Review - Flipped - Family Friendly - Netflix

Flipped - BluRay from Amazon

If you look in vain for a family friendly movie, you can relax. I have one for you, and it's a true gem.

FLIPPED, a Rob Reiner film, is on Netflix now, and I loved it. If you don't have Netflix, I included a link to Amazon where you can pick up a Blu-ray copy for a low price. It's good enough that you may want to watch it again and again.

BLURB

When Juli Baker lays eyes on her new neighbor Bryce, she falls in love with him at first sight.

Bryce does not reciprocate that feeling. In fact, he doesn't like her at all. From that day forward, Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) tries his best to avoid her, but Juli (Madeline Carroll) is persistent in everything she undertakes.

Eventually, Juli realizes that Bryce does not return her feelings. Just as Bryce begins to see Juli's true worth, she decides he's an unfeeling jerk who isn't worth her time.

Billed as a young adult—the story begins at second grade and moves to junior high—the movie is based on Flipped, the book by Wendelin Van Draanen.

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Like the book, the movie is told in alternating viewpoints showing how each of the 2 protagonists viewed every interaction they had.

THE CAST 

The main cast is composed of Madeline Carroll as Julianna "Juli" Baker with Morgan Lily as young Juli, and Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski with Ryan Ketzner as young Bryce.

Rebecca De Mornay is Patsy Loski, Bryce's mother; Anthony Edwards is Steven Loski, Bryce's father; and John Mahoney is Chet Duncan, Bryce's grandfather. (Flipped was Mr.  Mahoney's final film before his death in 2018.)

Penelope Ann Miller is Trina Baker, Juli's mom; Aidan Quinn is Richard Baker, Juli's dad; and Kevin Weisman is Daniel Baker, Juli's uncle.

THE DETAILS

The movie was obviously a labor of love for Rob Reiner who served as Director, Screenplay writer along with Andrew Scheinman, and Producer with Alan Greisman also producing.

Cinematography was by Thomas Del Ruth. Editing by Robert Leighton, and Music by Marc Shaiman.

The companies involved were Castle Rock Entertainment and Reiner/Greisman Productions with distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The movie was released September 10, 2010 in the USA. It had a budget of $14M, but brought in only $4.3M at the box office. 

This kind of movie will never be a box office blockbuster, but it will be a big hit with families looking for intelligent family-friendly movies. 

MY THOUGHTS

This movie is emotional, heartwarming, funny, and poignant. It made me remember what it was like to be in elementary and junior high and having all those feelings that come with growing up. Feelings a kid doesn't really know what to do with.

As an adult, it makes you understand how awkward boys and girls of that age are and how they don't really understand what's going on in their parents' lives because everything is still all about them. If you have kids, it may help you understand that too.

It's the kind of film you could watch with your kids and discuss what's happeneing and why it's happening—especially with the scene involving Juli's uncle who was brain-damaged at birth.

Yes, that's a bit heavy, but it's something must families never talk about—and they should. Maybe it would help kids develop understanding and compassion for others.

This coming-of-age story explores the sacrifices families make, how others may misunderstand their life situaiton, and the themes of first love, personal growth, and how opinions can change with insights.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope you watch it if you have a Netflix subscription—rent it or buy it if you don't. It's worth the price.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Post Super Bowl - Thank Goodness

I don't know about you, but I'm tired after nearly 3 days of Super Bowl celebrations, commercials, and reports.

I'll admit I don't watch much football so I didn't have a "dog in the game" so to speak.

I mainly watch the commercials or the puppy bowl on other channels. This time I didn't watch the half-time show at the game or the alternative show.

Instead, I read Judgment of Paris: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine by George M. Taber.

We'd had dinner with daughter Adina and son-in-law Mike yesterday, and Mike gave us a copy of the book because he knew how much we'd loved the movie Bottle Shock which was based on the Paris Tasting in 1976.

(By the way, I highly recommend Bottle Shock, the movie which starred Alan Rickman, Chris Pine, and Bill Pullman. If you love wine and underdog stories, you'll really love this flick.)

I hope you enjoyed your Super Bowl event as much as I enjoyed mine.

MONDAY, MONDAY

Like you, I'm back in the office. So far, it's been a frustrating day. I spent 4 hours looking for the page proofs for one of my backlist books. Finally found it—persistence pays off—so I think I'll take a coffee break before I tackle the rest of the items on my TO DO list.

Here's a quote for you to guide your week—especially if you're pronE to insomnia as I often am.

"If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying. It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep." —Dale Carnegie

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you work at night instead of staring at the ceiling, you may be yawning through the next day, but you may get a lot accomplished too. What do you think?

 

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Friday Facts - Bridgerton - Netflix

Bridgerton Poster from Printerval.com

I'm having such fun watching the new Bridgerton series. This makes the 4th installment of the Regency series and is based on An Offer From a Gentlemen, Book 4, by Julia Quinn.

As always I try to connect movies and TV series with the actual historical backgound. I know that sounds a bit pedantic, but it gives an added depth to the story to know what is accurate and what is fiction—at least it does for me.

Now, I'm talking about Bridgerton, the TV series, NOT the book series by Julia Quinn  on which the series is based.

FRIDAY FACTS ABOUT BRIDGERTON

1. Bridgerton is not a documentary, but it is historically inspired. The series combines real elements of the Regency with fantasy.

2. The production smartly chooses to adhere to contemporary tastes in romance, music, and expectations. Thus, it has wide appeal for today's viewers.

3. The series depicts a racially-integrated high society that didn't exist historically, but I like the fact that it does this. Why shouldn't actors of any color or ethnicity have the chance to act in any story they wish?

4. The Queen in the series is Queen Charlotte who was the Queen during the Regency period, but her portrayal in the series is for entertainment value, not historically accurate.

Image by Calla Negra - Pixabay

5. Young unmarried women of the aristocracy were pressured to make good marriages for status, family connections and wealth, and had little choice but to comply. 

They had to strictly adhere to the protocols for young ladies of that era, and the list of restrictions was onerous.

6. Scandal sheets like Lady Whistledown's gossip sheet did exist.

7. The dresses the women wear in the series were inspired by the high empire waist of the Regency, but the colors and materials used are far from traditional.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Having said all that, it is obvious that something doesn't have to be historically accurate to be delightful and entertaining.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Playing Around With Video

I should be writing, but I'm kind of stalled because I need the cover for my next book.

 I just haven't decided what that cover should look like. Yet.

So, I've been playing around with video the last few days—creating short videos to post on each of my book pages on Amazon.

I've got a few of them done but only one that I've posted. It's on the Amazon page for SCENTS AND SENSUALITY. Take a look if you have a moment and tell me what you think.

These videos are only 10-15 seconds long and they're not vertical like on TikTok or Facebook Reels. I plan to post a couple more today because it takes a day or two for Amazon to approve them. 

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Today, I'll get the cover concept nailed down and leap over that hump because it is Hump Day. Right?

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6 Quick Tips Identify Scams

If you're like me, your email Inbox is inundated on a daily basis with scam, spam, spoof, and AI bot mail.

I'd say about 99.99% of that is designed to steal your identity and/or your money—probably both.

6 QUICK TIPS IDENTIFY SCAMS

1. Always be suspicious of anything that insists you act now. The only acting you should do is thinking and figuring out if it's a scam.

2. Fake messages like from the post office or an online business claiming there is a problem with your delivery or your account. The post office will NEVER send you an email unless you have signed up for USPS alerts, and if you have, you'll know exactly what those alerts look like. 

If you know you have never ordered anything or bought anything from the "business" trying to contact you, send that email to the junk folder.

3. Third-party social media posts and ads with a deal that seems too good to be true. Never click on the link. If you're interested in the item, go directly to that company's website and check it out.

AND STOP SCAMS!!

Always remember, anything too good to be true is never true.

4. Never click on anything—even in "white" space of an email—no matter who it is from that asks for your password, the last 4 of your social security number, your birthdate, or any basic vital personal information that could be used to compromise you and your privacy.

If it's something that involves a credit card that you have, call the phone number on the back of the credit card and tell them why you're calling. Same thing with your bank and any other place that involves your money and savings.

Why not click on a place in the email that's just white space? Because that white space may content a hyperlink in white text. By clicking at a random spot on a scam email, you just might be sending your computer information to the crooks.

5. If you get a phone call from an unfamiliar number, let it go to voice mail. If no voice mail is left, it's probably a scam artist.

6. Since so many people order from Amazon, just be assured that Amazon will never email you or call you regarding your order or to verify anything about the order. All communication for Amazon orders goes through your Amazon account portal.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope this helps. Be aware. Be safe.

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February Thought

I read this today and thought it was very appropriate.

"If January is the month of change, February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers… February is for doers." — Marc Parent

Change requires action. Taking action proves you really want to change something in the status quo.

This week. Figure out all the steps needed to make the change you desire.

Then take that first step

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Quit dreaming. Take action. I believe you can do it.

Saturday Share - Mom's Cajun Court-Bouillon

I grew up on the Louisiana Gulf Coast in a Cajun neighborhood where many of our neighbors spoke only Cajun French.

My Mom embraced Creole and Cajun cooking and learned from the ladies in the neighborhood.

Today's recipe is one of hers. She never had it written down so I've been trying to recreate it for years. 

Trial and error has yielded today's recipe. I think it's pretty close to what she made, but there's probably still room for improvement.

Instead of seafood or a salt water fish, I'm using catfish fillets because they're readily available just about everywhere. Also, you can add some cooked shrimp at the end of the cooking time if you want another seafood flavor in the court-bouillon. Just don't overcook the shrimp.

Court-Bouillon is a French word meaning poaching liquid because in French cooking, fish are poached in a liquid with herbs. 

In Louisiana cooking, Court-Bouillon is more like a gumbo or a stew, and it's served over rice. Instead of poaching in a court-bouillon, we're actually eating what we call court-bouillon. In case you don't know how to pronounce the word, it's like this: coo-bee-yawn. 

By the way, the first thing the recipe calls for is a roux. If you don't know how to make a roux, I suggest you look it up on YouTube. 

Basically, the roux is equal parts fat and plain flour. You cook it in a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring constantly until it is dark brown in color.

You can order some pre-made roux from Amazon. I've never used any of them so I wouldn't know which one to recommend.

This is a recipe that's simple and easy for most cooks with nothing too exotic. Adjust the hot spices according to your taste buds. This is not traditional, but it's pretty close. I know it looks like a lot of ingredients, but it's not difficult to put this together. 

Ingredients

About a fourth cup of Roux (make it yourself or buy it pre-made)

1 medium onion, chopped

1 bell pepper, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes

2 1/2 cups chicken stock (fish stock is traditional)

2 bay leaves

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 1/2 teaspons dried thyme or 2-3 tablespoons fresh, chopped

1 tablespoon creole seasoning like Tony Chachere's

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon Tabasco Sauce

1 pound of catfish fillets

3 cups cooked rice

Directions

1. If you're using fish fillets, cut into 3 inch strips or chunks and sprinkle with creole seasoning. Set in fridge while you make the Roux.

2. If you don't have pre-made roux, now is the time to make it. Cook equal amounts of fat and AP flour (for instance, 4-5 tablespoons of each)  in a heavy pot. Stir, stir, stir, cooking over medium heat until dark brown but not burned. Reduce the heat to a medium simmer and carefully add the chicken or fish stock, the tomatoes, and all the seasonings except the bay leaves. Cook over medium heat while you prep everything else.

3. Saute the holy trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery) in a small amount of fat until soft. Add the garlic and cook aobut a minute. Be careful not to burn. Add this to the roux.

4. Now add the bay leaves and keep simmering.

5. After about add the fish chunks, lower the heat, and simmer on low about 15 more minutes.

6. Adjust the seasonings if needed. 

7. Serve over rice in a bowl with a side of crusty, grilled French bread.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is what I'm making for Saturday night because it's so cold outside, and this will really warm you up on the inside.