Reinvention: The Journal of a Dog-Lover, Book-Reader, Moviegoer, and Writer

I feel a good rant brewing.  No..I feel like an absolute curmudgeon! Never fear.  I'll not spoil the evening with a tantrum.  This is one of the more interesting Oscar years in recent memory...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2013/02/random-thoughts-just-hours-before-oscar.html

YEAH.. I'M STILL HERE.  DEAL WITH IT! IT'S TIME TO CHIME IN WITH MY THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR'S OSCAR NOMINEES FOR BEST PICTURE.  IN THE BARGAIN, I OFFER  YOU CAPSULE IMPRESSIONS OF THOSE FILMS I...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2013/01/oscar-surprises-and-capsule-reviews-for.html

Here's to filmmakers, technicians, and Artists alike... Most of those who nabbed the Statuettes were expected to win, and deserved to...  (The night's one head-scratcher:  A Big HUH? in ...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/02/oscars-real-winner.html

I don't want a lot of surprises this year as the Oscars are announced in a few hours. In fact, so many of the front-runners happen to be personal favorites, that I WANT to see them win. I don'...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/02/oscar-night-thoughts-on-what-should-be.html

Evidence that modern motion picture distribution has finally descended into madness: Say what you will about the current Best Picture nominees floundering at the box office.  I say, don't bla...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/02/oscars-2011-revving-up-my-engine-with.html

A DEATH.... ENDLESS, EMOTIONAL REMINDERS AND MINUTIAE....AND ONE PROUD OUTCOME. ONE CANNOT IMAGINE THE ALL-CONSUMING TASKS INVOLVED IN HANDLING THE AFFAIRS OF ONE DECEASED PARENT, WHILE  DESPE...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/02/cars-helping-petsmy-late-fathers-auto.html

It is now 30 minutes before the announcement of this year's Oscar nominations. Time to get back to living.... back to blogging...back to moviegoing.....  and back to adding my small bit to this...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/01/let-oscar-season-begin.html

AN IMPORTANT CHAPTER HAS NOW DRAWN TO A CLOSE.  IT WAS WRITTEN IN ANGUISH AND CARING, AND IN A STRANGE WAY WAS PREDICTED BY THE MOVIES...... MY FATHER DIED ON A QUIET SATURDAY MORNING YESTERDA...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2012/01/thomas-m-1928-2012.html

I know, I know.. I am behind on my reviews. But they ARE on the way...  So look for "The Artist", "My Week With Marilyn", and possibly "War Horse", in the coming week.  Also, I'll have a revi...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/2012-deadline-i-wont-miss.html

I JUST WATCHED "BEGINNERS" AGAIN AT HOME, ON DVD.  IT IS A WONDERFUL LITTLE FILM.  MY REVIEW, WRITTEN THIS PAST JUNE, DID NOT DO IT COMPLETE JUSTICE.  CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER WAS EVEN MORE IMPRESS...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/coming-soon-movie-year-2011.html

Remembering old friends this season...especially the humorous, four-legged ones who put up with our fashion experiments.  If Maggie were still here, she would gladly have sung (er, howled) you...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/caroler-at-your-door-christmas-journal.html

IT TURNED OUT TO BE A BETTER DAY THAN I HAD EXPECTED. IT WAS A LONG, LONG WAY FROM THE NORMAL, COMFORTABLE HOLIDAY WE HAVE SHARED AT MY PARENTS' HOUSE SINCE TIME BEGAN.  EVEN SO,  WE ARE ADJUS...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/personal-holiday-anecdote-christmas.html

A BRICK FOR BUDDY: WHAT DO YOU GIVE AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT TO AN 86-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING SHE NEEDS? IF SHE LIKES ANIMALS, LIKE MARK'S MOTHER DOES, THEN A SPONSORSHIP TO AN ANIMAL-CA...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/buddy-christmas.html

Today, I'm moving on to a more lighthearted look at "family", after the somber, personal musings of my previous entry... As some readers have guessed, I don't watch a lot of television. It's mo...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-am-modern-family-junkie.html

MY MUSE HAS BEEN WRESTLING WITH REALITY LATELY. SO FAR, REALITY HAS AN EDGE IN THIS WEEK'S MATCH. I HAVE NEVER HAD CHILDREN.  BUT I AM UNIQUE AMONG MY FRIENDS, IN THAT BOTH OF MY PARENTS ARE ST...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/child-is-father-to-man-and-woman.html

Tonight I am taking a small holiday from writing, in order to share some photographs I shot a few weeks ago, on THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING as we joined the crowds in downtown Chicago. It feels ...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/holiday-images-in-chicago-saturday.html

A BRIEF MUSING ON THIS YEAR'S GOLDEN GLOBE NOMINATIONS--  THERE IS ONE TITLE THAT IS NOTICEABLY ABSENT FROM THE LIST. AFTER SOME DESPAIR THIS SUMMER OVER A LACK OF MATURE, INTELLIGENT AND ORI...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/notable-golden-globe-omission.html

Recently this blog looked at Academy Award-Winning Best Pictures that featured dogs in significant roles. (See "THE DOGS OF OSCAR'S BEST PICTURE: WILL 2011 BE DOG-FRIENDLY?"  December 1). Whil...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/dogs-of-hugo.html

"IF YOU EVER WONDER WHERE YOUR DREAMS COME FROM, LOOK AROUND: THIS IS WHERE THEY'RE MADE." --GEORGE MELIES IN "HUGO"   MARTIN SCORSESE'S "HUGO" IS A VISUAL TREAT, A MAGICAL CHILDREN'S STOR...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/hugo-triumph-and-good-case-for-film.html

AN INTERESTING, BUT FINALLY MEANINGLESS, DEBATE ABOUT MOVIE CRITICS AND "PROMISES", CAUGHT MY ATTENTION RECENTLY... A FIRESTORM OF NEGATIVE OPINION HAS ERUPTED OVER DAVID DENBY'S REVIEW OF "...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/meaningless-film-critic-embargo-from.html

ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DAY AFTER HIS PASSING ("THE CUBS...LOSE THEIR BIGGEST FAN", DECEMBER 4 2010), FORMER CHICAGO CUBS THIRD BASEMAN RON SANTO WAS FINALLY ELECTED TO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. ...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/posthumous-honor-for-chicago-classic.html

WHEN I SAW THIS VIDEO I KNEW I HAD TO POST IT! FIRST, TO SAVE IT FOR POSTERITY; AND SECOND, TO SHARE IT WITH ANYONE WHO VISITS HERE.  (THANK YOU, KIRK AND MARK.) TONIGHT, A FEW BRIEF POSTS.�...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/puppy-and-ice-cubewhat-world-needs-now.html

Finally!  Laura Nyro (for the uninitiated, pronounced Ne-ro) was announced as an inductee into the ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME'S Class of 2012.  The induction ceremony will take place in Cle...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/late-laura-nyro-inducted-into-rock-roll.html

FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH WAS SENTENCED TODAY TO 14 YEARS IN PRISON FOR HIS RECENT CONVICTION ON MULTIPLE FEDERAL CORRUPTION CHARGES. AMONG HIS OFFENSES WERE CONSPIRACY TO SOLICI...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/did-rod-blagojevich-receive-justice.html

In three shows filled with heart, talent, and irrepressible mischief, the Windy City Gay Men's Chorus and Aria performed this weekend at Chicago's Senn Campus, and gave their richest, funniest...

http://tom-samp-journal.blogspot.com/2011/12/windy-city-performing-arts-winter.html