Marvelous night with Sebastian Stan: Feature article

Thursday Jan 25,2024

Toronto,ONT

On set :Twin cities upcoming film on Donald Trump early days in the 1980's 

It was the last week of January and I got email from my agent for a film looking for people with tuxedos/ casino patrons

I have a tuxedo so that was an easy YES!

I already had an earlier commitment to speak at event in the Yonge and Sheppard area which I had committed few weeks earlier so I couldn't break it. It was going to be long day!

 The day gets started and I do my speaking commitment and head back downtown to drop of my stuff and pick up my bag with my two fittings.

I reach the location and there are lots of extras on the 19th floor roughly 150 of us.

Get settled and I ask what is this film all about ?  Answer: about Trump in his early days in the 80's 

My response: UGh!!!

My next question: Who is playing Trump?

Answer: Sebastian Stan

My answer: OMG!!!   It's going to be a Marvelous night!!!!

 (If you don't already know I have a huge Marvel fan since 2008)

I had the great experience to meet James Marsden (Cyclops in X-men )  2019 on set of   Mrs. America and Cate Blanchett (play Hela Thor Ragnarock)

It was amazing trifecta to see Sebastian Stan in action for this night of  filming.

                                          

Sebastian Stan as Winter Soldier

                It was long night of filming as we did one scene but in two different locations!

 

                There was lots of green screens and we all using are amazing skills pretending we were on escalators in one long scene!

 

                    It was truly amazing too see how calm, cool and collected Sebastian was with all the direction he was getting from Director Ali Abbasi and the camera and photography professionals.

Sebastian Stan as young Donald Trump

 We then went to another location with more green screen but this time we had real escalators and we had to film at the top and the bottom of both escalators!

    It was one of the most unique experience I have ever had being so involved in all the action that was happening.

 We wrapped up at 4:30am and of course it was Marvelous night indeed!

Heart of Stone (2023): Movie Review

                                                                               

Jim's review

Agent Rachel Stone ( Gal Gadot) had a full plate of responsibilities for her job not including representing another organization!

There is a cool storyline but unfortunately it takes way to long to get the climatic end! (2hrs)

The climatic end involves a collect group to save the day

6 out of 10 stars

About film

Rachel Stone is an intelligence operative, the only woman who stands between her powerful global peacekeeping organization and the loss of its most valuable -- and dangerous -- asset.

Founders Day (2023): Movie Review

                                              

Jim's Review

It starts off with good intentions and ends up being a discombobulated mess!

5 out of 10 stars

About film

A series of ominous murders rocks a small town just days before a heated mayoral election. As accusations fly and the threat of a masked killer darkens every corner, residents must race against time to uncover the truth.

Deep Fear (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                  

Jim's Review

Naomi (Mădălina Diana Ghenea) is on a solo trip when she encounter 2 people who are clinging to shattered raft.

It then turns into drama with Noami forced to help them to retrieve some cargo from the bottom of sea, unfortunately lots of shark are also lurking below.

 

          The climatic end with have lots of diving and escaping the sea with consequences felt by everyone.

                                                                                   7 out of 10 stars

About film

A solo trip aboard a yacht takes a terrifying turn when a woman encounters three drug traffickers clinging to the shattered remains of a boat. They soon force her to dive into shark-infested waters to retrieve kilos of cocaine from the sunken wreck.

Reacher Season 2 (2024): Movie Review

                                                                               

Jim's Review

Reacher (Alan Ritchson) is working with his old investigators unit to find out who murdered one of their own by throwing him out of helicopter.

The investigation begins and they uncover clues very slowly and begin to put the pieces together as to who is responsible.

The climate end will yield closure to the cast and Reacher on to his next town...

7 out of 10 stars

About Reacher Season 2

 Reacher Season Two begins when veteran military police investigator Jack Reacher (Alan Ritchson) receives a coded message that the members of his former U.S. Army unit, the 110th MP Special Investigations, are being mysteriously and brutally murdered one by one.

         

Souvenirs of Toronto Sports: Book Review

                                                                                            

Jim's review

         Tremendous insights into sports in Toronto from the early days of the Skydome, TFC beginning and Panam/ Parapan games of 2014 and much more

                                                                                      10 out of 10 stars

                                                      Book review by Matthew Blackwell read more

                                                                       About book

 Part of living in a city is the shared experience of cheering on local sports teams — the memorabilia from games, events, and clubs act as a portal to those long-forgotten moments. Spacing publisher Matthew Blackett and City of Toronto chief curator emeritus Wayne Reeves combed through the City’s collection of over 150,000 artifacts to find items that inspired writers to share stories of the city’s athletic history. From the guns used in shooting competitions at Fort York to Ned Halan’s rowing oar to a ticket from the first Blue Jays game at the SkyDome, Souvenirs of Toronto Sports beautifully showcases over 200 years of local sporting history.learn more and buy book

Blink (audio series): Review

                                                                             

Jim's Review

Sensational series to listen from first to last cd.

So many stories and lesson to be learned from the past.

10 out of 10 stars

About cd series

The landmark book that has revolutionized the way we understand leadership and decision making - from number-one best-selling author Malcolm Gladwell.

In his landmark best seller The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell redefined how we understand the world around us. Now, in Blink, he revolutionizes the way we understand the world within. Blink is a book about how we think without thinking, about choices that seem to be made in an instant, in the blink of an eye, that actually aren't as simple as they seem. Why are some people brilliant decision makers, while others are consistently inept? Why do some people follow their instincts and win, while others end up stumbling into error? How do our brains really work, in the office, in the classroom, in the kitchen, and in the bedroom? And why are the best decisions often those that are impossible to explain to others? 

In Blink we meet the psychologist who has learned to predict whether a marriage will last, based on a few minutes of observing a couple; the tennis coach who knows when a player will double-fault before the racket even makes contact with the ball; the antiquities experts who recognize a fake at a glance. Here, too, are great failures of "blink": the election of Warren Harding; "New Coke"; and the shooting of Amadou Diallo by police. Blink reveals that great decision makers aren't those who process the most information or spend the most time deliberating, but those who have perfected the art of "thin-slicing", filtering the very few factors that matter from an overwhelming number of variables. 

Drawing on cutting-edge neuroscience and psychology and displaying all of the brilliance that made The Tipping Point a classic, Blink changes the way you understand every decision you make. Never again will you think about thinking the same way.

Book of Clarence (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                           

Jim's Review

Clarence (LaKeith Stanfield) is struggling a make a life for himself until he decided to become a Messiah of the ages.

Director Jeymes Samuel takes you on journey of redemption for Clarence as he tries to convince followers he is the Messiah he say's he is and that brings confusion and contradiction by many 

The climatic end will yield the answers that my surprise you as to what you that was real or made up?

6 out of 10 stars

About film

A down-on-his-luck man struggles to find a better life for his family while fighting to free himself of debt. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, ultimately discovering that the redemptive power of belief may be his only way out.

Ferrari (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                     

Jim's Review

Enzo Ferrari (Adam Driver) was a passionate about his cars and winning! In the version he had other thing  going on with his life dealing with his current wife  Laura Ferrari (Penelope Cruz) and his other partner Lina Lardi (Shailene Woodley) who he as son with.

His focus on was having winning car and finding the right drivers seamed elusive at times.

The need for speed is important yet having the right driver behind the wheel was of big importance to him.

Tragedies did happen and Enzo didn't have time to care only to move forward to win!

The climatic end will have Laura finding out all about his other life and a major accident does finally shake Enzo Ferrari to his core.

Director Michael Man brought the drama, speed and power of family in a perferct trifecta.

8 out of 10 stars

* Penelope Cruz was sensation in her portrayal of  Laura Ferrari

About film

During the summer of 1957, bankruptcy looms over the company that Enzo Ferrari and his wife built 10 years earlier. He decides to roll the dice and wager it all on the iconic Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.

Sixty Minutes (2024): Movie Review

                                                                                       

Jim's Review

Octavio (Emilio Sakraya) has 60 minutes to get to see daughter or else he won't see her forever!

The action begins and never stops he starts his journey and nearly at every turn he faces a challenge that consist of a fight!

The climatic end will yield the result he wanted but a cost?

8 out of 10 stars

About movie

MMA fighter Octavio (Emilio Sakraya) has one hour to make it to his daughter’s birthday party or he’ll lose custody forever. To reach her in time he turns down an important fight, which puts him in a dangerous position with some even more dangerous people. Suddenly Octavio isn’t only trapped in a ruthless race against time but also a chase through the entire city of Berlin that pushes him to his limits.

The Wait: Book Review

                                                                                           

Jim's Review

An interesting book to read with lots of insights on marriage and what it takes to keep it all together.

9 out of 10 stars

* the reason I read this book is I found $10 bill used as a book mark in it 

About book

In this New York Times bestseller, Hollywood power couple DeVon Franklin and Meagan Good candidly share their courtship and marriage, and the key to their success—waiting.

President/CEO of Franklin Entertainment and former Sony Pictures executive DeVon Franklin and award-winning actress Meagan Good have learned firsthand that some people must wait patiently for “the one” to come into their lives. They spent years crossing paths but it wasn’t until they were thrown together while working on the film Jumping the Broom that their storybook romance began.

Faced with starting a new relationship and wanting to avoid potentially devastating pitfalls, DeVon and Meagan chose to do something almost unheard of in today’s society—abstain from sex until they were married.

DeVon and Meagan share the life-changing message that waiting—rather than rushing a relationship—can help you find the person you’re meant to be with. The Wait is filled with candid his-and-hers accounts of the most important moments of their relationship and practical advice on how waiting for everything—from dating to sex—can transform relationships, allowing you to find a deep connection based on patience, trust, and faith.

I.S.S (2023): Movie Review

                                                                   

Jim's Review

Six cosmonauts face each other as to will win ownership of the I.S.S station.

Cat and mouse games begin very quickly and big question is who will survive?

6 out of 10 stars

About film

The film centers on a group of astronauts and cosmonauts living aboard the International Space Station as Tensions flare as a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Reeling from this, the astronauts receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

FUBAR (2023): Movie Review

                                                   

Jim's Review

Luke Brunner ( Arnold Schwarzenegger) is working with the CIA and his daughter Emma Brunner (Monica Barbaro) is having all she can handle with her dad being involved in all aspects of her life!

The climatic end with bring everyone together in this FUBAR ( if you don't know what it means will leave it up to you to figure it out) 

6 out of 10 stars

About film

When a father and daughter learn that they’ve each secretly been working as CIA Operatives for years, they realize their entire relationship has been a lie and they truly don’t know one another at all. Forced to team up as partners, FUBAR tackles universal family dynamics set against a global backdrop of spies, fantastic action and humor.

Curse of the Clown Hotel (2016): Movie Review

                                                                             

Jim's Review

This movie actually looked very scary watching the trailer yet that wasn't the case unfortunately!

Hotel Owner (Tobin Bell) from the Saw series is amazing yet it had the opportunity to be great film it just lost steam half way through, then I had an epiphany!  

You have watch it backwards and it makes more sense! seriously...

6 out of 10 stars

About film

When Alma returns home to help her family get their Native American heritage recognized, all she finds is the Clown Motel on their land. She soon discovers that there is something violent and supernatural going on, but the creepiness and possessed clowns aren't the only things Alma needs to fear.

Hidden Strike (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                           

Jim's Review

Leo Fung (Jackie Chan) and Chris Van Horne (John Cena) face a common adversary in a very dangerous part of the world

5 out of 10 stars

about film

Two former soldiers face nonstop danger as they travel along one of the most dangerous roads in the world.

                    

Bad Surgeon Love under the Knife (2024): Movie Review

                                                                                                         

Jim's Review

Paolo Macciarini was trust by some many people to save their lives and yet he failed everyone!

The gravity of how the medical community review corrupt surgeons is truly heartbreaking. To many people died in so much pain.

8 out of 10 stars

About film

An investigation into one of the biggest frauds in modern medical history exposes a thoracic surgeon famous for groundbreaking achievements in the field of regenerative medicine.

Echo (2024): Movie Review

        "Marvellous, mesmerizing and maniacal " Jim Pagiamtzis                                               

Jim's Review

Kingpin (Vincent D'Onofrio) takes interest in Maya Lobpez's life and that set out a journey of revelation and destruction for all!

The action sequences are hard hitting, get used to all the sign language took bit of getting used to and in the end it added to the ambiance to the characters and film overall.

6.5 out of 10 stars

About film

Maya Lopez's ruthless behavior in New York City catches up with her in her hometown; she must face her past, reconnect with her Native American roots and embrace the meaning of family and community.

Monarch Legacy of Monsters (2023): Movie Review

                                                                                        

Jim's Review

A stellar cast of  Kurt Russel and Wyatt Russel playing early and late versions of the same character Lee Shaw (open credits are great!)

This is not really about the monster yet more about where they came from and how they are connected with earth.

The edgy drama gets into family legacies leading into the rabbit hole of what Monarch really did know about Godzilla and the rest of the Titans and the real reasons they were here on earth.

8 out of 10 stars

About film

After the world-shattering revelation that monsters are real, two siblings follow in their father's footsteps to uncover their family's connection to the secretive organization known as Monarch.

Lift (2024): Movie Review

                                                                                        

Jim's review

Cyrus (Kevin Hart) and his band of professionals are hired to do the ultimate heist of a plane!

It is a edgy comedy with some cool action sequences and a pinch of Ocean's 11 

8 out of 10 stars

About film

A master thief is wooed by his ex-girlfriend and the FBI to pull off an impossible heist with his international crew on a 777 passenger flight from London to Zurich.

Wealth Magnet (audio): Feature article

                                                                             

Jim's Review

It was an amazing to listen and take lots of notes!

10 out of 10 stars

about cd series

Become a magnet for prosperity simply by adopting the psychology of the MEGA-RICH!

You don't have to sell your soul to be rich. Nor do you have to sacrifice your relationships in order to build wealth. You don' even have to scrimp and save! Sure, you can get wealthy that way - but it's no fun!

Fabulously wealthy people have a much better strategy for having it all: money, harmonious relationships, the right connections, the right opportunities, and more. It's not so much that they do things differently; it's that they have a different psychology.

Now you can get the tools you need so that you can replicate this psychology and achieve wealth beyond your wildest dreams, in the Wealth Magnet: Principles of Wealth Attraction.

This is breakthrough information that's tested and measured - a system that can be applied by anyone. For instance, when Dolf de Roos, a successful real estate investor and author of the Wealth Magnet began teaching his real estate students the foundational beliefs that all rich people share, his student's success rate went from 5 percent to over 80 percent!

Now, in the Wealth Magnet, you can apply this same knowledge to grow rich in any field. For example, you'll learn:

• Why it's crucial to get rid of destructive beliefs like "Money is the root of all evil," "Money can't buy you happiness," and "Rich people get wealthy at the expense of the poor," and replace them with empowering beliefs like "Money gives me choices," "I will make a ton of money, have fun doing it, and be generous with it."


• The critical difference between an abundance mentality and a scarcity mentality- and how to develop and apply an abundance mentality right away.


• Why scrimping and saving is a "defensive" strategy to grow wealth - and why it's much better to expand your opportunities and create wealth in abundance.


• How your newfound "millionaire mindset" will make every aspect of your life richer - you'll discover more opportunities to create value, to make contributions to others, and to express gratitude for the abundance you already have in your life.


• The difference between good and bad debt - and how to use debt to your advantage, rather than being a victim of it

Dolf will cover everything - from what rich people think about work/life balance…economic conditions and world eventslifestylerunning a business… career success… parenting and more… so you know how to handle every life situation like a fabulously wealthy person!

And in so doing, you'll soon find yourself attracting more money, more opportunities, and more time for your family than you ever dreamed was possible. And it's truly as simple as adopting the psychology of the mega-rich!

The Bricklayer (2024): Movie Review

                                                                           

Jim's Review

Vail (Aaron Eckhart) is doing what he loves laying bricks this is until he get lured out of retirement to solve a conspiracy.

The chase is on and the action sequences are intense and endless.

The climatic end Vail has to use all his tool to get the job done!

7.5 out of 10 stars

About film

A rogue insurgent assassinates foreign journalists and makes it look like the CIA is responsible. Coaxed out of retirement to clear the agency's name, a deadly operative must confront his checkered past while unraveling an international conspiracy.

The BeeKeeper (2024): Movie Review

                                                                                 

Jim's Review

Mr. Clay (Jason Statham) takes vengeance on organization who rips of people online. 

He starts at the bottom and works his way to the top in the action thriller with some insights on bees and how they work

7.5 out of 10 stars

About film

One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after it's revealed he's a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as Beekeepers.

Night Swim (2024): Movie Review

                                                                         

Jim's Review

In many cases make a short film is a good way to tease a concept of story and I have seen it done with Kin (2018) which was made from a short video called "The Bagman" Dust. 

In this movie Night Swim was made from a short film Night Swim (2014) and I figured Blumhouse and James Wan get involved it would be cryptic and scary

It starts out very wholesome and interesting and by the 30 minute mark is where thing start to happen, yet the entire picture get clouded with insight as to who is the real target of the malevolent entity

Ray Waller ( Wyatt Russell) who has given up baseball due a degenerative illness finds the pool is helping with his recovery, even the doctor is surprised!

Eve Waller (Karen Condon) and his son Elliot Waller (Gavin Warren) and sister Kay (Jodi Long) started feel the bad energy coming from the pool and Ray Waller just dismisses them.

The climatic end the pieces fall together leading to a climatic end where everyone faces the wrath of evil in the pool.

6 out of 10 stars

Similar film The Unwelcome (2022) scary, horrific and little comedic at times.

Movie Plot

Forced into early retirement by a degenerative illness, former baseball player Ray Waller moves into a new house with his wife and two children. He hopes that the backyard swimming pool will be fun for the kids and provide physical therapy for himself. However, a dark secret from the home's past soon unleashes a malevolent force that drags the family into the depths of inescapable terror.

Society of the Snow (2023): Movie Review

Story of salvation and fight of humanity against the elements                                              

Jim's Review

A remarkable true story of survival and the choices that were made to survive a horrific plan crash.

Terrific performance by everyone showcasing how humanity will find a way to deal with the harsh elements they are dealt with.

9 out of 10 stars

About movie

In 1972, a Uruguayan flight crashes in the remote heart of the Andes, forcing survivors to become each other's best hope.

Money Know more, Make More, Give more : Book Review

                                                                                         

Jim's Review

This is a very important book to read to understand Money and how it really works!

10 out of 10 stars

about book

Do you want to get to the stage - soon - where you are truly financially independent, able to use your money in the way you'd like, and be completely confident in your ability to take care of yourself and your family?

That is a universal desire, but many of us regard wealth and financial independence as a goal which we'll likely never achieve - there are just too many bills that need paying and there is a widespread belief that the money game is rigged. Even people who win the lottery or inherit money often seem to wind up losing it. The evidence suggests you can't win a game that you don't understand - even if you start out winning - because you never understood the game in the first place.

So how can you win with money? How can you create independent wealth and hold on to it? This inspiring book by self-made multi-millionaire Rob Moore explains the rules of the game, shares simple tricks for managing money better,details how to create a plan for an ambitious future, and shows you the very best way to become a millionaire - to think and behave like one!learn and buy book