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Showing posts from December, 2013

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Leonardo DiCaprio; Jonah Hill, Mathew McConaughy, Rob Reiner, Jean Dujardin - 5 Stars

     "There's a sucker born every minute"  credited to P. T. Barnum (1810-1891) The Wolf of Wall Street is a 3 hour affair that is hands down magnetic, hilarious, disgusting, and breathtaking all at once with an off the charts acting feat from Leonardo Decaprio (Best Actor in a Comedy - Golden Globe Award)  as (Jordan Belfort). This Scoreses film is the 5th collaboration between Decaprio and Scoreses.  The Wolf of Wall Street is by far the best film to date from this clever duo. Based upon the true story of Jordan Belfort, a fresh face young 22 year old stockbroker on Wall Street, loses his job in the 1987 market crash and ends up in a boiler room selling worthless penny stocks hand over fist in the 1990's with a crew of misfits.   These misfits are recruited, along with his right hand man Jonah Hill  (Donny Azoff) to create a fake company named Stratton Oakmont selling penny stocks and duping the clients.  Belfort teaches the cast of characters the art of

American Hustle (2013): Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Amy Adams - 4 Stars

        "People see only what they want to see."  "Hear only what they want to hear." Iriving Rosenfeld - American Hustle (2013) American Hustle is set in the Spring of 1978 in New Jersey.   This hilarious, uproarious and riveting fictional tale is based on some facts and centers around the real and magnetic small time con man Irving Rosenfeld ( Christian Bale) with a comb over that trumps Donald Trump along with his cohort in crime the wickedly sexy and British - The Lady Sydney Prosser ( Amy Adams - Best Actress in a Comedy - Golden Globe Award).   Rosenfeld owns several dry cleaners with additional lucrative and illegal behind the scenes opportunities.  These two flim flam artists (think of the Wizard in The Wizard of Oz (1939)  prior to being in Oz) sell anything and everything to the gullible and to those believing in "get rich schemes".   "Give me $5K and you will make $50K" is repeated over and over.   People believe it, f

The Hobbit - The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Martin Freeman, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Sir Ian McKellan - *** 1/2

               The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug picks up where The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey left off.  It is the second in  The Hobbit  trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien and is an edge of your seat three hour seat adventure from start to finish.   Once again, the story follows Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and Gandalf the Grey (Sir Ian McKellan) along with the thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage ), future King, on a quest to retake the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from Smaug.  Smaug is the fiery and vile dragon residing inside Erebor's Lonely Mountain under a pile of shimmering golden treasure.  Thorin desires the Arkenstone, lost treasure, and Gandalf decides that Bilbo would make the perfect burglar to recover the jewel, which leads the traveling good guy group on a mission to enter Erebor's Lonely Mountain find the stone and reclaim the Dwarves land from Smaug.            The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings fans

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire (2013): Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson - **1/2

     The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins with Katness Everdeen, Jennifer Lawrence , returning home with Peeta Mellark, Josh Hutcherson , fellow tribute, after the 74th Hunger Games.  Only to be summoned to participate in a Victory Tour to keep the people in check and by providing the Districts with hope.  Both do not want to participate in the tour nor have anything to do with one another.  President Snow, heavy handily, forces these two to present themselves as lovebirds on the tour creating a love affair for the masses to reflect upon.  On the tour, both sense a foreboding of rebellion simmering in the District of Panem.  President Snow, Donald Sutherland , along with Plutarch Heavensbee, Philip Seymour Hoffman  ruthlessly mastermind the 75th Annual Hunger Games in which  all the previous coupled winners will compete against each other.   Thus, engaging the masses on the upcoming games versus focusing on their gloomy lives in the districts.        Catching Fire is a pu

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

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Wishing you and your loved ones a Forever Chic Style festive filled holiday and fashion forward New Year!!   Thanks for your support in 2013.    Looking forward to inspiring readers in the glorious  New Year - 2014!   Kim Hardwick Forever Chic Style

The New Rebellion - Dress Up & Demonstrate Grace

          "The nuns taught us there were two ways through life - the way of nature and the way of grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow."   The New Rebellion - Dress Up & Follow the Path of Nature or Grace?  Ah, there is the question?          The holiday season is filled with festivities ranging from parties, dinners and shopping with family and friends.   Amongst the harried activities, a rise in dress code, manners and etiquette are in full swing.    Consequently named, The New Rebellion , where Hollywood old time glamour is making a heady comeback.   The Wall Street Journal, November 30th , 2013   Dress Code: 100% Glamour reported a resurgence of elegant apparel for dinner parties in New York with cocktail dresses, stilettos, red lipstick, tuxes and suits signaling a change in times. The young and old are stepping out in high fashion.  The days of just denim, tennis shoes and Holiday sweaters are being thrown out the door.  It