I was lucky to screen “Mary Queen of Scots,” a film out in limited release now, last week right after returning from Israel. I was fearful I would fall asleep from a shot of jetlag that accompanied me back to America as the screening took place on an early Monday morning.

I did not know much about Mary Stuart going into the screening, nor did I know much about her relationship with Queen Elizabeth. I was curious and quite excited to learn more about the supposed two rivals and real-life cousins, and I was also keen to watch two of the best actresses of our time play them by Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie. I admit that I do get a lot out of historical dramas, as these types of films prompt me to further research or gain an interest in certain periods of history I knew very little about.

And this is one of those periods of history, as well as two women who were arch rivals, that I feel fortunate to have been brought to my attention by this film. I was riveted and at the end of my seat during much of the screening. Though “Mary Queen of Scots” was recently shut out of the Golden Globe nominations and seems to have been ignored by global film critics during what may be an over-saturated slate of similar films (such as the recent Emma Stone film “The Favourite” which apparently takes place during a similar time period), I would venture to say this film, written by Beau Willimon (from “House of Cards” and a play I loved last year called “The Parisian Woman”) is a must-see film for any history buff or anyone interested in gender equity. After the 2016 election of Donald Trump when Hillary Clinton was snubbed, my attention to women in power has heightened and this film plays close attention to what it’s like to be a woman in power and the people who make getting and staying there very, very difficult. Remind you of someone who remains in the news daily? Yes, I am referring to Hillary Clinton, who we all know’s gender had something to do with her not being elected, amongst many other factors.

The film is about Mary and Elizabeth, who live in different countries during a very contentious time when Mary’s Catholicism was an issue, as was her relationship with her court and the men in her life. Much of the film follows her hope and attempt to become the successor to Queen Elizabeth, and the obstacles and thwarts put in her way, many by her arch-rival, Queen Elizabeth herself, who is consumed with jealousy by her inability to conceive a child. They both rule in a highly masculine world and are forced to make decisions men would never have to make based on marriage and having children. Mary is betrayed time and time again by both women and men, but mostly men, and it’s easy to feel sorry for her watching the film, and she ultimately is forced to abdicate the throne. The last scene of the film imagines the only meeting the two women ever had, and it is a scene I will never forget, where we see Mary begging for her throne, for her life. The film work around that scene is magical, creating a sense of vulnerability and tension between the two women, leading up to Mary’s inevitable death.

Queen Elizabeth wins out in the end but does she really, you may be left wondering. Mary had more happiness in her marriage and as a mother, though she was ultimately betrayed by her husband when he started having male suitors. He was put to death for his extramarital relations, leaving her a widow and humiliation to boot. Elizabeth is the one who carries on her reign, never having married. She ruled England for 45 years and as she stated in the film once or twice, it was because she ruled like a man.

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In the new movie, I Feel Pretty, Amy Schumer plays Renee, a woman like you and me who struggles with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy on a daily basis and one day, after experiencing a head injury, suddenly wakes up believing she’s the most beautiful woman in the world. Armed with a newfound sense of confidence, her life changes overnight, until she comes to the realization that she is fine just the way she really is.

I had the opportunity to recently join a group of other influencers in a discussion with Schumer about her new film, after having seen it, obviously. The movie has gotten a bit of a backlash about its premise before even hitting the theate, having been accused of body-shaming women, of setting a standard of beauty so high that someone as conventionally attractive as Schumer doesn’t meet it, and for arguing that if you’re not beautiful you need to suffer a head injury in order to believe that you are.

Schumer addressed the backlash right off the bat and explained that she understands the reaction. “Certainly this movie really tapped into big feelings for people because it’s something we can all relate to,” she said. “I think it ultimately is just good because it’s bringing up a conversation. I think that if we all just work together and support each other, we can get a lot done.”

Having read that Schumer considers her movie a feminist film, I asked her why that is and what the film means to her. Here’s what she had to say:

“Everything I do, I do as a feminist, which means that I am for the equality of women socially, economically, and politically. I think this movie has such a great message because it empowers women. I think we can’t live up to our full potentials unless we feel comfortable in our own skin. I think that feminism and women getting actual equality is essential, and we still have a lot of work to do,” she added. “A huge part of all the work I do is wanting women to be–to achieve equality, and that’s what feminism is.  That’s what this movie’s about.”

Schumer may be proud of this movie for the message it presents, but she is proudest of a recent screening she organized for teenage girls. About the experience, she said, “I loved it–first of all, they didn’t have their phones out, and not because they were told not to.  They just didn’t, which I thought was cool.  They were really laughing along with it.”

At the end of the movie, Schumer’s character gives a profound speech about accepting ourselves for who we are. She really enjoyed watching the teen’s reactions to it. “I wrote most of that speech, so getting to see it affecting them, and then getting to take pictures with all them after and hanging out and talking, I could see that it had really woken something up in them that I don’t know if they’ll just have it for that night or if they’ll carry it with them ‘cause it’ll be something that continues to fuel them.  That speech and getting to see those girls experience it is — it made it one of the best nights of my life and it’s something that I will be so proud of forever and carry with me.”

The film is in theaters everywhere starting today, April 20. 

Disclosure: I attended a screening of “I Feel Pretty,” hosted by STXfilms, and participated in a small conversation with influencers with Amy Schumer but all opinions are my own.

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Netflix just gets better and better. I’ve been a member since its humble start and am continuously impressed with its original and bold slate of programming, both original and acquired.

It keeps my entire family occupied at various times of the day and night. My teenage daughter is obsessed with its offerings, many of which I used to watch at one point in time, such as Grey’s Anatomy, and most recently Riverdale and Vampire Diaries and Scandal. My son watches airplane, World War 2, and spy shows like Border Security and he’s obsessed with Stranger Things. My husband binges everything English such as The Crown and Black Mirror.

And me? I escape to far, far away places in the compelling, earth-shattering shows that Netflix produces. Here were a few of my favorites this year, shows that I am thankful for, quite honestly, and my reasons why, as well as a few of ones that missed the mark for me:

Fauda was a like a gift that dropped into my lap. I still can’t quite believe how good this show is. I think it’s because I have very strong ties to the State of Israel. I’ve lived there before and I have family living there. However, I know there are disparities between Israelis and Palestinians that I could never understand, and Fauda shows the complex reality of living in Israel in a way that I’ve never seen before. It shows the reality from both sides, from the point of view from Israelis, but I suspect it’s more left wing and balanced that anything you’ll ever see. You don’t blame one side by the season’s end and if you do, you’ll start to see the point of view of the other one. This is necessary viewing as we enter a new phase of uncertainty in the Middle East caused by our current Presidential administration.

As I reach my 50th year (in a few years yet but hey, it’s coming), I really find myself seeking out shows like Grace and Frankie which puts aging women at the forefront. It’s a show about friendship. It’s a show about women. It’s about aging. It’s a show about life changes that hit you when you least expect them. It’s about motherhood and what it’s like later in life when the kids venture out on their own. It’s about love – when it breaks and how one picks up the pieces. It deals with some very tough issues in a very realistic way. I binge watch every season in two days and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next one. As for Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda, there are no words for their brilliance and extraordinary performances. Watch this one.

GLOW, created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch and executive produced by Orange Is the New Black’s Jenji Kohan, is a show about women’s wrestling and a true story based on a group of women in a male-dominated sport in the 1980’s.  My dad used to be a wrestling nut, and I was exposed to the sport often as a young girl. I vaguely remember women in the ring, so for me, this show was not only a piece of nostalgia from my own childhood, but also very much a modern dose of women’s empowerment. It’s a show about women, by women, and definitely for women. It’s also the ensemble that makes this show unique. The cast of eccentric characters is over the top, campy fun.

Lastly, I watch a lot of movies and documentaries on Netflix, and I have one to watch:

With One of Us, filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady made an incredibly insightful documentary about ultra-Orthodox Jews through the eyes of three young adults who are struggling to leave it behind. It’s intimate and totally eye-opening, and I’m so glad it’s being shown world-wide to so many who are not familiar with this world.

I can’t wait to see what Netflix brings into the world in 2018, most particularly season two of Fauda. Here’s to more pop culture programming in the new year.

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Disclosure: I attended a screening and press junket hosted by 20^th Century Fox. I was not paid to write this post.

It’s so crazy that two weeks ago I knew very little about Phineas Taylor Barnum. I knew he started the circus I grew up with, but little more. Since seeing the upcoming Christmas motion picture “The Greatest Showman,” I have thought little else but this man, his life, and the story that inspired this beautiful new movie, which is fortunately a musical but not just a musical. He was not ony a brilliant business man, but he was a family man and he inspired all the people he put into his shows. He celebrated their differences like no one else had before, and for that reason, the film is a treasure. The music is not only sublime and simply unforgettable but its words also celebrate differences and promotes tolerance and acceptance. This is the kind of music you don’t let yourself stop listening to, and I haven’t. It’s meaningful, thought-provoking music and it comes from the heart.

There is just so much to talk about with this film, and I was so fortunate to be a part of a small group of bloggers who got to meet some of the cast and crew. It was a snowy Saturday afternoon in New York City, and after seeing the film the night before, nothing was going to stop me from attending this junket. I had so many questions and I was eager to speak to the creators of this film.

The story itself is bold and brave..and big. It’s about Barnum’s life, when he was a small boy to just starting out as a businessman, and about all the people he met and loved along the way. It stars Hugh Jackman as Barnum, Michelle Williams as his wife, and a stellar cast of both theatrical and musical talent that includes Zac Efron and Zendaya. The songs were written by the genius team behind “Dear Evan Hansen,” Benji Pasek and Justin Paul. The director is a first time filmmaker, Michael Gracey, which is crazy but true – it’s his first film.

We kicked off the junket with Jackman, Efron and Zendaya, who play three of the film’s most important characters. Jackman and I chatted about shoveling snow in Larchmont (seriously!) and then he talked about the pull of this film: “They had this idea of P.T. Barnum, which I thought was perfect for a musical. I do think when you have a character who’s in the world of show biz, who’s larger than life, it lends itself to a musical. So, in that way, I thought this is a perfect type of character.” Efron, who plays Jackman’s sidekick, chimed in and talked about his love for musicals:”I”m always looking to find the next way to integrate music and that sort of song and dance side of me into my work. And in Hugh’s portrayal of P.T. Barnum, I felt like it would be effective. It could work through–Phillip could be a conduit to help show the magic of what P.T. Barnum did as a showman. And really, what Hugh does as a person in real life, and I’m here at a standing testament to it, he’s, one of the best teachers and showmen in the world. He quite literally is the most versatile probably actor alive. He’s always exuding this positivity and uplifting attitude. And I think it shows in his work, and it’s definitely in his work process.”

Efron and Jackman clearly have chemistry in real life, which translates to the big screen as their characters in the film are not only business partners but friends. They have one dance and music number in the film which is quite memorable, and it looked challenging to execute. About the scene, Jackman said, “We did a lot of hat stuff, glass stuff, and I’m clumsy. And literally, I would put my hand there and–20 feet, the shot glass was always there.” Efron, who clearly learned a lot from Jackman during the production of this film, chimed in and told Jackman, “It was fun to watch you figure it out, because you’re dealing with catching a hat on your foot and then flicking it back to your head. I’m, like, just sitting there in awe for half the numbers.”

Zendaya, who plays a trapeze artist in the film, as well as Efron’s love interest, spoke about how she and Efron did most of their stunts on their own, which is pretty amazing. Once you see the film, you’ll understand.  “She said “I have a partner in crime (Efron) who wanted to doit just as much as I did, I mean, because when it comes to that, and it’s easy to get frustrated. We were constantly pushing each other.” He said it was a testament to Zendaya: “She was totally committed. And once we kind of trusted one another, she just kept leveling it out, and that just made me that much more motivated to get it perfect.”

The film celebrates people’s differences in an extraordinarily powerful way. “I love the message of this movie, of accepting ourselves for who we are and what we love and the things that really make us feel passionate and not worry about what anyone else thinks,” Jackman said. “Owning up to the things that you love, the music that you like, the food you want to eat, who your friends are, the things you want to do whether it’s cool or not, that is where the joy of life is.” He told us a story about growing up in fear of his talent, and how his older brother used to make fun of him for wanting to be a dancer/singer until he was 18 and his family went to a production of “42nd Street”. That day changed everything. His brother apologized and told him he belonged on stage. But Jackman doesn’t tell his kids to be like him: “Be more like Billy Elliott. Just do the thing you love to do because it makes you happy. And if you follow that path, you will make other people happy.”

Efron, whose first musical was “High School Musical,” a film we have watched dozens of time in my house, said, “I wake up and every day start with the man in the mirror, and just have to accept that and be excited about that.” Zendaya takes her role as someone who young people look up to very seriously: “We’re not saying this is how you should be. It’s saying we want you to be the best version of yourself.  So, nobody’s saying I want you to be just like Zendaya.  No, I don’t want you to be just like me.  I want you to be just like you. That path looks different for every single person in any walk of life.”

The film was a first for many of its actors. Rebecca Ferguson, who plays Jenny Lind, a singer from Sweden who Barnum takes under his wing to make famous, and whose voice is remarkable, had never done a musical before and said, “I was terrified of going into this genre and that I was going to play one of our cult figures of Sweden. I’m not really a singer; bring on more terrifying. And I thought why not just do it and challenge myself?”

Keala Settle, a Broadway actress, plays Lettie Lutz, the circus’ bearded lady, and she’s a complete break out. You will never forget her performance. She said she at first shied away from the role: “I was so petrified because this is my first major motion picture in a role that I didn’t know was going to be what it is. The bigger that it got for me, the scarier that it got because I wanted to hide even more. And I am still, even sitting here in front of you, fighting that right now.” Settle, who was starring in “Waitress,” when she got this role, sings “This is Me,” one of the strongest numbers in the film about celebrating differences. She apparently brought director Michael Gracey and the composers to tears during her final audition when they offered her the role: “I thought it was a lie and I said, ‘I can’t wait for my $500 for doing this reading, and then I’m going to go back to work at “Waitress!'”

As for Gracey, how on earth is this his first film? Very humble, he refuses to take all the credit: “Clearly I would love to take credit as the director for the amazing performance, but I can’t because everyone involved in this film, they brought so much to their performance and they did it in a way that was so truthful. This cast and this set and the crew created the most amazing environment, and it was such a sense of family with everyone.  You had huge stars coming down and just being on set to support other people’s musical numbers.  You know, like they were cheering and usually when you work with big stars, you’re like you have this person from that time to this time.”

He continued: “And they all did it.  Zac, Zendaya, Hugh, they all come down.  Everyone was so enamored with each other and what they were bringing to this film.  And that’s really what makes it so special.I had crew who have done 40, 50 films coming up to me and saying I’ve never been on a set like this.”

Settle agreed that the experience of being in this film was very powerful, and that energy and vigor added to her performance: “You can’t lie on camera because they can see it.  You can’t lie.  There are moments of being on a Broadway stage which are different, and it’s a different way you perform and share those emotions that you can convey to that type of an audience.You have to tap in.  And the second that you let all of that go, you’re not even in your body anymore, which is how it’s supposed to be, because you have to let others see what has, that’s what makes a great artist, when they can give of themselves enough to say I’m getting out of the way so that this can come through, wherever it came from.”

The story of Barnum is fascinating, and I wanted to hear Gracey’s point of view of bringing it to life and dealing with some pretty tough issues in his film: “Something that I found really fascinating was his support of civil rights, and he was a huge advocate. I really wanted to reflect that in the film. At the time, seven years ago, I thought it was still relevant to this day.  And sadly, it became increasingly relevant over the seven years of developing it. Then, I cast Zendaya, who–I just find her incredible, but she had a lot to say about her own experience with mixed race parents.  And so, I think it was a combination.  It was a combination of writing the character, of casting Zendaya, writing more with her in mind.  So, that’s kind of how the evolution of that love story came about.”

Ferguson chimed in, who clearly has a love for Gracey’s work: “I think it fits beautifully as well.  It’s a film about not minorities, but class difference, breaking down the barriers of class, breaking down these goddamn walls of racism and putting it in this triumphant film with incredible songs.”

Naturally, the topic of politics and gender equality came up. Settle was the first to comment: “The high road is so clear and available and traffic free right now. I challenge you to take that, and take that highway that’s up there that has no cars on it.  I challenge you to because that’s what we did with this film.”

The composing duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote the movie’s songs. Their songs  from “Dear Evan Hansen” and “La La Land” have swept me away over the past year, so meeting and hearing from them was a dream. When they were hired to work on this film, seven years ago, they were just starting out. Paul said, “The first time that we heard anything about this film was we heard Michael Gracey, the director, pitch the film.  He had been sort of going around to a lot of songwriters, most of whom were a lot more well-known and established than we were.  But someone, you know, convinced him and cajoled him to talk to us. We heard him tell this tale of how he wanted to make a film, sort of like the film that P.T. Barnum would have made about himself, this sort of larger than life figure who was an impresario, who was sort of the Steve Jobs of his time, the Jay-Z of his time, was sort of like the OG.  The part of that concept was, you know, I want to make the music contemporary and the choreography contemporary to, like, sort of set–talk about the fact that he was ahead of his time.  And that sounded sort of crazy to us, and we were like, ‘We don’t get that at all.'”

But eventually they did. Pasek, who writes the words primarily while Paul writes the music, said this about their process: “I think that once music and lyrics are paired together they can’t really be separated, ideally.  We like to take credit for both things because a song is really a united, you know, congealed piece of something that you can’t really separate.  Sometimes the melody has to get out of the way to just support a lyric that you really want to be heard.  And so, we just try to work as closely as possible.”

The cast at the NYC premiere.

On working with Gracey, Paul said, “Michael would show us concept art.  Michael is big into pre-viz, pre-visualization, so, like, almost computer animation of what the scenes would be.  And those really inspired us in writing the songs.  But then once the songs were written, the team really took those and ran with them and staged them in that beautiful way.”

The song “This is Me,” came up because, well just because. Once you hear the song, you’ll understand. It will never leave your mind. Pasek told us, “That song was really inspired by the character. Everything for us starts with character, so the character of the bearded lady and these oddities, these people who have, you know, grown up living in the shadows who have been, you know, locked in their parents’ basements or attics and never really been sort of let out, and have been told their whole lives that they should be embarrassed about who they are. Originally the song was written for Tom Thumb, and it was kind of a–how would you describe it?  It was like a little ditty.”

But Gracey pushed for something bigger. Paul said, “The song kind of came out of a lot of fighting back and forth with us and Michael.” Pasek added, “Letty was being played at that time even in workshops by Keala Settle, who we knew from the Broadway world and who we felt really lucky to be developing this with.  When we began to think about it in her voice and what her voice is able to do and also what–you know, what she brings to the table, just who she is as a human being and it began to really click for us about what the song could be.”

When asked about his research for the film, Pasek chimed in about his own personal connection to Barnum: “I also had the rare distinction of having done a fourth grade report at the Barnum Museum in elementary school, so I’m sort of an expert.  I grew up in Connecticut,  maybe 20 minutes from the Barnum Museum in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  And so, there’s actually a really, really hilarious, like, dweebie video of me and my friends when we’re, like, in fourth grade at the Barnum Museum doing a full book report.  So, the book report really–or the character report, I guess, really came in handy. But, we did do some of that research especially in sort of like the kind of phrases he would use and all that kind of stuff.  But then ultimately, the movie is sort of a storybook version of his life.”

Source: L.A. Times

Pasek and Paul told us about their influences, ranging from Ingrid Michaelson to Billy Joel to Imagine Dragons, how they actually wrote the opening number “The Greatest Show” with Ryan Lewis of Macklemore and Lewis because Gracey wanted it to be a show stopper of total Steve Jobs impact, waiting for the iPhone and all the people just needing this thing. Pasek told us, “It was a cool assignment, in a way, because really the assignment from Michael was I want these songs to feel contemporary.  And so, that was something a little bit different.”

Fortunately for us, Pasek and Paul’s cool assignment is “The Greatest Showman,” and it’s sure to be one of your favorite movies of the year and possibly favorite musicals of all time.

This Christmas, dare to dream anything. The #GreatestShowman opens a world of imagination, in theaters December 20. TheGreatestShowmanTickets.com.

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Would my kids care if I died tomorrow? Would they eulogize me at my own funeral? I know that this sounds morbid, but the thought has crossed my mind more than once. Motherhood can be a thankless, grueling grind, and leave it to FX’s “Better Things” for reminding me that I’m not alone in the most recent episode of the show called “Eulogy”.

In this episode, written by the show’s co-creator, Louis K., Sam, a single mother of three played by my new shero, Pam Adlon, is watching TV with her girls after a long day at work. Her character is a very successful actress and acting teacher. While flipping through the channels, the girls catch sight of one of her shows and whiz past it. Sam reacts in disbelief, feeling minimized. One of her daughters admits that she has never watched any of her mom’s work. Angry, Sam leaves the house.

I would do the same thing. I would leave. As a matter of fact, I have. I have felt so unappreciated after a day of juggling both work and kids that by the end of the day many, many times I’ve just left and fled to the nearest bar. I’ve even fled the country – having gone on a two-week trip to Vietnam a few years ago. Sometimes a break is everything.

Like Sam, I also don’t want to have to wait until I’m dead for my kids to appreciate me. I do so much. I work full-time. I take care of my family. I organize schedules, clean the house, make food, shlep them to place to place. I also care for my aging mother, much like Sam does on the show.

When Sam steps out to vent to a friend at a local bar about her children’s lack of devotion to her, we see her chatting with an actor friend. He tells her: “Nobody could be openly gay until I was too old to have any fun.” Sam tells him the same thing is happening to her and again, i related. Some days I don’t have much fun with all the minutia and literally lose myself. In between the driving the kids from place to place, yelling at them to do their homework, and making dinner, I try to find moments for myself, but it’s really hard. I’ve recently pledged to have more fun in life – I really have.

I also worry about my own mortality. I worry about what would happen to my kids, my husband, and my mother if I get hurt or die. Seriously, how could they cope without me? It’s a lot of pressure, and it makes my heart heavy.

When Sam returns, her kids have a fake funeral and eulogize her, enabling her to find out that her teenage girls do actually respect her and her career. Max admits that they don’t want to share her with the world, but she does want to watch her TV and film work. How raw, how open..how completely wide open and insightful of these girls. My teenager hasn’t yet opened up to me on this level, and I doubt she will, but I’m sure that she could if she tried.

I found myself crying along with Sam and her girls, and for just being a freaking mom. It’s so rewarding…in the end.

That’s why “Better Things” should be your next binge. It’s the most honest portrayal of motherhood I have ever seen. Do it. Make it your next binge and report back to me.

And stay strong.

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Source: Fox Searchlight Pictures

The other night I had the opportunity to screen the new film Goodbye Christopher Robin at the Paris Theater in NYC, along with the director and several stars of the film. The film starts to roll out in theaters nationwide today.

I felt very fortunate to be in the room with the creators of this special film, which was very reminiscent of Saving Mr. Banks, another recent  tale about a famous figure in history that brought one of the most important stories into the world. In that case, it was  about mogul Walt Disney who brought Mary Poppins to celluloid, making one of the most beloved movies ever made. In the case of Goodbye Christopher Robin, the story is about the creator of Winnie the Pooh, a tale that remains the most beloved children’s book in history, not just in the UK where it originated, but around the world.

Seeing the film at the New York Public Library was a unique and memorable experience. The original Winnie-The-Pooh and friends dolls are on display there. The story goes that in 1921, as a first-birthday present, Christopher Robin Milne received a small stuffed bear, which had been purchased at Harrods in London. Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga, and Tigger soon joined Winnie-the-Pooh as Christopher’s playmates and the inspiration for the children’s classics When We Were Very Young (1924), Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), Now We Are Six (1927), and The House at Pooh Corner (1928), written by his father, A.A. Milne, and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Brought to the United States in 1947, the toys remained with the American publisher E.P. Dutton until 1987, when they were donated to The New York Public Library. The Library was appropriately decked out for the premiere and it was a sight to behold. The original Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals were on display in the main entrance (complete with Eeyore and his nailed-on tail), and desserts shaped like honey pots were so appropriate.

Directed by Simon Curtis and written by Frank Cottrell-Boyce and Simon Vaughn, Goodbye Christopher Robin stars Domhnall Gleeson as AA Milne, known as Blue to his friends and family, alongside Margot Robbie as his wife, Daphne ,and Will Tilston as their young son, Billy. The film starts in a war zone during World War I, where we witness Milne avoiding heavy artillery fire as he flees through the trenches.  While the war haunts him for many years after he returns home, Milne takes to writing poetry and becomes quite anti-war. During a bout with writer’s block, largely due to PTSD, which his wife neglects to understand, he is left alone with his young son, during which time they bond and the story of Winnie the Pooh starts to take formation. The inspiration evolves largely from walks in the woods and the characters the two act out during these walks and at their tea parties. It’s quite exciting to watch the inspiration for Winnie, Tigger, and Eeyore, stuffed animals who are the boy’s best friends in the absence of his mother. Kelly Macdonald plays Billy’s nanny, Olive, beautifully. She is his best friend, but her relationship with his parents can not sustain itself and she leaves him quite early in his life.

When the book is released, it’s an instant smash, but the Milnes inadvertently use Billy to promote the book and his childhood changes dramatically. He’s a star overnight, and when his dad finally takes note during a visit to the London Zoo, where he is forced to take a photo up close with a grizzly bear and women demand his autograph while eating lunch, things change dramatically. He is sent to boarding school where he is bulled daily and spends the bulk of his adolescent years without his parents. Billy ages in the film, and actor Alex Lawther plays him as an adult skillfully, playing out his character’s resentments of a lost childhood. Ultimately, he, too, decides to go off to fight for his country during World War 2, following in his parent’s footsteps. It is not until after that due to unfortunate circumstances that his parents are forced to accept the reality that thrusting him into the limelight as a child was not the best thing for him. The moment of this realization is a tear jerker, as is his reunion with his nanny later in life.

– New York, NY – 10/11/17 – FOX SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES presents “GOODBYE CHRISTOPHER ROBIN” New York Special Screening & Reception
– Pictured: Margot Robbie , Domhnall Gleeson, Will Tilston and Kelly MacDonald
– Photo by: Dave Allocca/Starpix
-Location: Astor Hall at The New York Public Library

The actors are all excellent in this film. I have loved Gleeson for some time, since seeing and interviewing him in the movie About Time and his performance as Milne is to be commended, particularly during his PTSD scenes. While I did not like Robbie’s character as a mother myself watching her ignore her child and take notice of him, I commend her for her performance as a cold-hearted woman who was not prepared for motherhood. Tilston is rather impressive as the young inspiration for the classic story, and I am still impressed that this was his first role after being found in a drama class in the UK. My hat truly goes off to Macdonald, who I loved as the nanny who tried to give the young Billy back his childhood. She is truly the moral compass and voice of reason in this film.

I recommend this film for moms and dads in particular. It will make them think long and hard about their own parenting skills, and the price your child can pay for any decisions you make while raising them. What makes parents happy doesn’t always make children happy and childhood is such a fleeting, short blip in one’s lives, but a powerful period that has a long-term impact. Billy reminds me largely of childhood film and TV stars who have gone public about how fame stole their childhood, such as classic star Shirley Temple and more recently, Amanda Bynes. It is a dark, emotional story, but one that my teenage daughter would understand and appreciate.

Disclosure: I was invited to the premiere by Fox Searchlight Pictures, but all opinions are my own, as always.

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I’m very grateful to a good friend who suggested I watch Fauda, an Israeli TV show currently streaming on Netflix. I implore you to make this program your next binge.

Every now and then, a show hits you, gets under your skin, and really rips you apart. But not very often, right? The last time it happened with me was probably with Six Feet Under or Breaking Bad, but I can’t honestly remember anything hitting me as hard as Fauda. 

I think it’s because I have very strong ties to the State of Israel. I’ve lived there and I’m a fervent Zionist. However, I know there are disparities between Israelis and Palestinians that I could never understand. Mainly because I don’t live there.

Israel is always in my heart, and I hate that it’s a nation at war after so many years. I have family there, very close family, and I pray, for them and the rest of the country daily, that things remain quiet and relatively peaceful.

Fauda shows the complex reality of living in Israel in a way that I’ve never seen before. It’s important to know going in that it’s in Hebrew and Arabic, so pay full attention. Written by Israeli veteran journalist Avi Issacharoff and the series’ lead actor, Lior Raz, the show centers around a team of Israeli commando soldiers who speak Arabic and operate undercover inside Palestinian territory. They are a tight group of agents who work flawlessly with each other and are much like brothers and sisters (there’s one female commando and she’s awesome). Their commend of both languages is so exquisite that they can basically act as a native of either side in any situation. Apparently, Arabic lessons are on the ride in Israel as a result of this show. It’s that popular and deservedly so. But the show is giving Israelis a micro-mirror and is providing ways for them to deal with their difficult reality.

It’s incredible that the creators had never written for TV before. The show is just that strong. And while Fauda is clearly on the side of Israelis, the show quietly clouds the line of the Israeli-Palestinian crisis and exposes certain realities that Americans in particular can never understand. The show won’t necessarily change your mind or side, but it definitely shows the challenges of getting out of a situation such as this one. It really takes us inside a reality that is everyday life in Israel/the Palestinian territories, only it is a reality that only the writers know from their own personal experience and gift to us as viewers.

I’m going to keep details bare so that you have the full experience of the show when you watch it. I knew nothing going in and I’m glad about that. But I can tell you thtat the show will leave you reeling, that I can promise you. Late last year Netflix bought the rights to Fauda’s second season, which is still in production and will be available next year.

Think about it – Homeland, In Treatment – did you watch them, both based on Israeli TV shows? Combine the power of these shows and think BIGGER and more powerful, and you have Fauda. It’s explosive, it’s gripping, it’s your next binge.

Disclosure: I am a member of Netflix’s #StreamTeam and am required to post monthly, however I choose my own topics. All opinions are my own.

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I grew up with Meg Ryan, Holly Hunter, Debra Winger, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn. These were the women I saw regularly on the screen. They were familiar and they represented something very important that you don’t find on the screen often enough today….ordinary women with ordinary problems, much of what revolved around love and finding one’s self. When Harry Met Sally, Broadcast News, Private Benjamin, Terms of Endearment, to name a few. It was the era of rom com’s and these films had a deep impact on me. Whenever these women return to the screen, I run to the cinema to not only see what they are doing now, but to have memories flood my mind of the movies that used to be made.

Director and screenwriter Nancy Meyers has been at the helm of many rom com’s in the 80’s and 90’s  – so many memorable ones from The Parent Trap to Something’s Gotta Give to The Holiday to It’s Complicated. They were all generally about a woman finding herself later in life, much like myself today……

There haven’t been many memorable rom-com’s since, so it seems logical that Meyers’ daughter, Hallie Meyers-Shyer, who grew up on the set of all her mom’s movies in shape or form, is bringing the genre back with her new film Home Again.  I was lucky to screen it last week with my own daughter, who is fourteen years old and extremely influential and interested in movies. I was thrilled to be at a smart movie with her that revolves around good, old-fashioned story telling with a woman at the helm and another woman in the starring role. In this case, that’s Reese Witherspoon, who plays a divorced woman in her 40’s who sets out to restart her life on her own, with two kids in tow.

Getting divorced with young kids is more common today than ever before. Stats reveal that 50% of all children in the U.S. will witness the divorce of their parents. Divorce isn’t easy, but women are more educated today – they are more courageous. We have watched our own mothers go through certain types of struggles and we know what we want for our own lives. This is a film about a woman who chooses a better life for herself, and it’s a realistic look at the obstacles and choices that exist.

Witherspoon was the perfect choice for this lead role. She’s also someone I’ve grown up with, though she must be my age. She’s extremely likable and relatable, and she’s really funny, much like Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton from some of my earlier rom com’s. She easily goes along with the joke that her character is an “older” woman, and it’s refreshing. Her character, Alice, is very much going through the “what do I do next” phase of life, that all of us go through at some point. Should she get divorced, can she have a fling, how desperate is she for work, what is her next step. These aren’t easy decisions when you have children.

When we meet Alice, she has just left her husband, played by Michael Sheen, and moved back to Los Angeles, her hometown. Soon after arriving, she meets three filmmakers, played by Nat Wolff, Jon Rudnitsky, and Pico Alexander, and she is forced to make decisions about being an adult with two children, despite the temptation to act like they don’t exist. The three guys move in with her, out of desperation while negotiating a film deal, and they end up getting close to her and her daughters while her husband tries to figure out his place in their lives. Their presence actually enables her to discover what she is looking for in life, and so much more.

Happily for me, Alice’s mom is played by the legendary Candice Bergen, which adds to my nostalgia of reliving this type of movie. I hope that this is the first of many rom com’s to come for us living in 2017. This is the type of movie I want to continue to see and bring my daughter to. To see a female character not that different to myself on celluloid – that is everything.

Home Again starts on Friday, September 8th.

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Being atypical isn’t easy. Trust me, I know from personal experience. Very personal experience, too personal to get too much into details here.

So, when Netflix announced their new show Atypical, created by Robia Rashid (The Goldbergs, How I Met Your Mother) and Seth Gordon (also The Goldbergs, as well as the recent Baywatch movie), I was intrigued and eagerly awaited its arrival. As a mom with few outlets and connections to a world that is very personal and quite complicated, as well as incredibly lonely, I was eager to see how TV would portray a boy on the spectrum. I had seen an autistic child portrayed on NBC’s “Parenthood,” but that was before my own experience with this world was apparent.

The show revolves around Sam (played by Keir Gilchrist), an autistic high-school senior , and his experiences and interactions in a main stream school and in the world. His family has developed strategies to help him cope. His sister, Casey (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine) is protective and looks after him at school, and his parents (played by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Michale Rappaport) work together mostly as a team, not always, to give him the tools they need.  The show reveals the intricacies and hardship that his issues have on others, as well as its beauty and ability to teach each of them something new about themselves and the world.

His dad has never truly related to him, and is trying by going to group therapy with his wife (which doesn’t go that well – I hope he goes back). He has hidden Sam’s diagnosis from a colleague.  For me, it was touching to see him come around and accept that autism is a large part of who Sam is. There is often a lot of denial amongst parents with kids on the spectrum.

Sam’s mom has absorbed herself in Sam’s issues over the years – so much so that she is now drowning from having lost sight of herself. She worries about his future and wonders what her own life will be like when he leaves.

Casey is offered an athletic scholarship at a private school which at first her mom thinks isn’t an option as she’ll be leaving Sam behind. The sibling of an autistic child is often left behind and neglected, with attention and emphasis always going to the autistic child. When it’s her time to shine, the lack of support and cluelessness of her parents is disturbing…and very realistic.

The bottom line: it’s all about Sam. This is not unrealistic in the slightest. The reality is that autism gobbles up the family dynamic. In real life, being atypical is lonely, not just for the person but for the family. There’s a deep desire to be typical on all accounts, and that desire further complicates the family dynamic. Sam is different, he is unusual. He can’t sit on a bus with his back touching the wall. He’s impulsive and shouts at strangers. He wears headphones whilst talking to people to block out sound, even on dates. He has few friends. He misinterprets his therapist’s intentions, interpreting them for affection and while trying to get the attention of other girls, he can’t get her out of his mind. He’s obsessed with penguins and the Antarctica, and he works in a technology store – tech is clearly another obsession. He is extremely attentive to detailIn my experience, these qualities or attributes of autism are not off base.

Watching this show gave me a sense of relief. I breathed in several times, just seeing these kinds of things happen to someone else, which helped me feel less alone, which I feel all too oten.  Whether it’s a character on a show or someone I know in real life, seeing a similar dynamic is reassuring.

Disclosure: I am a member of Netflix’s StreamTeam, but all opinions are my own.

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And when given the opportunity, I steal time in my room to watch Netflix on my own. Interesting enough, as a member of the network’s #StreamTeam, I have access to research studies they’ve done on their users.  One report says that 97% of moms say that they had more time for themselves before motherhood, and now, three-quarters (71%) of moms admit to sneaking in TV “me-time” while juggling a busy schedule, with some even hiding from their kids for just a moment of peace. With moms doing it anywhere and everywhere in the neighborhood when the kids aren’t around, sneaking is the new bingeing. I believe that is the new spelling of the verb, too.

So, what have I been bingeing? I adored GLOW about a group of women who branded themselves as the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling in the 1980’s. The characters are so interesting and the script so unique. It’s truly a story about a group of women coming into their own, and it has girl power and feminism infused to every scene. I was nipping into my room to binge GYPSY with Naomi Watts, a show about a married therapist who starts to delve into her client’s lives and cross boundaries that are beyond description, but I have to admit I dragged myself through the series and couldn’t wait for it to end. Naomi Watt’s talent is either wasted or it me thinking she simply can’t act. I can’t get enough of GRACE AND FRANKIE. The show gets better and better and Season 3 is no exception. It opens on Lily Tomlin dancing with animated dildos, and, it’s fantastic and indicative of how funny and genuine these characters are. MASTER OF NONE is brilliant and I can’t believe I’m so late to the game on this one. I’m a huge fan of CHELSEA. The talk show host is on fire and her guests are phenomenal. She really explores women’s issues and human rights and is taking the #Resistance to a whole new level. My husband and I are now watching BETTER CALL SAUL, a prequel of “Breaking Bad” which is so bad it’s good.

Next on my Netflix binge list and what I’m watching now: FRIENDS FROM COLLEGE and TO THE BONE.

Disclosure: I’m a member of Netflix’s Stream Team but all opinions are my own. 

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