Manifest Destiny

Want to know how the stories you tell yourself shape your life? Read Greg Beckham’s Manifest Destiny. After a long and very successful career in the real estate and mortgage industry, Greg endured a series of emotional trials and economic hardships that wreaked devastation in his world and the story of who he was. This turned out to be just what Greg needed to show him that a deeper sense of satisfaction and achievement was missing in his life – one that would lead to the true measure of success – real happiness. In Manifest Destiny, Greg shares his formula for creating lasting change and sustainable success using NLP, hypnosis and his own unique brand of manifestation technique that integrates the value of spirit, health and well-being. When you order this book, you’ll download dozens of great bonus gifts like articles, ebooks, mini-courses, audios, videos and more. Here’s the link:  http://bit.ly/MDlnch 

Coming Up on Movie Addict HQ

An exciting February lineup has been put together for Movie Addict Headquarters this year. From saluting an important Oscar nominee to predicting and analyzing the 85th Academy Awards as well as celebrating Valentine's Day with a book giveaway drawing, the shows promise lots of fun for film fans. Here is the February schedule:

Tuesday, February 5 -- HUGH JACKMAN CELEBRATION

Tuesday, February 12 -- FAVORITE ROMANTIC FILMS AND BOOK GIVEAWAY

Tuesday, February 19 -- OSCAR MANIA: PART ONE

Tuesday, February 26 – OSCAR MANIA: PART TWO

As usual, all shows air on BlogTalkRadio at 4 p.m. Eastern Time (1 p.m. Pacific Time). During the live episodes, listeners are invited to call in and to participate in a chat. Archived segments are also available for your listening pleasure.

For more information about Movie Addict Headquarters, please click the link below.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters

HOST: Betty Jo Tucker

PRODUCER: Nikki Starr

CALL-IN NUMBER: 646-478-5668

GUESTS: Award-winning blogger Fausta Rodriguez Wertz, film historian James Colt Harrison, author/entertainment journalist Diana Saenger, Mad Movie Man A.J. Hakari, and others to be announced.

BOOK GIVEAWAY: Kindle edition of IT HAD TO BE US, award-winning romantic memoir by Harry & Elizabeth Lawrence; paperback edition of CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, award-winning memoir by Betty Jo Tucker.

Thanks to The Romance Studio

My husband and I want to thank The Romance Studio for featuring IT HAD TO BE US this month. Included in this extensive feature article about the award-winning romantic memoir we co-wrote under under the pen names of Harry and Elizabeth Lawrence are: Misha Zubarev's lovely sizzle reel; a revealing interview; a romantic excerpt; and selected review blurbs -- plus links to my website and the Amazon Kindle order page. 

Here’s the link:

http://www.theromancestudio.com/who10.php

Enjoy!

I Want To Thank the Academy

Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards were announced this morning, so I want to thank the Academy for recognizing some of my favorite films and performances. First of all, as the world’s most avid movie musical fan, I’m especially pleased about those 8 nominations for Les Misérables -- including Best Picture, Best Actor (Hugh Jackman, be still my heart) and Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway).

And I’m also happy about an equal number of nods for Silver Linings Playbook as well as the Best Supporting Actor nomination for Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained. Plus I was pleasantly surprised to see A Royal Affair on the list for Best Foreign Language film. But the greatest relief for me this morning came when I heard Naomi Watts’ name called as one of the nominees for Best Actress. I would have been soooo disappointed if she hadn’t met the cut for her outstanding performance as a mother struggling to be united with her family in the aftermath of a Tsunami in The Impossible (which should have been nominated for Best Picture, in my humble opinion.)

As expected, Lincoln emerged as the leader in this year’s field with a total of 12 nominations in important categories like Best Picture, Best Director (Steven Spielberg), Best Actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), Best Supporting Actor and Actress (Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field). We’ll find out who the Oscar winners are on Sunday, February 24, during the traditional ABC televised Academy Awards show. Check out the complete list of nominees by clicking on the link below.

http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/?ref_=rto_nb_acd

My Top Ten Films of 2012

                                  
The films below are not in order of preference -- except for THE IMPOSSIBLE, which is my pick for the Best Movie of 2012. How does a film earn a spot on my Top Ten list? That’s simple. If I want to see a movie over and over again it’s sure to be included.

THE IMPOSSIBLE. No other film of 2012 touched me as much as this one. Powerful performances, a suspenseful plot, awesome cinematography and other great production values -- came together to make it one of the best and most inspirational viewing experiences of the year for me.

LES MISÉRABLES. Wow! I prefer happy musicals with singing AND dancing, but this ultra-cinematic film version of the beloved live stage production is something impressive to see and hear.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK. Watching a close relationship develop between Bradley Cooper’s bi-polar character and Jennifer Lawrence’s spunky ballroom dance wannabe turned out to be a special movie delight of 2012.

THE HUNGER GAMES. Yes, Jennifer Lawrence looking splendid in another lead role (she’s had a very good year)! I haven’t read the book(s) this movie is based on, so I’m amazed at how deeply this motion picture drew me into the farfetched events taking place on screen.

BERNIE. Jack Black delivers his best-ever performance here as a joyful funeral parlor employee who gets involved with a much older woman (played by Shirley McClaine), and it’s not a pretty sight -- but an absolutely fascinating one for Black’s fans and for viewers who love unusual movies.

A ROYAL AFFAIR. I found this intriguing trip back to 18th Century Denmark richly rewarding. And why not? It deals with scandal, love, politics -- and how Denmark went from a backward country to one of the most progressive nations as the result of a German-born “enlightened” physician and his relationship with the mentally ill King and his lovely, open-minded Queen. A splendid mix of love and power!

THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT. As an incurable romantic, I’m obligated to include a romantic comedy on my Top Ten list. Jason Segel and Emily Blunt are simply irresistible as the sometimes star-crossed lovers in this amusing story of two sweethearts who wait to marry longer than they should.

THE TALL MAN. This gem of a horror/thriller boasts a foreboding atmosphere, lots of suspense, and intriguing plot twists that kept me guessing about what was happening to children who disappear from a small mining town. Plus, Jessica Biel displays surprising acting chops as a nurse deeply involved in this mystery -- and I do LOVE a good mystery with twists, turns and surprises like this one.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN. Awesome special effects enhance this highly entertaining and action-packed version of the Snow White fairy tale. Unfortunately, I still have nightmares about the Wicked Queen played by Charlize Theron!

THE CAMPAIGN. This movie definitely hit home during the 2012 presidential campaign. Like so many other people, I was tired of all the speeches, attack ads, promises and hype -- so watching Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis as hilarious battling political candidates tickled my funny bone and made me realize even more how silly so much of our political campaigning can be.

Honorable Mention:

DJANGO UNCHAINED, HEAD GAMES, BRAVE, THE GIANT MECHANICAL MAN, THE HUNTER, QUARTET, TAKE THIS WALTZ, SEVEN PSYCHOPATHS, THE INTOUCHABLES, MOONRISE KINGDOM

Dishonorable Mention:

BACHELORETTE, BEL AMI, MAGIC MIKE, THIS IS 40, KILLING THEM SOFTLY