#malorieanne

T. Swift has definitely been stirring up the scene over the past few months, with the release of her new album 1989 and her decision to remove her music from Spotify. 

Miss Swift's latest endevour took her to London for the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2014. She was named the honorary angel for the evening, and certainly showed that she can keep up with the flawless beauties on stage. 

During her performance, she wore two different outfits from the VS collection, and looked amazing in both! 

After the show she hungout with the Angels and some of the other perfomers, which included Arianna Grande and Ed Sheeran.

My favorite of the two looks was the all black lace get-up, what was yours??

xo, Mal.

Recently, I went to the movie theater and saw John Wick. Based on previews it seemed like it would contain a good amount of action and a decent story line. The film was released on October 24th, and was produced by Legendary Pictures and Summit Entertainment. It was rated a 7.8 out of 10 on IMDb.

The movie began with known assassin John Wick, played by Keanu Reeves, suddenly losing his wife. It was a bit of a downer to have the movie start this way, but obviously this tied into the path that the story eventually took. While John is mourning the death of his wife, played by Bridget Moynahan, a group of mobsters break into his home. They steal his prized car and kill John’s new puppy, which was a last gift from his deceased wife.

This kicks off the rest of the movie, as John Wick goes back to work trying to find and kill the mobsters that did this to him.

After the hour and forty-one minutes of action, the film ends with him finally getting the revenge he sought after, and he adopts a new puppy. Leaving the viewers on a happy note, despite the grueling shooting scenes and blood shed witnessed previously.

John Wick can definitely be classified as a guy-flick, directly aimed at men moviegoers who appreciate a realistic and intense action movie. One where the main character is out to get the people who took the last few things he cared about.

I enjoyed the movie more than I expected to. The action scenes were very realistic and actually looked possible, unlike some films where the scenes are either physically impossible for a person to do or just look cheesy and fake. The scenes in John Wick could very well happen in real life, and definitely kept the audience on their toes.

The storyline, as I mentioned, was a pretty typical one. Trained assassin loses everything and seeks revenge on those who caused him pain. But the directors did a good job at it, as did the actors. Keanu Reeves was perfect for the role, since he is relatable to a wide range of men and is known for his other great films, like The Matrix.

Overall, I would recommend the film to those action junkies, who seek a realistic, thrill ride. Avoid it if you are not one who likes to see a bunch of people shot and executed, as well as if you are touchy about seeing a dog be killed. That, more that him exterminating most of the mobsters, was the saddest part for me.

Click here for a preview of the film! 

xo, Mal.

It's official! Katy Perry will be headlining this years' Super Bowl Halftime Show, which will be held on Feb. 1, 2015 in Pheonix, Arizona. 

So excited to see her performance! 

xo, Mal.

Giuliana Rancic is originally from Naples, Italy. Her family migrated to the U.S. when she was a young girl, where she lived with her parents and two siblings in Bethesda, Maryland. At a young age she began watching new channels to learn English, and knew she wanted to be a TV anchor since that time.

            After high school, Giuliana went on to earn a Bachelors in journalism and later a Masters in said field, as well. During her graduate studies in Washington D.C. she reported for a Capitol Hill news bureau, where she covered the Pentagon, the Supreme Court, the White House, and the State Department. Showing that from the start, Rancic was a dedicated reporter.

            She eventually made her way to Entertainment where she was made anchor in 2005, and since then E! News’ viewership has continued to rise. In addition to anchoring, Giuliana has hosted several red carpet events like the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, along with the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants for several years now.

            She is married to Bill Rancic and after getting married in 2007, they have shared a reality show, Giuliana and Bill. The couple struggled for several years to get pregnant and through the process discovered that Giuliana had early stages of breast cancer. This being one of the biggest struggles for her, makes it one of the most inspiring for me. After undergoing treatment, she decided to have a double mastectomy, which was very courageous of her. Finally, in 2012 they were able to welcome their son, Edward Duke Rancic, via a surrogate.

            Throughout her struggles with breast cancer and starting a family, Giuliana won the hearts of her viewers, including myself, who always wish her the best and have become her biggest fans. I really admire her strength in the tough times of her life, and how she somehow always stays true to herself and her career. She is an inspiration to many who sometimes feel that getting back up after a fall seems impossible.

            A few weeks ago Rancic did an interview with CBS on her life after breast cancer, which helped give a lot of women hope. "I was very fortunate. Because I've gone public with the breast cancer, I hear a lot of stories and some are not as great as others. Whether it's resulting in complications from surgery...whatever the case. I hear it all. And I realize how fortunate I am...to have just kind of gotten out of there OK because it is such a major surgery."

            She also disclosed that she couldn’t have made it through without the support of her husband and her fans. A very touching interview, which came two years after her initial diagnosis, allowed for us to see Giuliana at an upmost personal level. She is now focused on empowering other women and talking about her experience in a positive way.

            Rancic is now working on a new segment with E! called Beyond Candid with Giuliana, where she sits down with celebrities and gets them to open up about who they are. Cyndi McClellan, president of network strategy and E! News tells, "[Beyond Candid] exemplifies Giuliana's warm approach and exceptional ability to get up-close and personal in her signature interview specials.”

            Giuliana, who is a beautiful person both inside and out, shares her goal of the new segment and her career in an interview with TV Guide: “There is nothing I love more than helping someone share their story with the hopes of not only entertaining people but inspiring them as well.”

Love her! 

xo, Mal.

Photos via tvguide.com | gettyimages

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giuliana_Rancic

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/giuliana-rancic-opens-up-about-life-after-breast-cancer/

I decided to review season one of ABC’s Scandal, since I began watching the series and ended up viewing the entire first season in 3 days. This should tell you that I’m hooked!

The first episode begins to introduce characters and allows us to feel intimidated by Olivia Pope, as many in the show do. She is introduced as a highly respected Woman in Washington, and the other characters portray her as the most prominent character from the very first time her name is mentioned.

Season one takes many unexpected turns and every episode digs audiences deeper into the life and scandal that encompasses life with Olivia Pope. Each character provides a mystery about them, which later unfolds and correlates with the story line, allowing viewers to really see who these people are and where they come from.

Pope, played by Kerry Washington, began her run in the White House when she was hired to work on President Fitzgerald Grant’s election campaign. With her bold attitude and ability to think quickly in high-pressure situations, Pope becomes infamous for her “fixer” abilities. Any case can be handled if Olivia Pope is behind it.

The way the show is filmed plays an integral part in getting viewers hooked. Each shot is introduced with the sound of a camera taking a photo, which gives a sense that everyone is under constant surveillance.

Once viewers become entangled with Pope, we come to learn that she and President Grant are lovers, and this adds a whole other level of “scandal” to the series. Livi, as the President refers to her, becomes weak at the knees whenever she is around Mr. Grant. This dynamic between the two characters is vital to the show and the explanation of who Olivia Pope is and who she later becomes as the series progresses.

Through her own clients, Olivia challenges those she’s hired, law enforcers and the White House; but most importantly we see her challenge herself. Fighting between fixing situations for others, and struggling with being in love with a married man, who just so happens to be the Leader of the Free World, making the show extremely engaging.

I have been in search of a show that really draws me in, and makes me want to stay up late watching episode after episode. Scandal definitely does this. Pope and her fellow characters each have their own distinct role, and become very relatable to viewers. Making this show one of the best I have seen in a long time.

Watch it on Netflix, you’ll be hooked!

xo, Mal.

The air was cold, and the raindrops were heavy on Halloween night in Boston. As party-goers made their way down the eerie steps to the basement, many grabbed a beer and squeezed through the crowd toward where the music was coming from, appearing almost zombie like. 

Fulah kicked off the night, with songs from their first album, self-titled Fulah. The music was captivating, with a reggae groove and incorporation of funky twang of the guitar played by Frank Vasallo.

As the song progressed, and I began to feel the crowd move to the beat, Fulah’s sax player, Branden De Caso, began playing melodies that the audience really loved. The group jammed for a few sections, and then Frank began singing, along with Paul Garcia, the drummer, who contributed to vocals here and there. He kept the band on time and created a cool vibe of hip-hop influence into his drums.

On keyboard was Jenn Whan; and Julian Rodriguez played on the bass. They each carried there own and really allowed for the music to come together.

Once the band was warmed up they really got the crowded basement of college students dressed in costumes, moving. Many people like Hannah Sigel even began moshing, “My favorite part, hands down, was the mosh circle in the middle! That song called for some moshing,” she said.

Fulah played for about 45 minutes, and gave everyone a taste of their repertoire. This was the first gig in Boston for Fulah, since they are originally from Miami, Fl.

After their set, I spoke to Paul about how the night went. “We sounded good, I think the crowd really dug it! We definitely hope to play more shows around Boston,” he said.

Nick Vazquez, singer of local Boston Ska band, Poor Jeremy host’s events like this one on a regular basis. After hearing Fulah he said, “This is what the scene is lacking. Their music is different, I really dig it!”

Their Hispanic roots along with Jazz training is definitely reflected in their music. Giving Fulah a Reggae – Latin – Funk – good to vibe to sound.

For these Berklee musicians, playing a basement house party on Halloween was an interesting and lucrative experience. The crowd certainly welcomed them, and jammed out to the Fulah grooves.

These Miami kids turned Bostonian had a successful first gig. The band, as a whole, said they were “glad to be playing in Boston, where the scene is so different and live.”

To find out when Fulah is playing next visit their website!

To see more articles like this one visit malorieanne.com

xo, Mal.