STUART: A LIFE BACKWARDS FILM/BOOK

On my conquest to see all flicks staring Tom Hardy, Stewart: A Life Backwards was next on my agenda. Before I touch on Stuart: A Life Backwards, let me just explain what led me to this superb movie in the first place. Two words, "Tom Hardy"! Tom Hardy caught my attention in his awe-inspiring, spectacular performance as "Bane" in Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises". After finding out who the man behind the mask was, I at the moment decided to make it my mission to seek out every film that Tom Hardy has performed in. After seeing several of his performances, I was just astounded by his ability to literally morph his body on a physical level in addition to vocally changing his voice and adapting it to play each specific role. On top of that, he is just a phenomenal actor. There are moments where his facial expressions alone can express a thousand words. His role as Stuart Clive Shorter didn't require a complete metamorphous of his body, however, something seemingly more difficult which is to portray the effects of a physical disability; muscular dystrophy. It's pretty safe to assume at this point that I'm a loyal Tom Hardy fan for life now! His interpretation of Stuart in Stuart: A Life Backwards exceeded my expectations on every level. He was absolutely brilliant! Where to begin?  I deviated from my normal MO which I would typically read the book first then see the film, however, I was so eager to watch the movie that I bypassed the book and saw the film first. After being completely blown away by the film, I immediately ordered a hard copy of the book on amazon. Since I'm an advocate for "going green" I prefer ebooks in effort to preserve our trees and environment,  however, I knew that I would want to pass this book around and share Stuarts story since it had left such an impression. To purchase a hard copy or kindle version follow the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Stuart-Life-Backwards-Alexander-Masters/dp/0385340885/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378614261&sr=8-1&keywords=stuart+a+life+backwards

 This is the Synopsis off the book: Stuart: A life Backwards:

In this extraordinary book, Alexander Masters has created a moving portrait of a troubled man, an unlikely friendship, and a desperate world few ever see. A gripping who-done-it journey back in time, it begins with Masters meeting a drunken Stuart lying on a side walk in Cambridge, England and leads through layers of hell... back through crimes, and misdemeanors, prison and homelessness, suicide attempts, violence, drugs, juvenile halls and special schools-to expose the smiling, gregarious thirteen-year-old boy who was Stuart before his long, sprawling, dangerous fall. Shocking, inspiring, and hilarious by turns, Stuart: A Life Backwards is a writer's quest to give a voice to a man who, beneath his forbidding exterior, has a message for us all: that every life-even the most chaotic and disreputable-is a story worthy of being told.

Here is the link to the trailer of Stuart: A life backwards

http://www.hbo.com/movies/stuart-a-life-backwards/video/trailer.html

Watching this film was like a wild roller coaster ride that evoked so many different emotions.  I laughed so much throughout the entire movie from Stuarts unabashed honesty. Stuart held nothing back, baring his soul if you will. The story just tugs at your heart hearing Stuart reflect back and talk about his horrific past and the many hardships he has endured which brought me to tears. No child should ever have to endure such terrible things Stuart experienced. Absolutely heartbreaking at times.  Hidden underneath all the layers of this multifaceted being is a tender and kind heart. This story also brings awareness to many different subjects that a lot of individuals may not have knowledge about such as: homelessness, alcoholism, drug addictions and Muscular Dystrophy to name a few. After seeing the film I knew that I wanted to educate myself more about the effects of Muscular Dystrophy and find out what I could do to help fight against such a debilitating disease. I also think there are a lot of stereotypes out there about homeless people for example that they are lazy and don't want to work. That is definitely not the case at all especially in Stuart's life. Some people are just so wounded and broken that they can't pull themselves out of the darkness. I think that it is imperative to invariably show compassion and empathy towards all people because you just never know what they have been through in their life. I think this is a fantastic compelling film and is definitely worth a watch. I'm interested to see how in-depth the book touches on Stuarts life. I look forward to reading the book and getting to know this magnificent troubled human being, Stuart Clive Shorter better.



I have only been able to find the movie in seven parts on youtube and it's also available on HBO to go. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find it in a US formatted DVD. If anyone knows where I could purchase a DVD that is compatible with US DVD players I would love to know!

For more information on Muscular Dystrophy and to find out ways you can help please see the link below.

http://mda.org

I would be interested in hearing your thoughts about this film and book!

WHO IS DREAMER GIRL???

For my first post I thought it be appropriate to properly introduce myself and let you know what I'm all about and what you can expect to see on my blog. First off, I'm a 33 years young woman married to my amazing husband who has helped mold me into the person I proudly am today. I have a vast amount of interests and passions. Variety is the spice of life after all, isn't it? I was looking for a way to channel my energy in a positive way, and this seemed like the perfect solution. I'm looking for a way to express myself, bare my soul if you will. I want to share the things I'm passionate about, the things that make me tick. I'm hungry for knowledge. I like to know everything about anything really. One of my many passions is books. I'm an avid reader of both fiction and non-ficton. If I'm not reading to learn, then I'm reading to get lost and transported into a different world. I don't know about you, but we all need to escape our reality every now and then and that's what a great book can do. I hope to one day compose a book of my own. Movies are another obsession of mine. I love feeling a connection to characters whether it be in a book or on screen. If there was a rehab for book, or movie addicts out there then I should be committed stat! I'm a huge foodie! I enjoy the entire process of cooking from the prep work , to the cooking, to the final touches and of course the best part consuming the heavenly goodness that I just created. Cooking really is an art form. I just get excited about the endless possibilities and varieties of food out there just waiting to be created into something delectable and magnificent. I also enjoy very much for someone to cook for me...hint hint! Is it me or does food sometimes taste better when someone else makes it for you even if it's the simplest of dishes. Traveling is one of my top priorities. I want to experience the beautiful hidden treasures of Gods glorious earth and be acquainted with different types of people and their cultures. I find people, culture, beliefs and customs to be very fascinating. With that said, I've made it one of my life's missions to leverage out my resources, my gifts and talents for the greater good of mankind and to be a blessing to as many people as I can. There is no greater joy then knowing you have made a life changing difference in someone elses life and after all isn't that what we are suppose to do? I believe helping someone in need and being a blessing to them with no expectation to receive something in return is the greatest gift you can give someone and yourself. I have many more passions and interests, but these are just some that are near and dear to my heart. Thank you for taking the time to read this little synopsis about me. I look forward to sharing many more pieces of me going forward. On that note I leave you with this simple, but powerful quote by Napoleon Hill: Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements. -Namaste-