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You Know You’ve Found the Right Person When…
How can you tell if that person really is “The One?” No one can tell you hard and fast rules about who is right or wrong for you, and if they do, the advice probably has more to do with the advice giver than the advice receiver. That being said, there are a few things that seem to be true for people who have made their relationships last for more than the time it takes for most couples to trade in their last car.
First, their relationship is the most important part of their lives. They stop thinking like single people and start thinking and acting like a couple. Decisions are made as a couple because they know and respect that other person. They stop thinking about “what is good for me” and start thinking about “what is good for us.” This thinking is not based in fear like “what will she think if I do this?” Instead the thinking goes something like “this will not benefit (or be good for) us if I do this.”
My second observation is that fear, recrimination and blame is gone. You know that you can say anything to your partner without fear or regret because the both of you know that you are in this together. What affects one will affect the other and together you will find a way. When listening to the problems of the other person, you no longer take them personally. You know that together you can face anything and come out the other side in a good place regardless of the outcome. Together you will tackle the problem (or opportunity) and make the best of it.
Last is communication and it is an integral part of the entire relationship. There is nothing you can’t say, no walls separate you, and you are transparent to that other person. Likewise, you let your partner know how you feel all the time. Show them that you love them in your words and actions. An unexpected word of affection here, holding their hand for no reason at all, a hug as you pass by each other in the hall to do the chores all communicate the love that feeds a healthy and growing relationship.
All of this is called intimacy. It has a sexual side, but what is important is the communication and trust that comes with a committed relationship between two adults in love. Also notice I said nothing about how tall the person was or what her cup size was or how big his biceps were. Physical beauty is in the eye of the beholder and fades with age. True beauty is in the mind and is ageless. After all, there are monsters with pretty faces and I’ve known a few as well.
Does that sound scary? Think it’s unattainable? Maybe that’s why we don’t see many happy couples who are married for fifty years. Perhaps my view is idealistic, but I feel if you can do these things, you will know you’ve found the right person.
Of the three new movies that I reviewed during the Feb. 7, 2013 edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine,” the one that will give you the best bang for your buck is “Warm Bodies” – a horror-themed romantic dramedy that may very well warm your heart. On the other end of the spectrum is “Stand Up Guys,” a movie starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin that may very well ruin those actors’ reputations.
‘Bullet to the Head’
Sylvester Stallone plays a career hitman who enters into an unlikely alliance with a by-the-book detective (Sung Kang) to bring down the ruthless killer of their respective partners. Christian Slater and Jason Momoa also star. (R – 91 minutes)
“Bullet to the Head” is a gravely gritty crime thriller with reverberating sound effects. Having said that, its episodic nature grows old extremely quickly thereby making the film feel like it goes on forever in spite of its somewhat short runtime. Director Walter Hill’s new movie, which is based on Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel of the same title, cycles through a pattern in which its stars Sylvester Stallone and Sung Kang track down a bad guy, beat him to a bloody pulp, put a bullet in his head and end up pointing their guns at each other. Rinse. Repeat. (Grade: C)
‘Stand Up Guys’
Al Pacino and Christopher Walken play a pair of aging con men who re-team with their old pal (Alan Arkin) for one last hurrah before one of the guys takes his last assignment – to kill his comrade. (R – 94 minutes)
One would think that a comedy starring Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and Alan Arkin would consist of smarter material than just a bunch of jokes about erectile dysfunction. Granted, the condition is a considerable concern for aging men but “Stand Up Guys” goes out of it way to really nail it into the viewer’s consciousness, canvassing everything from Viagra to penile pumps instead of digging deeper into the emotionally relevant issues that it so briefly brings up. Having said that, there are glimpses of a more profound motion picture and listening to this trio of talented actors talk about anything at all is still time well spent. (Grade: D)
‘Warm Bodies’
Nicholas Hoult plays a zombie who becomes involved with the girlfriend (Teresa Palmer) of one of his victims (Dave Franco) and discovers that their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. (PG-13 – 97 minutes)
“Warm Bodies” is strangely romantic. And not just in the amorous zombie-boy-meets-human-girl kind of way but also in its overall outlook on the world – which is weird considering this is a post-apocalyptic motion picture, after all. Writer/director Jonathan Levine’s cinematic adaptation of author Isaac Marion’s novel is incredibly idealistic, pin-pointing poetry in an otherwise extremely bleak existence. In addition to being able to jump-start viewers’ hearts, the flick also stimulates their brains and taps on their funny bones with its witty and wry sense of humor. Bella and Edward have got nothing on Julie and R. (Grade: B)
In the new horror-themed romantic dramedy “Warm Bodies,” Nicholas Hoult plays a zombie who becomes involved with the girlfriend (Teresa Palmer) of one of his victims (Dave Franco) and discovers that their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. The Feb. 7, 2013 edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine” featured several soundbites from the film’s writer/director Jonathan Levine, whose credits include “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, “The Wackness” and “50/50.” The following is my full exclusive interview with him from which said soundbites were pulled.
Question: What attracted you to this project?
Answer: I liked the positivity of it. I had done another genre mashup movie called “All the Boys Love Mandy Lane” that was kind of relentlessly dark. And in “The Wackness,” there are a lot of comedic moments but it is pretty dark too. “50/50” is also dark, although it is ironically the lightest of those three. I thought that this movie was really a nice way to play with very positive messages about tolerance and what it really means to be alive. This was an opportunity to play within the tropes of romantic comedies and give the audience what they want but do it in a very unique way. I liked the fact that it was positive but I liked the fact that it was self-aware, too. There is this tension between the Disney thing – like the princess kissing the toad – and the sort of harsh violence of the apocalyptic world. So even though there is a lot of self-aware cheesiness in the movie, it is balanced out by a darkness which makes it a little more palatable to cynical people like myself.
Q: Tell me about the adaptation process. Was it at all difficult?
A: The book does not necessarily lend itself that easily to translation. A lot of is is very metaphysical so, in adapting it, I had to convert that into action and events. There was a lot of wonderful prose that I was never able to get into the movie. I just hoped to get the spirit of that tone into the movie. And I think that we we were successful in doing that. Plus, the brain eating stuff was very cool – and was actually part of why I wanted to do it because you can do this kind of trippy, first-person point-of-view – but that, too, was a challenging thing to adapt. What was great about the book is that there was nothing when I was adapting it that was unimaginable. You could do anything with these characters and style and it would still be appropriate. This is just the one road we chose to go down. I love the fact that it is about these young people who are dealing with this apocalypse and have a bit of an attitude about it. I love the irreverence of it.
Q: Can you expand upon that? Because I loved the irreverence, too. In fact, I could have watched an entire movie designed after the first 4 minutes in which zombies just walk around groaning at one another as you attach voiceover to the main character’s thoughts.
A: I do not think that you could. I think that it would get boring. I mean, I love that stuff, too. Those first 4 minutes – all of the social commentary and the opportunity to play with style – are kind of what drew me into the movie. But at some point the story has to start. I can tell you that in the editing process there were several different movies. There was a version of it that had 30 percent less comedy. It was very sad and about this guy who was alone. But that was boring. And then there were a hundred versions with wall-to-wall voiceover – almost like “Look Who’s Talking.” What we ended up doing was a balance. I have to go to extremes in either direction to end up in the middle. That is my process. And sometimes I do not end up in the middle. Sometimes I end up more on one side or the other. But it is always good to have this system of checks and balances with tone.
Q: True. So then did the unique nature of this movie and its tone ever scare you?
A: When I was writing this movie, there were 20 pages of zombies just groaning at each other. You cannot help but be a little scared about how it is going to turn out. I had the most weight on my shoulders but I was also the person who was supposed to be the least scared. And I was very scared. But seeing Nick [Hoult] and Rob [Corddry] and the way that they tackled their roles with an utter lack of fear inspired me to be less afraid. Luckily, I immediately got on board that way as soon as I saw them in rehearsal. So my goal in the future is to not even be scared in the first place and just do what I want.
Q: Finally, this movie was originally scheduled to be released last summer. What can you tell me about the delay?
A: I think that we saw how crowded the summer was going to be and we got scared. And I think that we were right to get scared. I had always been really nervous about a summer release date. I was nervous about going up against “The Bourne Legacy” and “The Dark Knight Rises,” which would have come out 3 weeks before us. This is a special movie that needs a little breathing room. I think that this is the type of movie that needs to come out in the beginning of the year when there are other movies that are unique and daring. This is the time of year when movies either suck or are awesome and different and I can promise people that this is not in the category of sucky movies.
In the new horror-themed romantic dramedy “Warm Bodies,” Nicholas Hoult plays a zombie who becomes involved with the girlfriend (Teresa Palmer) of one of his victims (Dave Franco) and discovers that their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. The Feb. 7, 2013 edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine” featured several soundbites from Franco, whose film credits include “21 Jump Street” and “Fright Night.” The following is my full exclusive interview with him from which said soundbites were pulled.
Question: Describe your character in your own words. How did you see him in order to tap into his mindset?
Answer: Perry starts out as an innocent, naive, lovestruck kid. There is this zombie apocalypse happening but he has tunnel vision. All he can see is this girl that he is in love with and that is kind of how he kind of copes with the world around him. And then he has this horrendous thing happen in front of his face where he sees his dad get killed and it hardens him. He suddenly has this one-track mind where all he cares about is ending the zombie apocalypse and killing off as many zombies as possible. I am not on the screen for a [heck] of a lot of time so it is like a big journey to take in a very little time. That is kind of a tough thing as an actor because you jump from one intense scene to the next yet you do not want it to feel overdone. I just kind of had to give myself over to the director and hope that he would reign me in if I went too big or amp me up if I was too subtle.
Q: Were there any special things that you did to prepare for this role?
A: We went to the gun range and I talked to this gun expert at length because I wanted the military scenes to feel authentic. If a guy in the military were to see this movie, I want him to look at my character and say, “OK. He knows how to hold that gun. He looks like he knows what he is doing.” That would drive me insane if these guys in the military – the experts – could look at my character and know that it was not authentic. So I got to learn about every little part of this gun and how it works and how to hold it and all that jazz. I think that is an interesting part of acting in general, too – learning about stuff that you would not normally.
Q: I was disappointed to discover that at no point during the movie do you turn into a zombie. Do you – at least on some level – wish that you would have gotten to play one?
A: Not even a little bit. Nicholas Hoult, who plays the main zombie, showed up to set roughly three hours earlier every day than the rest of us to go through the makeup process. I went through that for about a week on “Fright Night,” where I was a vampire and, to be honest, it was brutal. They put these lenses in my eyes that were the size of quarters and, once those were in there, they threw me in this dirt pit. In the pit, there were rocks and dust flying everywhere. So that got in the lenses and I had this kind of crunchy blink going on. And then I had to act through it – be energized and pretend like I do not have all this [junk] in my eyes. So I think that I dodged a bullet on this one.
Q: But I imagine that it was still somewhat strange to act alongside all of the zombies. Right?
A: There were so many zombie extras on the movie. They were walking around everywhere. You are in the cafeteria and they are just in line in front of you. It should be weird and you almost hope that these extras would play more pranks – jump out and scare people – but there just was not a ton of that. I think that after a few days you just become accustomed to it.
Q: So, then what would you say is your biggest takeaway from your experience working on this film?
A: Jonathan Levine – the director – is one of these really smart guys who will give you ideas that just make the scenes a lot more complex than you initially thought. For example, you know the scene toward the beginning where I am addressing my troops and we are about to go out into the mayhem and find this medicine in the city? For the first few takes, I played that as if I was this confident leader who knew what I was doing. I was very composed. Jonathan took me aside and reminded me that although I am very determined and have a lot of passion, I am still this vulnerable, weak guy deep down inside so, realistically, I would not be such a charismatic, confident leader. I would be a guy who kind of stumbles over his words and doubts himself a little bit. I thought that was an interesting way to play that.
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Among all of the new movies that I reviewed during the Jan. 31, 2013 edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine,” there are two that stand out as the best of the bunch. On one end of the spectrum is “Movie 43,” a series of short stories about some of the sleaziest situations imaginable starring several recognizable actors and actresses. On the other end of the spectrum is “West of Memphis,” a documentary about the West Memphis Three. Both are brilliant but for drastically different reasons.
‘Broken City’
Mark Wahlberg plays an ex-cop-turned-private eye who is thrown headfirst into a hotbed of trouble after a mayor (Russell Crowe) hires him to look into his cheating wife. (R – 109 minutes)
“Broken City” is a cinematic rarity, relying on aesthetic style and smartly written dialogue to entertain viewers whereas most movies nowadays go straight for explosions and other fireworks-fueled action. Moreover, director Allen Hughes’ new dramatic crime thriller never once becomes even remotely boring because of that. Instead, it is bracing from beginning to end. Having said that, the politically propelled final act can be considered confusing, a subplot involving a romance on the rocks is really irrelevant and the entire affair lacks sufficient substance. However, star Mark Wahlberg’s consistent on-screen charisma more than makes up for the film’s few flaws. (Grade: C)
‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’
Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton play vigilantes who, after getting a taste for blood as children, must face an evil far greater than witches – their past. (PG-13 – 100 minutes)
“Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters” starts off in a fast and furious fashion with practical special effects reminiscent of 80’s disasters such as “The Garbage Pail Kids Movie” and “Howard the Duck,” one-liners that are more likely to make you roll your eyes than laugh and unadulterated violence that forever defiles the basis behind children’s fairy tales. In other words, writer/director Tommy Wirkola’s action-packed fantasy flick begins as a very good bad movie. But, before long, the good goes away as the flick evolves into a strangely sober “Saturday Night Live” skit that overstays its welcome and exhausts its cheesy charm. (Grade: D)
‘Movie 43’
A series of interconnected short films follows a washed-up producer (Dennis Quaid) as he pitches a profane motion picture project to a Hollywood big-wig (Greg Kinnear). Its ensemble cast includes at least 36 recognizable actors and actresses. (R – 90 minutes)
There are some people who might find the prospect of jokes about sexual organs in unusual places, equating defecation as the ultimate expression of love and a game of truth or dare that escalates from blowing out the candles on a blind kid’s birthday cake to undergoing extreme plastic surgery to resemble someone of another ethnicity to be the most sickening scum ever seen on the silver screen. However, anyone who is not afraid to let loose and laugh a little – or, in “Movie 43’s” case, a lot – may not have more fun watching any other film this year. (Grade: B)
‘Parker’
Jason Statham plays a thief with a unique code of professional ethics who is double-crossed by his crew and left for dead. Assuming a new disguise and forming an unlikely alliance with a woman (Jennifer Lopez) on the inside, he looks to hijack the score of the crew’s latest heist. (R – 118 minutes)
Whatever the opposite of the “Midas touch” is, Jennifer Lopez has got it. The last movie in which she had top billing – “The Back-up Plan” – was a box office flop of colossal proportions, her short stint as a judge on “American Idol” marked the official end of the reality show’s ratings dominance and now her presence in the motion picture “Parker” spoils an otherwise competent crime thriller. Granted, director Taylor Hackford’s new flick is far from fantastic, but the actress’s putrid performance – in which she mistakes the material for that of a romantic comedy – is the film’s worst offender. (Grade: D)
‘Quartet’*
Maggie Smith plays an eternal diva whose arrival disrupts a home for retired opera singers’ annual concert. (PG-13 – 95 minutes)
“Quartet” – the latest movie that appears to be riding the newly formed wave of entertainment aiming to appeal exclusively to aging audiences – is so sweet and conflict free that it makes “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” look like an extremely complicated and complex motion picture. Granted, one does not want to upset the apple cart of viewers who venture out of their retirement homes on field trips to the picture show too much, but the new drama from director Dustin Hoffman – yes, that Dustin Hoffman in his inaugural effort behind the camera – is in desperate need of more weight. (Grade: F)
*Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5.
‘West of Memphis’*
Filmmaker Amy Berg examines a catastrophic failure of justice in Arkansas, telling the story behind an extraordinary and desperate fight to bring the truth to light. (R – 147 minutes)
One would think that Amy Berg, the director of “West of Memphis” – a remarkably well-researched documentary that essentially condemns the criminal system for taking too long to grant justice to the wrongly convicted – would have found a way to tell the story of the West Memphis Three in less than two-and-a-half hours. All irony aside, this motion picture packs a powerful punch – both intellectually and emotionally. Prepare to be disturbed. Prepare to be angry. Prepare to be inspired. The movie is as compelling as it comprehensive, drawing those who are familiar with the case as well as newcomers deep into the difficult ordeal. (Grade: B)
*Playing exclusively at Harkins Camelview 5.
Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its listeners and their families an opportunity to see a free advance screening of the Weinstein Company’s new animated adventure “Escape from Planet Earth.”
In “Escape from Planet Earth,” Brendan Fraser voices a beefcake space hero who defends his planet against a nefarious villain (James Gandolfini). Additional voice talents include Jessica Alba, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, and Sarah Jessica Parker.
“Escape from Planet Earth” opens Thursday, Feb. 14 at movie theaters throughout the Valley. However, Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network listeners can see a free advance screening of the film 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 9 at Harkins Scottsdale 101.
First, subscribe to the Phoenix Movie Examiner e-newsletter to have priority notifications of future film promotions, movie reviews and celebrity interviews sent straight to your inbox. Then, visit Gofobo.com and print your passes – up to four per family.
Passes are limited and are therefore available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating at the screening will also be first-come, first-served and the theater will be overbooked in an effort to achieve full capacity so be sure to arrive early.
Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its listeners an opportunity to see a free advance screening of the new dramatic thriller “Side Effects.”
In “Side Effects,” Rooney Mara plays a woman whose world unravels when a new drug prescribed by her psychiatrist (Jude Law) – intended to treat anxiety – has unexpected side effects. Channing Tatum and Catherine Zeta-Jones also star.
“Side Effects” opens Friday, Feb. 8 at movie theaters throughout the Valley. However, Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network listeners can see a free advance screening of the film 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5 at Harkins Fashion Square.
First, subscribe to the Phoenix Movie Examiner e-newsletter to have priority notifications of future film promotions, movie reviews and celebrity interviews sent straight to your inbox. Then, visit Gofobo.com and print a pass, which is good for yourself and one guest.
Passes are limited and are therefore available on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating at the screening will also be first-come, first-served and the theater will be overbooked in an effort to achieve full capacity so be sure to arrive early.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
As a financial advisor, I am asked daily “where’s the best place to put my money these days?” Emotionally, most of us would prefer a straight-forward, easy answer, while deep down, we know no one has yet cornered the market on certainty about the future. Intellectually, we know that few things done correctly are ever easy. Easy answer’s to improving our financial lives can lead us down one of the more dangerous financial paths,…and that is, becoming a “true believer.” Allow me to explain.
Ask any two Harvard Economists our “what to do with the money” question, and you will probably get two very professional, reasonable and detailed answers that are completely opposite of one another. So, if these two financial wizards can’t agree, how can you as a decision maker, know what to do? Maybe you’ll side with one or the other of the experts and, voila, you may have just become a true believer…LOOK OUT!
The very nature of the financial world is change. Change is unsettling and presents opportunity for some and disaster for others. Look at the energy industry, the rise and fall and then rise of stock prices. Real estate, a darling one year, a demon the next. As the price of gold has risen and then plunged and risen again over the years, we saw many a gold true believer moved from smugness to fallen soldier. Remember the multi-billionaire Hunt brothers of Texas, who became true believers in silver and mortgaged their futures on it, only to see their empire crumble? The point is, we must plan for change, reversals, cycles and ups and downs in our financial survival plans.
So, can you believe in anything at all? Yes, you can! First, you must truly believe that no one…no one at all, has a crystal ball! What is the view through the windshield, not the rear view mirror. A financial advisor’s role is designed to help you reduce uncertainty (not eliminate it) and manage risks. Be realistic in what you expect. The answers to where you should put your money begin with you: your age, income, tax status, financial goals, available assets and their present mix, your risk tolerance, time frame, whether or not you have dependents, your investment experience, etc. That’s financial planning which is decidedly NOT simply a legal alternative to Las Vegas!
Select an advisor who displays an intense interest in YOU first and no the “deal of the day.” The next step is to truly believe that “nothing is sacred” in investments. You must select or have selected for you a very high quality, well-diversified and professionally managed array of investment assets, even if your dollar investment may be small. Sometimes a good investment is one that is out-of-favor or is “contrarian” in the nature so you might expect a competent advisor may show you, if appropriate, something you are unfamiliar with and perhaps don’t even like because “it’s down!” Investments, by the way, are the only things we hate to buy when they are “on sale.” We like to buy high, enjoying the false sense of validation of the investment’s :goodness” since others have bid it up high while we disregard its intrinsic price to value relationship. Be sure your investments are being monitored. By the way, not all investments are up or down at the same time nor should they be. By having your eggs in many baskets, you should most always have one that contains appreciation.
Be sure your professional advisors such as your accountant, attorney, etc. are willing to work with your financial advisor to coordinate your planning.
And I say again…Do not perceive investments and investing as a legal alternative to Las Vegas. Such an approach should only be taken with “play money” whose loss would be inconsequential. Investing is not speculating. A legitimate business takes time and expertise to mature. Quality investments, that are generally held for the long term, will reward you handsomely, and in this I encourage you to become a true believer.
In summarizing, financial survival is a dynamic process usually developed together with a financial professional. Things will change and so will the components of your financial plan. Remember, true believers in the financial planning process have been successful and will continue to be successful. Inflexible true believers in any one investment may have their day in the sun but at sunset, these folks will have not much more than memories of the good ole days.
IMAGINE yourself on a deserted island. Alone. Afraid. Your only hope is an airplane sitting on an abandoned airstrip, filled with fuel and apparently fully operational. One problem exists, however. You are not a pilot. While you have the machinery to accomplish your objectives, you probably lack the training and temperament required to get out. So what are your choices? (1) You can pull out the flight manuals and spend your days studying how to fly the thing. (2) You can resign yourself to your marooned status and convert the plane into a nice condo. (3) Or you can get on the radio and Call for Help!
Like the desert island dweller, a major life change such as death, divorce, retirement, job loss or inheritance can leave you feeling financially marooned and understandably terrified. Here you are with assets, an insurance company or properly settlement, your life’s nest egg (much like the airplane), but you are too distracted, too numbed by change to respond to the maze of financial and legal matters at hand. You face the same choices as our desert island castaway: (1) Do it yourself. (2) Give up. (3) Call for Help!
We’ve all heard stories of newly widowed women, lottery winners and retirees who go broke within 18 months of receiving their windfalls. The ravages of guilt, emotional interference and financial inexperience can be disastrous. Everyone needs time to adjust so that emotional distortion and financial judgment can stabilize. Yet this confusing, vulnerable time is exactly when financial events demand immediate attention. Successful and Objective Management Assistance is Crucial to your well being at this point, and your first step is to get on the “Radio” and Call for Help!
If it were all just about the money, managing our finances would be much easier. But it is not so easy. More often than not, counterproductive relationships exist between money and emotions. The fact is, everything money…is emotional. Those around you need to understand what you are going though and help you sort out emotional tell-tale signs of trauma from sound money decisions. Stress, fears, deeply felt personal losses, anxiety and uncertainty will skew and sabotage good decision making.
A Robert F. Baird Private Wealth Management Research paper on behavioral finance cites some good observations and tips toward a better money management experience, especially while under stress.
1. Don’t become “anchored” in thinking what is “now,” will always be. The future will arrive and will be different. Embrace it and avoid a future unplanned for and unwelcome.
2. People want to be “right” and avoid being “wrong.” Be objective and use objective outside assistance to help eliminate the emotional factors in financial decision making.
Avoid confusing ease of availability of information with its validity. The study asks whether you would buy or not buy a car based on, 1,000 anonymous people’s high rating of it or on your sole neighbors experience of not liking it. The neighbor’s view carries more weight.
3. Hindsight is 20/20! How could you not have seen the housing bubble coming, the market crashing, etc? Real-time analysis is forward-looking and accepts that the “real” future is unknown and is unknowable. Stay focused.
4. “Found Money” is REAL money. Treat tax refunds, bonuses, gambling winnings seriously, not frivolously.
5. Our minds fear losing far more than it values winning! Fear of loss can skew appropriate risk-taking far more than seeking wins. Be cautious with aggressiveness when trying to make up for losses.
6. Our minds value positives and wants them immediately while we tend to defer negatives. If you find yourself in a hole…stop digging!
7. We are prone to overconfidence! Be realistic about what you know and don’t know. Be honest with yourself about where your skills lie.
8. We tend to expect “averages!” When a coin flip comes out “heads” 10 times in a row, we tend to think, “tails” just has to come up next. Not so! Randomness is just that…random!
9. “Follow-the herd.” There is a tendency to feel comfortable with decisions we’ve seen others make. While the investment advice of well-intentioned friends, neighbors, or relatives may seem convenient and even logical, it is non-professional and their situations are probably very different from yours.
As you obtain money education and time passes from your personal Shipwreck, you will gain a new sense of control, independence and confidence, and realize that money is your servant, not your master. You will then be better able to feel confident and “fly solo”!
“… I know it when I see it…”
Justice Potter Stewart, 1964
The quote above was made by Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart as part of his attempt to define what constitutes obscene material. While clearly he was speaking of a subject not related to financial planning, we believe the statement also applies to what we call “financial pornography.”
“Financial pornography” is a statement, advertisement, or article
regarding any specific class or type of financial product that is
primarily intended to incite only an immediate, intense emotional
reaction, typically omitting any substantive discussion of the pros
and cons of the subject matter, and more often than not focusing
only upon the disadvantages of that which is “disliked” and only
upon the advantages of that which is “favored”. In other words, it is
shouts of n extreme, unbalanced view of the subject matter. This is
difficult to precisely define, but we “know it when we see it” and we
suspect that you do too.
Financial pornography is not restricted to any particular sector of
financial services, it spans the spectrum of the profession; we see it
everywhere and it can be “positive pornography” or “negative
pornography”. Examples of “positive” financial pornography might
be statements such as “Get market gains without market losses!” or
“Only stocks can provide the growth needed to provide for a secure
retirement.” There are grains of truth in both of these statements,
but both also omit some very key and very important details.
Examples of “negative financial pornography” might be “Stocks and
securities are too risky” and “Annuities are expensive and
unnecessary”; again, neither statement is true, as both omit multiple
important details and objectivity. In both cases the statements are
intended to elicit an emotional reaction, or perhaps overreaction, on
your part.
Financial pornography is not always consciously intentional on the
part of the author, in many cases it may simply reflect the authors’
limited knowledge, or in more extreme cases, may reflect who signs
the authors’ paycheck.
Promotion of the merits of a particular class of financial product or strategy is not financial pornography so long as it does not exaggerate the benefits of the “favored’ and the disadvantages of the “disliked.”
There are many classes of financial products, and within each class, typically a multitude of options to choose from, each with their pros and cons and suitability as regards specific goals. There is no perfect investment or insurance product, no perfect planning technique, and above all, there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to financial matters. All of these options must be tailored to the specific needs, goals, and temperament of the individual or couple; this is particularly true as it relates to retirement income planning.
You cannot go wrong with either of the two new movies that I reviewed during the Jan.24, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine.” However, “The Last Stand” – an actioner that officially welcomes Arnold Schwarzenegger back to the big screen – has a slight edge over “Mama” – a supernatural-themed horror flick produced by Guillermo del Toro.
‘The Last Stand’
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a sleepy border town sheriff who, with his inexperienced staff, is the U.S. law enforcement’s last opportunity to intercept a drug kingpin who has just escaped from an FBI prison convoy before he slips across the border forever. (R – 107 minutes)
If “The Last Stand” were any more fun, it would likely be illegal. The new actioner shoots out of the gate like a bullet with something to prove, annihilating anything and everything in its path before finally hitting the bullseye of its target – a scene in which star Arnold Schwarzenegger re-positions himself as an authentic action hero. Where else can you see a machine gun firing from the back of a school bus and a bad guy blown to bits by a flare gun? Having said that, the movie is somewhat stuck in the middle of comedy and consequences, mixing laugh-out-loud humor with vehement violence. (Grade: B)
‘Mama’
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau plays a man who, with his girlfriend (Jessica Chastain), is faced with the challenge of raising his young nieces that were left alone in the forest for 5 years. Before long, the couple wonders if the girls are the only guests they have welcomed into their home. (PG-13 – 100 minutes)
When “Mama” mimics the eerie fairy tale-like atmosphere of producer Guillermo del Toro’s “Pan’s Labyrinth,” it is a macabre masterpiece. However, when it simulates the second-rate spookiness of “The Ring” and the other several dozen movies about a ghostly spirit with a right to wrong, it is utterly uninspired. The new horror movie is mostly made up of the latter as writer/director Andrés Muschietti, expanding upon his short film of the same title, stalls for time. Thanks, though, to those moments of ghastly genius and an appropriately somber ending, it is sure to leave you at least a little unsettled. (Grade: C)
Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its readers an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to see “Top Gun” in IMAX 3D in celebration of the 1986 classic’s brief big screen run before its Blu-ray release
“Top Gun” tells the story of an elite group of pilots competing to be the best in their class. Tom Cruise stars as a cocky but talented pilot while Kelly McGillis plays a civilian instructor who teaches him a few things that you cannot learn in a classroom. Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards and Meg Ryan also star.
The movie grossed more than $350 million at the worldwide box office during its original theatrical release. Now a never-before-seen limited 3D edition of the movie will debut Tuesday, Feb. 19 on Blu-ray. But before that, the movie will hit IMAX screens throughout the Valley for an exclusive 6-day engagement beginning Friday, Feb. 8.
One lucky Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network Listener and a guest of their choice will see it for free. For your chance to win, first subscribe to the Phoenix Movie Examiner e-newsletter (if you have not already done so). Then send an e-mail to [email protected] with the name of Cruise’s character from the film as well as your name and the city in which you reside.
A winner will be selected by random draw from all entries with the correct answer. E-mails must be received by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. The winner will be notified by e-mail during the day of Thursday, Feb. 1 with instructions on how to receive their tickets.
Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its readers an opportunity to see a free advance screening of the new supernatural love story “Beautiful Creatures.”
In “Beautiful Creatures,” which is based on the bestselling book of the same title by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Alden Ehrenreich plays a young man longing to escape his small town while Alice Englert plays a mysterious new girl. Together, they uncover dark secrets about their respective families, their history and their town.
“Beautiful Creatures” opens Thursday, Feb. 14 at movie theaters throughout the Valley. However, Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network listeners who visit Gofobo.com can print passes for themselves and a guest to see an advance screening of the film for free 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Harkins Scottsdale 101. Seating at the screening will be first-come, first-served.
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1. Winnipeg Jets at Boston Bruins
Predicted Winner: Boston
2. Tampa Bay Lightning at New York Islanders
Predicted Winner: Tampa Bay
3. St. Louis Blues at Nashville Predators
Predicted Winner: St. Louis
4. Buffalo Sabers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Predicted Winner: Toronto
5. Florida Panthers at Ottawa Senators
Predicted Winner: Ottawa
6. Detroit Red Wings at Columbus Blue Jackets
Predicted Winner: Detroit
7. Anaheim Ducks at Calgary Flames
Predicted Winner: Anaheim
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The defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings look to be the first team since the 1997-1998 Detroit Red Wings to win back to back titles. It will be no easy feat, but the Kings will once again be in the discussion. Just like the Eastern Conference, the west is filled with great parity. With a short 48-game schedule, clubs will need to get out of the gate quickly and make sure to avoid any prolonged slumps.
Lets take a look at how I think things will shape up during the regular season.
15. Columbus Blue Jackets – The Blue Jackets had high expectations going into last season after a busy offseason, that included the acquisitions of Jeff Carter and James Wisniewski. Things didn’t go as planned of course as the Blue Jackets struggled during the first half of the season and eventually traded Carter to the Kings forJack Johnson and a 1st-round draft pick. This move not only helped the Kings a ton, but also was much needed for the Blue Jackets. Carter was not fitting in and despite Johnson’s defensive short comings, he finished the season on a high note and was a big part of the Blue Jackets late season success. In July, the Blue Jackets dealt captain and star goal scoring winger Rick Nash to the New York Rangers. While I don’t think they got the greatest asset value in the deal, the Jackets did obtain some intriguing players. Forwards Brandon Dubinsky and Artem Anisimovare good character players that provide some scoring depth to the Jackets. Dubinsky had a tough year last season offensively, but he should bounce back to a 20-plus goal over a full season pace. The biggest addition to the Jackets though comes in the form of their new president of hockey operations, John Davidson. The former St. Louis Blues executive worked wonders for that franchise and will now begin to transform the Jackets throughout the organization into a winning franchise. The Jackets will be competitive this season, but unless Sergei Bobrovskyand/or Steve Mason can rise to the challenge in net, this club is not quite ready yet to contend for a playoff spot. They will be soon though!
14. Colorado Avalanche – If everything comes together the Avalanche can sneak into the playoffs. Of course in the very tough Western Conference and with center Ryan O’Reilly still unsigned, I don’t think that will happen. The fact that I have the Avs in the 14th spot doesn’t mean I think they will miss by a long shot. I believe the 8-14 seeds will all be close in terms of points, especially in such a short season. The Avs have some outstanding young players, led by 20-year-old captain Gabriel Landeskog, O’Reilly and Matt Duchene. Picking up hard hitting winger Steve Downielast February was an outstanding move as he brings another element to the Avs offensive attack. Also the signing of playmaking winger P.A. Parenteau should also boost the forward corps. Even if O’Reilly misses significant time as he remains a restricted free agent, the Avs should score at a much greater clip then they did last season when they tied for 24th in the NHL in terms of goals for. In the crease, they are set with Semyon Varlamov, who is more than capable of stealing games if need be and he is backed up of course by veteran J.S. Giguere. On the blueline they are led by former 1st overall pick Erik Johnson. If the 24-year-old can continue to take his game to a new level that will be a huge key for the Avs success going forward. There is a lot to like about the Avs. Their roster is filled with young talent and within the next 2 years they should begin their surge back towards the top of the Western Conference.
13. Calgary Flames – For the past few years, I’ve been one of those people that has said countless times that the Flames should look into rebuilding. They haven’t listened and while they do have a team that should compete for a playoff spot, there are still a ton of questions. Up front the Flames brought in center Roman Cervenka, 27, from the KHL hoping his game will translate over to the NHL. If the talented center can find his way and form a strong 1-2 punch with long time Flames captain Jarome Iginla, then perhaps that can lead to a playoff spot. Another potential bright spot is 20-year-old Swiss winger Sven Baertschi, who scored 3 goals in a brief 5 game stint with the Flames last season. Baertschi is going to be an outstanding player in this league for a long time, but if the talented youngster can make an immediate impact this season that will be a significant step towards the Flames potential playoff hopes. On the backend the Flames welcome in newcomer Dennis Wideman, who is being paid a ton, but was an all star last season. The 29-year-old offensive defenseman joins Mark Giordano and Jay Bouwmeester as the anchors of the Flames blueline. In net, 36-year-old Miikka Kiprusoff continues to be a work horse and one of the top netminders in the league.
12. Dallas Stars – While the stars potentially have a very potent offensive group, there are still some questions and holes throughout the lineup that should make it extremely difficult to finish in the top 8. While Ray Whitney andJaromir Jagr both had very productive offensive seasons last year for their former clubs, you still can’t help but think about the “AGE” question. Granted Jagr stays in amazing shape and Whitney is like a fine wine, but it does still sound funny that Whitney was an original member of the San Jose Sharks and Jagr was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins before I even started kindergarten and wiping my own ass. With star forward Jamie Benn still unsigned that would leave a huge whole in the Stars lineup if he missed time. Derek Roy should fit in nicely as the Stars 2nd line center, but the team did give up some grit in Steve Ott, who went over to the Buffalo Sabers as part of the Roy deal. In goal, Kari Lehtonen is a very good number 1 goaltender when healthy. On the blueline, the Stars are led by solid two-way defenseman Alex Goligoski as well as veteran Stephane Robidas. In general though, the Stars are a middle of the pack team on the defensive end. Again, like the teams mentioned above, if everything falls into place for the Stars and of course Benn is signed to a contract in a hurry, then the Stars can contend for a playoff spot. A lot needs to happen though!
11. Anaheim Ducks – There are very few teams, if any, that rely on their top players more than the Ducks do. While the Ducks are strong in net with a healthy Jonas Hiller leading the way, they do lack overall team depth. If their star players can stay healthy and produce like they are capable of, then the Ducks can be a force. Top center Ryan Getzlaf needs to prove that his 2011-2012 season was just a bad fluke. The talented 27-year-old only had 11 goals and 57 points last season while playing in all 82 games. If Getzlaf can get back on track and once again be a point per game player, then the Ducks might be in business. In addition with Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and the ageless 42-year old Teemu Selanne, the Ducks should finish much higher then 23rd in goals scored, which of course is where they ended up last season. Despite the lack of overall depth up front, there are some young players likeDevante Smith-Pelly, who should continue to improve. On the blueline, youngster Cam Fowler leads the way, along with steady veteran Francois Beauchemin. If the Ducks are out of contention towards the April 3rd deadline, do we perhaps see them look to move Getzlaf and/or Perry as they are both scheduled to be unrestricted free agents this summer? It will be an interesting season in Anaheim to say the least.
10. Minnesota Wild – The Wild surprised many last season and got off a to a fantastic start before crashing back down to earth. Granted they did suffer quite the collection of injuries last season, but they still were just not a very good team. With the major additions of Zach Parise and rookie Mikael Granlund up front as well as Ryan Suter to anchor the blueline, the Wild will without a doubt be in playoff contention. The problem is that word that begins with a P and ends in arity. So many good teams out west that unless the new look Wild can click right away and get off to another strong start, I believe they’ll be on the outside looking in come playoff time. The Wild’s overall forward depth is pretty solid and on the backend after Suter it’s okay, but the Wild do have some intriguing defensive prospects that should be making the jump in the next few years. In goal the Wild have two solid netminders in Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding.
9. San Jose Sharks – The Sharks still have amazing top end talent that includes not only the over 30 crew with the likes of Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Martin Havlat, Ryan Clowe and Dan Boyle, but also the younger stars likeLogan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Brent Burns. In fact I think Couture will continue to take his game a step further and really turn into the top offensive threat on the team. The Sharks also added veteran defenseman and former Shark, Brad Stuart. That being said, Stuart did struggle last season defensively for the Detroit Red Wings and while he is a nice addition as long he plays like his normal self, I still feel the Sharks may continue to have the same overall problems they had during the second half of last season and their quick first round playoff exit at the hands of the St. Louis Blues. Can Antti Niemi bounce back in net to be a solid number 1 goaltender or will he continue to struggle with inconsistent play. While their team defense was good last season as they tied for 8th overall in goals against, I feel they will fall back a bit towards the middle of the pack, despite adding Larry Robinson to the coaching staff. If Havlat can stay healthy that will be huge. Their record with Havlat was top notch at 25-11-3 and without was 18-18-7. Look at it this way, the Sharks should have great team chemistry as their main core has been together for many years and they kept basically the same team intact from last season. Also adding Robinson and Jim Johnson to the coaching staff should be very beneficial. That being said, while they have the talent to remain a top contender in the west, I feel that the signs of struggle last season will continue over and the club will surprisingly miss out on the playoffs. Granted the Sharks still do have the type of roster/team where they can finish in the top 4 in the west and nobody including myself would be surprised. That’s how close and tough the west will be this year once again.
8. Edmonton Oilers – Welcome back to the playoffs Edmonton! Their great core of young players are only getting better and I feel this is the year where Devan Dubnyk takes the leap as a solid number 1 goaltender. New head coach Ralph Krueger has the respect of his young roster from being an assistant coach with the Oilers. Krueger will hold this club accountable for their defensive play which of course has struggled, but he will make sure that the young Oilers learn that a great defense is a full team effort. Up front the team has the ability to be very explosive offensively with the likes of Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, rookie Nail Yakupov and veterans likeAles Hemsky and Ryan Smyth. On the backend the team signed young free agent defenseman Justin Schultz, who has been putting up fantastic offensive numbers during the lockout in the AHL. Recently the club acquired Mark Fistric from the Stars and he should fit right in on the Oilers 3rd defensive pairing. If Ryan Whitney can stay healthy that will be another huge boost to the clubs defensive core. Expect both Yakupov and Schultz to be able to step right in as rookies with an immediate impact.
7. Phoenix Coyotes – Last season the Coyotes made the playoffs for the 3rd straight year, but this time it was more than just an appearance. The Coyotes won the Pacific Division, then advanced all the way to the Western Conference Final for the first time in franchise history. While the team did lose veteran offensive force Ray Whitneyto free agency, the additions of Steve Sullivan, Matthew Lombardi and the continued emergence of youngsterMikkel Boedker should make up for the lost offensive production from Whitney. Newcomer David Moss will be a nice addition to the Coyotes bottom 6 forward corps, as he will be at least equal to, or perhaps even a slight upgrade over the departed Taylor Pyatt. On the backend veterans Adrian Aucion and Michal Rozsival departed, yet the Coyotes re-acquired Zbynek Michalek from the Penguins. The 30-year-old veteran is one of the best shot blockers in the league and as steady as they come in his own end. Michalek also fits head coach Dave Tippett’ssystem as well as anybody. The continued improvement of youngster Oliver Ekman-Larsson will eventually make him a perennial Norris Trophy candidate, but also for the team will also make their already outstanding defensive core that much better. This kid is something special as at the age of 21, he can already play in all situations and he is not only extremely solid from an offensive standpoint, but he is top notch in his own end making the little plays that coaches really appreciate. The Coyotes great mix of talent on blueline continues with outstanding offensive defenseman Keith Yandle and defensive savvy Rostislav Klesla. A top 4 of Ekman-Larsson, Michalek, Yandle and Klesla can match up with any club in the league. It doesn’t stop their as you add in veteran Derek Morris, who played much better in the second half of last season, David Schlemko, as well as talented youngsters battling for a spot like David Rundblad and Michael Stone. Once again the Coyotes will be a top notch defensive club. In net,Mike Smith really broke out last season as goaltending coach Sean Burke took him under his wing. Smith was always considered to have amazing athletic ability and talent, but had never been consistent. Last season Smith was outstanding all year long, but really turned up the heat during the stretch run and into the playoffs. Smith should have another fantastic season as now he has really improved his positional play and his focus has improved drastically.
6. Detroit Red Wings – Despite the retirement of long time star defenseman and captain Nicklas Lidstrom,the Red Wings still have a nice blend of talent and will remain a playoff club. Sure they may not be considered favorites and last season even with Lidstrom they lost in round 1. That being said, they do have some nice young players coming through the ranks that will pay dividends in the next couple seasons to help get them back towards the top. WithPavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg still leading the charge offensively the Red Wings should still have no trouble scoring. The addition of wingers Damien Brunner and former Red Wing Mikael Samuelsson should also help offensively. In goal Jimmy Howard has developed into an outstanding number 1 goaltender and as long as he stays healthy and on his game, the Red Wings shouldn’t fall too far down the standings. On the blueline without Lidstrom, the club no longer has a legitimate number 1 defenseman, but they do have solid depth. The likes ofNiklas Kronwall, Ian White, Kyle Quincey and Jonathan Ericsson will be joined by free agent addition Carlo Colaiacovo and youngster Brendan Smith, who is poised to stay up full time with Red Wings after a brief call up last season.
5. Chicago Blackhawks – The Hawks have a ton of talent not only up front, but on the blueline as well. Their defensive depth has improved and is very impressive. On the blueline they are led of course by former Norris Trophy winner Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook. Up front, team captain Jonathan Toews leads the way, along with a talented bunch including Patrick Kane, Marian Hossa, Patrick Sharp, Viktor Stalberg and Dave Bolland. The Hawks can score with anyone and they have a nice blend of grit and toughness. So with all this talent, why aren’t the Hawks ranked higher? Well for starters of course my favorite word parity, but also the Hawks goaltending is a huge question mark. Corey Crawford was inconsistent last season and struggled in the playoffs. Ray Emery is fine as a backup, but if Crawford struggles out of the gate, can Emery be a number 1 guy? Probably not, so look for the Hawks to try and address their goaltending need if this remains an issue. Until they address the need, (unless Crawford and/or Emery surprise and pull through in a big way) the Hawks will have a tough time advancing deep in the playoffs if soft goals are still being allowed at a premium.
4. Nashville Predators – The Preds lost star defenseman Ryan Suter as he departed via free agency, but they still have captain Shea Weber leading the blueline. Beyond Weber, the Preds do have a nice blend of talent on the backend so the departure of Suter should not be considered the end of the world. If young offensive defensemanRyan Ellis can continue to improve that will be a huge boost toe the Preds defensive core. In net with Pekka Rinne, the Preds are set for a long time. They brought back former Pred, Chris Mason to handle backup duties. The Preds will continue to rely on scoring by committe, which worked very well for them last season. While they don’t have any big time offensive stars, they do have nice depth up front as they can roll out 4 lines that all have the capability of providing some offense. When the talented Alexander Radulov re-joined the club in the second half of last season, it appeared to hurt the team in general more than help. The Preds basically have the same mix of forwards they had during the first half of last season when they were so successful, so Radulov’s offensive production will not be missed. Head coach Barry Trotz is one of the best in the business and will get everything out of his players. Expect the Preds to have another successful season.
3. Vancouver Canucks – The Canucks have been one of the league’s best teams the past couple seasons, but have still yet to win a Stanley Cup. On paper, this club is still very stacked, but with injuries to forwards Ryan Keslerand David Booth, the Canucks may not get out of the gate as quickly as they would like to. Of course with Henrik Sedin and Daniel Sedin leading the way up front, this team will still score a ton of goals despite the injuries. On the blueline, this club has a ton of depth and their defenseman will add a ton to the offense as well. Newcomer, defenseman Jason Garrison, had a surprise breakout year last season with the Florida Panthers in which he scored 16 goals., including 9 on the power play. If Garrison is not a one hit wonder and can continue that type of production with the Canucks, it will be a significant boost to already super talented club. In goal, Cory Schneidertakes over as the number 1. The 26-year-old is outstanding and will provide the Canucks will great goaltending for years to come. Roberto Luongo will back up Schneider for the time being, which of course is a great problem to have as long as there are no distractions. Of course at some point during the season, there will be teams that have goaltending questions that will probably continue to try to trade for Luongo, but the Canucks will hold firm until they get an offer they like.
2. St. Louis Blues – The young Blues were outstanding last year after Ken Hitchcock took over as head coach near the beginning of the season. Now while the Blues were expected to get back into the playoffs last season, I don’t think anybody could have known how much success they would end up having during the regular season. Are the up and coming Blues an example of a young team who peaked quickly, but will fall back a bit for a year before taking another 2 steps forward? Or are they going to keep pushing forward from here on out into becoming a legitimate Stanley Cup contender for many years to come? I will go with the latter. The Blues are very strong defensively as evident by them finishing number 1 last season in goals against. They are led on the backend by Alex Pietrangelo, who has become one of the top 2-way defenseman in the NHL. In goal, both Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliot should continue to do a solid job sharing the duties of keeping the puck out of the net. On the offensive side of things, the Blues can use improvement, but that might on the way in-house. First and foremost winger David Perron, who played very well once returning from injury last season, is healthy from the start. In addition, youngster Jaden Schwartz should win a full time spot out of camp. The 20-year-old played pretty well in a brief 7 game stint with the Blues last season. As good as Schwartz is, the Blues have another young forward coming up that will probably be even better. That of course is Vladimir Tarasenko. The young dynamic Russian forward should provide an immediate boost to the Blues offensive attack. Expect for the Blues to challenge for the top spot in the west this season and make headlines in the playoffs.
1. Los Angeles Kings – The Kings are trying to become the first team since the 1998 Red Wings to win back to back Stanley Cups. History of course is not on their side, but this is a very deep and talented club that will definitely be in the mix of things again. Last season was a struggle for the Kings for most of the first half. When Darryl Sutter took over as head coach the team played better, but still struggled to score. Once rookies Jordan Nolan and Dwight Kingwere brought up, the Kings found a bit of life. Then the acquisition of Jeff Carter really jolted the club and the Kings began to play like the team that many expected them to be. The Kings were the first team from the Pacific division to clinch a playoff spot, but losing their last 2 games to end the season to the Sharks, bumped them down from the 3rd seed all the way to 8th in the west. This was a team that underachieved that finally got going when they had to. Up front the Kings have outstanding depth and top line talent. With the likes of Anze Kopitar, Dustin Brown, Mike Richards, Carter and Justin Williams, the Kings have a nice blend of offensive talent. The Kings also have what appears to be a rejuvenated Dustin Penner and a healthy Simon Gagne. Granted, in Gagne’s case he has battled injuries for a while and is now 32, but he did have neck surgery for a lingering issue that affected his mobility. This issue has bothered him since his last season with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2009-2010. The Kings have a ton of depth up front, so they should have no trouble scoring this time around. On the blueline they are also very strong as they finished 2nd in goals against last season. They are led of course by the young and extremely talented Drew Doughty. The Kings will deeply miss outstanding defensive defenseman Willie Mitchell, as he will be out for what appears to be the first month or so of the season. In net, 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner for playoff MVPJonathan Quick is coming off back surgery, but he appears to be ready to go at 100%.
Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its listeners an opportunity to see a free advance screening of the new horror-themed romantic dramedy “Warm Bodies.”
In “Warm Bodies,” which is based on a novel written by author Isaac Marion, Nicholas Hoult plays a zombie who becomes involved with the girlfriend (Teresa Palmer) of one of his victims (Dave Franco) and discovers that their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world.
“Warm Bodies” opens Friday, Feb. 1 at movie theaters throughout the Valley. However, Breakthrough Thinking Broadcasting Network listeners who visit Gofobo.com can print passes for themselves and a guest to see an advance screening of the film for free 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24 at UltraStar Scottsdale. Seating at the screening will be first-come, first-served.
Of the new movies that I reviewed during the Jan. 17, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine,” the only one that I would recommend seeing is “Gangster Squad,”a crime drama with an incredible cast that includes Seann Penn, Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Meanwhile, do not be fooled by “Amour’s” recent win for Best Foreign Language Film at the Golden Globes. It is about on par with Marlon Wayans’ horror spoof “A Haunted House.”
‘Amour’
Jean-Louis Trintignant and Emmanuelle Riva play retired music teachers who are in their eighties. When one of them has an attack, the couple’s bond of love is severely tested. (PG-13 – 127 minutes)
“Amour” is the cinematic equivalent of spending an afternoon in a stranger’s room at a hospice facility. That is to say that writer/director Michael Haneke’s new French film is an excruciating experience to endure in that nobody wants to watch someone slowly be slipped away by death’s graceless grip – especially when that someone’s spouse is there, too, struggling with losing their loved one. Granted, the flick features a pair of powerful performances but it lacks the necessary insight – be it emotional or intellectual – that would have made such a sickening sight worth sitting through. (Grade: D)
‘Gangster Squad’
Sean Penn plays a Brooklyn-born mob king who runs the show in this town with the protection of the police and the politicians who are under his control until a group of LAPD outsiders (Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Anthony Mackie, Robert Patrick, Michael Pena and Giovani Ribisi) come together to try to tear his world apart. Emma Stone also stars. (R – 113 minutes)
“Gangster Squad” is the proverbial gangster flick. That is to say that director Ruben Fleischer’s new crime drama does not earn any points for originality but viewers looking for a movie about the mob – one that echoes the excellent entertainment value of “The Untouchables,” “Goodfellas” and “The Godfather” – are guaranteed to have a great time. Moreover, the film is beyond brutal – graphically depicting the violent nature of this subject matter thereby maximizing the severity of its story’s stakes – and features an extraordinary ensemble cast led by Sean Penn, who gives a purely petrifying performance. (Grade: B)
‘A Haunted House’
Marlon Wayans and Essence Atkins play a young couple who have just moved into their dream home but soon learns that a demon also resides there and subsequently hires everyone from a priest to modern day ghostbusters to rid it of this unwelcome intruder. (R – 90 minutes)
“A Haunted House” makes you miss something that you likely never thought you would – a time when Marlon Wayans’ worst movie roles were a black FBI agent going undercover as a white chick and a vertically challenged criminal posing as a newborn baby. The new comedy – which is essentially a spoof of the “Paranormal Activity” film franchise but also incorporates a couple of other found-footage flicks – starts with an extended sequence in which Wayans sexually molests a stuffed animal. Believe it or not, the comedic material is all downhill from there – much like, apparently, Wayans’ career. (Grade: F)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The New York Rangers finished atop the Eastern Conference standings during the 2011-2012 season. With the acquisition of Rick Nash to help boost the offensive attack, the Rangers have an excellent opportunity to finish where they did last season in terms of regular season standings.
With the great parity in the NHL, mixed in with unexpected injuries and trades during the season, anything is possible. It is very unlikely to predict what will happen and where teams will finish in the standings due to those reasons, as well as this season being a short 48-game schedule adds even another dimension of thought.
Lets take a look at the Eastern Conference and how I expect things to play out this season.
15. New York Islanders – The funny thing is that I believe the Islanders are on the rise long-term, but this season will be a minor setback in terms of short-term success. The key word of course that I always use is parity. I have the Islanders in the basement of the east, not because I think they are that bad, but I just believe other teams have fewer question marks. John Tavares will continue to show why he is one of the best young goal scoring forwards in the game and they have a nice collection of prospects that might make an impact or are at least are getting closer to joining the roster. They gave up a significant asset (2nd-round draft pick) to acquire veteran offensive defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky thinking he would help the power play, but Visnovsky wants to stay overseas.
14. Toronto Maple Leafs – With the unexpected firing of general manager Brian Burke last week, new general manager Dave Nonis now has the difficult task of getting this club back on track. Up front, the Leafs have some nice pieces, although like many teams they lack a true number 1 center. If Phil Kessel and Joffrey Lupol can perform the way they did offensively last season, that will be a significant plus. The addition of James van Riemsdyk can pay nice dividends as long as the power forward can stay healthy. Like their forward group, the Leafs defense corps actually doesn’t look too bad on paper, but still has many questions as a group. The big question of course surrounding this club is goaltending. Of course they are in the market for a legitimate number 1 netminder, but if no deal is made, they will have to rely on James Reimer and Ben Scrivens. If Reimer can return to his 2010-2011 form, the Maple Leafs will have a shot at contending for a playoff spot.
13. Montreal Canadiens – The Canadiens have a new general manager in Marc Bergevin and a new head coach in Michel Therrien. They acquired some much needed veteran leadership and grit in the offseason with signings of Colby Armstrong and Brandon Prust. That alone should help this club, although, like the Islanders and Maple Leafs, there are some significant questions. On the backend every year the main question is regarding the health of Andrei Markov. If he can put together an injury-free season and the club gets restricted free agent P.K. Subban under contract without missing any or significant time, this will go a long way towards the team competing for a playoff spot. With Carey Price in net, the team has a solid number 1 goaltender, that is capable of stealing games when he is on. Up front, the Habs will need Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty to produce like they did last season. It would also be a huge plus if somehow Rene Bourque can return to form offensively.
12. Winnipeg Jets – The Jets did not make any significant changes during the offseason, but they did add some decent depth to their forward corps in veterans Olli Jokinen and Alexei Ponikarovsky. Perhaps young center Mark Scheifele will be ready to make the jump and provide an immediate impact. On the blueline the Jets feature a couple of outstanding offensive defensemen in Tobias Enstrom and big Dustin Byfuglien. A huge key will be when Zach Bogosian returns to the lineup from his wrist injury. If the former 3rd overall pick can continue his strong play from last season, that will really help to solidify the Jets struggling defensive core. Number 1 goaltender Ondrej Pavelec has the ability to steal games and is one of the league’s best kept secrets.
11. Buffalo Sabers – The Sabers had high expectations going into last season, but were unable to meet those. While they did play much better the last few months of the season and they do have a ton of young talent both on the roster and coming up through their system, I still don’t see them being able to jump back into the playoffs quite yet. Of course if Ryan Miller is on his game in net and other pieces/youngsters fall into place, the Sabers might prove me wrong. The Sabers did address their need for grit and a pest with the acquisition of Steve Ott from the Dallas Stars.While they do have a good amount of talent among the forwards core, they do lack size down the middle.
10. New Jersey Devils – The loss of Zach Parise is big, but not something that I want to fully overblow. That being said, yes I do have the Devils on the outside looking in, but strictly due to my favorite word, PARITY! The Devils do have solid depth on the backend and of course in net Marty Brodeur is still solid. This is a tough ranking, because I know the Devils will find a way to get into the playoffs, yet I can’t seem to change my prediction. They need huge seasons offensively from Ilya Kovalchuck, Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac.
9. Florida Panthers – This will be an all out battle until the very end for the final playoff spot(s), but ultimately I believe the Panthers will fall just short. Yes, they won the Southeast division last year and potentially we will see top forward prospect Jonathan Huberdeau make the jump this season. I also believe if healthy, the signing of free agent forward Peter Mueller will turn out to pay huge dividends. The issue at hand is that while Jose Theodore is a decent number 1 goaltender and Scott Clemenson is very good in a backup role, I don’t think it will be enough this season. Yes, top goaltending prospect Jacob Markstrom is waiting in the wings and they do have a nice collection of young talent across the board. Take nothing away from what this team did last season, but they also lucked out in the fact that their division was terrible. I just believe that in the short-term a few of their division rivals, (which we will get to shortly in these rankings) have caught up to the Panthers and will not only knock them out of their division crown, but also out of the playoffs.
8. Ottawa Senators – The Sens surprised the hockey world last season by not only making the playoffs, but by pushing the New York Rangers to a game 7 in their first-round playoff matchup. With Craig Anderson and Ben Bishop in net, the Sens have nice depth at the NHL level and prospect Robin Lehner waiting in the wings. Up front the Sens were 4th in goals scored last season and should once again boost a very good offensive attack led by top center Jason Speeza. The acquisition of solid defensive defenseman Marc Methot will help the backend, especially with the injury to youngster Jared Cowen. Last season’s Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson is poised for another outstanding season from an offensive stand point.
7. Carolina Hurricanes – The Canes had a huge offseason, beginning of course in June at the NHL Entry draft, when they acquired center Jordan Staal from the Pittsburgh Penguins, to play with his brother Eric Staal. Another key addition for the club was the signing of free agent winger Alexander Semin. While Semin struggled last season with the Washington Capitals, scoring just 21 goals, his lowest since his rookie season in 2003-2004, there is hope that the talented sniper can regain his 35-40 goal form with the change of scenery. Of course over a short 48-game season, 21 goals would average out to be right around where the Canes would like his production to be. In net, Cam Ward has the ability to stand on his head if needed. On the backend youngster Justin Faulk leads the way.
6. Tampa Bay Lightning – After making it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals in 2010-2011, last season the Lightning fell short of making the playoffs all together. In fact they were dead last in goals against, allowing 278 goals on the season. That should change this year with the addition of netminder Anders Lindback from the Nashville Predators. The 24-year old giant of a goaltender will finally get a chance to become a number 1 in the crease. He has all the tools to succeed. The Lightning also added some much needed depth to their defensive corps, in free agent additions Matt Carle and Sami Salo. The improvements to the defensive side of things, mixed in with their talented offensive core led by Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis, should be enough to get the Lightning back into the playoffs.
5. Philadelphia Flyers – The Flyers can score with anyone, but of course the issue surrounding this club is their defensive play and inconsistency in net. They signed restricted free agent defenseman Shea Weber to a mammoth offer sheet, but that was matched by Weber’s team the Nashville Predators. The Flyers biggest move was their acquisition of defenseman Luke Schenn from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for young power forward James van Riemsdyk. If Schenn can return to his form of a few seasons back, perhaps this move can help the Flyers backend. Of course up front the Flyers are led by Claude Giroux, who very well should be a Hart Trophy candidate as league MVP. The biggest question of course will be if goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov can return to form as a top 10-15 goaltender. True, the Flyers need to play some defense in front of him, but if they can shore it up, they need Bryzgalov back on his game to have any chance at advancing far in the playoffs.
4. Pittsburgh Penguins – The Pens will begin the season at full force as Sidney Crosby is fully healthy. Last season of course, they began the year without Crosby, who missed significant time throughout the year with concussion issues. They got a very nice return in the Jordan Staal trade, which included center Brandon Sutter, who of course should fit in nicely as the 3rd line center. The acquisition of veteran netminder Tomas Vokoun should help take some pressure off of number 1 goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury. While the Penguins aren’t as complete as a team from top to bottom as the New York Rangers are, they will score a ton of goals and will be fighting the Rangers for the Atlantic division crown for most of the season.
3. Washington Capitals – The Caps had a rough regular season in 2011-2012. While they didn’t play up to expectations, they did still make the playoffs and upset the Boston Bruins in round 1. Under new head coach Adam Oates, I expect the Caps to bounce back and capture the Southeast division crown. The club needs superstar Alex Ovechkin to return to his offensive form that made him one of the top 3 players in the world. The acquisition of the talented Mike Ribeiro will help their 2nd line. On the backend, they need Mike Green to stay healthy and return to form as a premier offensive defenseman. In net, the young duo of Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth should provide solid goaltending. Holtby was very strong for the Caps in their playoff run last spring.
2. Boston Bruins – The Bruins came up short in their attempt to repeat as Stanley Cup Champions last spring as they got knocked out in round 1 by the Capitals. That being said, this is a very deep, talented squad. The Bruins have a ton of depth among the forward core, as they can role out four solid lines. They have a nice blend of talent as they have good size, can score, skate, hit and play a defensive responsible game. On the backend, the huge and talented Zdeno Chara leads the way. Expect Chara to once again be in the running for the Norris Trophy, as the leagues top defenseman. In goal, Tuukka Rask will finally get his chance as the number 1 guy, with veteran Tim Thomas deciding to sit the season out.
1. New York Rangers – As mentioned at the beginning of this article, the Rangers of course finished 1st in the Eastern Conference during the regular season. Defensively, this club is stacked and in net of course with reigning Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvuist, this team should once again have no trouble keeping the puck out of their own net. The Rangers did have some issues putting the puck in the net and now that appears to be addressed with the acquisition of superstar winger Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets. With Nash joining Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik, the Rangers have legitimate top line talent to go along with their overall depth up front, as they can roll out four solid lines. The Rangers are as complete a team you will see in the east and should without a doubt contend for the Stanley Cup.
The Three Most Important Rules in a Relationship
There are many ways to keep the romance going in a relationship. At the bottom of all of them is commitment and intimacy. If you can maintain a strong sense of connection and dedication to the relationship, all else will logically fall into place. It is with this in mind that I offer these three ideas that I have personally found critical to maintaining a healthy relationship.
Rule number one is making your relationship the most important thing in your life. That goes for both of you. If only one of you feels this way, it’s like trying to run a marathon on one leg. Both of you will be exhausted and it will go nowhere. You will also be violating rule number two.
Think, act and believe that that other person is your other half. They are, and you know it. That other person is intrinsically involved in you physically, emotionally, financially and spiritually. Make this part clearly visible and audible to your partner.
I’m not talking codependence, you are still two distinct beings with distinct needs, but that other person needs to be a priority on all levels. Besides, just the paperwork involved in a breakup is a pain in the butt so you might as well go for it whole hog.
Rule number two is to make honesty the only policy on all matters. That means no more mind games, no more walls. Every lie that you tell to your mate is another brick in that wall and they are very hard (and painful) to take to take down once they are put up. It’s much easier to just say what you feel and speak the brutal (or beautiful) truth on everything.
This is not to say that you must blurt out everything about everything, everyone has a part of them that is their own, but if asked, tell the truth. Life is so much easier and less complicated if you are transparent.
Rule number three is to become as vulnerable to your partner as you are to yourself. There is nothing that will drive intimacy home more effectively that to become completely open to your mate. There is nothing that will stop an argument faster that to expose your fears about the very thing you are arguing about. That is, to become completely vulnerable when in the middle of a disagreement. Try it and you will see what I mean. A word of warning here; if someone goes for your jugular when you do this (or if you do this), then it’s time to reevaluate the relationship. Anyone who would do this, does not have your (and the relationships) best interests in mind.
Take note that I didn’t say go out and buy expensive gifts or lavish treatments for that special person. Anything like that is transient and short lived. What is important in life can’t be bought. The important things in life come from the heart not the pocketbook.
There are many more tips that I have to keep a relationship thriving, but these are the most important ones. I firmly believe that love and intimacy are the true paths to happiness.
With training camp underway and the regular season set to kick off on Saturday, lets take a look at some news and notes around the NHL the past few days.
The Carolina Hurricanes were busy on Sunday as they dealt backup goaltender Brian Boucher, back to the Philadelphia Flyers, then signed a new backup netminder, Dan Ellis, formerly of the Anaheim Ducks.
Wait….there’s more! The Hurricanes also added some much needed toughness by acquiring winger Kevin Westgarth from the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Anthony Stewart, a fourth-round draft pick in 2013 and a sixth-round pick in 2014. Seems like a lot to give up for an enforcer, but the Hurricanes can use a player like Westgarth, who is also great in the locker room. Stewart struggled last season in Carolina, so it’s not a bad deal for them. For the Kings, it’s solid asset management for a player like Westgarth, who would not have even made the team this year or at the the very least would be a healthy scratch every game.
The Vancouver Canucks added some depth to their backend, by signing unrestricted free agent defensemen Cam Barker and Jim Vandermeer.
The Flyers, in addition to re-acquiring Boucher in net, as mentioned above, also added some depth to their blueline with the signing of free agent defenseman Kurtis Foster.
The Edmonton Oilers, looking to add some depth to their defensive corps as well, acquired defenseman Mark Fistric from the Dallas Stars for a third-round pick in 2013.
We’ll have our previews and predictions for the upcoming season this week on sportsbreakthrough.com and don’t forget to tune into Breakthrough Sports on am1010 in Phoenix and online at sportsbreakthrough.com this Wednesday from 2-4 AZ time for on-air analysis, previews and predictions.
This morning, I Skyped with a former co-worker. We were comparing our lives since we’d left the company where we both worked; much has happened in the past two years for both of us. As we compared our stories, we had many of the same experiences.
Along the way, I mentioned that an intuitive friend, years before I actually moved to Arizona, told me that it would be a man who helped me get to Arizona. At the time, I was working for a female boss, a really good one—a strong leader, for six years of my career. My co-worker noted that as she had built her career, she was surrounded by a lot of great female mentors who supported her, gave her great ideas, and in general helped her out along the way. But when push came to shove, it was a man who actually made things happen for her.
Here’s what’s interesting about this—the females in the stories were the same rank or higher than the men. But somehow, it was the male leader that made it happen. And that’s disturbing to me.
I’ve lived in the corporate world since 1978. In my early career, of course it was men that made things happen! There were very few females in positions of power. Those that were there had kicked, screamed, and sacrificed family life to get to where they were, and they weren’t likely to share the glory with some young woman just entering the fray.
But that was then, and this is now. The situations that happened with my colleague and I were in the past three years. So, what’s the excuse?
I’m a female leader… I’ve had people reporting to me since 1981. That’s a really long time. And I find myself wondering, did I do all that I could have? Have I made things happen for people? Have I built my centers of influence to be strong enough to be able to help people make moves, or am I that woman that folks go to in order to feel better, so they can get back up on the horse and ride?
Don’t get me wrong. There is something to be said for being the supportive female leader. And lives get changed for the better when we are surrounded by people who lift us up, rather than smacking us down.
When push comes to shove, female leaders, do we exercise our influence? Have we built enough credibility to be respected as a mover and a shaker? My challenge to you is, take a look around. Who have you helped and in what ways? Can you do more? Can female leaders work together to help people make the changes in their lives that set them on their highest and best path? I’d like to hear your stories about how you’ve helped, or were helped by a female leader. Comments below, please.
Breakthrough Broadcasting Network, in conjunction with Phoenix Movie Examiner, is giving its readers an opportunity to see a free advance screening of the new crime thriller “Bullet to the Head.”
In “Bullet to the Head,” which is based on Alexis Nolent’s French graphic novel of the same title, Sylvester Stallone plays a career hitman who enters into an unlikely alliance with a by-the-book detective (Sung Kang) to bring down the ruthless killer of their respective partners. Christian Slater and Jason Momoa also star.
“Bullet to the Head” opens Friday, Feb. 1 at movie theaters throughout the Valley. However, Breakthrough Broadcasting Network listeners who visit Gofobo.com can print passes for themselves and a guest to see an advance screening of the film for free 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28 at Harkins Arizona Mills. Seating at the screening will be first-come, first-served.
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In “Not Fade Away,” John Magaro plays a young man who, in 1964 New Jersey, decides to form a rock band with his best friends after the Rolling Stones appear on television. The Jan. 10, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine” featured several soundbites from Magaro, whose filmography includes “The Box,” “My Soul to Take” and “Liberal Arts.” The following is my full exclusive interview with him from which said soundbites were pulled.
Question: Can you tell me a little bit about your character as you see him and were able to tap into his persona?
Answer: I think Doug is kind of a typical teenager. He is trying to find an identity and he is looking for that in any place that he can. He looks for that in his family, in a band, in his friends and in a girl. And that leads to a lot of frustration, anger, depression and a lack of understanding. But by the end he has a bit of a moment of transcendence where he realizes that he has to really find that identity within himself.
Q: Did you do anything special to tap into the character’s mindset?
A: I grew up listening to a lot of 60’s music and watching films from the 60’s, as well, so I sort of had that knowledge going into it. We were also really fortunate that we did this rock and roll boot camp ahead of time, which allowed the guys to build this relationship off of the set on our own terms and gave our friendship on screen a greater sense of honesty.
Q: Did you get any inspiration for the character from real musical figures?
A: There was an element of Bob Dylan that they were trying to infuse into the look of the character with the crazy curly hair and that whole thing. But as far as people that I felt like doug might be trying to emulate, I sort of looked at Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman and Mick Jagger. I always felt like he had a real draw to the Stones and that he was sort of trying to emulate those guys as much as he could. I do not think that he has the charisma of a Mick Jagger but he was certainly trying to get there.
Q: Was it easy to transport yourself, so to speak, to the 1960’s?
A: Everything that David Chase does has a tremendous amount of specificity. He is very detail oriented. There was a moment when we kind of shut down shooting because we didn’t have the right egg cream glass. He wanted the exact egg cream glass that would have been at this diner during that period. I think that is a good thing because you can really trust a director who is so focused on every detail and I think that it shows in the end product. We also had a great artistic team. They put together a beautiful world with these sets that we got to come into everyday. It really was like stepping back in time.
Q: Can you tell me more about your experience working with David?
A: He is an incredibly smart writer and director. He writes these honest stories and tells them the way that he wants to tell them. And he is brave enough to do that. I certainly respect him as an artist but he is also just an incredibly generous man. He really loves his actors and fights for then. He is incredibly collaborative. It was a great experience and I certainly learned a ton from working with him.
Q: You really sang and played the drums in the movie. What was that like?
A: Playing rock and roll music with these four other guys was kind of a euphoric experience. It is this amazing feeling when you have these guys who come together and create this sound. I would love to keep doing that but I have a long way to go as a drummer if I was ever going to really pursue it. I can do the basics but there is a lot more that I need to learn. I enjoy singing. I never really considered myself a singer before this. I would sing in the shower and in the car but that was about the extent of it. But I am open to singing again.
Q: Now, that is not exactly true. Aren’t you the young man who several years ago sang a song about having enough joy to go around in an exceptional Christmas commercial for Walmart and Coca-Cola?
A: I had known that director for a while before then. I didn’t think he knew I sang or anything but he called me in to be a part of it and I thought he was crazy. He really wanted me to do it and fought for me to do it. The whole time i was like, “I can’t sing!” But people seemed to really enjoy it. I just kind of take it all in stride. It is certainly good to have fans but I am always focusing on the next thing and continuing to do good work. Onward and upward.
Q: Finally, what did Doug teach you about yourself?
A: I think that I sort of came into this film in a state that Doug is in throughout the film – this kind of frustration about not understanding where you are at in life, who you are and what you are doing. Just this total confusion. So I think that I walked away from it with a bit of that transcendence that Doug has. I am now trying to trust the universe to take care of me and not necessarily rely on other people to make me happy. But that is a tough thing because I feel like it is a cycle. You fall back into the pits but you try to do the best you can with that lesson.
In “Texas Chainsaw 3D,” Alexandra Daddario plays a young woman who travels to Texas with her friends to collect an inheritance. Little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward. The Jan. 10, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine” featured several soundbites from Daddario’s costar Tania Raymonde, whose filmography includes the hit television series “Lost.” The following is my full exclusive interview with him from which said soundbites were pulled.
Question: Can you tell me a little bit about your character as you see her?
Answer: Nikki is the party girl of this horror film. She is a very fun-loving. free-spirited character and likes to have a good time. I have not really done a straightforward horror movie. This is my first one so I guess that I was initiated, so to speak. But it is a cool legacy to be a part of. I am happy to be in such good company.
Q: So then is that to say that you are a fan of horror flicks?
A: I have a very high tolerance for gore and blood. I am like the perfect horror movie viewer because i do not get scared very easily. I can really stomach anything so, as a result, I have watched a lot of really disgusting stuff that I should probably never have seen. But some of my favorite movies are horror movies – like “The Shining” and “The Birds.” I am a movie fan across the board, though, so if a movie is well done then I love it and it does not really matter what the genre is.
Q: Were you a fan of the original “Texas Chainsaw Massacre?”
A: I was a big fan of the original. I saw it when I was a kid and was really freaked out by it. I was like 12 or 13 years old and I remember my dad telling me, “This is a slasher movie. It is going to be really freaky but you have got to watch it.” It really remained vivid in my mind so to be part of a remaking of that movie was really cool. Plus, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” is like the best title of any movie in history.
Q: What sets the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series apart from other horror flick franchises and what sets “Texas Chainsaw 3D” apart from other remakes?
A: I think that the creepiest part about Leatherface is that he has got a human side to him. He is not an alien from another planet or a monster. He is a disturbed person and I think that is like the most terrifying part of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” And in terms of comparing it to other remakes, the nice thing about our movie is that the filmmakers really paid a lot of attention to not only mimicking the way that the original was made in terms of looj and feel but also trying to make this like a direct follow-up to the original movie.
Q: Most people know you from the hit television series “Lost.” Do you have any general comments about your experience on that show?
A: I really kind of became my own person on that show. I feel like there was a bravery about Alex that I really loved and that is sort of something that I try to remember in my real life. You have to be brave and good things will come to you. I guess that is the aspect of her character that I really admired and has really stuck with me this whole time. But in terms of experiences, it really does not get any better than that. Whoever complained about being on “Lost” is a freaking psychopath.
Q: So is that to say that if J.J. Abrams were to call you up and say, “Tania, we have to go back,” you would be ready and willing to reprise your role as Alex Rousseau?
A: Are you joking? Of course! I mean i think about it all of the time! I have only blissfully positive memories from that show. I do not even know how to put it into words. I know that it is an experience that is going to stick with me for the rest of my life. It did not even feel like a job. It was like a dream. It is almost like it never really happened. It is one of those things that was so awesome you cannot even remember what it was like. It felt like it was my alternate life and I was living it on some island somewhere. It was like it happened on some other timeline. Maybe that is fitting considering the show.
In “Texas Chainsaw 3D,” Alexandra Daddario plays a young woman who travels to Texas with her friends to collect an inheritance. Little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward. The Jan. 10, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine” featured several soundbites from Daddario, whose filmography includes “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” and its upcoming sequel “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters.” The following is my full exclusive interview with him from which said soundbites were pulled.
Question: Can you tell me a little bit about your character as you see her?
Answer: I see her as a character who doesn’t really feel like she belongs at first. In the beginning of the film, she is sort of a darker character but a pretty normal girl. And then she finds out that she comes from a different family than she thought she did and finds out that she is Leatherface’s cousin. The way that she deals with that information and the evolution of her character was really interesting and makes this film a little bit different than other conventional horror films.
Q: Are you a fan of horror flicks?
A: I am horror fan in that I think that they are very effective on me. I get scared very easily. I am a scaredy cat. When I was younger, my mom used to rent Alfred Hitchock films, so I saw a couple of those and I was terrified by them. But I am so bad with gore. I was familiar with the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies but I had not seen any of them. When I was watching the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movies to prepare for this one, I would sometimes have to pause my DVD and take a break.
Q: So now that you have seen them, what did you think of the other movies in the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series?
A: I thought that the original was absolutely amazing. The way that that film was made on a shoestring budget was just incredibly amazing and I see why this franchise has been around for 30-plus years. From the moment that the hitchhiker jumps in the van, it is just the creepiest thing. And I thought that Jessica Biel’s performance was amazing in the remake.
Q: What sets the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” series apart from other horror flick franchises and what sets “Texas Chainsaw 3D” apart from other remakes?
A: It is not just five kids going and getting killed by a guy with a chainsaw. There is a different kind of story to it – more of a mystery. And I think that it stands on its own for people who are not familiar with the series. But for those who are, there are so many callbacks to the original film. The story takes place after the original story and we have cameos from some of the original actors. It was really an honor to have them involved.
Q: Without spoiling any surprises, do you have any favorite scenes from the shoot?
A: There was a scene that I shot with Tania Raymonde. We were being attacked by a chainsaw in a confined space and I think that both of our energies fed off of each other. She was screaming and crying and I was screaming and crying and it just builds and builds and builds. It was terrifying.
Q: “Texas Chainsaw 3D” is not the only movie you are starring in this year. You will also return to the role of Anabeth Chase in “Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters” on Aug. 16. Do you have any general comments about your experience in that franchise?
A: I love being a part of that franchise and I am extremely excited about the second one. Playing that character reminds me of when I was 12 or 13 and would wait outside Broadway shows for actors’ autographs and how inspired I was by people. I see that I have the ability to inspire people and that is absolutely incredible. Being a part of that franchise has also really changed my career and I think that it has made me a stronger person.
Of the new movies that I reviewed during the Jan. 10, 2013, edition of “Breakthrough Thinking: The Magazine,” the one that I would most recommend seeing is “Zero Dark Thirty,” director Kathryn Bigelow’s motion picture about the search and eventual raid on Osama Bin Laden. However, you cannot do too wrong by seeing any of the other films featured – unless, of course, you opt to see “Glee” star Chris Colfer’s “Struck by Lightning,” in which case you may very well be just lighting your money on fire.
‘Not Fade Away’
John Magaro plays a young man who, in 1964 New Jersey, decides to form a rock band with his best friends after the Rolling Stones appear on television. (R – 112 minutes)
“Not Fade Away” is an average movie at best, hampered by an attempt to cram too much story into one motion picture that eventually arrives at a very bizarre and dreamlike conclusion. But its leading actor John Magaro – a.k.a. the young man who several years ago sang a song about having enough joy to go around in an exceptional Christmas commercial for Walmart and Coca-Cola – is anything but average, giving one of the year’s absolute finest performances. Moreover, writer/director David Chase – of “The Sopranos” fame – has an undeniable knack for creating authentic atmospheres, saturating the audience’s senses with a completely convincing time and place. (Grade: C)
‘Promised Land’
Matt Damon plays a corporate salesman who is sent, with his partner (Frances McDormand), to close a key rural town in his company’s expansion plans. What seems like an easy job becomes complicated by a grassroots campaign led by another man (John Krasinski). (R – 106 minutes)
Watching “Promised Land” is a pleasurable experience – perhaps too pleasurable. The new drama – which was directed by Gus Vant Sant and written by its two stars Matt Damon and John Krasinski – is such an old-fashioned film that it completely bypasses the positive qualities for which it was likely aiming and feels too feeble for its message to have any real or lasting impact on moviegoers. This is a story that should get the audience all riled up with complex and conflicting emotions but, instead, it comforts viewers with its extremely altruistic intentions, carrying no more weight than a feather. (Grade: C)
‘Struck by Lightning’
Chris Colfer plays a high school senior whose last few weeks of life include a blackmail scheme concocted by his best friend (Rebel Wilson), a mother (Allison Janney) more interested in the bottle than her son’s future and an estranged father (Dermot Mulroney) who suddenly appears with a pregnant fiancée (Christina Hendricks). (NR – 84 minutes)
With “Struck by Lightning,” “Glee” star Chris Colfer has written a role for himself that is so snotty and self-righteous that it is downright impossible to root for him to succeed much less believe that such a character would actually exist in real life without being beaten to a bloody pulp by his peers before promptly getting expelled from each and every school in which he enrolls. Attempts to be witty – which, for the record, are all based in tired cliches and stereotypes – come off as annoyingly arrogant and the movie is absent of any emotion whatsoever, failing its social message in the process. (Grade: D)
‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’
Alexandra Daddario plays a young woman who travels to Texas with her friends to collect an inheritance. Little does she know that an encounter with a chainsaw-wielding killer is part of the reward. (R – 92 minutes)
Granted, “Texas Chainsaw 3D” forgets to sincerely scare its audience and instead relies on its graphic depiction of human flesh being sawed, sliced and otherwise slaughtered into mincemeat to shock and therefore satisfy viewers. However, it does earn an extra point for the unique approach that it employs midway through the movie that challenges said viewers who have long seen star Leatherface as the ultimate horror villain as something of an unexpected antihero. Whether that problematic portrayal works is worthy of a lengthy debate in and of itself but at least director John Luessenhop attempted to do something different. (Grade: C)
‘Zero Dark Thirty’
Chris Pratt, Jessica Chastain and Joel Edgerton |play an elite team of intelligence and military operatives who, for more than a decade, have been working in secret across the globe, devoting themselves to a single goal – find and eliminate Osama bin Laden. (R – 157 minutes)
The final hour of “Zero Dark Thirty” is earth-shatteringly intense. Unfortunately, the motion picture’s preceding 90 minutes – essentially the entire runtime of most other movies in and of themselves – are deliberately paced, extremely technical and action-starved. Those are by no means bad qualities but they certainly have the potential to disappoint viewers who may have been expecting something similar to director Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Hurt Locker.” The good news is, though, that those who allow the filmmaker to take them on the challenging journey are rewarded with not only an electrifying finale but also an impression of intellectual stimulation. (Grade: B)
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download
The Toronto Maple Leafs have shocked the hockey world Wednesday morning with the firing of general manager Brian Burke.
The NHL Board of Governors are meeting today to ratify the new CBA and while the Maple Leafs have struggled under Burke, the timing is an absolute shock to everyone.
The thinking is that Burke would have been very likely on the hot seat this coming season depending on the team’s on-ice results. Burke had been the clubs president and general manager since November of 2008.
More details should emerge throughout the day and the Maple Leafs are scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon at 1:45 et.
The New Year brings about a whole flurry of resolutions for many. And even if, like me, you don’t quite believe in making resolutions only once a year, it’s a time to reflect on what’s working and what needs to go.
As I look back on the major changes in my life, it’s often more of an evolution, rather than a revolution. Now, I’m not saying that the occasionally LARGE shakeup is a bad thing – it’s just not feasible for many.
To get back to the New Year theme, it’s nearly impossible to change one’s life, career, diet, relationships, exercise, and more all at once. Not that people don’t try! There was a year when a friend and I made the mistake of going to Weight Watchers in January. Yikes! Are those lines long!!! And when I practiced yoga regularly at a local studio, we used to dread the beginning of the year because all the people who swore they would Change Things Now were in there with us regulars. The good news for the regulars is – they will mostly all be gone by March and life can get back to normal!
So what works when you’ve just had it? When you can’t stand to do it the way you’ve been doing “it” (whatever it is… fill in the blank) for one more day?
Take. One. Small. Step.
Joe and I have changed our diets immensely after his triple bypass back in 2002, the year we got married. There’s nothing like a near-heart-attack seven months before the wedding to set your priorities straight. We didn’t do it all at once… it’s been a transition over ten years. First the red meat went, then the fried and fast food (my entire diet!), and eventually, I tried a low glycemic index diet and became a believer. Now I’m working toward gluten-free. If you had told me in 2002 that I’d no longer drink coffee or Diet Coke, wouldn’t be able to remember the last trip to a fast food restaurant, that I’d no longer eat beef or pork, and that eventually I’d even cut the bread/pasta/cracker/pretzel part of my diet, which would lead to much less cheese…. Well. We would have had quite a “discussion” about it. By the way, bacon isn’t pork, is it? Because I’m not giving that up when I eat breakfast out!
Along the way, with each change, came one of the Dwarfs, Grumpy, and he brought along some sisters, Bitchy and Cranky. Tearful came along once in a while, too, for good measure.
Changing things is not for the faint of heart. But is it worth it? YES!
Small steps. Just changing one little thing. It makes a BIG difference in the long run. And when your brain switches to not preferring whatever that thing is that you left behind, you are home free. And you’ll celebrate with the rest of us who just changed One. Little. Thing.
