NOMI'S PICS

My lived experience often attracts me to stories of women and their struggles with poorly timed or unwanted pregnancies and their harrowing journeys navigating through what would be suitable for themselves, their families, and their babies in a complex world. 

Trying isn't just another show; it's a rare gem that offers a heartwarming escape from the relentless barrage of negativity in today's news cycle with its seamless fusion of friendship, humor, and a deeply resonant message.

Bonnie used a Wizard of Oz analogy about herself - when Dorothy pulls back the curtain and reveals an ordinary person. I can’t tell you how much I loved knowing this about Bonnie and that she is willing to share it so openly. 

For those of us who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, the idea of a middle-aged woman being seen as anything but a mother figure by a 20-something pop star seems far-fetched. But Anne Hathaway's character in this film breaks those stereotypes.

This documentary made me understand why I adore Gene Wilder as much as I do! With stories and anecdotes told by people who knew and loved him, particularly Mel Brooks, this film paints a vivid picture of a man whose talent and kindness were legendary. 

Hoffman weaves together elements from Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter (1850) with a fresh narrative in which Hawthorne himself becomes a character and a love interest through the intriguing concept of time travel.

Since my teenage years, Bob Marley has had an undeniably strong effect on my mood. His songs make me think and feel deeply, sing loudly, and dance joyously. Most importantly, they remind me of good times, travel, and people I love. 

A journey back in time to the rise of French fashion after WW2 in Paris. It portrays the parallel journeys of survival and sacrifice that Christian Dior and Coco Chanel navigated during the Nazi occupation of France and the different moral pathways they took to survive the war. 

Rostov forges profound relationships and heartwarming bonds within the hotel's confines. There are nuggets of wisdom scattered throughout, but the one that lingers and serves as the core message is: “A man must master his circumstances or otherwise be mastered by them.”

I love that this novel begins with the ending scene. It was not a spoiler for me because the beauty was in the telling of what transpired in the lives of the main characters between when they first met and when they meet again. 

This is a lyrical novel of contrasts, with moments of pure passion and others of excruciating truth. It opened up an inner dialogue that forced me to examine my relationships and those of my parents and grandparents.

Dianne Whelan's journey is not just about personal accomplishments but about the connections she makes with people, the land, and herself. Her love for Canada and its people is contagious, and her story will leave you with a renewed sense of hope in the goodness of others and the kindness of strangers.

It will have you feeling all the feels - sadness, frustration, irritation, amusement, and love, as the story unfolds. I can imagine The Holdovers becoming a holiday classic for those who tire of the steady stream of Hallmark movies.

With beautiful ballads or groovy, danceable tunes, he is surprising, not least because he is covered in tattoos, piercings, and other physical embellishments that are unexpected from someone singing about desperate love. 

I was completely unaware of Bernstein’s personality or personal life. Maestro reveals the many layers of the brilliant composer, conductor, musician, and American cultural icon in ways that are heartfelt, honest, and breathtaking.

When watching, it is necessary for the viewer to suspend realistic expectations and go with the show’s cosmic flow. It is a beautiful adventure, filled with the raw power of brotherly love, that will make you laugh, cry, cringe, and smile.

This evocative film allows the audience to move through childhood, friendship, family, the displacement of moving far away from everything you know, new beginnings, and thoughts of what might have been. It is honest and delicate, and it opens up a dialogue within ourselves. 

If any of you are a British crime drama enthusiast, you will likely recognize the actor playing Judith Burkett (Joanna Lumley). Let me just say that she got me going! I was talking to her from my recliner in ways that were not so nice!

If I could go back and ask my 20-year-old self what I thought about Willie Nelson and country music, I would have made a face like I’d just sucked on a sour lemon. Well, here I am at the age of 56, with a deep appreciation for the music legends who have stood the test of time, no matter what the genre. 

Normal Lear's genius was his ability to appeal to a vast cross-section of viewers no matter where they fell on the political spectrum and allow people to see that change isn’t scary if we can maintain a sense of humor. 

The show seamlessly weaves together drama, humor, and social commentary, creating a narrative that is gut-wrenching, funny, heart-warming, and thought-provoking in equal measure.