PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME :: PATTI CAKE$ (movie review)

PATTI CAKE$

This film is what 8 Mile would be if Eminem was a thick, female New Jerseyite. Patricia Dombrowski, aka Killer P aka Patti Cake$ has got the passion and the talent. She also has the poverty and misogyny that come from small-town New Jersey life. Her one dream - to get across that bridge to Manhattan. Patti's mom - a singer herself, who once had aspirations of making it big, doesn't quite understand the music ... but Patti's grandmother has always believed in her dream.

Patti's story is really a coming of age tale. She battles the local bully and earns his respect. She and her entourage record and distribute their music and work hard to get heard. What I did not expect from this movie was a love story, a mother-daughter connection and a statement about seeing through your idols. It's really got it all.

THE MOST INTENSE :: Good Time (movie review)

Good Time

So, I recently watched the movie Good Time by the Saftie Brothers (Ben and Josh). I have to say it is one of the best intense and also crazy depressing movies I've seen.

The premise is that Connie (Robert Pattinson) and his brother Nick (Ben Saftie) were raised by their grandmother after dad died and mom left. Nick is mentally handicapped, while Connie grew up as a product of his enviroment. He had done jail time. The movie starts with Nick in a therapists office, recommended by grandmother. He is being asked several questions about his history to which he clams up and gets offended when the therapist is taking notes. Connies bursts into the room, saying that Nick shouldn't be there and the notes are ripped up to which Connie flees with Nick.

The next thing you see is Connie and Nick trying a bank heist, which all goes wrong. Nick is arrested and sent to jail and Connie, who feels he is the only hope - attempts to help Nick - as he doesn't see his brother lasting long behind bars.

The rest of the story - which is done in true timeline fashion is Connie's attempt to save Nick

What remains is a timeline of Connie seaking and manipulating others to free his brother, and it gets incredibly intense. Connie is not a good person, even to his brother.

This movie affectedly me deeply - it almost will make you sick, but you can't stop the ride. The Saftie brothers have done and excellent job of capturing disparity in New York City.

If you like real representations of real world practices in a movie, then this is for you. But, be warned - it's not pleasant or redeeming.

I would say that this is my favorite movie of 2017 because of the raw portrayals in it. The title Good Time is the exact opposite of what is seen on screen. This night is not a Good Time, but the worst time imaginable.

The story and characters are incredible, the shots and soundtrack are perfect. Robert Pattison's performance is stellar. This movie cranks it up to 20.



Noble

SLINGING AMETHYST ROCKS :: Slam (movie review)

Slam

This should've been covered long ago. One of my favorite films - Slam ... which, I recently re-purchased. I had bought it before, but it was stolen. Needless to say, it is a great film. Slam is poetry - literally. Ray Joshua (Saul Williams) gets incarcerated in a D.C. jail for selling weed, at the same time his dealer got shot. Ray gets locked up and quickly discovers that he is rumored to be involved and/or implicated for his friends shooting. Faced with joining a gang, Ray comes out into the jailhouse yard with style - slinging poetry like an automatic machine gun. His dialog doesn't go unnoticed. Lauren (Sonja Sohn), who is teaching at the prison immediately takes notice.

Long story short - His words affect fellow inmates, he makes bail, he falls for Lauren who tells him that he has to go through his punishment to change. Then he goes to a poetry slam as the final act still contemplating his situation.





Noble

WE ARE THE SAVIORS :: Raury - God's Whisper

Raury - God's Whisper

When people speak for God, fundamentalists usually call them prophets. Doesn't God talk to us all? I'm an agnostic but I can appreciate that sentiment.
Raury, as raw as he is - really strips to the core for this one. He accompanies this with Devil's Whisper on this album. I highly recommend checking the lot!



Noble

COME FLOAT WITH ME :: FLO2S Review

Float therapy

These past several months might be the toughest I've seen in a long time. My health has progressively gotten worse. You see, I turned 44 this year and all these years of eating what I wanted, not exercising and partying too much, have caught up to me. High blood pressure, psoriasis and gout are the biggest culprits. Then about a month ago, I lost my job. Depression set in, and along with the physical pain - I had almost given up. Fortunately, my pain gave way to hope again and I decided I needed to really treat myself. So, I booked a 90 minute session for float tank therapy at FLO2S (pronounced Floatus) in the Little 5 Points neighborhood of Atlanta.

Now, if you aren't familiar with what this is - maybe you saw Stranger Things, where Eleven floats in a tube with a helmet and then also at the high school gym in a pool filled with saltwater. Simply put, you float in saltwater bouyant enough to keep you from sinking. The water is body temperature and if you float in the dark you start to have sensory deprivation.



I arrived at FLO2S about 15 minutes before my appointment. Since it was my first time there, I had to sign a waiver and watch a short video. After that, the receptionist led me to the tank chamber. FLO2S has 3 tanks in all - a smaller tank constructed of plastic with no lights inside, and two tank chambers that are larger and also have L.E.D. Lighting inside, should you choose to use it. The latter is what I chose. Inside is a room with a shower and changing area and the door into the tank chamber.

Once I put in the provided wax earplugs and showered - I immediately went into the tank. The water temperature was perfect as I lay on my back and adjusted to the space. It was about 7.5 feet by 5.5 feet with plenty of space to move around and get adjusted. Saltwater initially will burn places you have cuts or abrasions on your skin - but eventually, it subsides. I lay there with what must have been 10 minutes getting adjusted before turning off the lights.

Once you adjust to the darkness - things become different. I could only hear my heartbeat It's an absolute shortcut to meditation as there are no external stimuli - no Facebook, or TV or any other person to disrupt you. You can't help but reflect on your life. It was at that point I vowed to change my habits and attitude for the better.

The tank is big enough to stretch out every muscle in your body and just relax. There's no pressure on your body anywhere. You can literally sleep in there as it is almost impossible to roll over without trying. I know that tonight ... I'm going to sleep like a baby.

It seemed like 90 minutes might be too long but before I knew it music piped into the tank to tell me my time was up.

I showered and got dressed to return to the lobby. It was there, that I met Alex - one of the co-owners. He told me that the business had been there about 4 1/2 years and they were doing very well. He showed me the other 2 tanks and then we started talking about time in the tank. He assured me that if you can push it to about 3 hours in the tank - you can go much deeper into a meditative state.

I plan to go again soon and would love to go with someone else who has never experienced it. If that sounds good to you - let me know and we can schedule a time when they have 2 tanks available.

They also have massage, infrared therapy, and aromatherapy available.

https://flo2s.com/

Noble