Short & Sweet 2022 Gift Guide

Gifts are a love language. If someone gives you a gift there is a word for it: gave. They gave you a gift..."gifting" or "gifted" are annoying words, please don't use. 

Now let me guide you to some gifts worth *giving*... 

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The Chronicles of Narnia Book Set* | $23

For a kid who might not know, or an adult who knows all too well about the joy of entering in the wardrobe. Other sets ideas to give- Shel Silverstein, Goosebumps, Babysitters Club, you know... the classics. *hot tip: most (not all) items on Costco.com you don't need to be a member to buy, shipping is usually low too. You're welcome.

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Thrive Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara | $25

This was given to me last Christmas and lives up to it's hype. I didn't want to like it because you can't find it at the store, you have to order through their website, but that also makes it a better gift since it isn't something you can just pick up at the store. 

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Sur La Table Flex-Core Jar Scraper With Stainless Steel Handle | $15 

I impulse bought this at checkout like 5 years ago and it's one of my most used kitchen utensils. Fits in jars, but I use it all the time for egg scrambling, bowl scraping, frosting swirling. It's held up too, good as new to this day. 

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Fresh Flowers by Urban Stems | $50 to $150 depending on bouquet 

You can send them to friends near or far, or just come with. People say "but they are short lived" ok, let me tell you, show up with a bouquet of flowers, and they will be a welcomed delight even if for just 5 days, people will like them for 5 days.

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Virtual Live Baking Class  | $45 & up

They say experiences are the best (though, maybe not always practical). This option charges per device so you can book and invite friends over for a fun night in or you can buy one for you and one for a someone who lives away from you, both on together for the same class! 

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Land's End Flagship Flannel Button-down Shirt, also in Big & Tall | $26 

If it's good enough for John Dutton, then your bro/dad/man deserves to try to be a little bit more like Rip by way of his outfit, lol.

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Flying Toy | $15

Idk, looks fun. 

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Recipe to make them a comfort dessert | $10 + your time and the secret ingredient: either love or pot, up to you.

And do yourself a favor, use with the best chocolate chips ever (that tip right there is a gift from me to you). 

XOXO, Merry Christmas! Happy gifting.... hahahaha jk, don't use that word for real.

2020 McMary's Gift Guide for a Wonderful Life

Yours & Mine- a 2020 Gift Guide

So you can be responsible for at least one fond memory from this year! 

Plug IYKYK: I love a deal: I've been using E-bates/Rakuten for years & years. It's a click thru rebate. Sign up w/ this link https://www.rakuten.com/r/AOTMC1 

Comfortable Reusable Washable Face Masks

I have get to wear a mask through my entire work day to keep safe. Yes, I can breathe. Yes, I forget it is on. Yes, I don't like it. Yes, I've tried tons. Also, can't confirm, but I'm pretty sure I got 44 hooked on these... They come in lots of colors/prints for adult size faces and kid sizes & have an antimicrobial finish on the fabric.

 $25 for 5 (of the same print/color) | Masks from Jaanuu.com

Beautiful Gold Bangle or Cuff Bracelet or Set

For anyone who is sad, lol. I can't imagine anyone not loving this cuff set, or any person not appreciating a simple gold bangle - two options for your giving spirit. I can see a teen to a grammy appreciating this - a classic that still works. If they don't do gold, seek out a silver option. Esty has many many choices as well, here are two of my favorite options I've come across-

$118 | Soko Set of 4 Delicate Bangle Cuff Bracelets from Nordstrom

$23 | Kate Spade Heart of Gold Bangle from Macy's 

L'Oreal 8 Second Wonder Water Hair Conditioner

Having dyed the grey out of my hair like clockwork for 14 years (do the math later), so it needs some extra care. Hair is instantly is softer, less tangly, and more manageable until the next wash. Think this through before deciding who should get this- like don't go around throwing this into your coworker-with-the-bad-hair gift basket, ok? Maybe just get it for yourself or someone you know v well. 

$10 | I buy from Target but it's at all the drugstores & Ulta

A Do-It-Yourself Beanie Snap on Pom Pom Set

A great option for a creative teen, or a cute kid in a cooler climate. This set is an add on to a beanie they already have or you could include a beanie with it. The poms have the snaps attached, and the match snap can be simply sewn atop a beanie or two- or get creative with a scarf trim, a casual shoe, etc.

$15 for pom snap set | Faux Fur Pom Snap On Press Button Set from Amazon

$12 for beanie | Free People Beanie from Amazon

Watercolor Brush Pen Set + Instructional Book + Bound Paper

Speaking of being creative- any artist, budding artist, or anyone who likes to tactical/kinesthetically sooth will be tranced by this activity. It would also make a fun gift to get for yourself and for a long-distance or a friend you're protecting from covid. You could pick a project to work on together- either on a FaceTime or Zoom simultaneously or just to send updates to one another periodically. 

$8 | WaterColor Brush Tip Pens from Amazon

$6-$20 | Cason WaterColor Paper Options from Amazon

$18 | "15 Minute Watercolor Masterpieces: Create Frame Worthy Art in a few simple Steps"

A Do-It-All-or-Nothing Pocket Tool

IDK guys, it's for guys or girls who fix stuff or you want to fix stuff& it looks cool in all black. 

$20 | Gerber Dime Pocket Multi-Tool from Cabella's

Do It Yourself Hot Sauce Kit

What people have is some time to stay inside, to stay safe, and to be bored... so give them something to do. Banana Bread & Sourdough Starters step aside! Hot Sauce is coming to town.

$35 | Make Your Hot Sauce from Target

Handmade Wood Cutting Charcuterie Cheese Board

While you're in the kitchen, which is becoming the hottest (safest) it-spot in town, might as well do it in style. These beautiful cutting boards will allow you to slice & serve on gorgeous wood, made from various hard woods, you will impress giving a handmade treasure. 

$55-75 | Handmade Wood Kitchen Board from Wild Gomar Designs on Etsy

Cured Meats Salami Sampler

On it's own or as a splurge with the board above, you can give a boost to their protein intake with a curated cured meat set 

$60 | Olympia Provisions Salumi Set

A Tote Bag

I wear a very small bag- a little crossbody pouch & the ultimate is actually to be purse-less for me. Except- there are SO MANY times I want to bring everything with me. Examples: the movies, when I have papers I don't want to carry or squish, on any flight ever with a "one personal item limit", the list goes on... so in that case I throw my pouch in this tote along with my movie snax, my work docs, my neck pillow, and a vat of hand sanitizer. 

This tote is cute and v high rated, but the idea is you can go lower cost or baller- a Louis Vitton tote is $1,500 and everything in between. This reversible one from Nords is half the cost of 1/15th of the LV option, lol. 

$50 | Reversible Tote from Nordstrom

$1,500 lol | Louis Vitton Neverfull MM Tote

Can or Bottle Drink Koozie Single Cooler

You addicted to soda like me? I'm a pepper. Cool. Want to keep it cool for hours? Even if it doesn't last this long, it will make it so it doesn't need a coaster or get all nasty wet on the exterior. Also great for summer time outdoors... Pro tip put the drink in the cooler in the fridge first and then it will stay extra cool. Like you, like me. 

$15 | Reduce Drink Cooler from Target

Ok, we are almost done here... and to round out this list, just think: I could have given you no ideas and no post, so just #givethanks lol. 

Squishmallows for All the Kids

They're hit, they're soft, they're cute, and they're so affordable at Costco. I bought for toddler kids, and then when I looked up reviews all the tweens and YA were on YouTube searching for them, so if you have a follower to shop for, ahaha. They are soft and cute. In the warehouse they are a few dollars cheaper, but to get them shipped is nice. 

$10-30 | Soft Pillow Teddy Stuffie Friends of All Types (more than just pictured) from Costco

Membership to the most Exclusive Club

If you need a sponsor from a current member, let me know. I can't guarantee I will give a glowing endorsement but I will be fair, lol. Note: The clubhouse restaurant is temp closed due to pandemic. Even if they are already a member, to not have to pay for the next year is super nice. Oh, and no one ever quits. 

$60-120 for two per household | The Gift of Costco Membership

Last but not least, I leave you with a delicious option if you want to make your own gifts to share- 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake Bars Recipe

I don't even know this blogger, but don't these cookies have damn near everything you'd ever want in life? Thought so too. 

Don't ever pay full price for cream cheese during the holidays | Pinch of Yum Recipe Blog

If uninspired, give to a charity.

Stay safe out there. Mask up. It's a good day to have a good day.

Oscars Academy Award Best Picture OpEd 2020

My thoughts below, yours in the comment section. 

Ford V. Ferrari 

It's fine? It's a sports movie, maybe? Maybe a movie about a nice guy who wins, also about America being the best? Hard to say what the messaging was. I wasn't impressed or unimpressed. I was not entertained. I think this is the Green Book of this year, its so bland that it becomes the defacto winner because no one will dislike it? Who knows/cares. 

The Irishman
I watched as much as I could. It was like a VERY long form vine clip about the mafia. Same looped storyline about how the mob worked... which is exactly how you think it works. Well acted. Mildly well written. Too boring. Which is different than being too long. I've watched over 300 hours of Grey's Anatomy and they have my attention still. Ok, bye. 

Jojo Rabbit
Thought I would appreciate the art of this, but dislike the movie. T'was the other way around. I liked it a lot, but wasn't as well crafted as I kept reading and hearing. It was good, my 2nd favorite. Not sure how they made Hilter a whimsical, acceptable punchline - well, I do know, they straight-up made fun of him and highlighted how idiots fell for him. Much like MAGA/KAGA idiots now. The movie is a parody. I'd be ok with this winning because I did like it and then it would reach more choir members to preach to. 

Joker
Didn't see because I hate watching gore. I like Joaquin. 

Little Women
It was nice. So dramatic. Though, a remake and nothing groundbreaking. And idk who edited it, but they didn't do their job well. 

Marriage Story
Disappointed myself for finishing this. It was impressive because it was so dialogue heavy and the leads both had strong performances. Other than that, it was not worth it. 

1917 
[Editor's note: this was listed here, in this order, which is supposedly 'alphabetical'. Ok, yes if it were titled "Nineteen seventeen" it would be in order, but as you should know: in text any number over ten should be numeric and under ten should be written out long form, so 1917 is correct... however, all numeric things go before "A" when sorting alphabetically, I know these things, the Academy doesn't. Also, this could be wrong because I'm too lazy to google, but I'm pretty sure].

1917 should win. It was a cinematography gift. Well job. Incredible story telling. Innovative. Delicate subject. A few years ago I said we shouldn't make war movies any more, but here we are. 

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
I should have liked it more than I did. It was charming and full of beautiful people. Well acted. I like the gimmick of a movie with in a movie (though we didn't need to watch the whole feature). I often say whatever it is you've got, give people MORE. I guess I am not talking to Q. Tarantino, because this move reeked of him. I like salt on my food; this movie is over salted, warm buttered movie theater popcorn

Parasite
Did you see Gone Girl? Girl on a Train? A Simple Favor? This is that. Those are this. Interchangeable. You'll never be able to unconvince (not a word) me the only real reason this got the nod was because elites love to be pretentious with their subtitled foreign films. This is your basic psychological thriller with dark twisty turns and a dash of comedy. Don't come at me with "it had layers of international class warfare though!". So did Crazy Rich Asians and it wasn't nominated and I'd say it's on the same level. I liked both movies, they were enjoyable, but this and that aren't anything to hand an Oscar to. Shouldn't win. Might win. 

Now Give

My generous, thoughtful givers: I give to you my Gift Guide. I once said that Trump's America doesn't deserve my gift guide, followed by years of going dark... Thank goodness we're finally taking America back. 

Maybe you'll find something to give. Maybe you'll find the intro too political. Maybe you'll find peace on earth and good will towards men. 

Let's get to it, shall we. 

New York Times Custom Birthday Book

Bound front page of every birthday of your (their) life. It's obviously more valuable the older someone is. Comes across as "thoughtful" but you could give this to someone you don't know all that well at all. People love themselves.

 

NYT Custom Book//$100 for leatherette, $145 for linen

Crate and Barrel White Ruffle Earthenware

I can't take credit for the next one; my friends were getting married (Hi Peter + Shannon!), they registered for some of these pieces.  I really liked it and have bought it for a few others as housewarmings. The thing I've noticed is it is used: as a table decorative centerpiece in a few homes I have given it to, the platter for serving a variety of things. It is classic enough to integrate with a ton of differing styles, but interesting enough to be noticeable. Give one or the other, or a set...

16" Ruffle Platter ($30, center under bowl)//15" Large Ruffle Bowl ($30, top) //11" Small Ruffle Bowl ($25, center on top of platter)//5.5" Dip Ruffle Bowl ($8, bottom)

Movies/Whirly Pop
You all deserve better than microwave popcorn. There are a few ways to do this gift, but just do it. Sometimes you just need to spend a few dollars more for the prestige of having the gift arrive from a high end store, or wrapped in the high end store paper, or with the high end store gift receipt. If you don't need that, I will link you to the same product, just cheaper. You can also "bundle" this gift with say a Redbox gift card. This + movie rental card is an awesome family gift for your sibling with 25 children. (iTunes, Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc whatever platform they may use)

Whirly Pop from Bed, Bath, Beyond ($20)// WP from Williams Sonoma ($40 with popcorn kernels) // Amish Popcorn Gift Set ($30)

National Park T-Shirt

Who doesn't love Americas best idea? Get a little local with a T-shirt of their favorite.. or future favorite... place to be.

National Park Service Shirts ($10-18) - Zions, Rocky Mtn, Grand Canyon, Blue Ridge, and more! Also in long sleeve! 

Beyblades for the kids

Am I plugged into what the kids want? IDK, yeah. Well, these toys let them unplug (see what I did there?). You don't even need batteries! These are spinning tops with interchangeable features that are collectable. They battle in stadiums, which you don't need; just a smooth floor that is willing to get scuffed or a patio or driveway or sidewalk. Have fun out there. I'd say 1st-4th grade is the ideal market here. 

Beyblade Battle Bundle or this Battle Bundle ($50) // Beyblade ($10 ) // Stadium ($9)

Nail Polish Set

Good for a girly girl aged 2 to 92. We all have nails, keep them fresh ladies. My niece's favorite is Hello Kitty OPI in Let's Celebrate, included in this kit. 

Hello Kitty OPI Holiday 2019 Collection (under $20)

A Few Bath/Body Little Luxuries 

Tried out a few products from this goat milk based company and everything was nourishing. I have extremely sensitive skin, nothing bothered it at all. 

Beekman 1802 Gift Set ($21)

Hear me out, this isn't to digest. This won't get you high. It is a skin oil. It has cannabis seed extract, deal with it, and slather it. 

First Aid Beauty Oat & Cannabis Sativa Seed Dry Oil ($30)

A New Cookbook

I follow this blogger/home chef. Everything I've made from her recipes is top notch. She just came out with this cookbook. Real food for real homes. 

Hopes Table: Recipes from a Mennonite Kitchen ($20 hardcover, $11 ebook)

BONUS- I'm linking her blog for you to test out the recipes for yourself- here you are

Ice-chest/Cooler

Do you know anyone who likes to camp? road trip? tailgate? picnic? spends the day on the beach? soccer dad/mom? Diet Coke mama? Who doesn't like an ice cold beverage??? WHO?

Camp Zero 10L Cooler, comes in white, blue, or tan from Costco ($70) *hot tip, or shall I say "cool tip"; you don't have to have a Costco card to shop most items online AND most have low to no shipping charges. You're welcome. 

Sees Chocolates

They taste good. 

Box of See's Chocolate (Around $26 a pound, but lots of sizes/options)

And, as always, if you are going to make a home made gift this year, I offer to you this lovely recipe from another blogger: Peppermint Whoopie Pies. Feel free to adjust to your whims; swap the peppermint out for some candied ginger, or a blood orange squeeze & zest, whatever you're feeling my friends.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Have a New Year worth having! 

I love you all (in varying degrees). 

P.S. I love that this blog looks like it was designed in the early 2000's. Thank you for noticing, it was. 

Oscars 2019: Academy Awards Best Picture Nominations

In alphabetical order... my opinions. 

Black Panther- Have not seen. 

Blackkklansman- This was the best movie (not my favorite one nominated, though my 2nd). It was just better than the others. It was creative, well written, entertaining, and had a solid message that was relevant when it happened and now. It was over the top Spike-style, but the story itself is over the top so the style worked for it. The acting was good, and not distracting. It explores racism, which is always polarizing and somehow it makes heroes out of the police, which is a complex juxtaposition to what is currently going on with our current racial tensions... I applaud Spike Lee for his master directing and writing. I also decry criticism that this movie takes too many liberties on writing history... it was based off a true events (not a true story), no one is claiming it is a documentary. It was well paced, drew me in, made me think, made me laugh, it did it's job. 

Bohemian Rhapsody- An overly generous homage to the band Queen, and a bit of a weird (read: inaccurate) take on Freddy Mercury, overacted by Rami Malek. He was begging for the Best Actor win the entire time, and it might have worked... because he isn't a bad actor, he was just like "DO YOU SEE ME?!". In addition to that, the entire costume shop & make up artist teams should be ashamed of their work. Overall, this movie was actually poorly made, but people seemed to like it. Even I didn't dislike it... maybe it was the music that tricked everyone into liking it?  

The Favourite- Not my favorite or my favourite. It had so much potential, could have been something, but wasn't nearly witty enough for itself.  Well acted by all. Olivia Coleman should win for best actress. She was capable to do what the movie failed to do: be believably wickedly fun. Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz were also both nominated for Best Supporting Actress, they were just so unpleasant to the point of being unpalatable. There should have been far more winks from this movie, there were none. There should have been more charisma, there was none. 

Green Book- Don't do a movie about rejecting stereotypes by having a stereotype side-kick. Let me tell you: I was never surprised, let alone delighted, by a black man doing the right thing. I was however disappointed, rolling my eyes, at the side-kick character being a New York Italian-American thug who has mafia friends and eats like a beast and has pasta dinners with his loud family. 

Roma-  Confession: I didn't finish watching this beautifully boring movie. It just isn't the best picture of the year. They spent 10+ minutes showing us the undercarriage of a car parking in a tight space. There was a twist; there was a little doggie doo-do that may or may not be ran over by the car. Also, making a movie in black and white is such a cheap novelty; don't try to distract my attention with this eye-catching ploy... it was set in the 70's, when they literally had color film. Next.

A Star is Born- My favorite to watch of the bunch, I wouldn't mind this winning. What carried the movie was beautiful & talented people telling a time-tested story. Lady Gaga did a good job for being not-an-actress, but she wasn't worthy of any nomination herself.  Cooper proved himself as a solid director. He should probably always direct himself as an actor, because it worked. He is nominated for the performance, deserved. The soundtrack also blurred out many flaws. This movie plays like a first album; Bradly's directing and screenwriting debut, Gaga's acting debut. These people might just have a shot in Hollywood, lol. 

Vice- I guess they didn't think a movie called "Lynne" was going to sell... so instead of titling it "Vice Wife" (which totally would have sold, because it's an almost rhyme)… anyway, they made a movie about Lynne Cheney and they sprinkled in scenes of Dick rising to power and making bad choices. It is like if The Big Short was about politics and instead of teaching us about how it all works, they just "teach us" about what a dick Dick Cheney was.



P.S. AMC A-list is the best 

Oscars 2018 Academy Awards Best Picture OpEd

Spoilers: If you are new around here please realize there will be spoilers. So, buckle up as I run down my thoughts on the Best Picture Nominations, I even score them on my own 10 point scale. 

Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing Missouri- This deserves a win for screenplay. It was v interesting. It explored emotions better than any other nom by far. You not only get a story that is smart, you get characters who are carved out of a situation, who by the end, you got to know enough to know who they are no matter the situation. The final scene is so poetic. As a whole, it is heavy and dark, but I didn't mind. They weren't gross about it. The storytelling struck a good balance for me. Oh, also the music/score was number one for a reason. Who says it was number one? I did just now. It was. 8.8 out of 10

Shape of Water- I refuse to watch 2 minutes (let alone 2 hours) of a human woman falling in lust/love with a non-human, made-up, animal-monster-alien. 0/10. 

Lady Bird- Trying, like, so hella hard. I get to be extra judgy of things I know well, we all do. LB is a teen beyond her years in Northern California with a complicated relationship with her Mom, about to graduate High School in 2002. Well, I graduated in 1999; this movie is mostly just annoying. If you are looking for a movie that is like this one, but better, there are several others you can watch. My pick would be "Where the Heart Is" and I can't even stand Natalie Portman, so that says a lot. You can't make a quaint coming-of-age flick anymore because there's nothing quaint about something that has saturated the market for years. Try "Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist", oh oh or "The Way, Way Back", or ffs read Catcher in the Rye (hated that book maybe more than any other I've ever bothered to read). Now, before my haters think or say "Mary, Mary, you're being quite contrary"! I offer you losers this: the movie didn't suck completely, if I had to grade it using a Film Making 101 matrix it would get high marks. The thing is: this movie should be swirling with angst and varied emotions... yet, it's actually stale and vapid. I felt nothing while being mildly entertained. It needed to be raw. Examples... she caught her 1st love making out with a boy: no big deal for Lady Bird or the movie apparently. Make parents refi their home: NBD. Almost fail class and not graduate: NBD. Have to bail on prom date: NBD. And so it went.  Anyway, the most annoying thing of this whole movie is how they never explain why she chooses her dumb self-appointed nickname. The greatest triumph of the film is how they never explain why her brother Miguel is another race. I'm not kidding. It doesn't matter if you assume he was adopted or a child from a previous relationship of either parent. It. Does. Not. Matter. and that's point. 4/10, maybe 5/10 if you are bored. 

The Post- The Snooze. Spielberg has only himself to blame. It's so him. Soft focus on Hanks being a good guy. The script itself isn't bad. The story is fine. I enjoyed that they stayed true to the history and it was so relevant today... but that has more to do with intrinsic truths than it does movie making. What happened was the whole thing got plugged into the Spielberg machine to crank out a blockbuster. Strong leads: check. Relevant political story: check. Progressive outcome: check. If this movie were visual art it would be a print (get it? a print, newspaper, omg). Spielberg is the Thomas Kinkade of filmmaking in so many ways. 7/10

Call Me By Your Name- Want to move to the Italian countryside for a summer? The cast of sophisticated characters charm their way through living their best lives. Comparing it to Lady Bird is easy since they are both centered around a year in the life of a graduating high schooler. However CMBYN is more of a romance and exploration of the human experience more than a coming of age.Take my disrespect for LB, quadruple it, then triple that, now convert it to appreciation and admiration, that is how I feel about CMBYN. It does lean a touch too sexual overall, taking away from the romance of the relationships and the romance of the film in general. That is my only criticism. It was real and beautiful. I learned it was shot in chronological order (v rare) which I believe gave the actors time to acquaint themselves more fully with their characters and with the story. Nuances like that are what takes things from "mildly entertaining" to deeply moving. One of the best monologues in movie history was delivered (Prof. Pearlman to Elio at the end in the library). This movie lets us in in a profound way. I loved it obviously, which is also easy to do.  9.5/10 

Darkest Hour(s)- This was a good movie. 7/10

Dunkirk- This was a bad movie. 2/10

Get Out- Should win. It was the best picture. Brilliant. You might not have gotten it. I say that with all the contempt in the world. If you don't love this movie or realize how many layers of genius is involved here, you might never get it (the movie or life). Like nothing else before it, it transcends genre. Intricately its own thing and it does everything I want a movie to do, told in a way only the magic of movies can. They accomplish all this while being a comedy, drama, horror movie and there is a plot and a twist! Come for the suspense but stay for the social commentary. Jordan Peele, will you marry me? OMG, you guys, while writing this, I just googled and he is married to Chelsea Peretti who I find intelligent, witty, and all-around likeable... she was also born and raised near me, so, she is basically me in a diff body... (I won't get into how funny saying "me in a diff body" was... watch the movie people)... fine, he can stay married to her. Bottom line is this movie is shockingly well made and undeniably fresh, relevant, smart, well acted, well written, captivating, funny, sad, artistic, and has the ability to incite thought enough to provoke change. 10 out of 10. 

Phantom Thread- Yes, thank you. Great movie. From top to bottom, quality... from start to finish about 20 minutes before the finish. I can't wait for the DVD to come out with an alternative ending. Please give us a different ending? And by that I mean I want the movie to end differently and I'd like Daniel Day Lewis to end his acting career differently. He claims this will be his final role. If he wins for best lead actor he will have been the only male with 4 wins. A woman already did this (Katherine Hepburn). Back to the movie... it was humming along nicely before it self-destructed. I thought the living room visiting teaching session with the doctor in flashbacks was a bit choppy, but other than that one tiny flaw, this thing was tight. Costumes being of particular note. Then, the ending came crashing down. Ugh. Lame. Besides the ending, I really like the movie. I didn't like the characters, but I liked the character development. The acting by everyone involved was a master class.  Bravo, bravo. 8/10

P.S. Anyone else wonder why The Promise didn't get nominated? Oh, that's right because there was a literal orchestrated campaign against the film by Armenian Genocide deniers. They flooded online ratings before it was released with down votes, zero scores, etc... and apparently the academy can't think for itself? Wouldn't want to nominate a worthy film because people (seemingly) didn't love it. Eye roll.