The Adventures of Mrs.Movie Snob

In 2013, thanks to a very good yet misleading trailer, Matt and I went to see "Man of Steel." As we left the theatre, I turned to him and said, "That's it. No more superhero movies for me." Besides the fact that it absolutely SUCKED, I realized something else. They're mostly all the same. And I was bored. Then a few months ago, I watched the trailer for "Joker." I was intrigued. It looked dark and disturbing. It touted itself as yet another in the new genre of alternate universe. And most importantly, it starred Joaquin Phoenix. Check. Check. Check. Fine, I'll go... We just got home. One word: Masterpiece. Set in a very Scorcese-ish 1980's Gotham, Joker introduces us to Arthur Fleck: a pathetic, forgettable little man doing odd jobs, in clown garb. He is the awkward guy everyone talks about at work. He's the guy just creepy enough that you might cross the street if you saw him in your path or switch seats on the bus if he was ...

I don't have a dad. I never have. The S.O.B. is out there somewhere. Just nowhere I've ever known about. I've only ever been Debbie's daughter. I was briefly a step daughter - by law - to a very cruel man that my Mother married when I was a child. Father material, though, he was not. The only positive male role model that I can remember early on is my Grandfather, Inez. And when he was around, which wasn't too often because we lived far away, I'd feel like a princess. Still do. (All his granddaughters do. He's our hero.) So, when social media is saturated on Father's Day with images of loving, attentive, present Daddies, I find myself in foreign territory; somewhere on the outside looking in on a strange exhibit. I equate it to going to a history museum and staring blankly at a scene set in olden days. I can't relate. That's how they lived? How strange. I'm not sad, really. Or jealous. Anymore. I'm at an age where I can take...

Oh, the intricacies of a relationship. Those wonderful moments that happen when no one else is around. All of my best friends are now coupled. Surely, you know what I speak of: The picking of a fight. Even as I sit here writing this, I am completely clueless as to what the hell just happened. Our typical Thursday family dinner was...typical...light, even, The three of us finished our supper and giggled over Isabel's new Magic Trick kit. Good Sully family memories. The yooj. ("usual") After teeth brushing, morning preparing and kid-tucking-in, it was adult time. As I settled on the couch to check my Insta, I glanced at the man-show on the tv, "What are you watching?", I asked. I was immediately met with a snarky and defensive remark from the husband. I responded. Only to be cut off with another snarky and defensive remark. "Umm...what the hell's your problem?" I don't much shy away. There was an infuriating little giggle as if to say, "...

A few nights ago Matt and I were watching an old episode of  Sex and the City . Well, I was watching. He was half-listening and playing on his phone. "Ugh. I hate these scenes when they're talking." First, don't you dare dis my show. Second, "What do you mean?!" "It's so forced. Life. Love. Clever quip.  We're so funny !" He said mockingly. Taken aback for a second, I looked at him utterly confused, "That's how girlfriends talk. We're much more clever than men." Cue eye roll. He knows I'm right. Still, I couldn't help but wonder, (see what I did there?)  What the hell do men talk about? I thought back to a few recent conversations we've had after a "Guys Night." There have been some major developments among our group of friends in the last few months: 3 big moves, a hospital stay for a sick kid, new jobs and general adulting. Lots of material for in-depth discussions.The day-after exchange...

*Originally written in 2015 for my Brother-in-Law's, TheNerdFu.com, I stumbled across this last week and thought the timing was perfect for a re-sharing.  ************** What’s your favorite scary movie?  Halloween ?  A Nightmare on Elm Street ?  The Exorcist ? I would be hard-pressed to single out one in my genre of choice. There are those that make me jump, those that make me scream, those that make me gag and (most preferably) those that make me quiver. ‘Tis the season to revisit my beloved horror films. One a night, much to the dismay of my fraidy-cat husband. Thanks to me, he is now very schooled in this frightful style. And through my devotion to this category, he has seen more than just the mainstream drivel. Here’s a few movies that slipped under his radar and maybe yours too. Eden Lake   (2008) This has a relatively simple premise. A young couple (half of which is Michael Fassbender) escape to the English countryside for a romantic camp...

I am an only child... ...and I know  all  the preconceived ideas that just popped into your head. We're spoiled. We're selfish. We're lonely. Am I right? Maybe I possess(ed) a few of those traits but not for the reasons you'd think. My personality was shaped more by a tumultuous upbringing. I'm not sure a sibling would've changed that. In fact, most times I'm glad that no one else had to go through it. Or maybe it's more like I'm glad there are no witnesses. Isabel is also an only child. She doesn't complain about not having siblings unless someone else brings it up first. When it's a curious child asking, we respond warmly, "Nope. It's just the three of us." Usually they seem a little confused at first, then maybe a little jealous? Kanata is not known for only children. Adults are tougher. "We don't want more children" is often met with many questions. It's exhausting and infuriating. When we lived in ...

The only constant I have from my childhood is that things were always changing. We moved a lot. We changed addresses the way some other families changed seasonal decor. Seriously. I counted once; 17 times before I graduated from high school. I often get asked if I was an "army brat." No. I wish I could say our gypsy lifestyle was due to something that honourable. The truth is, I really don't know (although I suspect) the reasons. I only know I was ALWAYS the new kid at school in a sea of kids who had all mostly known each other since Kindergarten. I made friends, of course. But, sometimes just as quickly as we'd get comfortable we were packing up again. I wonder now why we even unpacked at all. For my child it would be different. Two weeks ago we  moved. For Isabel, it was a first and she was nervous. Under any circumstances, moving is stressful and scary. But now I have to do it with a big smile for my 8-year-old. As a parent, I like to think I've done my j...

The Nun (2018) Directed by Corin Hardy *****Spoiler Alert***** Here we go. Another installation in James Wan's Conjuring universe. So far, it is #1 at the box office and that's really no surprise. It's predecessors were major hits and we were all hungry for another bite. We were first introduced to The Nun in 2016's The Conjuring 2. Like most, I thought she was absolutely terrifying. Unlike most, I suppose, I always find a seemingly random villain more unnerving. That air of this could happen to you  hanging in the air like an ominous cloud. But, the masses screamed for more and very quickly The Nun backstory was coming to theaters. Now, to be fair, when I found out they were making this I, too, was on board. I'm always down for a scary movie. I love to see them in the theater. Even when the initial reviews came back and weren't so good, that didn't deter me. I find it a very rare thing that a horror movie gets a fair shake. True lover's o...

"The past beats inside of me like a second heart." -John Banville, The Sea My memory is long. It is vivid. It is unforgiving. For better, it is remembering song lyrics, movie quotes, important dates and fun times. For worse, it is remembering every embarrassment, hurt and traumatic childhood moment. With both, something will trigger me (a song, smell, a feeling) and *poof*, I'm right back in it. Does this happen to you? Do you think of comebacks years later in the shower? Do you dwell on that time you fell in front of all of those people? Do you still get a rush when you think about that first kiss with your honey? It's something I've come to depend on. (Especially when competing in trivia) And I've never really understood how it feels to not have this ability. My Mother used to get very frustrated with me because I remembered everything she said; even when she didn't. She once said to me, "I hope you have a daughter one day with that memory!...

PLOT TWIST! Mrs. Movie Snob has a new alias; Mrs. First Time Novelist! The first time novelist I'm referring to here is not myself. Blogs and funny quips are about the extent of my writing talents. No, the first time novelist to which I'm referring is, of course, my husband, Matt. C. Sully. For months, he's been researching, outlining, networking and writing what I'm sure is going to be an opus the likes of which are rarely seen. (read?) Night after night, he talks to me about his characters; their strengths, weaknesses and journeys. I can tell he's truly come to love them. It's really something to watch him get so excited about this world he's created out of thin air. Even though he just began writing in the Spring, I know this story has been in him for some time just waiting to be told. The timing had to be right to give it it's due, but now that he has surrendered to his creative inclinations, it seems to be pouring out; word by word, page by pa...