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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated Herself (2020) in Movies
Oct 6, 2020
I was keen to see this from recommendations I'd spotted online, but I wasn't overly enthused by the description... boy am I glad that the internet has great taste in movies.
Sandra is trying to keep her life together for her two daughters after she escapes from her abusive husband. Feeling isolated, overworked and living in a terrible situation Sandra has an off the wall idea that seems like a pipe dream. With the help of those around her she makes a true home for her girls and regains pieces of herself she'd lost.
Herself has some very serious topics in it, domestic violence and childhood trauma being at the top of the list, so that's definitely something to keep in mind if you're thinking of watching it. These topics are very effectively done and those feelings jumped out and affected me in a way I really didn't expect... I cried through a significant amount of the film, so probably just as well I was sitting in my living room and not a crowded cinema.
An interesting discovery on this was that one of the writers was Clare Dunne who plays the lead role of Sandra. I don't know what the process was between her and Malcolm Campbell but that involvement undoubtedly helps Dunne relay the true intent of the script, which I felt was incredibly well written.
Dunne's performance blew me away, barely minutes into the film you realise just what you're in for, it was such a brutal switch that my jaw nearly hit the floor. At every tense moment Dunne's acting is flawless and she conveys the emotions to a T. She does it so well that you get caught up in her anxiety, I found myself waiting for the bad things she was living in fear of and it was agonising... in a good way.
Along with her performance they use footage so well to help convey the story. When Sandra has an anxiety attack they cut clips into the scene, the quick changing back and forth between memory and present day brings the unsettling familiarity of panic and brings about a deeply emotional moment in the film. It might not conjure the exact same feeling as your own personal anxiety attack but it was closer than any other films I've seen it in.
Herself is a strong reminder that the vulnerable have the power within them to overcome anything through the right support and people who care. And sadly, it also reminds us that the system is a little messed up. I'm so pleased that I got the opportunity to see this, it's a well crafted film and I can say without a doubt it's already one of the highlights of this year's LFF.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/10/herself-movie-review.html
Sandra is trying to keep her life together for her two daughters after she escapes from her abusive husband. Feeling isolated, overworked and living in a terrible situation Sandra has an off the wall idea that seems like a pipe dream. With the help of those around her she makes a true home for her girls and regains pieces of herself she'd lost.
Herself has some very serious topics in it, domestic violence and childhood trauma being at the top of the list, so that's definitely something to keep in mind if you're thinking of watching it. These topics are very effectively done and those feelings jumped out and affected me in a way I really didn't expect... I cried through a significant amount of the film, so probably just as well I was sitting in my living room and not a crowded cinema.
An interesting discovery on this was that one of the writers was Clare Dunne who plays the lead role of Sandra. I don't know what the process was between her and Malcolm Campbell but that involvement undoubtedly helps Dunne relay the true intent of the script, which I felt was incredibly well written.
Dunne's performance blew me away, barely minutes into the film you realise just what you're in for, it was such a brutal switch that my jaw nearly hit the floor. At every tense moment Dunne's acting is flawless and she conveys the emotions to a T. She does it so well that you get caught up in her anxiety, I found myself waiting for the bad things she was living in fear of and it was agonising... in a good way.
Along with her performance they use footage so well to help convey the story. When Sandra has an anxiety attack they cut clips into the scene, the quick changing back and forth between memory and present day brings the unsettling familiarity of panic and brings about a deeply emotional moment in the film. It might not conjure the exact same feeling as your own personal anxiety attack but it was closer than any other films I've seen it in.
Herself is a strong reminder that the vulnerable have the power within them to overcome anything through the right support and people who care. And sadly, it also reminds us that the system is a little messed up. I'm so pleased that I got the opportunity to see this, it's a well crafted film and I can say without a doubt it's already one of the highlights of this year's LFF.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2020/10/herself-movie-review.html
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ClareR (5779 KP) rated White Rabbit, Red Wolf in Books
May 9, 2018
A great YA book about a teenage boy (Pete) who has an extreme anxiety disorder. Oh, and he's a maths prodigy too. His mother is a very well-respected scientist. His twin sister, Bel, seems to be just your run of the mill teenager, who gets in to a bit of trouble as she's a bit handy with her fists (usually sticking up for Pete). The three of them go to the Natural History Museum in London to collect an award for their mother - and this is where it all goes horribly wrong. Their mother is stabbed, Bel disappears, and Pete is kidnapped.
Some very likeable main characters (particularly Pete and Bel), some typically 'mean' spies, a fair bit of maths (which I admit to skimming over: maths isn't really my thing, I'm afraid!), and lots of action.
A great book, which I'm sure adults and teenagers alike will enjoy!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for their serialisation!
Some very likeable main characters (particularly Pete and Bel), some typically 'mean' spies, a fair bit of maths (which I admit to skimming over: maths isn't really my thing, I'm afraid!), and lots of action.
A great book, which I'm sure adults and teenagers alike will enjoy!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole for their serialisation!
ashezbookz (32 KP) rated Eliza and Her Monsters in Books
Jul 5, 2018
5/5 applauding stars for Eliza, oh .. oh my, can I just say that the pie portion of this book was my absolute favourite thing I have read in a while - like how adorable and cute and just .. ugh I want to go back and just re-read that portion of the book again and again it was just too darn EVERYTHING.
This book was so good - to me - and adorable and sweet and.. at the end a bit frustrating (hello Wallace it's not all about YOU). Anxiety is a witch and panic attacks are no joke, and when I first had one I was like, what the F I went to a walk in clinic said my heart rate was just insane and I felt dizzy and like I was going to faint and they were like easy peasy diagnosis. I was like, girl, I get you this was ...I'll definitely re-read, recommend, hug, love, adore this book forever.
This book was so good - to me - and adorable and sweet and.. at the end a bit frustrating (hello Wallace it's not all about YOU). Anxiety is a witch and panic attacks are no joke, and when I first had one I was like, what the F I went to a walk in clinic said my heart rate was just insane and I felt dizzy and like I was going to faint and they were like easy peasy diagnosis. I was like, girl, I get you this was ...I'll definitely re-read, recommend, hug, love, adore this book forever.
Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) rated Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again in Books
Dec 30, 2019
I wanted so badly to fall in love with Andrea Barber's autobiography, but I just couldn't. It wasn't so much of a bad read. It was just very slow paced and boring. It just feels like someone rambling on and on. You know when someone talks to you and won't shut up about something, but they go on and on. It kind of felt like that. Sometimes I felt like I was getting preached at about how to be happy. While I admired Barber's strength to overcome her anxiety, I just felt like there wasn't much happening. Nothing special really stuck out. However, the book does get good about three quarters of the way in. From there, it really held my attention as Barber explains about being on Fuller House and her cast mates. This is a very uplifting autobiography, but I just didn't fall in love with it. It is well written word wise though.
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