your October reading list? Comment below and let me know! Then, click on the links below to check out the OCTOBER 2019 New York Times Top Ten Lists and see which books you’d like to add to your reading list!
The other day, I was asked, ‘The Apocalypse is Coming, What Do You Stock Up On?‘
An apocalypse, taken from the Greek language, actually means a disclosure of knowledge, hidden from humanity in an era dominated by falsehood and misconception, i.e., a lifting of the veil or revelation. However, today we think of an apocalypse in reference to the End Times, or the end of the world.
Considering the question at hand, I was torn between writing about what I would stock up on if someone was going to bestow unto me information – a disclosure of knowledge… or writing about a Zombie Apocalypse. Obviously based on the title of my blog I have chosen the Zombie Apocalypse approach.
However, I did feel that the ‘disclosure of knowledge’ concept deserved further review as well. So here it is in a nut shell…
Not knowing if the information/knowledge would make me happy, sad, angry, hurt, frustrated, excited, or any other emotion one could feel when learning something… I had no idea what to stock up on. So this was my final list:
Tissue (in case I cry)
Chocolate (in case I find myself and my children locked in a closet and scared.)
Tennis Shoes (in case a fight ensues – yes I said tennis shoes – you need comfortable feet if you’re going to fight.)
Paper and Pen (in case the information leads to a creative outburst and I feel the need to write or draw.)
Ice (Because you always need ice.)
Okay… now onto the Zombies…
In today’s society, when we hear apocalypse we think of the End Times… or the end of the world. So, because I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead, I love reading and writing YA novels, and because Zombies are just plain cool… Other than making sure my family was with me, this is what I would stock up on if the Zombie Apocalypse really was upon us:
FOOD:
Bottled Water
Canned foods – to include vegetables and pre-cooked meats
MREs (Military pre packaged ready to eat meals)
P-nut Butter (good for protein and yummy in my tummy)
Powdered Milk – Yes, I would still make my kids drink their milk!
Vitamins – Hello, most likely we’re going to run out of food at some point, and vitamins are essential
WEAPONS:
Wooden Chair Legs – They can easily be sharpened to a point to be used as a stake – Stake them in the eye and through the brain!
Knives, axes, pretty much anything with a blade – if I need to explain this one, you are not even close to ready for the Zombie Apocalypse.
Matches and lighters – Zombies can be killed if set on fire – just make sure you have room to get away so they don’t grab you and kill you in the process.
Shot Gun, Handgun, bullets (Yeah, I think this is pretty obvious)
CLOTHING: (Just the basics)
A couple pair of underwear (in a backpack)
Clean socks
Good hiking boots
Comfortable clothes I can move quickly in
OTHER:
Flashlights with extra batteries
Walkie Talkies with extra batteries
Rope
Wire
______________________
I left one open… just in case
Comment below and tell me; the apocalypse is coming, what do you stock up on?
Lara
Jean Covey writes letters to all of her past loves, the letters are meant for
her eyes only. Until one day when all the love letters are sent out to her
previous loves. Her life is soon thrown into chaos when her foregoing loves
confront her one by one.
MY 2 CENTS:
Now,
I need to read the book! I’ve read a number of online reviews that say the
movie stayed true to the book and if that’s the case, then like I said… I need
to read the book.
Writing/Story: ★★★★
This movie was light hearted and fun. It’s not a “think
piece” by any means. It isn’t meant to strike up political debate… or any
debate for that matter. It’s just a cute, high school centered, feel-good movie…
Well, feel-good in the ‘I’d never want this situation to happen to me, but
watching it on screen is a lot of fun’ sort of way.
Since watching the film, I’ve read a lot of reviews…
some good and some not so good. Honestly, I don’t get it. This movie is meant
to entertain, and it does that. It’s a cute romcom and it seems like the actors
are having a great time in their roles.
Cinematography ★★★★
There really wasn’t anything spectacular about the
cinematography in this film, but there wasn’t anything bad about it either… so
it gets 4 stars!
Sound ★★
Ok, I don’t usually put ‘Sound’ on my list, but this
one stood out and not in a good way. There were a couple of times when the
sound just went a little wonky, but the one that stands out the most was when Lara
Jean confronts her bully in the girl’s bathroom. It sounded like a movie video
that was recorded on a very old VHS tape recorder. Not good.
Character(s)/Acting: ★★★★★
I
think what I liked most about this film was the characters. They felt real and
they were relatable. Now, most of that has to do with the writing, I know that.
The author of the novel as well as the screenwriter, who adapted the novel, did
a great job with character development. By the end of the film, you feel like you
know these characters and you can probably relate to at least one of them.
With
that said, some of the credit also has to go to the actors. I thought this cast
did a great job brining these characters to life.
Lana
Condor, as Lara Jean, was cute, spunky, awkward, and the perfect girl
next-door.
Noah
Centineo, who I have to admit is hit or miss with his acting, did a much better
job in this film than in Swiped (2018) a disaster of a film.
Janel
Parrish, who played Lara Jean’s older sister Margot, commanded the screen even
though her roles was rather small.
MY FAVORITE QUOTES:
“My
life was a mess… but I could clean my room.”
TO SUM IT UP:
If
you like relaxing with a feel-good movie, then you should watch this one. Grab
your popcorn and get cozy. Its 99 minutes of pure enjoyment, where you don’t have
to think about all the other pressures in life!
Have
you seen ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’? Let me know your thoughts, in the
comments below. As always, I do recommend seeing this film for yourself and
forming your own opinion.
Check out my YouTube channel and the video review below… and make sure you hit subscribe so you never miss a video.
To
All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018) Trailer:
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (the novel)
Lara Jean’s love life gets complicated in this New York Times bestselling “lovely, lighthearted romance” (School Library Journal) from the bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series.
What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once?
Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.
As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, here it is… The independently ranked top 10 YOUNG ADULT selections for Oct. 2019!
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the title, the book cover, or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
As an avid reader of fiction (and an author who one day hopes to make the list) I LOVE-LOVE-LOVE checking out the New York Times Best Seller list. So, here it is… The independently ranked top 10 Fiction selections for October 2019!
If you’ve read any of the TOP 10 selections and recommend them, please comment below and let me know. If you see something you like and plan to pick up a copy, you can do so by clicking on the cover, the title, or the [BUY IT HERE] button.
Children with special talents are abducted and sequestered in an institution where the sinister staff seeks to extract their gifts through harsh methods.
When you purchase a book using a link on this site, I earn an affiliate commission.All commission earnings go back into funding my books; editing, cover design, etc.
When I grow up, since I can’t be Stephen King… I’d like to be Sandra Bullock!
I have to say, I have been a long time fan of America’s Sweetheart – Sandra Bullock! My husband says it’s because she looks like my mom, but I don’t think that is it. She is just an amazing actress, in my opinion.
I went to college to be an actress, and shortly after graduation headed out to Los Angeles, CA with big dreams. I always saw Sandra Bullock’s career as the ideal acting path for a woman. Why? Because she has done it all… Comedy… Drama…Romance…Action…
I mean just look at this list:
Bird Box (2018)
Ocean’s Eight (2018)
Our Brand is Crisis (2015)
Minions (2015)
Aningaaq (2013)
The Heat (2013)
Gravity (2013)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2012)
All About Steve (2009)
The Proposal (2009)
The Blind Side (2009) – ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS!!!
Premonition (2007)
Loverboy (2006)
The Lake House (2006)
Infamous (2006)
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
Crash (2004)
Murder by Numbers (2002)
Two Weeks Notice (2002)
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)
Miss Congeniality (2000)
28 Days (2000)
Gun Shy (2000)
Forces of Nature (1999)
The Prince of Egypt (1998)
Practical Magic (1998)
Making Sandwiches (1998)
Hope Floats (1998)
Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997)
Two If by Sea (1996)
In Love and War (1996)
A Time to Kill (1996)
The Net (1995)
While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Speed (1994) – THIS IS WHERE SHE REALLY GOT NOTICED!
The Vanishing (1993)
The Thing Called Love (1993)
Demolition Man (1993)
Fire on the Amazon (1993)
Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993)
When the Party’s Over (1992)
Who Do I Gotta Kill? (1992)
Love Potion No. 9 (1992) – CUTE ROMANTIC COMEDY!!!
(NOTE: This is not a complete list of all of the movies/TV appearances of Sandra Bullock – for a complete list visit her IMDB site HERE!)
While I will admit that not every movie she has done has been a home run… you can’t deny that she has done it all. She started out just like a lot of other want to be actresses (myself included) doing B-movies that were unsuccessful and embarrassing at best! Although, she had something – that thing called talent, and she refused to give up. When she finally did SPEED she got the recognition she deserved. People started taking notice. Since then she has done everything from action, to comedy, to fantasy, to dark comedy, to melodrama, to romantic comedies, to thrillers, to serious drama… Plus… SHE WAS A WITCH!
Gravity, although she didn’t win the Academy Award was by far, in my opinion, the best female performance of 2013. She was amazing… heart-breakingly good in that film.
The other night, I re-watched the 2013 movie, The Heat… OMG I laughed so hard!!! She had such amazing comedic chemistry with her co-star Melissa McCarthy (WHO IS HERSELF AWESOME). They bring THE HEAT and all the laughs with them!
Sandra was named Entertainment Weekly‘s 2013 Entertainer of the Year after the success of The Heat and Gravity. A MUCH DESERVED TITLE!
She was also named Entertainment Weekly‘s Entertainer of the Year for her roles in The Blind Side and The Proposal in 2009.
Why she didn’t win anything for her performance in Bird Box is beyond me. She was fantastic in that film. The way she dives into a role, without apology, is beautiful!
Okay… one last comment – She is beautiful! At 55 years old this woman doesn’t look a day over 35.
Nina Soden 