Chris Kneipp reviews Silver Linings Playbook and has his opinion of Bradley Cooper changed.

One of the great joys when seeing a movie you know nothing about, is when that movie turns out to be something special. The Silver Linings Playbook was such a movie. I saw it with my wife when it was in the cinemas, knowing nothing about it other than it had Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in it.

The plot reads like a romantic drama, but this intelligent rom-com explores subjects like mental illness and dealing with grief, while maintaining a light touch. Writer and director David O. Russell straddles the line by creating likeable characters dealing with things the best way they can. It doesn’t hurt that the movie  is brilliantly performed by all its cast.

Patrick “Pat” Solitano, (Bradley Cooper) is released from a mental health facility where he was locked up for savagely beating his wife’s new lover. Unable to let go, he clings to the hope he will win back his wife, trying to put a silver lining on everything that happens. At a dinner with his best friend, he is introduced to Tiffany Maxwell, (Jennifer Lawrence) who has problems of her own. Widowed and unemployed after one too many “indiscretions” with co-workers, she and Pat develop an unlikely friendship. A lot of the humour comes from the fact that neither of them are able to filter the words that come out of their mouth.

The whole cast of Silver Linings Playbook bring their A game.

At the time, I’d only seen J-Law in Hunger Games and wanted to see how she went playing a very different role. My reaction was, “Wow!”  Her portrayal of Tiffany is so natural. She doesn’t overplay the drama, making us feel for her deeply as we see her deal with life’s problems. But it’s her comedic timing that is the nice surprise. Without giving too much away, you’ll never forget the dance routine at the end, which had me in stitches.

Cooper’s performance changed my opinion of him for the better. I’d seen him play a few characters before, but he seemed a little one dimensional. As Pat he creates a sense of a man hanging by a thread, who finally finds peace when he looks at the people around him. He acts with subtlety and heart.

Chris Rock is Chris Rock, though a little toned down from his Rush Hour character, and his rapid fire ramblings work well for the character.

Robert De Niro gives his best performance in ages, playing Pat’s gambling, OCD father just trying to keep his head above water and connect with his son.

Special mention here for Jackie Weaver, whose portrayal of the long suffering mother was the glue in all the scenes with Pat’s family. Jackie fills the role with her best motherly ways and it’s great watching this iconic Australian actor’s interactions with De Niro and Cooper. I hope this opens the eyes of a lot more directors in the U.S. She deserved her Academy Award nomination, and it would have been nice to have another Aussie take a statue from Hollywood.

So if you haven’t seen it yet, go out, find a copy and watch it. It’ll make you laugh. It will make you feel. It’ll give your life a little silver lining.

Bel:

Cover

The cover was really what had me buying this book, not borrowing this book, from the library. The dust cover is a gloriously textured paper. The picture of a pretty young brunette with juicy red lips, blindfolded with a red ribbon, who standing on a coastline at dusk, drew me in. The title is embossed and the hard-cover spine has the title in foiled red lettering. Just something a little bit special. Thank you to Better World books for making the price that fits my budget.

Characters

I wasn’t overly fond of the parental/caregiver portrayal, but they needed to be the evil to counteract the teen characters.

Favourite

Nami, she was about the only character that kept true to herself.

Least Favourite

Faye, mainly because the little things she did irritated the heck out of me.

Beginning

Faye’s dad drops her off at Holbrook Academy as a last ditch attempt to get her to conform.

Storyline

Holbrook Academy, which is part mental institution, part juvenile detention centre is every bit of the nightmare that those two descriptions convey.

Ending

The title comes into play in an unexpected way.

I may have missed the point where the ending was justified, so it felt like a twist to me. I had a little trouble following some of the imagery, and some reactions seemed a little off. Not my cup of tea, but I LOVE the cover.

Quote

“Sweet dreams.” She said and shut the door. The lock snapped into place. Fay’s first night at Holbrook Academy

Krista:

Cover

I agree with Bel here. I was initially prompted to purchase the book because it was something I wanted for my shelves. It has all the major elements of the story and it’s beautiful.

Characters

I was surprised at the strictness of the Academy, at times wondering how it got to such a state. The caretakers and Dr Mordoch are at an extreme end of the disciplinary line. I also would have liked to get to know more of the students on a deeper level.

Favourite

I was a sucker for the love interest, Kel. He was flirty, dangerous and seemed to care for Faye on a deep level.

Least Favourite

My least favourite characters were the ones in charge of the Academy. Even at the very end, I was unsure about why they had to take a whip to the students and make outrageous rules. Their actions had me more upset than I have ever felt reading a book.

Beginning

When Faye’s parents discover that she has been collecting dead animal bones, they are concerned that she will never outgrow the “weirdness” that began in her as a young child. They return her to the Dr that has been consulting her family about her issues. It just so happens that she now runs Holbrook Academy, so Faye is left in her care.

Storyline

When Faye is dropped off at Holbrook Academy it doesn’t take her long to find out it’s run more like a prison. Each and every action the students make is closely watched; it’s very militaristic and nothing is tolerated. Faye is kept in a “Family” group of 5 other students with whom she grows a deep connection. They even begin to share nightmarish dreams. Faye seems to have a deepest connection to the land the Academy is on, and with Kel. She starts to see her powers as more of a positive thing than a punishment.

Ending

I really did not predict that the story would end up like it did. Though the novel does build on the visions, nightmares and history of the land, I just didn’t catch on quite that the story was going to put such an emphasis on what it did. I really should have seen it coming! I didn’t know it would be as potent as it was.

Thoughts

I do have to say I agree with Bel about the imagery in some parts being hard to visualise. I had to take the book slower than usual to try to really grasp it. It’s full of visions and nightmares and flashbacks that the reader has to picture in their minds in order to grasp the clues in the storyline.  In that way the story reminded me of  Michelle Hodkins’ books. In the end, I found that I enjoyed the imagery. I think this is a book that will stick with me for awhile and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy a lot of imagery in stories. (Of course, this novel takes on the darker, nightmarish side.)

Quote

” I wasn’t used to people meeting my eyes. And Kel didn’t just look at me. He looked into me, like he could see every thought in my head. And whatever he saw there now, he must have liked. He gave me a slow smile that made me blush. “

I chose this quote because it not only represents the first real encounter between Kel and Faye, but it holds the core of the story. ‘I wasn’t used to people meeting my eyes.” Faye’s insecurities and how she looks at herself as being damaged.

Book Trailer

http://www.sarawilsonetienne.com/harbinger

Hardcover, 309 pages

Published February 2nd 2012 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons BYR

ISBN

0399256687 (ISBN13: 9780399256684)

I’ve desperately wanted to learn how to make my own ice cream for years. A lack of an ice cream maker put that on hold for a while, though. I tried the (very good) method of buying top quality commercial ice cream and adding special ingredients for dinner parties, but it wasn’t quite the same as making from scratch. Luckily for me, last year for a (ahem) ‘special age’ birthday, my lovely parents-in-law gave me a KitchenAid mixer a gift. I’ll go into all the thousands of reasons I love my Kitchenaid another day, but I will say one of those reasons is ICE CREAM MAKER ATTACHMENT.

No, you don’t need a KitchenAid to make ice cream. You don’t even need an expensive ice cream maker. I’ve seen them on special for as little as $30. Keep an eye out at those sales.

They’re a handy little toy to have in the kitchen. I will be adding a couple of posts in the near future that go into more detail so far as ice cream making is concerned, including recipes that don’t always need a specialty machine.

This recipe is a Mandy-altered version of one that came courtesy of KitchenAid. It’s delicious. And full-on.

The richest, most decadent chocolate ice cream you’re ever likely to spoil yourself with. And it’s far easier to make than you might imagine…

What You Need:

• 600ml of thickened cream
• 300ml full-fat milk (sorry, but there’s just no point going skim when you’re doing this one…)
• 300g of best quality dark cooking chocolate, roughly chopped. Best quality means best quality. You need a minimum of 60% cocoa. Trust me on this. I’ve tried to cheat. It doesn’t work. At all.
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract. In a perfect world, this means pure vanilla extract. I didn’t have that this time, so used the artificial stuff.
• 4 egg yolks.
• 155 grams of caster sugar.

How It’s Done:

I’ve made this dozens of times now, and except for the time I used cheap chocolate buds, it’s never failed me. The one thing I always do before beginning is to have all my ingredients ready and lined up on the bench. That means sugar weighed, eggs separated.

Step One: Place cream, milk and chocolate into a large metal bowl over a saucepan containing simmering water. Be really careful not to let any water or steam come into contact with your chocolate or it will seize. Cook cream, milk and chocolate over a low heat, stirring occasionally until it comes together as a smooth mixture.

Step Two: I use a wire whisk on my Kitchenaid for this step, but you could use any electric mixer. Place the chocolate mixture into a large bowl and allow to cool for about 10 minutes. On a low-medium speed, begin to mix. Add the vanilla, egg yolks (one at a time) and sugar. Once all ingredients are added, mix for one further minute. Remove the mixture and place in the refrigerator to chill for around half an hour. I’ve been known to leave it at this step overnight.

Step Three: The churning bit. With most ice cream makers, there’s a special bowl that needs to be frozen to use. The principal is that they’re hollow and filled with a liquid that freezes solid. I keep mine in the freezer all the time it’s not in use. That way, it’s ready when I need it, rather than having to think 24 hours in advance. The most common mistake when making homemade ice cream is not having this bowl sufficiently frozen.

I try to make sure my chilled chocolate mixture is in a bowl that’s easy to pour from, just to try and cut down on the mess factor. Following your ice cream maker’s instructions, turn the machine on and slowly pour in the chocolate mix. Churn for around 25 or 30 minutes – obviously this will vary between machines. The KitchenAid starts to make a ‘clicking’ noise as the ice cream rises up the paddle, letting you know when it’s ready. At this point, your ice cream will be more like a soft serve than anything you can scoop, so it really needs to go back in the freezer – covered – for about two hours. For the recipe I’m making later in the week, I froze mine in a square slice tin.

Enjoy with strawberries, raspberries or simple whipped cream.

*It’s important to eat your chocolate ice cream within four days due to the raw egg factor.

Aura Borealis from See Steal Style Magazine blogs about beautiful Pamela Mann hosiery and why it’s the best.

From pop starlets Nina Nesbitt, to Little Minx’s Jesy Nelson, the Pamela Mann Hosiery company is a favourite among celebrities, blogging fashionistas and the everyday girl alike. Previously known as Nylon Hosiery Company, Pamela Mann was founded in 1956 and despite going through many changes, has upheld it’s status as one of the most innovative and up-to-date hosiery companies in fashion.

All the products are humanely produced and sourced in Italy and hand finished in Britain.  The staff at Pamela Mann work closely with the factories in Italy, producing sample after sample to get the perfect finish. All products go through a development stage, with no single product bought ‘off the rack’.

The company was awarded the Queen’s Award for Industry and Queen’s Award for Export in 1993, where Princess Anne visited the companies offices to present the prestigious awards and enjoyed meeting the staff and the accompanying tour.

Recently, they have also become a new contender for the British department store, with their classic styles and coveted collection in partnership with the world famous Moulin Rouge, which has proved popular amongst a whole new market.

To date, Pamela Mann has shipped out around 144 million units in total and with hundreds of styles available for purchase, the brand shows no signs of slowing down.

Pamela Mann Australia

Here at the Escape Club we are super excited to tell you that we’re going to be partnering with UK ‘zine, See Steal Style for fashion and health and beauty content. You’ll also be seeing some of our reviews on their site.

Meet the editor of See Steal Style!

23 year old Aura Borealis is a writer, fashion journalist and former pageant queen. She previously competed at the Miss Princess World pageant and is currently  lead editor of the online fashion magazine See Steal Style. Asides from writing fashion features, Aura is also a keen novelist and pens Young Adult fantasy fiction in her spare time. 

See Steal Style is a brand-new online magazine founded by writer Aura Borealis. Launched in late 2013 with a primary focus on fashion, the contemporary magazine also features articles on beauty, culture, technology and art, as well as exclusive interviews from a wide variety of artists, designers, creators and cultural innovators.

SEE:INNOVATION-CULTURE-ART

See Steal Style was created with the aim to promote creative talent both new and established, to engage them with their audience and to inspire each individual reader.

STEAL:TECH-TRAVEL-LIFESTYLE

Inspiration is everywhere, but with so much information circulating in media and fighting for your attention, how do you know who provides genuine quality? See Steal Style aims to curate the best content from around the world, allowing you to choose which items and brands will steal your heart and become part of who you are.

STYLE: FASHION-BEAUTY-DESIGN

You’ll be busting at the seams with daily inspiration, free from celebrity gossip or updates about Z-listers. That’s a promise. We welcome you to explore the site and hope you’ll find something to inspire you.