Movies That Motivate | The Adventures of Motivatorman!: January 2020

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Tip#1180: Resilience Resources, Part 27 – Mental Health - Joker

Looking back over the years I feel extremely grateful for the mental health resources and therapies I’ve been able to take in Toronto such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and other group therapy programs with fantastic psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers (read more). They have provided many invaluable tools for helping me cope with clinical depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This has also made me feel more compassionate to others I've read about or meet who suffer from mental illnesses.

“8-Year-Old Mexican Girl, Who Was Bullied and Labeled 'Weird,' Has Higher IQ Than Einstein: Report”

This headline on social media caught my eye and compelled me to read this inspiring and insightful article. It said that this little girl was bullied and mentally tortured so much at school that she slipped into a very deep depression. Thankfully her mother was able to take her daughter to therapy and from there the girl’s extremely high IQ was identified and was able to seek a learning environment that honed her unique skill sets. Read article

I also recently saw an interview of Game of Thrones star and X-Men film actress Sophie Turner who gave an emotional interview with Dr. Phil on her difficult experiences with depression since her teenage years. She mentions there are very little depression resources in the UK and that she has to fly friends over to the US to receive mental health help. See: Full video interview with Sophie Turner

All this reminds me of how grateful I am living in Canada and being able to seek proper medical attention over the years. However I had to work hard at finding these therapy programs online because I didn’t have doctors knowledgeable enough to recognize my mental illness.

This is why I focus much of my time raising awareness on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin of my mental illness experiences, coping tools and self-care tips that have worked for me. And movies have always inspired me in some uplifting way especially those that can teach life lessons about characters dealing with mental illness and how destructive it can be.

Joker (2019)

The psychological thriller film, Joker, is the origin story of infamous Batman villain, Arthur Fleck aka The Joker (Joaquin Phoenix) who starts off as a party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian. This raw, intense and dark character study on mental illness also stars Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy and Brett Cullen.
See: movie trailer
Watch now: Amazon Prime

This film was often painful to watch and yet also riveting as we see Arthur physically abused by people around him while suffering from a medical disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times. And despite the horrors Arthur endures and eventually inflicts others he is able to have us feel for his pain.

The movie deals with the themes of mental illness and its effects not only on the individual but also on personal relationships, the workplace and in society. If there was a positive take-away from this film it’s the importance of raising awareness of mental health and the need for providing help, counseling and a lot of compassion, patience, support and understanding.

Understanding mental illness can be a long journey for people suffering and for the loved ones having to witness it. And with courage and perseverance they can all find help in whatever city they live in. And if there are no resources there they can find many online whether they are professional services, personal lived-experiences on social media or movies that educate and inspire. Find a resource today to help you feel hopeful, resilient and optimistic.

Related Tips:
Tip#812: Resilience Resources, Part 5 – Mental Health – Mumford
Tip#825: Resilience Resources, Part 10 – Mental Health & Healthcare - Big Hero 6
Tip#1065: Coping Tools & Methods for Mental Health, Part 4 - Spielberg Documentary
Tip#927: Increasing Mental Health Awareness - Bell Let’s Talk Day – 15 Uplifting Movie Quotes for Depression

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Award-winning Illustrator | Movie Blogger | Speaker | Foodie
Discover Movies As Inspirational Learning Tools!
See website: www.MoviesForMotivation.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2020

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Tip#1179: Feel Good from Nostalgia, Part 2 - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Every Christmas vacation that I visit my mom’s house in the US is another opportunity to see artworks she and my dad had kept that I’d done during my childhood and my decades long illustration career. I usually get a warm, nostalgic feeling seeing these old artworks whether they are hanging framed on the walls or unearthed from dusty boxes and cabinets!

I also see old photos from my childhood that sometimes releases a flood of memories. Sometimes it leaves me in awe when I realize that several decades had somehow passed by in a blink of an eye. These annual vacations give me the opportunity to reminisce about the past and then plan for the New Year when I return home in Canada.

Caricatures I drew of my mom and dad when I worked as a caricature artist in the first five seasons of Canada's Wonderland while I was still in high school!

A cover illustration I was hired to do for a cook book for the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

The important key I've learned is to not get stuck in the past and rather celebrate it, feel good and move forward towards a hopeful future! This is an idea that is beautifully explored on many levels in this new movie I recently saw.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

The comedy drama film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, is about faded television actor Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), his stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) and actress Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles. This richly atmospheric film reimagines some history while delivering so many memorable scenes, historical locations and colourful characters of this Hollywood era.
See: movie trailer
Watch now: Amazon Prime

While I was watching I had no idea where this film was headed but eventually realized I’d been deeply immersed into a vivid world of these three main characters. It’s also been said that this movie was a love letter to Hollywood from writer and director Quentin Tarantino and that love permeates every frame! Popular songs from the late 60’s also fill almost every scene adding so much flavour to a time I still remembered as a child.

There were also some unexpected life lessons I resonated with with Dalton and the pain and fears he had about his career and being a washed up actor. He had some emotional moments as well as some powerful scenes finding new life for his self-confidence, self-esteem and self-worth. Meanwhile Booth, his stunt double, also shows how his special skills were useful in unexpected, threatening life situations. Their support and mutual friendship for each other over many years was also inspiring to watch.

Movies can invoke feel good nostalgic memories while, at the same time, can have us reflect on our lives, careers and our own skills and talents. They can inspire us with examples of life-long friendships and examples of resilience when faced with life or career crisis. Find a film today to inspire you to re-energize and move forward with confidence in your own life!

Related Tips:
Tip#356: Feel Good from Nostalgia - Big Trouble In Little China
Tip#1144: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 8 – The Sound of Music – Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Tip#1178: Real-Life Heroes in Movies Inspire, Part 6 - Bombshell

My year of 2019 will be the year I will be forever grateful for the fantastic group therapy I was able to receive that uncovered childhood trauma of being bullied at school. I realized that being consistently bullied left a scar of fear, shame and other painful emotions that were buried but unconsciously held me back from enjoying a full life.

I continue to work on these issues while being inspired by others in real life that stood up to bullies I’ve read about in the news. Some are called whistleblowers, advocates or climate activists like Time Magazine’s Person of the Year, 16-year-old Greta Thunberg. There was also actress Melissa Benoist of the Supergirl TV series who posted an emotional, raw video talking about the domestic violence she endured with an ex-boyfriend.

Then at the end of 2019 the film Bombshell was released that tells the story of the brave women who went public about sexual harassment from their boss at Fox News. Watching it was devastating and also riveting and inspirational for witnessing pure, heroic courage standing up to an overwhelming bully!

Bombshell (2019)

The biographical drama film, Bombshell, is based upon real-life accounts of TV Hosts Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron), Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) and fictional character Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie) at Fox News who exposed CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) for sexual harassment. This riveting story also includes performances by Kate McKinnon, Connie Britton, Malcolm McDowell, and Allison Janney.
See: movie trailer
Watch now: Amazon Prime

I remember seeing this news in 2016 and how groundbreaking these acts of courage were stirring up discussion and awareness. There was immense support, especially on social media, that reverberates around the planet. Seeing the story being told in a Hollywood film further helped me see the terrible conditions of a toxic workplace these, and countless other women, must endure. Theron was amazing at playing Megyn Kelly, as well as, Kidman as Gretchen Carlson. Robbie was also emotionally compelling as a fictional character representing an amalgam of sexually harassed women.

These women demonstrated incredible resilience and perseverance facing seemingly impossible barriers within their workplace and the media. And though they each faced the three responses of Fight, Flight or Freeze they found the inner strength to fight with the help of others that believed in each of them.

They each found the courage to stand their ground and say “enough was enough”, “this will no longer be tolerated” and that they “deserved better”! In doing so they helped inspire more than 20 other women to go public with their own experiences.

We all have faced some form of bullying in our lives growing up, in the workplace or in every day life. We may feel helpless but we each have the inner strength to persevere and stand tall against others that abuse us. Find inspiration from real-life heroes as well as cinematic role-models to ignite the courage within you! Remember you are not alone and you deserve better!

Related Tips:
Tip#1039: Real-Life Heroes in Movies Inspire, Part 5 - Maudie
Tip#1041: Facing the Monsters in Your Life - Anxiety & Bullying – Colossal
Tip#1076: Strong Women in the Movies, Part 7 - Molly’s Game

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation

Sunday, January 05, 2020

Tip#1177: The Uplifting Power of Cinema, Part 9 - Knives Out

I am just finishing my annual Christmas vacation in Las Vegas visiting family and celebrating the holidays and a brand New Year! As always there was lots of delicious foods and restaurants, awesome movie theatre experiences and good times with friends and family. And, as usual, there were some challenging times dealing with family/life issues.

One of the highlights of this trip was finally visiting the Keep Memory Alive Event Center that’s part of the Cleveland Clinic, Lou Ruvo Center For Brain Health. I’ve actually known this as the cool “Tim Burton melting building” I’d see every year and was always in wonder of its design. It was created by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. My mom and I met some wonderful, warm staff and received lots of information on overall brain health, Alzheimer’s, dementia and mild cognitive impairment.

Just knowing this Center For Brain Health exists gives me great peace of mind especially for a loved one that needs their services, resources and community for support. It’s the same, stress free feeling I get whenever I watch and entertaining and engaging movie. And I got to see several while in Vegas in fantastic Galaxy Luxury+ Theatres with plush reclining seats that included Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Frozen 2.

And on New Year’s Day when we were experiencing a stressful morning we went to see an afternoon movie that took us away from all our problems for a few hours!

Knives Out (2019)

The mystery comedy film, Knives Out, is about Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) investigating the death of wealthy and renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) along with his eccentric, combative family. This entertaining and riveting whodunit story is brimming with twists and turns and with great performances by the entire cast that included Chris Evans, Ana de Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Toni Collette, Lakeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell.
See: movie trailer
Watch now: Amazon Prime

The film is over two hours long and yet it went by so fast thanks to a tight story. The less you know the better but it is very much like a classic Agatha Christie novel. It’s so much fun seeing this awesome cast of characters fighting with one another and hearing Craig’s smooth southern accent despite being British and being more known as James Bond.

There is a great life lesson that emerges which relates to always doing what’s right even when you are tempted to do the wrong thing or even what is more more convenient. And, most importantly, the film took me away from life’s problems for awhile and re-energized my positivity and feel-good feelings long after I left the theatre.

Movies can truly help free you of your day’s troubles even if for just a few hours. They can help stop the ruminating of negative thoughts cluttering up your brain and give your mind a much needed rest. If you are feeling overwhelmed then find a film today that will take you away and uplift your spirits. Your brain may be in need of a nice, little vacation!

Related Tips:
Tip#1115: The Uplifting Power of Cinema, Part 7 - A Simple Favor
Tip#1175: The Uplifting Power of Cinema, Part 8 - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

SEE EMMANUEL's:

• Top Movies as Inspirational Learning Tools: www.Movies for Motivation.com

• Award-winning Illustrations: www.EmmanuelLopez.com

• Social Media Consulting Services: www.SocialMediaWingman.com

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Inspiration & Motivation