The Wolf of Wall Street. I was lucky enough to spend my Valentine’s Day with not only Leo but Jonah, who in my opinion was the highlight of the film. What a story. Really makes you think about what greed does to someone. I did take away one very important lesson from Mr. Belfort, which is this. “The only thing standing between you and your goal is the bullshit story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”

Well I checked another Academy Award nominated film off my list this past week… Philomena. Only five more to go. Think I can do it? If this snow continues, I have no doubt!

The story of Philomena is a quite tragic one. A mother’s death, a father’s abandonment, teenage pregnancy, lost love. You see, Philomena was sent to a convent in Rosrea, Ireland in the early 1950s after becoming pregnant. Forced to work in the convent’s laundry seven days a week, as payment for taking care of her son Anthony, Philomena was being punished for her “sin”. And then a mother’s worst nightmare, Anthony, at the age of 3, was sold by the nuns to an American family for 1,000 pounds. Philomena wasn’t even able to say goodbye.

Fast forward 50 years, and Philomena connects with Martin Sixsmith, a onetime BBC correspondent and former member of Tony Blair’s communications team, who takes on her request to help her find Anthony as a human interest piece. The friendship formed between these two is quite something.

I won’t tell you much more of the movie as I don’t want to ruin it but what I can tell you is this. Judi Dench is phenomenal. And her co-star, Steve Coogan, who adapted Martin Sixsmith’s 2009 book The Lost Child of Philomena Lee into a screenplay, provided a bit of comedic relief and voice of reason.

I would consider myself a religious person. I try to follow my life in the tenants of the bible’s teachings. However, I also believe that we are not placed here on this earth to judge anyone but rather to love and support one another. The way Philomena is treated by the nuns and punished for her actions is beyond me. And yet, she forgives. The church, the nuns, herself. Philomena embodies the very essence of Christianity in my view, the ability to forgive, even those who hurt us so gravely.

My favorite line of the film is when Martin recites to Philomena a poignant T.S. Elliot quote “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

Forgiveness and home. I think that about sums up this film for me.

There are films that stick with you… that keep you thinking and wondering why. 12 Years a Slave is one of those for it tells the incredible true story of Solomon Northup, a free black man who is tricked and sold into slavery and fights for his freedom for nearly 12 years.

Director Steve McQueen, who I first was introduced to with his movie Shame in 2011, is quite an artist. I will admit it was difficult at times to watch this film but McQueen’s depiction made the viewer feel what we should feel, remorse and guilt for this tragic piece of our American history. As The Guardian review reads, this movie is “stark, visceral and unrelenting…. Not just a great film but a necessary one.” I couldn’t agree more. Solomon teaches us a very important lesson in this film. Life isn’t about just surviving, but living. Let us always remember this.

It’s that time of year again: award season. The Globes, The People’s Choice Awards, The SAG’s, The Oscars. I must admit I haven’t seen all the nominees just yet but my goal is to see them all by Oscar Sunday. Last week, I knocked two off the list.

First up, August: Osage County, an adaptation of Tracy Lett’s Pulitzer and Tony award-winning play. I knew very little about this film except the star-studded cast: Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Juliette Lewis, Julianne Nicholson, Sam Shepard and Benedict Cumberbatch. Set in the plains of Oklahoma, this film tells the tragic story of the Weston family. Alcoholism, drug addiction, incest, sibling rivalry, death, adultery… this movie covered it all. I am one for tragic films that make you question morales and family dynamics but this film left me just sad and with little resolution. I will say, Meryl Streep was flawless but her character, Violet Weston, might just be one of the most evil women I’ve seen portrayed on-screen.

American Hustle. The opening screen “some of these things happened” is quite true for this movie tells the story of an F.B.I. sting operation in the late 1970s that landed several congressmen and one senator in jail for fraud. The cast, similar to August, was star-studded. Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper. A fine-looking group indeed. What else can I say. Loved the music. Loved the wardrobe. Golden Globe winner beating out Her… I don’t agree.

Have you seen either of these films? What were you thoughts? Would love to hear!