Written by Erica Rose Jackson
My daughter gets the nickname Sugar Plum fairy while my mom used to call me Loving Petunia (I hated that name but not hearing it every morning does make me miss it). My son is my Snuggle Bear. Nicknames aren’t forced they just kind of happen and they tend to stick when they’re right.
My best friend and I call each other ‘Girlfriend’ while one of my co-workers and I use the name ‘Roomie’ for the other. Each nickname is cute and fits each person in its own way because the names are special to that individual person. My Mimi used to call me two different nicknames. Rosie because of my middle name, Rose, and Ainjo because I was her angel. My siblings called my Gaicka because they couldn’t say my name when they were little. Finally, my husband and I call each other ‘Bug’. Neither of us know why but it stuck and I love it.
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Written by Erica Rose Jackson This morning, as I was conducting my monthly Al Pacino Google News search, I stumbled upon an article from Vulture ranking his performances. I am aware that everyone is entitled to their opinions and since I disagreed with many of theirs, I’d like to put my own out there. I haven’t seen every Al Pacino movie out there (which is shocking to those who know me), but I’ve seen a lot. For me, Pacino has no terrible performances so this list will go from the ones that I like (or maybe wasn’t as fond of) to the ones that blew me away. I don’t subscribe to the idea that Pacino is a yeller and that he is over the top, more often then necessary because he knows his craft. Pacino makes choices based on the character and the scene and what he sees. I trust his judgement. I’ve seen Pacino on stage in one of his ‘One Night Only’ stops and he is magnetizing. I’ll never forget a single moment of that evening (even embarrassing myself as the one person in the audience who fessed up to seeing and enjoying Jack and Jill). Pacino recited two monologues at the end, showing just how amazing and talented he is, even though he has nothing to prove. Pacino is one of the few actors who has the ability to tell an entire story with only his eyes. Revolution I’m not sure if Pacino’s performance is the problem with this one, or if this is just a terrible movie, but I really hated it. I watched this in the height of my Pacino obsession and it was the one and only time, I was left unsatisfied at the end. In fact, I can’t even remember this film very well at all which fully justifies its position in my ranking. Simone When I first saw this one, I loved it, I’ll admit to that. I really enjoyed Pacino in a quirky role like Viktor Taransky, but upon later viewings it doesn’t hold up. There are still moments I enjoy. I love that it reunited Pacino with Winona Ryder, they worked together earlier in Looking For Richard, but Simone is definitely not a movie to write home about. Son of No One Vulture got one thing right with their paragraph on this movie. Pacino is not one to phone in a performance, but this one really feels that way. Channing Tatum is also in Son of No One but nothing could save this melancholy movie fail. Gigli No one can speak about this movie in a positive light, it’s impossible. I am only looking at what Pacino did with his small role as Starkman. I actually loved his cameo and would have ranked it much higher had he had more time to show off. I used to watch the trailer for Gigli every time it came on TV just to see that glimpse of Pacino, in his element. Misconduct This film didn’t have a lot of Pacino, thankfully. It took me a few watch attempts to finish because I kept falling asleep. As a movie, it is rough, no matter how many good actors you put into it. Pacino does try to breathe some life into it but it’s just not enough and we get a movie that we definitely could have done without. Stand Up Guys I had very high expectations for this one. My Mom and I went to see it together on the night it came out and we both left underwhelmed. As a movie, it wanted to be too much and because there was never one clear story idea, it failed. In terms of Pacino’s performance, he was charming and subtle. I watch it from time to time just for him. City Hall
...And Justice For All Serpico I’m gonna catch some hell for this one because Serpico is one of Al Pacino’s most highly acclaimed roles, but he doesn’t do it for me in this one. I can’t explain why, I’m impressed that he got arrested because he was so invested in the role but I just don’t see the great allure, here. Hangman
88 Minutes Pacino catches a lot of flack for this movie, which is a predictable thriller. There’s nothing special or amazing about it but Pacino does his best with what he’s given. He can only perform so well when the material he has to work with is mediocre. I believe that is why he ‘over acts’ as some call it, to attempt to give the performance so kind of life. Righteous Kill This marks Deniro and Pacino’s second team up, a much less outstanding one. Pacino does what he does best and tries to make this movie work but the writing tried to backseat his greatness creating a mess. Let the greats do what they know how to do. People I Know I actually wanted to put this film higher on the list because Pacino shines in an otherwise awful movie. As a whole, even with him acting his butt of, People I Know falls short of what could be an excellent look into the darker side of Hollywood. Donnie Brasco Frankie and Johnny Michelle Pfeiffer is a goddess. I have to begin there because it is the work she and Pacino do together that makes this film work so well. We don’t often see Pacino as a romantic lead (which is a real waste, in my opinion) but in this rare gem, he shines. Sea of Love
Scarface You can’t find many people who haven’t heard of this Pacino classic. Would it work today? Probably not. But in this time period, Pacino did an amazing job as a scary and crazy drug king. He’s loud and proud and giving the world the one liners we didn’t know we needed. Dog Day Afternoon Jack and Jill Jack and Jill is a hated movie, often called one of Adam Sandler’s absolute worst. However, Al Pacino playing an insane version of himself, chasing after the female Sandler, Jill, it’s too perfect. He gets to cut loose in this role and I loved every minute of it. His cameo saved this film, giving it what little dignity it has. Manglehorn In the last few years, Pacino has put out some outstanding films and this is one of them. He plays an older man, down on his luck, who’s best friend is a cat. My heart aches for his character when I watch this movie and that is an indication as to how well Pacino plays the role. Salome Every now and then, Pacino takes us on a ride into his process. It’s always a trip but also an amazing learning experience. He’s more then an actor in this one but he shines in every aspect. Jessica Chastain working alongside Pacino is a team we should see again someday. Pacino’s character is cruel and evil, but I was still in love with him. Ocean's 13 Two for the Money In one of his many roles as mentor, Pacino takes Matthew McConaughey under his wing in the world of sports gambling. Pacino plays a pained man who has flaws, ones he gives into, and almost destroys everything. This movie may not be one of the most memorable of its time, but Pacino’s performance will shine on for years. The Recruit
The Merchant of Venice Pacino has played Shylock on Broadway, off Broadway, and in this film. He always does it with a quiet elegance that makes me yearn for more. He humbles himself, in this role, much like in Manglehorn as a man who has nothing left. We get to see him at his best in multiple aspects from when he’s strong and invincible to when he has nothing left to give. Looking for Richard
The Devil's Advocate This was one of my first Pacino movies which I used to catch on television as often as I could. Pacino as the Devil is exactly the type of casting screenwriters dream of. He was made for this role. He knows when to play it soft and seduce us with his words. And, Pacino knows when to hit us with his full voice because we haven’t been paying enough attention. The Humbling
Danny Collins Pacino gives one of his best performances of the decade in this movie. He plays an aging rocker who has had his trouble with everything in the past trying to redeem himself and reconnect with his family. Pacino gives this role his heart and, in a truly pleasant surprise, his vocals. Hearing Pacino sing ‘Hey Baby Doll’ will really melt your heart into a million pieces. Carlito's Way Scent of a Woman Pacino won his Oscar for this one where he starred opposite Chris O'Donnell as a blind war vet. He shouts and he screams but he also exhibits an refined presence only he could provide. Glengarry Glen Ross
Heat The best shootout scene in cinematic history takes place in this one. Pacino and Deniro team up for one of the best films for both of their careers. Each of these acting legends showcase their best acting skills and we get an amazing film from their efforts. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen this movie. The Insider
Insomnia My first Al Pacino film. I fell in love with him when I watched him play Will Dormer, the haunted detective. Pacino displayed some of his best work in this low key dramatic thriller. You feel his pain as his suffering gets worse with each passing minute of the film. When an actor can make you feel what they do, that is excellence. Any Given Sunday
The Godfather trilogy The films that made Al Pacino who he is and gave him his start. These are why he is considered such a legend.
So, which Pacino performance is your favorite? Written by Erica Rose Jackson
I’m not a huge fan of sweets so the majority of my list is of the salty variety. Some of these have sentimental value while others have just remained my favorite for years and years. Let me share with y’all my dirty little secret (at least where junk food is concerned). Cheez Doodles No other cheese puff will measure to the true puff that Wise has created. My Mimi (grandma) always had these in her house for me when I was growing up in upstate NY. When I moved to TN and then AL, Cheez Doodles were no more for a long time. I craved them because nothing I tried could act as a substitute so I did my research and found a store in AL that carried them. Every now and then Wal-Mart would carry my favorite snack and I, once, embarrassed my best friend when I saw an end cap full of Cheez Doodles, grabbing as many bags as I could carry. Chocodiles These delightful treats are a rare sweet craving for me but the mix what’s great about twinkies with yodels, creating a perfect guilty pleasure. I had never heard of these until I binged Timeless and Rufus spoke about them and how much he wanted one. As soon as I finished that episode, I went out to find them and I was successful. Turns out SC has way better snack options than AL. Chocodiles are way too delicious and if I ate them as often as I wanted them, I’d be in trouble. Thanks Timeless. Spicy Nacho Doritos Ah, these are a sentimental favorite. My Mimi and I used to eat these together with Pepsi, even though it didn’t help the spice at all. I will forever treasure these chips because they’re good but also because, when I eat them, I think back to sitting on the couch with my Mimi, arguing about what we watched while we enjoyed spicy nacho Doritos and Pepsi. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream I don’t have a lot to say about this item because even when I want it, I rarely eat ice-cream. When I crave it, I have one bite or maybe two and then I’m done. Unfortunately, the rest of my family loves ice-cream and they don’t discriminate based on flavors so it gets eaten before I ever have a second craving. Long Pretzels Sticks Pretzel rods can last forever and when I was a kid, I like to pretend I was smoking a cigar. That’s not a great reason to love a junk food item but it’s mine. I’ve hung on to them because little pretzels are done too quick but these can give you a much longer time of enjoyment. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Before I start, let me state that I love Tom Cavanagh on The Flash. I’m not ready, even a little bit, to see his time on the show end. However, I’ve reached the point in the series when I need to know how many versions of Harrison Wells can they give us? Can’t we just stick with Harry? Harrison Wells/Eobard Thawne In season one, the original Wells charmed us all and won us over, and he wasn’t even Harrison Wells. Evil Wells stole the show in the beginning. I remember how devastated I was when they revealed he was the bad guy and not even the man I’d been watching all season. But Cavanagh is that good. He can charm us while also being the big bad, leaving viewers like me barely aware until the rug was pulled out from under my feet. Evil Wells was excellent. In fact, I almost stopped watching the show when season one ended because I couldn’t see The Flash without Wells. Harry Wells From Earth 2 I loved evil Wells but Harry is my favorite off all Cavanagh’s versions of this character. I love the relationship between Harry and Cisco and believe that should be apart of the show forever. The pair is just too good. I would love for the show runners to just let me have Harry always. I didn’t even realize how much I wished that until the following seasons. HR Wells From Earth 19 But, HR took awhile for me to like. Part of the reason is because, I think, his character is so similar to my personality, making him annoying to me. I was most annoyed by his thrown together love story in the last part of season three because it didn’t fit his character at all. Yes, eventually I loved HR but I still wanted Harry back because he’s the Wells that fits with Team Flash. The Council Of Wells This quirky group of Harrison Well’s from various Earths has always been a treat. Unlike a new Wells whose permanent, these Wells just show up from time to time to give council, hence the name. I am still waiting for Wells the Grey to get a bigger moment because he’s entrance remains one of the funniest moments in Flash history. I am with the many online who really want a Council of Wells spinoff. Can you imagine the possibilities? Sherloque Wells It seems he’ll have Harry’s brilliance (even more being a step ahead) but original Wells attitude. Harry is cranky but Harrison has always been one you don’t want to trifle with. I think I’m excited for this version of Wells, who we’ll meet in episode three, but how many more can we have? Each Wells has had their pros and cons with each being mostly successful for the show and the audience, so far. I am just left wondering how many more Wells we can see in this series before the charm of Cavanagh’s amazing ability to play so many different roles loses its magic. What do you think? Take a look at Sherloque Wells' debut in the promo below. Written by Erica Rose Jackson
I assume this blog post is about actually doing this task and not talking about it. So, here’s the most in depth character profile I’ve ever written. This was for my OC in my fanfiction for The Last Ship. Basics Name: Haven Jackson Age: 26 Gender: Female Height: 5 ‘5’ Weight: 130 lbs Build: Athletic Hair Color: Brunette Hair Style: Curly hair Eye Color: Blue Skin Tone: Pale In Depth Ethnicity: White (caucasian) Nationality: Irish/Italian Birthplace - NYC Citizenship: US Citizen Language: English (Italian) Religious Beliefs: Catholic Sex. Orientation: Straight Relationship Status: Single (in a complicated relationship) Significant Other: Mike Slattery (sort of) Children: None at this point Father: Physician Mother: Teacher School: College to Navy Career: Lieutenant/Operations Specialist aboard the Nathan James Drama: In love with a married man Plot Beginning: Four-month mission ending where relationship began. Returning to their normal lives. Conflict: What do the characters do about their relationship when they return to shore. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I first found out who Emily Warren is when I heard her feature on The Chainsmokers newest album and it was love at first listen. Warren’s voice is excellent and she is so talented. She released her debut album Quiet Your Mind recently and I am so impressed. Warren comes from writing hit songs for artists like The Chainsmokers and Dua Lipa but now she’s stepping out on her own. I am so grateful she’s decided to shine because that’s where she’s supposed to be. I've been listening to this album on repeat for the last few nights because I love it so much. You might even call my obsessed. Quiet Your Mind offers eleven outstanding tracks. They’re each so good, I couldn’t pick a favorite if my life depended on it. Warren’s voice is powerful and subtle all within the smallest moments in the songs. Her level of skill is incredible. She wrote these songs herself giving me a look into her soul while also giving me some insanely relatable material. Let me break this album down by each track because they each have something special to share.
Emily Warren breaks through the pop music world from songwriter to star with her debut album. Quiet Your Mind is a work of art and I highly recommend everyone downloads it. She taps into something that is so rarely found in today's top hits allowing me to go on a magical journey through her album's tracks. Warren is the real deal and I can't wait to see what she does next.
Written by Erica Rose Jackson I haven’t watched Grey’s Anatomy since Shonda killed off our dear Dr. Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey) and I almost stopped many times before that. The show is now in its fifteenth season and I am barely aware of what’s going on, other then the few things I scroll by on my Twitter timeline. Grey’s Anatomy was a show I loved and was completely addicted to which is why it took me so long, and after so many heartbreaks, to finally stop putting myself through it. This show was amazing when it began. I was completely caught up in the Meredith (Ellen Pompeo)/Derek will they/won’t they saga. I was even on board with Derek’s wife, Addison Montgomery (Kate Walsh) showing up to ruin the initial love story because drama is necessary. However, having drama is one thing to keep a show successful but over the top situations and character killing (after they finally find peace) is not good TV. George O’Malley’s Character Assassination and Death In the beginning, George (T.R. Knight) was the lovable and supportive friend who took time coming into his own as a doctor. I loved his character but the writers took things to a dark place for O’Malley. Having him fail his intern exam was not the end of the world for this character because this event helped him grow. Having George marry Callie Torres (Sara Ramirez) and then cheat on her with Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl) was ridiculous, and definitely not true to his character in the beginning. After awhile, George became aimless with no future until his time on the show ended when he was hit by a bus. No one even noticed he was gone or that he was the patient they were treating, until it was too late. The fact that he died saving someone is a good shot at redeeming George’s lack of a role but not enough to make up for all the time he was useless. He could have been so much more. Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey First, let me start off by admitting that (though I loved Merder) these two were my Grey’s OTP. Mark (Eric Dane) and Lexie (Chyler Leigh) deserved to walk off into the sunset together when the actors wanted to exit the show. Instead, we got some of the most heartbreaking scenes in television history. The plane crash was another one of those big dramatic things I was mentioning above. Not only was it not necessary to keep the show interesting, but it killed my OTP and did it so cruelly. Mark had to watch Lexie die while she was trapped and he couldn’t do anything to help him. She died knowing he was ok which gave her some peace. There’s no peace in Shondaland though. Mark was killed shortly after when his friends were forced to turn off his life support and let him go. I didn’t root for this couple, at first. Part of me always wanted Mark to go back to Addison. But, you can’t argue with chemistry and these two had it. Once they actually became a thing, I was their biggest supporter. Their deaths were almost the tipping point to stop me from watching, but I stayed because I still had other favorites to watch (and hope they’d be ok). Cristina Yang’s Time Without Purpose And Love Life Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh) was a force of nature from the very moment this show began. Yang was going to be a cardio god and nothing could stop her. I admired this woman for her resolve, confidence, and all around talent and skill. Burke (Isaiah Washington) was her ticket to her goals but when he left the show, it started to seem like no one knew what to do with Yang. Watching the fifth and sixth seasons over again, I’ve realized how poorly her character was treated. Giving her a short time to doubt her future and wonder why she stayed at Seattle Grace would be a great tool for drama. Instead, she was left moping around the hospital for such a long time making me wonder what she did to deserve such a punishment. Cristina Yang should have been owning that hospital with every step she took. I shipped Cristina and Burke hard at first and when he left, I was nearly as devastated as she was. Once I saw their relationship from the standpoint of looking back, I realized they were never good for each other. However, Cristina and Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) were meant to be. From Twitter, I know his current love life on the show is insane but I will always firmly believe that he and Yang were a solid couple. Derek Shepherd’s Death And Merder I was there for Meredith and Derek’s relationship, every rocky step of the way. It took five seasons for them to finally be together, really together. I never expected for things between these two to be perfect for the rest of time and their rocky relationship towards the end was normal. Marriage is work so showing that through (even the most perfect) couple on TV is a good thing. Meredith had to work to be ready for her relationship with Derek. She had things within herself she had to conquer and come to terms with before she could truly let him in. I watched, with all of you, as Meredith finally became whole (her dark and twisty was never really gone but she was good). For that to be all thrown away by Derek’s death was too much. Grey’s Anatomy, for me, was about these two (even though I shipped Mark and Lexie harder) and their growth within their relationship. Killing off Derek was a slap in the face to Meredith’s character and the audience. And the way he died, that made it even worse. Having the number one neurosurgeon die from a brain injury that could have been fixed? Just don’t. This was my breaking point because I did not invest in Merder only for her to be broken again. There’s my opinion on Grey’s Anatomy which came up while I was watching the earlier seasons for the millionth time. Am I on the right track or crazy? What do you guys feel about these events (or others) on the show? Written by Erica Rose Jackson Alright, with this one I’m all caught up, at least until I forget next week. This prompt is strange because, to me, romance is a genre but I guess this goes to a subgenre. What would my favorite be? I did a little research and my answer would be fantasy romance. I’m a syfy nerd so anything that takes place in a place that isn’t real is my favorite. All of my OTPs exist in fantastical places (except for Doug and Carol on ER but that’s not reading or writing).
Usually I can only write stories with romance if there’s an element of a world we don’t exist in, to it. The only time that isn’t true is when the character is so larger then life, or different themselves, I can get past the real environment they exist in. This is a shorter response but I don’t have a lot to say since I had to Google the scenario the prompt involved. Until next week which I hope to be on time with. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Well, there is only one answer to this blog prompt and she is my best friend Kristie. We write together, as often as we can, and even when we don’t I usually add a character who represents her. Here’s a list of all the stories Kristie has been in, either co-authored or added in. It's Not So Dark At Night - a story based on Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Sharknado 3: Baz is Back - a story I wrote before the third Sharknado film came out to save the character played by Jaason Simmons in the first film. And, of course, my girlfriend belonged in the tale. Change - this story is a sequel to another story I wrote about The Flash and works in combination with a story of Kristie's. Internal Affairs - this is a co-written story about Captain America and Ironman. Uncertain Beginnings - this is another story from The Flash but it's Cisco and Martin Stein centric, also co-authored. Invasion - a follow up from both of us that goes after 'Uncertain Beginnings'. Mirror, Mirror - we really like The Flash. Hope - this one is an X-men crossover with The Gifted and I wrote Kristie in as my OC's best friend, I know it's not shocking. This is just what we do. I'm sure there are many more but this is what I have without doing extensive reading of my fanfiction catalog (I'm not being dramatic). There is only one person I write into my stories. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I’d like to say that I do something really special every time I finish a blog post, an article, or a fanfic but I usually either get back to my day, go to sleep, or start thinking about what I want to write next. I’ve never paused to celebrate but instead just moved onto the next project. In fact, I usually have so many different ideas running through my mind that I rarely stop between them to pause. A better way for me to answer this prompt would be to share what I do when I’m really proud of a project I’ve finished. And in that case, I usually share it on all my social media platforms (except Facebook because my Dad is a little judgy). I love making a collage of images from the fandom that my work is about and then adding a screenshot, or two, from my story. Doing that always makes me feel like I’ve really done a good job and even if those posts don’t get any likes, I’m still satisfied. I guess it’s my little way to say, hey look what I did. |
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