SILVER LININGS Movie Review

By Guest Blogger: Iva Radosevic

A silver lining means:  "a sign of hope in an unfortunate or gloomy situation" (dictionary.com).

The film SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is a beautifully portrayed story of a conflicted man that struggles with bipolar disorder, which is characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression.

Bradley Cooper, as Pat Solitano, does an excellent job of bringing this disorder to life and hooking the audience within the first five minutes of the film by inspiring empathy and compassion in the viewer and resonating a fluctuating ray of optimism throughout all his episodes of severe mood swings.

Despite the fact that Pat has lost his marriage and his job, he is determined to show his family and his estranged wife that he has come a long way and knows how to turn any negative energy into something with a promise of hope.

His true transformation begins to happen when he meets Tiffany (played by Jennifer Lawrence), who serves as a mirror to the inner pain and anger that he feels. Tiffany’s torment over the loss of her husband allows Pat to feel a stronger connection to her and have greater understanding of her ways. Through their mutual pain and anger they feel comfortable in each other’s presence and recognize a bond from the beginning that progressively intensifies as their friendship builds throughout the film. 

This new friendship helps Pat rekindle the lost connection with his father, played by Robert De Niro. Pat’s commitment to Tiffany’s dance routine practice keeps him unavailable to join his father for the football watching at home. This inspires Pat’s father to express verbally why he finds it important to have his son join him during these games. By keeping Pat occupied and away from home, Tiffany plays a key role in inspiring this critical bonding conversation between father and son that takes place in the later half of the film. She also turns out to be the positive energy that brings good luck to Pat’s father in the winning of his favorite football team by noting that every time his team won she was with his son in some context. The strong bond that Pat and Tiffany share turns out to be the glue that links the whole family back together through a common thread of optimism and hope. 

SPOILER ALERT......

The reframing of hope in the face of an unfortunate situation is solidified in one of the last scenes of the movie where Pat and Tiffany manage to get a score of 5 out of 10 in their dancing competition and the whole family bursts out with explosive excitement over a score that is viewed as only average by the judges and the rest of the audience. This ‘5’ is a winning number for the family, since the father bet with a friend that Pat and Tiffany could achieve at least that number in a competition against much more professional dancers. Being rewarded a ‘5’ was the peak of the mountain for the family and it was the epitome of what ‘silver lining’ represents in this film.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK is a film of hope, empathy, compassion, understanding, reconnection and love.  It inspires us to view life through a positive filter and recognize the beauty in the lessons of pain and loss. We learn that by redefining our goals and expectations an ‘average’ score may just be good enough to give us the happiness worth a lifetime.

P.S.  Note from Kate Neligan - Founder of Synergy TV:  This movie is currently a big box office hit with a lot of positive word of mouth and sold-out showings. I couldn't be happier because this raw, original, authentic story really deserves all the positive press. We definitely give it a big thumbs up as a mindful movie and hits out Top 10 List of the Year!

CLOUD ATLAS Movie Review

                                  

I wish I could recommend CLOUD ATLAS because it had SO much potential but I really can't support it because it was so violent and convoluted.

 

Despite having excellent visual effects, some of the best actors in Hollywood like Tom Hanks, and a theme of "everything is connected", this film is not what it was marketed to be: an inspirational/spiritual epic.

 

I felt cheated when I saw the movie because I was expecting a deep, riveting story with profound spiritual messages like AVATAR, INCEPTION and LIFE OF PI and instead I got a violent, action film that was very hard to follow.

For the first hour my head hurt just watching the various story-lines from different time periods. It was not easy to connect the actors and roles throughout their past lives. However, the make-up was fantastic as you can barely recognize Tom Hanks and Halle Berry throughout some of their scenes

 

The last fifteen minutes of the film are definitely the best and showcase a bit of a message about the inter-connectedness of humanity, the potential to stand-up for the truth, and the fight for love.

 

I am just disappointed that this movie missed out on its potential to be a mindful movie full of wisdom and Spirit. I felt like the Wachowski brothers sold-out to the lowest common denominator that wants violence in our media. Some of the kill scenes in the film were very disturbing because they were so realistic and gruesome. And while we have often died in cruel and unusual ways in past lives, I felt like the deaths portrayed were gratuitous.

 

I kept hoping the law or karma would prevail and teach everyone a lesson but a lot of the stories were so bleak. This is definitely not THE MATRIX and I guess I had too high expectations for the next spiritual blockbuster.

 

The group I screened it with all had differing opinions of the film and one person compared it to the book which seems to be a bit more introspective. I guess the good news is that there is still a lot of room for powerful, meaningful, profound blockbusters to be created about concepts like karma, inter-connectedness, and love. Who is going to make the next one?  What did you think of the film?

 

Entertain - Enlighten - Inspire,

Kate Neligan - Founder & CEO of Synergy TV

LIFE OF PI Movie Review

Finally, one of the most engaging, best-selling reads was made into a movie!  LIFE OF PI tells the touching story of a boy lost at sea after the boat he is on with his family and all of their zoo animals capsizes.

I remember, after reading this book for book club years ago, that it would make a great movie and it was thrilling to see such an excellent adaption into film, especially with all the special effects. I chose to see LIFE OF PI in 3D and it is meant to be seen that way as you feel like you are on the lifeboat with Pi and his tiger, Richard Parker.

It has been said that this 3D movie is the best one since AVATAR and I would agree. The other similarity between these movies is that they both examine deep, philosophical and spiritual concepts in a mainstream way. These are exactly the types of stories I want to see more of (and plan to produce in the future!) and they signify the best in class of the "mindful movie" genre.

There isn't much to say about this movie without examining the very end so if you haven't seen the film yet, please do so and then check back here as I don't want to spoil anything for you.

LIFE OF PI ending:
It was fascinating to discuss the metaphors and meaning in this film with my friends after the screening. To me, this film is about the mind and the stories we tell ourselves and others. It provides a mirror for us to see the way we examine our own lives and how we view truth and God.

My biggest take-away is that whatever we believe is our truth. There is no such thing as absolute truth, especially when something can't be proven?! Only Pi knows what happened to him at sea and yet he tells two believable stories and asks which one we prefer which leaves us wondering and grasping for an answer. Why is it that we crave to know the answers so badly? Why do we demand the truth or fight for it when it's so hard to prove something we all see differently? Why is it we are so uncomfortable with the unknown?


What I love about this film is that it asks us to accept and to have faith. We each have a different view of religion and spirituality and we each have our own God. Pi's father believed in hard, cold facts and science. I used to be like this and was an Aetheist for years until I had experiences I couldn't explain and had a deep desire to BELIEVE in something grander than human suffering. I'm a lot more like Pi now, appreciating all religions and the value in each.

This film is amazing because it calls forward our inner need for beauty and to choose the story that is full of love and connection. The other option is to believe in a disturbing story of human savagery. This is a deep reflection of our main choice in life: to listen to the beast/ego within or to chose the love-filled, hope-inspiring journey. The most fascinating part of life is that both are happening right now as you read this......we leave in the duality of war and peace, love and fear, acceptance and hatred and both realities fully exist. I am blessed to see more light than darkness each day and I consciously choose this by not watching the news and engaging with inspirational content.

Whatever story we tell is OUR story and often we would rather be right than happy so we cling to our stories, even if they make us suffer. Pi tells the story that he feels in his heart and we all want to believe. We want to feel that a tiger can love us despite it's animal instincts to kill us and that miracles happen.

Besides the truth, this story has us yearning for something else.....closure. Pi doesn't receive this with his family since they die so quickly and traumatically. He also doesn't receive it with Richard Parker as the tiger never turns to say good-bye. As viewers we are also left without closure because we are left wondering what really happened in the life of Pi.


Yet the key to the entire mystery and to the closure is the most profound and metaphorical line in the movie: "And so it goes with God." Pi says this after the writer picks the story he prefers and to me it means that only God is our witness to all that happens here on Earth and our preference for the truth IS the one that is filled with God, magnificent creatures, and the magic of a floating meerkat-filled island. Pi followed many religions as he could see value in all of them and this may be why he can easily tell two stories of what happened to him. What is the truth? Which religion is right? Is it possible they all are?


I highly recommend this film as it is not only beautiful and deep but I promise it will leave you thinking and  stir your soul. It has the three main ingredients for the perfect recipe in film: entertaining, enlightening, and inspiring. It is a triumphant epic journey that leaves us with hope and with a new-found curiosity for the mystery of life and God. It reminds us to respect, love and stay connected to animals and to trust that God is always with us, rain or shine.

Entertain - Enlighten - Inspire,
Kate Neligan - Founder & CEO of Synergy TV/Mindful Media Entertainment

VITALITY Movie Review

 

                                                

Last night I got to see an awesome new film called VITALITY from the passionate filmmaker and doctor, Pedram Shojai, at a screening in Malibu. This film is a health documentary that is made for the masses and is educational and enlightening in nature.

 

The filmmaker is a health care practitioner and acupuncturist and he noticed that the medicine field is a big sinking ship. He realized that people who get sick, see doctors and depend on them to fix them is a broken system and we need to take personal responsibility to prevent dis-ease and focus on our well-being. He believes that being free of illness is not true wellness but living a life of vitality is and this is achievable if we focus on certain areas.

The film breaks down the core of vitality which is surrounded by four inter-connected areas of life which are: sleep, exercise, diet, and mindset. The film has a lot of great facts that showcase how we have histrorically changed as a human species and how living in the modern fast-paced world can be damaging to our bodies. The movie shows us ways to rest and relax, tips to get great sleep, and ways to eat healthy while also focusing on the important beliefs we have about ourselves. The key is truly to synergize or harmonize all of these aspects of life to wholeness. Everything works together in our lives and a proper diet, sleep, healthy mindset, and exercise give us the energy we need to be our best selves and live our best lives.

My favorite part of the evening was the Q&A and discussion that took place afterwards. There was a lot of engaging talk about how people are unwilling to change, how we aren't fully educated (i.e. we don't even know if there are GMOs in our food!), and what we can do to help others get healthy. Let's be honest  - America is obese and our health care industry is deeply flawed and yet there is a lot of hope. 

I started to think about vitality in my own life and in the past few months I have gone gluten, dairy, sugar, and alcohol free (still working on breaking the coffee dependency). I have seen measurable positive results with no acne, better energy, more creativity, better sleep, less anxiety, no PMS symptoms, no bloating or indigestion, more peace and happiness, and I've lost weight! I overall feel much better than I have in years. AND this hasn't been easy but it is worth it. Now when I eat beef or have gluten or sugar I feel an immediate brain fog and feel exhausted the next day as though I didn't even sleep. 

The immediate seconds of pleasure of eating a brownie is now not worth what I will feel like for hours afterwards. It is the same with our healthcare. Yes, eating organic food may be a bit more expensive at first and gym memberships aren't free BUT the long term savings is priceless if I can prevent thyroid, candida issues and other possibly dangerous and extremely costly dis-eases. I promise you that healthcare and doctors can not and will not fix you. I have been there and the only way to wellness is through information, baby steps of change, and conscious choice. We have to think about our future; we often do with our children but not with ourselves! We are important, we are worthy of our own self-care and without our health then nothing else matters.

The charged energy in the room after this screening was palpable. Health, like money and spirituality, are juicy issues and they all come down to self-worth. I realized last night that the best way we can change the world is by changing our selves. The Gandhi method of "being the change" is the answer. As I have taken responsibility and educated myself about gluten and experimented with a cleaner diet, I have raised my vibration and consciousness. My friends and family have noticed. 

They have asked me what I am doing and they have slowly started to make changes. One friend is now juicing and feels amazing, a family member has cut back on her sugar dependency, and another friend is experimenting with gluten-free. I am so proud of them and myself. This is how we get healthier as a nation! This is how we break free of ill-ness and treat our bodies as our temples.

As I drove home from this event I realized the way to vitality is really to raise consciousness. One of my teachers says: "Every time one person resolves one issue, all of humanity evolves." My intention with Synergy TV is to raise consciousness. As I have raised my own consciousness I have changed so much. I now care about what goes into my body, what I think in my head, what I put into the environment, what I clean my body with, and so on. I am more response-able as I have more knowledge and I am inspired to change because I want to feel great. I am done with the status quo of misery and suffering. When we grow in consciousness we make healthier, smarter, conscious choices. 

Synergy TV is all about conscious choice which is the free will we have despite our circumstances. How we choose to respond to anything - sugar or vegetable, couch or gym, sleep or stress, positive thinking or negative - it is ALL up to us. We have the power and all we need or want to be vibrant, healthy and fully alive is within. Nothing we fill ourselves up with will provide the love we are seeking.

I love you and I encourage you to watch this film, to share it with loved ones, to screen it at schools and churches, and to participate in raising your concsciousness and others. We will do our best to bring you VITALITY on Synergy TV soon. Dr. Pedram Shojai is a true health-care rockstar and he has started Well.org which has more information on how to live a vibrant, healthy life. He is surrounding himself by smart doctors, charities he can help, and brands that care.

We are the ones we have been waiting for. The love you are seeking is within. Your birthright is vitality - choose it now.

Entertain - Enlighten - Inspire,
Kate Neligan - Founder/CEO of Synergy TV

Public Interest Pictures Non-Profit Film Festival

I'm excited to announce that SynergyTV is partnering with Public Interest Pictures for their upcoming Film Festival this Sunday, October 21st in Los Angeles.

 

This group is doing something really cool! They are partnering filmmakers with charities to create films and then all of the shorts are screening in a festival at the end of the weekend. Its sort of like a 48 hour film festival with a great prize and supporting great causes.

 

I believe they are still looking for both filmmakers to participate and attendees for their Non-Profit Film Festival. If you would like to apply, definitely send them a note or just come to The Hub for the showing on Sunday evening.

Public Interest Pictures Non-Profit Film Festival Weekend: http://publicinterestpics.org/calling-all-filmmakers/

JULIE & JULIA Movie Review

JULIE & JULIA offers such a positive, feel-good and heart-warming experience.  It feels like a “chick flick” and yet it is really for anyone that needs to believe that pursuing a passion can pay off. Meryl Streep is amazing as Julia Child and Amy Adams is endearing as Julie Powell. Based on the true story of a Queens girl who started a blog to give herself something to look forward to outside of her job. Her life parallels the famous cook, Julia Child’s, as they both transform through their love of food.

I can see why so many people adore this film because it sends an inspirational message that anyone can be successful. My favorite moment in the film is when Julie starts to listen to her 65 voice mails after she is written about in the NY Times. She quickly receives offers for an agent, a book, and a movie. In many ways, this is any entrepreneur’s dream (and certainly my own!) to hit it big overnight. Yet the truth is that Julie showed up consistently every day for a year to cook and write about her experience. It made me realize that a great idea, paired with consistent committed action really does yield significant results. Julia Child also had many attempts before her famous cookbook was published.

What I loved the most about this film is the relationship that both Julie and Julia are in with their respective husbands. The strength and support these men offered to their wives was amazing to me. It gave me hope that there are great guys out there that will show up for strong women who are working on their dreams. In the past, I used to feel like I would have to choose between an amazing relationship or my dream career. I always thought both would take so much time but this film portrays a different reality where both are not only possible but work together in complete harmony. I was comforted by the generosity these men offered to their leading ladies and how they worked as a team with the common phrase of “we’ll figure it out.” I have so much hope that these relationships exist now.

I also particularly liked how Julia raised the bar for Julie to be a better person. Sometimes we really do need a mentor or idol to follow and to positively project the new, higher-self qualities we are stepping into. This film also portrays Julia as a master at visioning. She stated clear affirmations that her book would change the world and it did. Her enthusiasm, yes-attitude, and love for food were infectious and impactful. She is proof that anything that we jump out of bed for at 6:30am is worth pursuing and doing every day of our lives.

So that is my blog post about a movie about a blogger! I am proud of Julie for staying the course of her commitment and for reaching success. As her husband said, she was already a writer; she just needed to own this in herself regardless of the outer circumstances. I am going to own being a writer as well, even if only a handful of people read this blog (for now). I love films with purpose, meaning and heart that make us feel good and to me the movie JULIE & JULIA is like beef bourguignon to Julia Child.

Entertain - Enlighten - Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV and Mindful Media Entertainment LLC.

FINDING JOE Movie Review & Interview by guest blogger: Matt Welsh

Synergy TV guest blogger and Founder of Spiritual Media Blog, Matt Welsh, interviews Patrick Solomon producer of FINDING JOE.

“Finding Joe” is a documentary that interviews visionaries from a wide variety of fields on how Joseph Campbell’s teachings on ‘following your bliss’ and ‘The Hero’s Journey’ can be applied to our everyday life, including our challenges and personal dragons. The movie has become so popular that even President Barack Obama requested a screener of the film.

Finding Joe – Trailer V.7 from pat solomon on Vimeo.

While most inspirational documentaries focus on how good life can be if you get everything you want; “Finding Joe” stands out because it interviews real life people ranging from Deepak Chopra, Tony Hawk, to Rashida Jones about how their struggles, failures, and personal dragons were necessary to help them develop the capabilities to truly follow their bliss.

According to the film, everybody receives some sort of mysterious call to adventure or to awaken to a life previously unknown. Not everybody answers this call. However, those that do and then choose to act on this call embark on what Campbell and the film describe as ‘The Hero’s Journey.’

As the documentary portrays in vivid detail from popular movies, enactments of classic tales by a group of sweet and motley group of kids, and first hand accounts from real people ‘The Hero’s Journey’ is filled with a series of tests, trials, or ordeals a person must go through to begin and complete a transformation. Often a person will fail one or more of these tests. But, if the hero remains steadfast and open to unexpected help along the way, he or she will emerge victorious. For example, Campbell summarizes this process in “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” when he writes

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”

I had the chance to interview the filmmaker for “Finding Joe”, Patrick Solomon, and asked him what sort of dragons he faced in his personal journey. His answer was very insightful and eye-opening:

“On my own personal journey, there are a lot of challenges in making a movie. I went down this road when I first started this movie. And I shot a bunch of things. I went to Bali. I went to Jerusalem. I shot just a ton of film and interviewed a bunch of people and when I started to put that together it wasn’t working.

So, at some point, I had to admit that this wasn’t going to work and we got to take another path. But, that to me was a dragon. That was months and months of work and thousands and thousands of dollars that I kind of had to let go of and come to grips with the truth that that wasn’t going to work. And, that was a wrestling match and that took months to come to the point of saying ‘okay man this isn’t going to work, you gotta let that go.’ And, I’m glad I did because the movie would be quite different had I hung onto that.”

The rest of our conversation focuses on why he made “Finding Joe” in addition to some straightforward advice for other filmmakers who are trying to make an inspirational or transformational film. You can listen to our entire 9 minute conversation by clicking the play button below.

Or, you can download an MP3 of our interview by right clicking on text below.
RIGHT CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MP3 of interview
Finding Joe is truly a transformational film that will help anyone who is wrestling with a personal dragon right now, but knows in their heart that they are on path. Or as Joseph Campbell said,

“Follow your bliss and the Universe will open doors where there were only walls.”

SAMSARA Movie Review

Before I saw SAMSARA I knew very little about it, I just knew I wanted to see it. I was expecting a documentary of beautiful footage with commentary and what I got was an almost two hour meditative experience. The first 15 minutes of the film I was annoyed, contemplated leaving, and was thinking of all that I had to do. I felt like I was just watching a nice slide show of someone’s amazing photography. Then I realized I had an opportunity to slow down, relax, and let go. I was in for a journey – in fact the longest one we can ever make: the trip from head to heart.

By the end of SAMSARA I was captivated and actually having a deep experience. I could see that the film was a piece of art. It felt like I should have been at a museum rather than a movie theatre. It showcased how subjective art really is because at the end all of us who saw it shared a different experience.

People might think SAMSARA is telling a story and that there is a message in it, and I would have to disagree. I believe the moving images on screen are just scenes and we make them whatever we want. Just like we do in our lives with whatever happens. The story we saw in SAMSARA is the projection of our mind onto the images. The on-going inner voice I heard was to not judge. I kept hearing one of my spiritual teachers saying “it is what it is” and “all there is, is what is”. I realized I could remain neutral when there were some creepy images, as well as when there was something beautiful. 

If we really are a neutral observer to our thoughts while watching this film, we are in for quite a treat. I saw so many of the people in the film as unhappy. It felt like no one was smiling and everyone was taking life so seriously. It made me think, how is this my inner experience?  Is my own heart smiling right now? Could all of humanity use more joy and upliftment?

I felt sick during the scenes of animal husbandry and mass consumption of products. I had to close my eyes and I realized this is an area of my life where I want and choose to remain ignorant. I had also had a realization that I could use less paper, order out less, and recycle even more when I watched all of the shots of the trash in our world. I also realized how lucky and blessed I am to not only live in America but to have the job I do.

SAMSARA is a silent film. There is beautiful music that is well scored and perfectly synched to the images but the only real soundtrack is what is going on in our minds as we watch. This is where the reality is – everything else is just photographs of our world on a screen. Life truly is what we make it.

While this film is certainly enlightening in nature because of the process your mind goes through, it was hard for me to see it as entertaining. It is beautiful, bizarre, fascinating, colorful, and eye-opening. If we pay attention, especially to certain images, we can see the truth of “as above, so below” and the inter-connectedness of all things.

My favorite part is the creation of the sand mandala towards the beginning and the teaching of non-attachment that it circles back to at the end. This is one of the main messages I took from the film: to be non-attached to our thoughts as they come and go.

If you have any desire to really travel the world, this is the film for you. Just expect an amazing instillation at a modern art museum and not an educational National Geographic program. Be mindful of your thoughts and I promise you that you’ll learn something new about how you relate to the world. Certainly that is worth the price of a movie ticket, is it not?!

Entertain-Enlighten-Inspire,

Kate Neligan  - Founder/CEO of Synergy TV

P.S.  Big THANK YOU to the University of Santa Monica for inviting me to see this film and to Mark Magidson and Ron Fricke for making a stunning masterpiece.

 

One of the best short films ever made... "Change for a Dollar"

This is a MUST see short, drop everything you are doing and watch it now - it is amazing! I was crying within two minutes and couldn't stop sopping until the end. However, it's not sad at all - it's inspiring and uplifting and will make you feel better about humanity.

"Change for a Dollar" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DXL9vIUbWg

I had to post about this right away because I am so moved and deeply touched by the journey this film takes us on in just ten minutes and with only six words of dialogue. I wanted to share it so hopefully you are as well.

I've always believed that the homeless are actually highly evolved souls that come here as teachers for all of us. The first time I heard this was in "Embraced by the Light" which is a beautiful book that really looks at our homeless in a very different way.

What came forward for me while watching this is that homeless men and women truly are angels. Especially the one in this film. Why, you might ask? Because if we are ever triggered by them or get emotionl - they are being of service to our own personal growth and healing.

There is nothing less human about them because they don't work or because they might be a little dirty from the streets. They are still divine beings having a human experience just like the rest of us and it is a simple choice to shower them with compassion rather than judgment.

Every single time I see a homeless person I say the following blessing: "peace be with you" and this has been a silent prayer for years for me and I know some day one of them will look at me and say "and also with you" because I KNOW they are connected and tapped in to Source. We are no different and in fact, we are all connected.

I am so grateful for this video, the different and refreshing perspective, and for the acts of kindness so gracefully demonstrated. The only thing that is wrong with our homeless population is our own greed and any collective consciousness regarding lack.

It is time America to live more simply, do with less and help our brothers and sisters with what they need. There is ENOUGH, we are enough.....let's start acting like it.

My heartfelt prayer is that more of these films are made and seen, so we can look into the mirror to a better humanity. My promise is that I will do everything I can to see this happen.

- Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV
Enterain - Enlighten - Inspire

THE HORSE BOY Movie Review

THE HORSE BOY is an inspirational documentary about one family’s journey to find a miracle in Mongolia.  If you love horses, are affected by autism, or crave an epic travel trip, this movie is for you. Unlike other documentaries with loads of information and too many experts, this film breaks the mold and takes you to a far-away land with a cast of lovable characters that are on a mission to heal.

In the film, we get to follow Rupert, his amazing wife Kristin, and their adorable son Rowan on a journey on horseback (and in a van!) across the beautiful landscapes of Mongolia. The trip was sparked by Rupert's realization that his son’s autism lessens when he is on top of a sweet mare named Betsy. Being a journalist who has studied the healing world of Shamanism, Rupert asks the question:  what if the combination of horses and shamanism could heal my son? His quest for an answer leads to a crazy adventure across the world to meet with a remote reindeer tribe of Shamans.

I was so excited to finally watch this movie as I was lucky enough to meet Rupert at a Horseboy training camp at Connemara Ranch where I trail ride. I was immediately pulled into his blunt, hilarious, and loving approach to working with horses and autistic children. I’ve always wanted to volunteer with horses and this was my first step into the world of service with my favorite creatures on Earth. Rupert is quite simply a brilliant trainer, rider and father. His story of how he has helped his son, Rowan, deal with autism is awe-inspiring.

It is quite miraculous to witness Rowan’s transformation in the film as he works with various shamans. It is also fascinating to watch his mom Kristin, who is somewhat skeptical, experience the magic in this healing. The audience will quickly fall for Rupert who just adores his son and will do anything for him. We feel compassion for him as he judges his choice to take him to Mongolia. We watch the terror and challenges the parents face as they deal with an incontinent and tormented child. The tantrums are tough to watch and yet make the miracle of Rowan’s transformation all that more meaningful.

I don’t want to ruin any of this film for you as it is truly worth watching. But I have to admit that I too was somewhat skeptical of shamanism (and I’m open to many healing modalities). This film made me a believer. It was so inspiring to see so much love and transformation in this film. I couldn’t help but think that Rupert and Kristin were the perfect parents to conceive an autistic child because it made them so strong and deeply loving and patient. It also led Rupert to his dharma to start the Horse Boy Foundation which helps many autistic children and their families. He is living a life of purpose and his son was just the start of his service to humanity.

What I witnessed with Rowan and his animal friends in the movie, and with an autistic child at Connemara Ranch, was shocking. It is as though autistic children and animals, especially horses, speak the same language. Horses become gentle as though they know they need to nurture and treat these children with special love and understanding. It makes me appreciate them even more and helps me to believe in magic and miracles as well.

THE HORSE BOY helps us to see that not everything can be explained. That the spiritual side of life is mysterious and profound. And that sometimes all we need for healing it to believe it's possible. Rupert and Kristin show us that hope and an open mind can completely change our lives. And most importantly, the film highlights the importance of the human virtues of love, patience and perseverance. I highly recommend this dose of inspiration and enlightenment. That is what we are about here at Synergy TV: opening your mind and heart while leaving you feeling better about humanity. The film also left me pondering these questions: How far would you go for your child? How can we respect animals more and tap into their magical healing powers?  What would you be willing to do for a miracle?

BRAVE Movie Review

The latest Disney & Pixar spectacular was definitely touching and beautiful, but not as amazing as I was hoping for on the big screen. I saw BRAVE opening night because I was waiting for this film for months as the marketing grabbed me from first glance. However, I was really hoping for it to be deeper. I was ready to see a heroine that really inspired me but the story was still a little surface-level. The film does a great job of being a fit for both adults and children, but it is not as clever as the SHREK series, as deep as UP or as transformative as THE LION KING.

That said, the animation in BRAVE is stunning and it is amazing to me how far our technology and graphics have evolved over time. Pixar proved they are still the best animators in town! The film is set in Scotland and the culture and landscape are brilliantly showcased. Having been to Scotland and having lineage to that country, it felt like a bit of homecoming for me.

The themes of BRAVE are worth mentioning and make it a film that could be classifed as mindful. One of the best lines is: “your destiny is inside, you just have to be brave enough to see it” which was the core of the film and the question: “if you had the chance to change your fate, would you?” is the dilemma that shapes the main character, Princess Merida’s journey.  The theme that we can choose our path and create our own lives once we step into courage was prevalent and a wonderful message, especially for young women.

The true beauty in the film surrounds the lessons that unfold from the mother-daughter relationship. Merida challenges her mother’s (Queen Elinor) position and the kingdom’s custom on marriage.  Merida believes in marrying for love rather than tradition and takes her fate into her own hands when she visits a witch and causes a lot of mischief. The consequences of a spell take both characters on a life-changing journey. An old prince’s tale is woven together with Merida’s and the audience sees another clear lesson that self-centeredness will only turn you or your loved ones into something dark and unBEARable.

It was refreshing to see a strong, independent female lead that loves her archery set and horse as much as her family. Princess Merida is spirited, curious, loving and stubborn and throughout the film she learns that trying to change someone else has ramifications.

Another theme worth noting is the one of feminity portrayed in the movie. Queen Elinor is often telling the Princess how to be a "lady" but through their shared journey we see she learns a lot about what being a true Queen really means. When Merida or Elinor enters a room the men stop fighting to watch and listen to these women. There is a great scene where the Princess speaks to all of the warriors with compassion and understanding and they join together, clearly seeing a new way. This scene is a signpost of how things can be for women when they stand in their truth and demand respect with gentleness, bringing unity to their community. I really enjoyed seeing the impact the Queen and the Princess had when they stood in bravery and feminine power. 

So even though I had huge expectations of this film and it was a bit over-hyped for me, I still think it is beautiful, touching, and has important and positive messages, especially for girls and women.  The lessons about family, peace, courage, feminine power and unity are keys for all of us who wish to live more peacefully with each other. We need to be brave and also realize our destiny is tied to each other.

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder & CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment LLC
www.synergytvnetwork.com

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME Movie Review

The first time I saw the synopsis of JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME I knew I had to see the film so I decided to rent it from Redbox (recently out on DVD/VOD). The movie really delivers on all levels and is very realistic, fun, and spiritual.  It’s not only hilarious but also touching and deep. The filmmakers accomplished so much in a short time and kept the story fresh and original. Some of my favorite actors, Susan Sarandon who plays Sharon, Ed Helms (from “The Office”) who plays Pat and Jason Segal who plays Jeff, star in this film and they all did a fantastic job with their characters.

Interconnected storylines often make for great films and this one was no exception. In the vein of CRASH, or Fox’s new TV series “Touch”, JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME explores how life is like a webbed tapestry of impact. Right from the beginning we see that Jeff wants to know his destiny and fate. He spends a while thinking about this and is always looking for signs. He believes everything happens for a reason and there are no wrong numbers or coincidences. One could easily pass off his beliefs as naïve or the mind of a stoner, yet as the story unveils we get a glimpse into his heart as well as a deeper explanation of our world.

One of the reasons this is such a great film is that it’s very real and believable.  We see Jeff as a hopeful character full of acceptance and introspection. The only thing he seems to have in common with his brother is the loss of their dad since Pat is full of anger and focused on materialism. There is a realistic fight scene between them that reminded me of the fights I used to get into with my brother. The relationship between Pat and his wife was also very realistic: a typical strained marriage where neither really listens and no one knows how to communicate or understand one another.

In fact, the desire to be understood is another theme in the film. Jeff feels like his family misunderstands him, Pat’s wife doesn’t feel heard and Sharon just wants someone that gets her. I feel as though we can all relate to this theme, as often our families don’t get us. I know my brother and dad rarely understand my empathic nature and, similar to how Pat feels about Jeff, I know they wish they could see the world the way I see it as well: with a lot of compassion and a big open heart.

Jeff is also judged for living at home and not doing anything major with his life, yet his relationships with others is beautiful to watch.  He is patient, grounded, loving, and has a great sense of curiosity.  He pays attention to everything and is present. It’s this presence that is actually his contribution to the world and not what he does for a living.  While his destiny is related to what he does, it’s primarily about who he is.

This movie had me thinking - what if I woke up one day and let everything be a sign and followed my “gut” or intuition? What would that journey look like? What would happen? How would my life change and how would I change others? These are deep and important questions to ask because we so often think we know best or that we SHOULD do certain things each day. Most of the time we live on auto-pilot but what if the all-intelligent “source” knows more than us and we could know the plan if we listened?

What if true happiness actually came from being guided by a much more powerful voice than our egos? What if we asked the question: “Love, how can I serve you today, what would you have me do and where would you have me go?” I’ve found magic when I’ve paid attention to the subtle clues/messages/signs and connections the Universe is always sending.  Noticing signs is just like being tuned into a specific radio station or television channel. In this film we get to see Jeff do this for one day and his journey is transformational.

Synchronicities and serendipity is a big part of this film as well as my daily life.  I’ll often receive direct messages from license plates, songs on the radio, actual billboards, or from people and animals. Or I’ll ask a question and then wait to see the answer show up sometimes in mere minutes. It’s truly wonderful to live life this way – as Einstein says, “as though everything is a miracle.” I used think this was “stupid,” the way Pat does in the movie, and everything should be scientifically proven. But how can you prove magic and miracles? We just need to believe. We don’t manifest what we want, we manifest what we believe.

In this movie Jeff believed, listened and followed something greater than his rational mind. He surrendered and an amazing thing happened; his destiny to help others appeared in both big and small ways. In fact, all destinies are tied to each other and to serving others; it’s just a matter of recognizing this and then watching the opportunities appear.

I believe that the Universe puts us in the right place at the right time, especially for all of our life-changing events, such as when we meet our soul mates, when we receive our dream job, or when we get the chance to impact someone else. It is true that we may never know what we are here to do, yet if we listen and follow the signs we will gather glimpses into a much greater knowledge.

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME is truly the perfect “synergy film” or “mindful movie” as it makes you laugh and cry and also imparts wisdom and truth through quirky characters and a real story. I loved that the movie started with a quote from Jeff that says, “Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny.” I would have to agree with this wise 30 year old man that lives in his mom’s basement!

The messages in this film are clear: surrender to the signs and watch your destiny unfold. True understanding is really listening and loving. Whether it’s listening to our brother, spouse, co-worker, or the Universe, as human be-ings we get to choose the loving way.

I hope this film delights you as much as it did me.  I highly recommend it and it will most definitely go on my Top 10 Mindful Movies of the year list!

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan

Founder & CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment LLC

 P.S. Best line from the film: “Yoda would be killer in a business meeting.” I’ll be remembering that in my next one and allowing my inner-Yoda to shine!

MORNING GLORY Movie Review

I wasn't expecting much from MORNING GLORY, a $31 Million grossing movie from Paramount, since it seemed to be in and out of theatres so quickly. However, I adored the film.  I'm a huge fan of Rachel McAdams (from THE NOTEBOOK) and will see anything she is in, which is why I bought this DVD. I totally fell in love with the story, Rachel's character, and the romance between her and Patrick Wilson's character in the film. I have also never seen so much of myself in a character on screen before, which made me smile.

The film starts off when Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is out on a date in NJ and she references one of my stomping grounds back home, Matthew's diner in Waldwick! Being a former Jersey-girl, and still one at heart, I immediately fell for the film. Becky works at "Good Morning New Jersey," a local morning show, as a producer and has her dreams set high on becoming the show's exectuive producer. She knows she is a natural born leader and has worked hard to move up the ladder in the TV business. When she is called into her boss's office everyone expects her to receive a big raise and promotion but to everyone's surprise she is actually fired. This is a turning point for her as she is forced to leave the "nest" and seek out a bigger life.

The conversation between Becky and her mom after she loses her job pulled at my heartstrings.  Her mom tells her that her dream was cute when she was a kid but it is now an embarrassment because she has not yet achieved it and soon her path could lead to heart break. I felt so much for Becky as so many of us are told to give up on our dreams, expecially if we have not achieved them by a certain age. In true Jersey girl fashion, Becky is way too strong and driven to give up and she makes incessant calls for job openings. 

While I saw myself in this character from the opening scene, I also noticed the same  "Go Confidently in the Direction of your Dreams" mug on her nightstand, which allowed me to relate most to her persistence in her career. When she lost her first job that she loved and moved to the Big Apple for her dream, I had a similar experience when I moved to Los Angeles for mine. I couldn't help but smile at how confident Becky is in her career and her ability to perservere. I have always had this sense of inner drive and confidence without ever knowing where it came from and it is what has led me to success over and over again. In my career I feel as though I can achieve anything. Becky is the same in this movie as she sets out to accomplish the impossible in TV. I have always loved and agreed with Les Brown's quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

Becky continues to be one of the quirkiest characters we have seen on screen in ages and dazzles us with her clutziness, over-sharing, endless energy, creativity, intelligence, big smiles, and persistence.  She is a self-admitted rambler and puts her career before everything and everyone else, sometimes to her own detriment as she starts a new relationship with Adam (Patrick Wilson).

Again, the projections I saw and parallels to my life were continual and so I could not help but identify with the lessons in the film to slow down, never give up, and be clear about your priorities with others.  One of my favorite parts was when she learns to put her phone in the freezer when it starts to ring off the hook with work! How many times have we all wanted to do this?! I believe that we can all learn ways to unwire and unplug from the constant demands of others so we can be more present with ourselves and our loved ones.

This film is not only heartwarming, refreshingly unique, sweet and touching but also hilarious. I laughed quite a few times at the clever one-liners and the ridiculous characters. It is clear that Becky and her team at Daybreak are underdogs, especially next to the giant Today Show and yet they become a close-knit family helping each other open up in new ways.  The casting of the two co-anchors that host the morning show, Diane Keaton, who plays Colleen, and Harrison Ford who plays Mike, is superb and it's great to see these acting giants supporting Rachel McAdams as the star. 

My favorite message from the film is that while we can accomplish our dreams at work, we are really here to create connections with each other.  Becky's relationship with Mike is comical, troubled and endearing but she helps him to become a better man.  She opens up a part of Colleen that was ready to come out and play, and she not only saves her co-workers but also inspires them at the same time.  The film and Becky's work are truly meaningful because of the bonds created and the transformation that occurs. 

I turned off this movie with a big smile on my face, acknowledging my own quirkiness, and knowing there is hope for my love life even when I have workaholic tendencies.  I felt secure and happy remembering that I can achieve anything I want in my career with my drive, confidence and a dash of my good-ole strong Jersey girl work ethic and attitude! :)  I hope people continue to see this film because it is not only fun but also has a great message, especially for women in their careers.

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder & CEO of Synergy TV and Mindful Media Entertainment
www.synergytvnetwork.com

MONEYBALL Movie Review

Overall MONEYBALL drew a bit more hype than it deserved, but it’s definitely worth a watch, especially if you happen to enjoy baseball or Brad Pitt.  Though it doesn’t compare to most inspirational sports movies like FIELD OF DREAMS, it does have mindful messages and inspirational themes. 

The film – another example of a live action drama showcasing true events - is more engaging and successful than any documentary could have been with the same story. Brad Pitt (“Billy Beane”) and Jonah Hill (“Peter Brand”) made a great pair. Refreshingly, Hill, who is known more for comedy, was excellent in a serious role. 

  In fact, Hill shines in the best scene of the movie which occurs towards the end of the film. In this exchange, Brand explains a baseball play to Beane that is a huge metaphor for life. I don’t want to ruin this scene if you haven’t seen the movie yet; but it hit me in a powerful way. It helped me to see that we all have limits to our thinking and to seeing ourselves as hugely successful.

Our fears and our blocks often get in the way of understanding the truth about ourselves.

One of the themes that I really enjoyed was Beane’s drive to make a profound and lasting impact on the sport.  He didn’t just want to win the last game of the season; he wanted to bring justice to a system he viewed as unfair because of money. 

I’ve been a big Yankees fan my entire life.  I remember going to games with my dad and brother as a kid, and I’ve held onto a deep sense of love and pride for the pinstripes.  I used to blindly defend them even when others would criticize them for monopolizing the sport.  Now I can see how unfair the system is and how the Yankees have been blessed with more prosperity. I feel like MONEYBALL helped me to see the truth about America’s favorite pastime.

It was also enlightening to see the power money has always had to buy talent, how some players are paid far more than they’re worth, and yet others are vastly underpaid. I couldn’t help but recognize the parallels to many corporations and high-level business executives. I loved that MONEYBALL showed us another way: a system that gives the underdogs a chance to shine. 

The formulas and numbers make sense in MONEYBALL, and yet this plan didn’t succeed at first.  I believe that the A’s consistently won because Beane, the GM, managed the team with care and creativity. The film portrays their turn-around as occurring when Beane took an interest in the players, and when he started to explain their statistics and encouraged Dave Justice (one of my all-time favorite players) to be a leader. It was clear to me that the attention and love was the changing force, not the mathematics.

It is the same in business. I found myself flourishing in my job when my boss coached me, and I noticed that when I mentored my staff, they were more willing to step up. It’s like Dr. Seuss says in THE LORAX, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

The theme of winning/losing and success/failure was evident in this film. It’s apparent that Beane’s flashbacks to his years as a player and his perceived failure, was a driving force for him to succeed as the GM of the Oakland A’s.  He saw an unfair system and realized there was another way.  He met Peter by chance, but he also recognized talent when he saw it and was willing to adopt a new perspective when all of baseball disagreed with him.

In fact, Beane’s persistence to be a changer-maker, even in the face of failure, was one of the most inspirational aspects of the film.  His ripple effect was significant as well since the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 only two years after implementing his controversial approach to the game. 

SPOILER ALERT!  However, most inspiring of all was his decision to stay with the team that he loved rather than taking millions of dollars to move to the Red Sox. It was surprising to me that he would walk away from so much money and opportunity.  Yet if he left, he would have been no different than Giambi and Damon, two of his former players, if he too had jumped ship for a bigger paycheck. Billy’s decision to follow his heart demonstrated his integrity, his priorities and strength.

I admire Beane for his drive, his steadfast belief in his vision, and his courage to be an agent of change.  It’s not just sports, but all areas of our society that need these kinds of leaders who are ready to shake up the old systems that no longer work.  It is time to provide new opportunities for talent to shine and for outside-the-box thinkers to make positive, lasting changes, despite the status quo.  These leaders will rise in this new era of consciousness; we need to be ready for them.   

Thank you Billy Beane for trailblazing a new path, and for showing us that heart and connection are more powerful than money!

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment