Land of the future... SILICON VALLEY

They say American is the land where dreams come true, where everything is possible. But also is the land of the brave and the hardworking, so everybody is looking for their dreams, pursuing happiness and success and all what they need is an idea. Who doesn't want to be a millionaire? Or a successful businessman able to afford the rest of their life? So while the fight begins in America there is a place where things are happing these days, an area where the most promising new companies come to create the new next best thing and bring a new idea that anyone had yet and will fun fill that open niche in the market and launch a new brand that will become a popular sensation and a new part of our lives. You just need to have an idea, be able to perform it, be successful and the best at it and find the money to invest in it and make it happen. Sounds easy right? well is not. And we are about to embark in that journey that is happening right on the west coast, at the "Silicon Valley" (2014-current), a place in the San Francisco bay area where all the new tech companies are located and new projects are being develop to bring to the market the new thing that will turn every system on and will change social behavior. But also is a tv show that in a comedy tone takes us to the experience and the full journey of being part of a team that is fighting to bring their idea to the world, make it real and be the best at it.

That's how we meet Richard Hendricks, a program/software engineer that has a platform that he has invented and that is able to transform everything that is out there. His product promises to revolution any other existent product and become a new one and the best. But in order to put it out in the world he would need some help because in order to create a business you have to make business so he needs the money and some guidance through this process because e has no clue and no experience. Unfortunately the big sharks of the Valley have notices his talent and confirm that he has a great product that will get their own in risk so if you can't beat the enemy keep it closer, thats why the two big corporations, think on something like Microsoft and Apple, want him in their team and want to invest in his idea. But he is not alone, he has two friends and programers that are helping him developing this platform and making it accesible and building it the way it need to, so can become the product they are promising to see, Gilfoyle and Dinesh, other two peculiar characters that as engineers can hold back but compite and make fun of each other as a way to express how they like each other but also feeling threatened by the other's talent so just being dudes hanging in the same room, will make the other as uncomfortable as possible. So once this small team is ready and set up to start creating and building this project is time to settle and start it.

That's where people start showing up trying to take advantage of the situation, so is the case of Erich, a kind of a loser guy that has a strong personality able to intimidate and easy to talk so he can negotiate giving you no option but to agree with him, offering them his house that serves as a start up incubator in the Valley, that of course will give him some stocks in the promising millionaire company, so from here now he will be the voice of a promising talent that as a geek and introvert brilliant mind would need to sell his idea and fight for the rights of it. And finally a new addition will show up, Jared, a total nerd, as talented in business and management as the rest of the team in programming, that admiring Richard's product and personality ask to join as advisor and project planner bringing some balance to a group of engineerings that now a lot about systems but not about business and management. So now that the team is set up and ready to go, things are just about to got messy, and not just because they are such a group of geeks with lot of pop culture knowledge but lack of social skills, but everybody out there is willing to take them down as a competition, and steal their idea and build a similar product so they can be the first in the market and get the more attention.

Supposedly based on a real life experience from an engineer in the Valley, the new HBO sit com is sell as comedy based on the funny and ridiculous situations this group of guys keep getting in to and mostly not because they want to but because life is unexpected and when you are swimming in open sea when u don't even know how to swim can become into a real nightmare and even kill you. While trying to protect their product and with all faith on it, they will fight till the end to make it happen and put it out there as a market product, they just need the money to building it and make it real. And even when they keep proving their product is legit and the best that can be offered, getting the money is as hard as win a war without guns, and this guys are willing to sell their should to the devil in order to get what they need to succeed. Fortunately they will meet Monica, a young assistant for a millionaire tech guru that is willing to invest on them and she will guide them though this rough waters. And sometimes you will want to cry but mostly you will laughing out loud with all the bunch of situations these guys are getting in to learning how to transform an idea into a product and making any possible mistake in the process just to find the right answer back in the cover when needed.

So for all of us, watching these journey that feels so real but too far, is just fascinating how simple and complicated things can be and realizing that that's exactly how life turns to be, making things hard when we are fighting for something and we all share that dream of being successful and why not?, millionaire in a capitalism world, to innovate and transcend through an idea that serves like our unborn child, and will impact society in general until a new idea pops out. With an assertive scripts that is full of funny but incoherent lines that sound like someone is high but also feel as real as any of our friends are when getting drunk, making all kind pop culture references and being as incoherent as bold possible but at the end is just a bunch of guys trying to find their way through, learning on the process, becoming stronger, more confident and facing their fears as underdogs in a society where the best looking and the most popular get the best opportunities and the girl, these group of dudes that are not only nerds, but geeks  and also real dudes with opinions and strong personalities while trying to hide their own insecurities, using drugs for it and hiding behind the computer just as any other dude you probably know but is your brain and your talent what will define you and most important, how will you use it that will make the difference and stand by yourself in a land of the free and the home of the brave turns to be ruled by the biggest, strongest and wealthier. Fight for your dreams and be you as imperfect as we all are, just normal people trying to survive and make it big.

Life is full of surprises...MAGGIE'S PLAN

Usually ether are two ways to go in life: either you can choose put you life in hands of destiny and let it guide you through it, being surprised by the turns life will have for you, and you just enjoying the ride and taking life as it comes, or you can be on the planning side, where you like to have control of things, organizing every step on the way and when things go on different ways, because they will, making a stop to plan the next move. But wish life would be as simple as that, but sadly for some and fortunately for others, it is not. Life is full of surprises and the lesson this time is that no on a has total control over it, sometimes you need to just let it be and enjoy the ride and accept the fact that will be some twists or realize that others you'll need to take control of it, be responsable of your decisions and plan and guide your life the way you expect it to be or through some direction that looks better for you. And if you still not a believer then i have some answers for you and it's called "Maggie's Plan" (2016), a new indie film that moves toward comedy more than drama but definitely has some a long the way just as life is and even doesn't take it too seriously while showing you some mysterious ways that life likes to take to play with human emotions and feelings, specially when we are trying to be racional through emotional moments or be too emotional when taking decisions.

This is the story of Maggie, a young teacher that after being raised by a lovely mom and after being successful at her career, teaching and with a PhD, she realizes that she doesn't need a man in her life to become a mom and do the same that she had and raised a child by her own after realized that all guys are some kind of dicks these days. So she makes an agreement with another young guy, a mathematician that looks more like a hipster but own a successful business of organic pickles that she loves, and agrees to donate sperm to her with no involvement to rise the kid. So this works perfect according to her plan. But wait, she didn't planned that in the meantime she'll meet another professor that is suffering from a meltdown in his marriage, being shadowed by his wife, another successful writer, so after some kind of confusion, life twists, they start sharing some of their work and personal stuff getting closer to each other. But what looks like the perfect timing for romance it's not who she is finally truing to get pregnant and the new professor confesses his love for her.

Time passes and they are married and had a kid. She helps him with his other children from his first marriage and now she is being a supportive wife, the opposite of what he had before, so now he is the one out of the shadow and it's been self involved and seems like a different person from the guy that she fall for, and lesson learned, that's why people date, so they get to know each other, not just assuming that because there was a connection it will match perfectly, or because we share some personal stuff or professional views that make two people a good fit for each other. There is a lot more to be aware of. We tend to overthink when comes to relationships as arrange marriages. Assuming is all about a connection when this comes in different forms, like just physical attraction or professional success, or family values, shared goals, and truth is, we need a mix of all, balance, a little bit of this and a bit of that so we can make it work in the long run. So when Maggie realizes these after 3 years trapped in a marriage with a kid and a husband we doesn't recognize anymore she has an idea, a new plan for her life: she needs to reconnect her husband with her ex wife, because they seem perfect for each other, and they are not, it just seemed like that because the timing but not in real life, so makes a plan and start trying to get them together, until they go on a same trip out of the country and spend some time together and after drinks and some honest conversation they realize the spark is still there.

We as humans evolve, we are not the same every few years because circumstances make us adapt and we learn from experience for bad or good, we get though, or stronger, or emotional, we revaluate priorities and we get closer or distance from others because everyone's needs, things can't be always the same so we need to learn to identify why things are happening and why we thinking or feeling that way for now. Sometimes we are selfish and self involved seeking success or any validation that each of us as individual need to keep going, some are pursuing professional success, others popularity, some others love, or respect or friendships, or money, or power, or accomplish goals from a check list but for sure everybody is looking for something, so it is important to identify what is that you are looking for and what the people that cross paths are looking, because as we are all some kind of connected and we live in a society that determines most of our actions we tend to use others intentionally or unconsciously to achieve those things, that's why sometimes we see so many couples that we don't understand how come are they together if since other perspectives they don't seem right for each other, but happens that in their own bubble they are a good fit, maybe not the right one but definitely they fit, for example one can be anxious so the other brings the calm and peace that the other needs, or someone is emotional unstable but the other is too insecure that believes that will change and be the one that is looking for, so both match, not for the right things but at the end works out.

That's what Maggie, will figure out and learn, that even she is trying to have all control in her life and make things to happen for her and everybody in her life, she is no one to manipulate them and just have to learn to things be the way they are supposed to be and she need to focus in what she need and what she really needs more than what she wants. And even all this sounds too serious and perfectly right for an award nominee drama, this should be an award nominee comedy because the characters are so well defined and the script is so well written that every line feels as real and funny as any fart, and will make you root for any of these beloved characters and their search for love while looking as normal as any neighbor of yours or any person that you have met before, because we all have made some bad decisions and we all are looking for something and we all have a plan, at least in our minds but these New Yorkers, performed for a great cast that includes Ethan Hawk, Julianne Moore, Greta Gerwig and new comer Travis Fimmel  will show us that is not a big city thing but a life thing to get trapped in the search for happiness and achieve goals while meeting people and trying to connect with them, but sometimes and most of them, the right person cross our path several times, it;s just us the blind ones not being able to identify it because we  are so invested on following the plan, afraid of being distracted, but life works in mysterious ways, so all we need is to learn how to identify them and we'll be able to follow the clues for better plans and decisions and still be surprised along the way and there's someone out there for you, they just come in shapes and forms different that what we planned to be, we just need to open our eyes to see the real connection and they will take form of that other half we've been looking for, because life is full of surprises, so just be open to be surprised and stop be a control freak or free spirit, balance is key and this comedy is one really well done that you don't want to miss it.

FRANCO vs HEMSWORTH... Warm games!

Dicen que el talento se hereda, pero a veces es una bendición mientras otras puede ser una maldicion. Este mes, enfrentamos a dos hermanos menores de un par de los actores mas talentosos, taquilleros o posicionaros en la industria fílmica actual, los Franco y los Hemsworth. Siendo el hermano mas pequeño de una familia bohemia y artística pero prominente en los negocios, poco se espera de David John Franco, nacido en Palo Alto, California un 12 de Junio de 1985, hijo de  una poeta, escritora y editora y un hombre de negocios del Silicon Valley y siendo su hermano mayor otro actor y celebridad de Hollywood quien lo guiaría travez del proceso de cambiar de carrera, cuando en la universidad se veía como un maestro de escritura creativa, a la actuación, la cual por fortuna tenia como opción mas fácil una vez que este le abriría las puertas y conexiones para empezar a abrirse camino por su talento mientras muchos otros tienen que luchar y tocar miles de puertas para conseguir una oportunidad. No Para Dave, quien en 2006, a tan solo 21 primaveras, logra su primer rol en television y que lo llevaría a otra serie de pequeñas apariciones en varias series televisivas.

Con el peculiar carisma de su familia y un notorio parecido a su hermano mayor, el actor de ascendencia Portuguesa y Sueca da el brinco a la pantalla grande via "Superbad" (2007), una comedia sobre dos adolescentes y mejores amigos buscando perder su virginidad mientras se convierten en los chicos cool del barrio mientras valoran su amistad y dan el paso de adolescentes a hombres. La cinta es protagonizada por Michael Cera y Jonah Hill, dos buenos amigos y parte del circulo social de James, el hermano de Dave, y tras el éxito en critica y taquilla de la cinta era de esperarse mas del grupo de jóvenes actores involucrados. Mientras tanto el actor continua buscando construir una carrera por sus propios méritos via la pantalla chica, por lo cual se integra al popular sit com de la cadena ABC "Scrubs" (2001-2010) mas a esa altura la serie ya iba en caída al agotarse el encanto por esta comedia sobre jóvenes pasantes de medicina y sus desventuras en las salas de cirugía.

Allá en el lejano Melbourne, Australia, en 1990 hijo de una maestra de ingles y un consultor de servicios sociales, y siendo el menor de tres hermanos, Luke y Chris, Liam Hemsworth asegura que a pesar de que aveces compiten por los mismos papeles, siempre existe ese respeto y amor de hermanos que no quita el hecho de que sean competitivos, razón por la cual en 2009 se mudo a los EU junto a su hermano Chris en busca de una oportunidad para su carrera. que en ese entonces incluía algunas telenovelas australianas y filmes británicos. Siendo su primer oportunidad en Norte America una pequeña participación en el film "Knowing" (2009), interpretando a un estudiante de MIT en una historia apocalíptica sobre un hombre descifrando una secuencia de catastróficos eventos que parecen delinear lo que sera el fin del mundo lo cual funciono para el actor ya que la cinta tuvo un buen éxito en taquilla lo cual lo llevo a audicionar para el papel del super héroe Thor para perderlo en manos de su hermano, mas no todo fue malas noticias ya que el estudio le ofreció el rol protagónico de su siguiente proyecto dirigido a adolescentes, la cinta "The Last Song" (2010), basada en la novela homónima de Nicholas Sparks interpretando al interés amoroso de una joven tratando de reconectar con su padre durante el verano. El éxito del escritor y la popularidad de Miley Cirus como protagonista hizo de esta un éxito de taquilla, mas no para la critica.

Durante la filmación de la cinta, el joven actor inicia una tórrida relación con la actriz-cantante, quien lo lleva a protagonizar uno de sus videos musicales para terminar meses después dejándolo con el corazón roto y con notas amarillentas sobre su relación en todas las revistas. La suma de todo esto pone al joven actor bajo la lupa de la industria del entretenimiento, que para 2012 lo llevaría a formar parte de uno de los triángulos amorosos mas representativos de esta década, en la adaptación fílmica de popular novela "The Hunger Games" (2012), una historia ubicada en un futuro donde los jóvenes son enfrentados a muerte en un duelo o juego para controlar los distintos rangos de la nación y recordar el porque tras violencia es que llegaron a ese catastrófico punto hasta que una joven rebelde mostrara lo contrario, y Liam interpretara al mejor amigo #amorplatonico de la protagonista. Obviamente la cinta fue un éxito colosal en taquilla y critica que dio luz verde inmediata al resto de la series: "Catching Fire" (2013), "Mockingjay Part 1"(2014) y "Mockingjay Part 2" (2015), las cuales cuentan en episodios la lucha de la joven rebelde contra la institución y el gobierno creador de dichos juegos y sistema mientras lucha por su sobrevivencia y encuentra el amor en el transcurso.

A su vez Franco, una vez cancelada la serie, logra colarse un pequeño papel en una cinta protagonizada por otro amigo y contemporáneo actor, "Charlie St. Cloud" (2010), una historia donde un joven interpretado por Zac Efron, pierde a su hermano menor en un accidente y tendrá que aprender a lidiar con su duelo y carga moral para continuar su vida. Desgraciadamente el drama no aporto nada que no se haya visto antes y tanto melodrama no capto la atención de la jóvenes llevándola al olvido. En 2011, forma parte del elenco del popular remake de la comedia de terror "Friday Night", protagonizada por Colin Farrell interpretando a un vampiro viviendo en los suburbios y que llama la atención de su joven vecino quien trata de enfrentarlo hasta que su novia se ve involucrada. Con un pequeño rol como un bully estudiante que se convertirá en víctima y vampiro, logro llamar la atención como promesa del año acorde a varias publicaciones como la revista Vanity.

Incrementando su popularidad el joven Dave se cuela en otro remake, ahora de la comedia de acción "21 Jump Street" (2012), la cual fue un éxito sorpresivo, protagonizada por Channing Tatum y Jonah Hill, como dos detectives fracasados asignados a un caso en la preparatoria donde deberán fungir como estudiantes para filtrarse con los nerds y los chicos populares, entre ellos, Dave, quien resulta ser el dealer de una nueva y poder droga, mientras los cliches sobre la jerarquía en las escuelas han evolucionado a una nueva era, los protagonistas aprenderán mas de si mismos y de ambos como equipo. Gozando de un buen momentum, participa en "Warm Bodies" (2013), la adaptación cinematográfica de la novela YA sobre un zombie que se enamora de una joven humana quien lo ayudara a sentirse humano nuevamente mientras se re define el concepto de enamorarse en tiempos difíciles, e interpretando al ex novio de la joven protagonista, un joven que sigue los pasos del padre de ella, el líder de la comunidad contra los zombies y que tras ser comido por el zombie protagonista le permitira conocer mas de ella atreves de los recuerdos que compartir mientras su cerebro es comido.

Ya como una figura reconocida, Liam se cuela en el multi estelar elenco de la cinta de acción "The Expendables 2" (2012), una secuela a la popular reunion de renegadas luchando unidos por derrocar a un villano mas poderoso que todos ellos. En esta ocasión el elenco incluye ademas de al joven Hemsworth, a Stallone, Jason Stathman, Jet Li, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, entre otros que por supuesto llevaron a la cinta a una excelente taquilla superando la original mas el éxito se debe al conjunto involucrado mas que a la cinta por si misma. Su siguiente proyecto lo regresa al drama romántico con "Love and Honor" (2013), donde protagoniza a lado de la actriz Theresa Palmer, también Australiana, en una historia sobre dos soldados que se toman un tiempo para regresar a buscar a la novia de uno de ellos, la cual resulta ser ahora una activista en contra de la guerra, por lo que ambos se harán pasar por detractores hasta que sea tiempo de regresar a su servicio. desgraciadamente la cinta paso sin pena ni gloria.

Meses después forma parte del elenco protagónico de "Now You see Me" (2014), una cinta sobre ladrones ilusionistas que con sus giros de tuerca ogro convertirse en un éxito sorpresa de ese verano e interpretando al mas joven del grupo, un ilusionista aficionado maestro en las cartas y que a su vez servirá como el sex appeal del grupo que busca hacer méritos para unirse a una secta de magos de alto nivel. Prestando su voz, se une al elenco multi estelar de la cinta animada "The Lego Movie" (2014), una sátira sobre varios géneros fílmicos en la búsqueda de un individuo común y corriente por salvar su mundo mientras muestra un poco de la realidad del nuestro. Y finalmente ese mismo año lo vimos en otro éxito de taquilla, la comedia "Neighbors", sobre una pareja que ve a una fraternidad mudarse a la casa de a lado y con ello el caos de tener a jóvenes de fiesta todo el día, y enfrentarse en una batalla de generaciones, y el actor interpretando al segundo a bordo de dicha fraternidad, que lucha por mantenerse cool mientras se la pasa de fiesta con sus amigos.

Confiando en el posible iman taquillero del joven Liam, protagoniza la cinta "Paranoia" (2013), un thriller sobre un joven que es manipulado para espiar a un millonario y su prolífica tech company para robar sus ideas para la competencia mientras se enamora de la directora de mercadotecnia de la competencia. Obviamente tanto cliche y sin nada nuevo que aportar al genero y sin generar suspenso suficiente a pesar del talento involucrado de los actores Harrison Ford y Gary Oldman pudo salvar la cinta de terribles criticas y una casi nula taquilla. Desgraciadamente la mala suerte o su mal tino para escoger proyectos lo llevaría a "Empire State" (2013), otro thriller sobre un guardia de seguridad que trata de detener a dos jóvenes amigos que buscan robar un camion blindado. Que nuevamente ni el talento involucrado de Emma Roberts y Dwayne Johnson la salvaron de irse directo a video y "Cut Bank" (2014), otro thriller con un gran elenco como Teresa Palmer, Billy Bob Thornton y John Malkovich salvaron que este thriller tuviera una limita corrida comercial y prácticamente pasara desapercibido para todos.

Por si no fuera poco, Franco por su lado hace una breve cameo en la secuela "22 jump street" (2014), re interpretando su papel de la primera, desafortunadamente esta vez, la historia se traslada a la universidad y no goza del mismo recibimiento en taquilla a pesar del apoyo de la critica, algo inusual para una secuela y una comedia. En 2015 protagoniza a lado de Vince Vaughn la comedia "Unfinished Business" sobre un hombre que es despedido de una exitosa compañia por lo que buscara abrir la suya propia contratando a un hombre retirado y a un joven interno como sus empleados y unidos los tres buscaran cerrar negocios antes que la competencia los opaque y de paso demostrarse que todos tenemos un talento oculto, solo necesitamos el empuje necesario para alcanzarlo. Este 2016 nuevamente lo veremos bastante y e varias secuelas, la primera, la de la comedia "Neighbors 2: Sorority Raising", donde ahora es una hermandad de jóvenes quienes se mudan a la casa de a lado, pero el papel de Franco es ahora el de un exitoso joven gay que se encuentra comprometido y viviendo con su novio mientras su mejor amigo esta atrapado en la búsqueda de su futuro y esta nueva hermandad que le recuerda sus buenos tiempos en la fraternidad, con sus hermanos y amigos.

En 2015 Liam aparece en "The Dressmaker", a lado de Kate Winslet, un melodrama australiano basado en la novela homónima, sobre una popular y excéntrica diseñadora de vestidos que regresa a su pueblo natal para hacerse cargo de su lisiada madre explorando temas como la venganza y la creatividad, una extraña mezcla aunada a una maquina de coser. La cinta no se estreno comercialmente en Norte America lo cual limito su taquilla. Mas sin embargo, este mes lo veremos en la anticipada secuela "Independence Day" Resurgence" (2016), retomando la historia 20 años después de la invasion y ataque extraterrestre que destruyo las ciudades mas importantes del mundo. Ahora con un avance tecnológico mayor extraído de los invasores, la humanidad se siente mas preparada para otro posible ataque y el actor interpreta a un talentoso y rebelde piloto que se vera atrapado en la acción por tratar de salvar a los suyos, mas al parecer ni la critica ni la audiencia están ansiosos por ver lo que os depara en esta ocasión y este podría ser un punto determinante en el futuro de la carrera del actor que pareciera no poder despegar cargando proyectos bajo su nombre o como el posible man taquillero de su hermano, quien en esta ocasión pareciera opacarlo mas que ayudarlo, ni ha llegado la oportunidad de probar su talento, si es que lo hay, y esto lo veremos este mas también en "The Duel" (2016), un western co protagonizado a lado de Woody Harrelson, ubicado en el lejano Texas y la investigación en un poblado sobre varios casos de locales desaparecidos y un sacerdote que pareciera estarlos manipulando. No suena a un gran reto para el actor y el hecho de una limitada corrida comercial no es buen augurio pero ya veremos que le depara a este joven actor que cada día vive mas en la sombra de su hermano mayor.

A Franco por su lado, este mes lo vimos en la secuela "Now You See me 2" (2016), donde el grupo de ilusionistas sigue su lucha por alcanzar el nivel deseado para formar parte de la secta llamada El Ojo, lo cual los pondrá en medio de una batalla entre el FBI y otros magos buscando venganza y en esta ocasión su personaje se encontrara con la posibilidad de un romance. El proximo mes lo veremos en "Nerve" (2016), un thriller sobre dos jóvenes que se envistan en una competencia online que los empujara a hacer cosas extremas para poder ganar un millón de dólares, sin contar con que sus vidas se pondrán en riesgo en cierto punto y sin opción para salirse del juego pero que busca reflejar el efecto en las nuevas generaciones de la cultura online y como su efecto esta delineando sus vidas, mientras que para unos puede ser una oportunidad o ventaja para expresar sus ideas o darse a notar para otros puede ser una herramienta para auto destruirse o aislarse. Así que después de esta serie de filmes podremos determinar si el actor esta por colarse como una nueva celebridad de la industria con una base de fans que lo identifican por su talento mas allá de su apellido así como demostrar si es capaz de dar el brinco de cintas comerciales a filmes mas independientes y proyectos mas riesgosos tal como lo hace ahora su hermano mayor y demostrar que su talento va mas allá de su atractivo físico y carisma, y posicionarse dentro de las caras frescas de esta generación. Pero por lo pronto no lo pierden de vista ya que por seguro pasaran un buen momento a su lado.

Me Before You ... and how others have an impact in all of us

Ok, if you ready and in the mood for romance and drama that will get yours tears come out like rain, this is definitely a story that you need to experience in the big screen. Also happens that is the new adaptation from a best selling novel that after stealing the hearts of an entire base of readers is willing to do the same with moviegoers from around the globe to tell a story, again, of two individuals, that have nothing in common and ended falling for each other. So if that sounds like everything we've seen before, why got so popular? Basically because the story of this two strangers relates more in so many levels to ordinary people like you and me than all of those rom-coms that pretend to emulate love as a tv commercial where happiness and love will happen as formulaic as any recipe from your grandma's book. But this book is called "Me Before You" (2016), and tells the love story of Louisa and Will, two young guys united by circumstances that definitely worked as a perfect bad timing to meet each other but if the contrary that would have never happened and proving that in matters of love is all about chemistry and a connection beyond just physical attraction but feeling happy and loved, accepted and supported what get us closer to others.

The story begins when Will, a wealthy, handsome and successful young man, living the life that he always wanted: taking care of the family business that happened to be big, that big that happens to be related to the royal family in the UK, and also traveling around the world as a fan of extreme sports and surrounded by beautiful woman. Until one day his life changes after being hit by a motorcycle turning him into quadriplegic, sending him back with his parents, to their castle in  small town out of London and attached to a wheel chair and his new adapted home. As expected he is not the same person. He has become into cynic and humorless person taking it out with any person in the room just to take his frustrations out and fighting one day at a time through depression and just seeing life going on through his window until a young girl, that happened to be looking for a job, trying to help her unemployed father to support the entire family, so she ends taking a job as a care taker unknowing what she is getting herself into, and without ay previous experience about it, but she really needs this and the money is very good so as optimistic as she is can't refuse this opportunity that will only turn her happy life into a miserable one as her new employer will make her life a living hell.

So the cards are set in the table. Two opposites placed in the same room. One as happy and optimistic as any cartoon for kids entertainment and the other as sad and hopeless as any old man facing death after losing everything. He will try to break her down and she will try to bring him up. And won't be until she finally makes him laugh that he will take his guard down and let her in, sharing some likes in pop culture that will introduce her into a new unknown world for her that she as hungry for life and learning and experiencing new things will devour gladly. And it's this fascination that she exposes for all this new world the will turn him in touch with his feeling and some hope about sharing a bit of his life with someone else, just to realize that life can't be that miserable when someone makes you day by joking and making you having a fun time but mostly proving that they really care about you and people are willing to help you, to show you that even things might be different they still love you and will be many options to enjoy life even with pain and some limitations but surrounded by love and the one that you love the most. But how much will this matter when the life that you wanted for yourself can't be anymore and won't be an option anymore? Is it worth to settle and accept things the way they are now and try to enjoy this new life that is offering to you or just give up to the fact that the things you love the most and the self you'll always want to become can't happen?

This is when this romance turns into different levels as we said at the beginning. Because these two lovers, they are not seeking for love. She has a boyfriend and even is not the right guy for her, they've been in a long term relationship and seems like working for both until she meets Will and starts opening her eyes to a new world that she didn't know but is changing her, and same for him, he had a girlfriend that pushed away after feeling not worthy for her in this new situation. He can't love anyone because he doesn't love himself anymore. But he will change after meeting her and realize how deep she is getting into him and how she is becoming the only reason to wake up and fight for another day when all he wants is to give up. He used to date models and gorgeous women were fighting over him. He was popular and desired. Nw he can't offer anything to a woman. No love, no sex, no seduction. He is losing his manhood. So he would never looked after a girl like Louise, so goofy and unique, beautiful in her own way, embracing fashion in her own style. But it's that unique personality the one that will get into his skin and show him that life and love has many shades and meanings, so thing and chemistry work in different ways proving that not always what matter is what you see. She's willing to do whatever it takes for him, willing to accept what he could never give her because what they have is strong enough to fight for but even he feels the same way can't be selfish and his own desire to just give up will make him stand back and fight against his feelings.

So things get more complicated than just couple issues but facing life and death as Will is willing to end his life. He has no desire to continue this fight. He has no hope to face reality as he knows now. His frustration after losing the life that he loved and without any possibility of getting it back, make seem like anything else won't be enough and if you not happy with yourself no one will make you, so once she knows ad faces this reality, shaking her feeling for him she will try to make him change his mind trying to prove him and show him a glimpse of a new life, the possibility of enjoying pleasures that he can still access and enjoy and might make change his mind about giving up. But a life with someone that loves you, and the possibility of pretend to have a normal life can shadow the fact that is not the one you want for yourself and that intention or mirror of a normal life won't be that normal once that limitations start to show up and will make you feel powerless, useless, needy, dependent to mention some. Then all romance will face out and reality will hit you, but is all these facts enough to decide to end your life or there are no excuses or facts that can be used as a good statement to take that decision? Is it love that powerful, worth to fight for even if will push to fight yourself or that same love but for yourself will make things simple and just take the easy exit? The arguments that can define a line between those two options are so strong and thin at the same time that probably until anyone experience that situation by their own could find the answers but still moral always will be present and when you are witnessing a love story happening will definitely push some sensitive buttons and topics on the table.

POPSTAR: Never Stop Never Stopping... while you LOL

So any one who has been or is part of the entertainment industry will deny what the next movie is trying to prove or expose but if you ever met someone famous, someone that is a public figure and has some popularity you will totally get this parade not only about an industry that pursues people as they vehicle for business, exposing them into stardom in order to be devoted and those fans will be willing to spend any amount of money to have any excuse to get closer to their idols , but also to create icons in the pop culture that will define the rest ordinary moments into something bigger than them and not always is about their talent but all you need is some charisma, good looks or just good timing so everybody notices you and give u a chance to prove them what u made of and what you have to offer, so only then you will become popular. and everybody knows about popularity because either you were one of them at high school, or you were hanging with them or always wanted to be with or like them. Devoted for the rest. Craving for attention. and the kind of attention is addictive. Once that you taste is no way back, is a kind of power that consumes you and makes you want more until you won't realize whats going on and the person who have become. Until then you have become a "POPSTAR: never stop, never stopping" (2016).

From the creative minds of Adam Samberg and his two old college friends, comes the story or better said, sequel of this character created back in their Saturday Night Live sketches a.k.a SNL. And this is the story of Connor, a now solo artist that after his original boys band got apart, pursue a career as a  pop singer achieving a point of celebrity thanks to the great reviews of his first album. The one that put him in the charts and had everybody talking about him. His songs transform the industry. They were played everywhere and now are called classics because were able to touch masses and make them feel. But what means for real to change the industry, when the same industry is constantly looking to be changed, and seeking for a new revolutionary twist that will bring another ten options in similar ways to make more money, create a cycle and then get tired until a new one comes and re invented again. Music is like a reflection of human life. It moves in circles. All follow by phases were everyone can classified their lives defined by moments that transcend and stays with us of the rest of our lives. We keep evolving but at the same time in the core or the basics we are the same just adapting to our new circumstances. Music is the same just evolves through times where some tunes are more popular than other depending the circumstances of the public worldwide.

So what happens once that you made it through and finally got your breakthrough  album? Then you get paid. And by paid means you get million just to be the new selling point of an industry and they will use you as a personal agenda to take all what is possible and make it commercial. After your album that is just the introduction, you will make public appearances, then you will go on a tour. And all your fans will be following you, spending money on you, talking about you. And you? you will become more than a person, you will be a celebrity, a popstart, or a moviestar, or an icon of your generation, where you'll be devoted as an artist by your fans that will love whatever you do and perform. But is not about the critics raving or hating your new production, or the anchorman using you to make fun of you in from of a live audience, or the magazines selling any kind of gossip about your private life but you, you will be the only one capable of keep yourself on top or bring all your career and success down by losing yourself. Never forget what are you made of what brought you here. That's your talent, that what made you who you are and most important, made you unique, different and talented. So when you start acting like a diva, like a duche, proving that you have no talent and everything that happened was just a mix of luck and connections, then even your most loyal fans will question their devotion for you and will turn back seeking for a better one that will provide them what they need.

Because at the end you are not important. You are just a product. A product from an industry that manufactures figures to sell in form of music. And that music has to touch others in order to be accesible and likable but if the performer is not won't be music and the connection between the artist and the audience will be lost. And then you are nothing. All what you thing you created will fall. And won't last forever. Because is a cycle. We are humans and live by cycles. And as one of the best metaphors of the movie quotes, this life and career is like a rollercoaster, sometimes you will be up and others down, so you need to be able to realize the up's so you can learn from and be prepare for the down's and be able to survive them otherwise you can go really down and lose everything. And more of your talent comes the one that you get surrounded by the right people because the only way to get to the top is to get around the right people, connections, ideas, team work that when put all together is able to change things and create others. That's the real talent. But if you are able to blind yourself to the pint of pushing all this people away then you are isolating everybody and carving your own grave.

So what's about the movie? well al what we just say and more. Its an hilarious story that exposes this huge industry of entertainment well people are just mere products to create icons and moments that will stuck in others life forever. The only and best way to be introduce into this world is through the sight of a comedy, and making fun all these ridiculous facts that fulfill our lives because only that way we can be able to take a step back and actually realize that we are part of it. We make these people get to that pint. We create them by idolizing them and following them. It's when we see the way all this industry works in such a shallow way, seeking for an artistic level than never comes but in form marketing created for us to be the beat for a comercial trap that is also a need for us to get out from out ordinary lives and seek for something bigger and fantasying with dreams of popularity and fame. Because what connects us other than music, are the same ideals and feeling that we as humans share. And in form of a documentary we will laugh through catch verses and songs that as silly as they sound pretend o prove a point in life and in music but as always we are the ones with the last word.

A country or a lifestyle? ... THE AMERICANS

The best way to analyze something or being analyzed is to take a perspective out of the subject, so if we want to understand a different culture, for example, or get to know someone different from us, we need to experience it and take a step back being able to see and recognize all the differences from in and outside of it. It's hard to make a point or understand it when we are use to it. When we don't know anything else but that. And also we can't compare or criticize it just for being different, we need to understand it and get to know it first to be able to be objective with our own experience to understand two different perspectives. So in order to expose a culture or a way of life nothing works better than an outsider that will sumerge into this new reality and make it his own while struggling to deal with his past and what his new future offers. And since American culture is being thrown out all around the place by entertainment media, all the globe has been witnessing American ideals, traditions, way of life, by the news, movies, tv shows, music, fashion, politics, exposing themselves to the best of the world as trying to become more popular among tourist destinations and to expand business in all different industries. But as we all know, once you put yourself out there some might like it but some others might not, so you get fans and haters.

Lovers will fall for it but haters might want to destroy it. So while we have some american idols in music, movies and tv, there are some haters on politics, economics and life style. So why is that?, well there are many factors but just to mention an example, when trying to create and show your country as the number one in the world, the one that matters while the world is being destroyed by an alien invasion or a world war, but being the only one able to save the day, for fun will be nice to watch but in reality will turn some heads down as politics and economics will question why can't be global and why things have to be one way, since history has proven that everybody body wants to rule the world, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Italy, UK, France, Spain, China, Russia, Germany had tried to colonize the world and set empires, but now is the time for the Americans to get to the top as they been since the second half of last century. "The Americans" (2011-current) is a tv show that serves equally as a thriller show, where a couple of russian spies moved to America in times of the cold war just to infiltrate to  different levels of the main politics and economics of the country trying to get some information to deliver back home in order to help their mother country to win this silence war, but also serves as an intense drama where this couple, figuring their life in a different country and culture get to cover themselves as a real couple, building a real family and raising it, suffering from all what any other family will.

How can you mix  a job where you have to hide and pretend to be someone else without losing yourself so you can actually have a life even if that life isn't supposed to be real? It's all complicated. As a spy your duty and only object is to serve a bigger purpose. You serve your country and as any other soldier, even putting your life first if necessary,  so nothing else matters, so are able to sacrifice family and friends in order to accomplish your targets, but what happen when part of your duties are to raise a family and pretend that this is real to use it as a cove to infiltrate in the system and embrace the culture you are trying to destroy? How can you stop developing feelings or caring about others when this is your life, a life you didn't choose but now is there, and now gave you two kids, of your own but are just part of a bigger plan, and not a one made by choice. How can you not enjoy this new culture when it's your daily basis, and is what you do or need to do every day, has become part of you but you still fighting against it? How can you be part of it without be involved? Is it too complicated to understand?, well imagine how it could be experiencing it.

This is the story of Phillip and Elizabeth, a couple of Russian spies that were couples to be assigned to move to the U.S. in order to infiltrate their system and get all the info possible to the russian government and help them to do the dirty job needed to win this war, a one that was silent, but was happening raising tension and threatening to explode anytime and start a real conflict where nuclear bombs were involve, so the only way to win this is getting as much information as possible and avoiding being caught. So this man and woman, one of the best spies of their country, being pretending to be a real couple, then got married, and then have kids, like any other couple, but they can't get involved because their job will need them to get involved with other people, seducing them , fucking them, killing them, so they can accomplish a mission. But how can you not develop feelings for someone that is your partner in crime and has been there for you for years, saved your life, ad sex with, is the mother or father of your kids and you sleep next to him every night? Well that's actually the real mission and the biggest target of the show. The struggle of having a double life and fight wth the fact of become or being the best at what you do, feel passionate about your job, be able to do what it takes to accomplish what is needed from you but also be a good father, partner, neighbor, a good citizen of two countries, one that demands you and other that embraces you. How can you live a lie big enough that is becoming a reality for you and all the people around you, making that line between reality and fantasy so thin that you can't even notice what is real or not.

How can you stop to develop feelings like love, compassion, jealous, attraction, passion, when you have two kids at home waiting for you and you are trying to raise them as good human beings and citizens of their country but you are killing people and lying to orders in order to get something from them. And while all this drama goes on, and more questions pop out and are drop to the table, also comes the fact that while we are witnessing all this drama about this two individuals, the american culture is been exposed through there eyes, two russian eyes and some other foreign eyes looking to bring down America as a threat of a world that seeks to become the next number one after the old big countries are recovering from a devastated world war. The way Americans behave as individuals, looking out for their passions, trying to achieve goals as part of their personal success and check list, how do they raise their families and interact as neighbors and citizens, their traditions, their relationships, the way the seek for love and embrace it, how good or bad are they at it, it's all exposed from different perspectives, the insiders and the foreigns, and no one is right or wrong, there are no moral discussions, no finger pointing what we should do, or what works better or how to work out wth both, on the contrary, is all just drop there, able to become a subject to study and analyze, a subject for discussion, and everyone can have a different opinion but seeing your culture being naked that way through different eyes definitely will bring some questions and some affirmations and won't be easy to swallow but also can be an eye opener to break the bubble and take some perspective. As said at the beginning it won't be easy and very complicated but will be a fun and intense ride for sure.

The Lobster ... nobody wants to be alone.

What if your life depends on finding your match? The right person that truly belongs to you, the one that will love you the way you are and will be there for you. But if things are about life and death, how would you know if they are there for the right reason? And how could you choose the right one without been misinterpreting your feeling with desperation? Why no one seems to be ok with the fact of being alone and independent? Do we really need someone to spend the rest of our lives? Does love transforms us and makes us a better person or is it just the excitement of finding someone we are attracted to and with whom we can share things in common?. Yes in fact we have talked about love and relationships hundreds of times and most romantic comedies try to prove one point or the other, how love and relationships really affect our lives in ways that sometimes it's defined by them and others are just a casualty that some have the opportunity to experience, but at the end of the day everybody talk about it and in some point wonder about the possibility of finding a match, the right partner or your other half as some romantics like to call but also how about all the benefits of being single and enjoy your time without needing to take other in consideration and be able to make decisions by yourself, letting you enjoy whatever you feel capable of.

Well, how about a movie that finally hits both sides nailing points where everybody has been as single or partnered, and all this questions about love and the mysterious world of relationships. How about a romance that will make you feel and think while also prove to be some kind of funny, cause it's sense of humor is more sarcastic and wicked that you might feel guilty to laugh about it, because everybody has been there, done that, and can feel sometimes like a slap in the face. "The Lobster" (2016), is a new redefined film from the formulaic genre of rom-com's where everything follows a series of cliches or if trying to avoid them miss the point and heart of the movie. Due to it's title, some would be pushed away from the theaters, but this indie project definitely is not for everybody, but realistic and skeptics will be pleased with a story that will serve to prove that love is in indeed in the air but also is a hard work that has no happy ending but an exciting journey that takes times and compromise. So for everybody wondering already what's about it, let's just say that the story centers in a middle aged man, that has lost his wife. But in any other reality this would be the starting point for  a very intense drama, but in this alternative world, people are meant to be coupled. So when someone for any reason loses a companion and becomes single is retired from the city and sent to a hotel that looks more like a prison where would be signed for 45 days of vacation all included.

But those are no vacation, they are a countdown to you final days when if not finding a new match will be executed and transformed into an animal of your option. So our loner here, is no prince and looks more like a married man than as an eligible bachelor, so knowing his circumstances and attributes, so while going through his process of loss decides to choose be turned into a lobster, hence to the title. Why? well cause they are cold blooded, they live for more than 100 years and he really likes the ocean. So once he made up his mind is ready to enjoy this little retirement and with his new friends take advantage of the pleasures of this civilization. But when people start dying, or being transformed, pressure starts building up and without noticing he would feel it and get trapped in this scenario of finding a match before his last day, so without any attractive woman available and refusing to accept all kind of proposals from the old and not very well looking ones, he goes after the only one thats seems acceptable to his eyes even if she represents all what he dislikes, because she is a bitch and heartless woman. But pretending to be also as cold blooded as her, will prove her that they are a match, so he can be saved but as we all know, lies come down at some point so thats like treason, so our hero now is forced to runaway and hide in the woods trying to survive as a loner, but there is a group of loners out there trying to make a live by being independent and avoiding a coupled life.

So, this group has another extreme rules, because as they embrace and seek a life with no attachments, any intention or contact with others in a flirting way will be severely punished. So as life is unpredictable and works in mysterious ways, now that he faces a live of independence and solicitud, he will meet a match, a middle age woman that shares his short vision (because matching in this reality is not about things in common or liking the same stuff, but sharing some attributes) and so it's love at first sight, they both like each other and the more they spend time, the more they realize how good is one for the other. But they are also living in this place where their lives are endanger so they are cautious and learned how to communicate and get along until it becomes very noticeable bringing others attention that will put their love to a test. And so the story goes the more similitudes with anyone's life you'll find. The world of couples is well represented as this pressure that we live from society pushing us to find someone to spend the rest of our lives, and that pressure mostly leaves to make the wrong decisions and ending with the wrong person but that doesn't matter to the rest while you can keep dirty things in secret, or they will create excuses to make it work or keep them together, like children or getting their own place. But when we actually meet a right match things will flow naturally and we'll want to spend more time together, be touching each other.

But also, facing the reality of what means to be single gives more value to the fact of being in a relationships because it's ok to be able to spend time with ourselves, doing whatever we want, getting to know us better, and letting us facing trouble that will make us stronger so we can let others help us when we really need it instead of putting all our efforts on them. The idea of being strong and independent is important after being living under rules of society where that was not well taken but now being a family is not a must but an option that if taken will bring joy and love for the ones involved. But definitely this is not a movie that will please everybody. If you a fan or sucker for romantic comedies that will make you leave the theater in cloud nine or walking over the rainbow just wanting to call immediately to your partner, this is not for you, and don't get me wrong, it is romantic, but in a more realistic and sarcastic way, making fun of all those ideas, called cliches, that pretend to turn every time spent with your lover like a tv commercial when we know won't happen that way. But also you will definitely be smiling and laughing while witnessing all this stereotypes being exposed just to prove that we have transformed love into a merchandise and relationships are now more a check list, a must in everyone's life than a decision made in base of chemistry, attraction, connection and commitment because all those roses will be put into a test at some point and all that love that you swear to the other will be questioned to a point where you would be asking to yourself what would i be able to do for my lover? How far i'm willing to go for my partner ? What sacrifices i'll accept in order to make this relationship work? And even if you can swear you love someone with all your heart once you have to answer those questions, till then you will realize what love means and if you are with the right person or you just trying to match to be together. With great performances from actors Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz in this unique/bizarre love story you'll be dared to answer the big question and let you fall in love again or for the first time.