Wealth of Geeks – Page 79

The Best Movies on HBO Max | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making HBO Max, movies, The Best Movies on HBO Max, Wealth of Geeks

HBO Max may be one of the newest platforms to enter the streaming world, but already it’s one of the best. Not only does the service offer a ton of exclusive content related to its hit properties — like Game of Thrones, The Wire, and The Sopranos — it also has a ton of fantastic films strengthening its online catalog.

Thanks to HBO’s partnerships with standout companies and networks like TCM, Studio Ghibli, and DC, the service has an absolutely stacked selection of films you’re able to choose from.

Whether you’re in the mood for a classic black and white monster movie from the ‘30s, a beloved anime film from Hayao Miyazaki, or a recent blockbuster from this past summer, there’s no end to the number of great films you’re able to choose from.

From universally praised films like Donnie Darko and Chinatown to celebrated modern films like Drive My Car and Spotlight, here are some of the best films you can find currently streaming on HBO Max.

Updated: January 24.

Drama: Drive My Car

Drive My Car was quite possibly the most celebrated film that came out in 2021. Adapted from a short story by the award-winning Haruki Murakami, it’s a tense and expertly-made meditation on grief and the healing process, built around a narrative that’s both complex and thought-provoking.

Upon receiving an offer to direct a theatrical production of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, a brilliant actor and director (Hidetoshi Nishijima) experiences intense remorse over his wife’s recent death.

At nearly three hours, Drive My Car is obviously on the longer side. But like all the best movies, the movie’s runtime coasts by, fully absorbing you in its main storyline and holding you in rapt attention. Lulling you with its calming imagery, its heaviest scenes are enough to knock the breath out of your lungs. Nishijima and Tōko Miura display everything going through their characters’ minds without ever having to utter a word.

Horror: Donnie Darko

One of the most frustratingly open-ended movies ever made, Donnie Darko is nevertheless considered a cult masterpiece among hardcore horror buffs. Its ambiguous narrative, dreamlike tone, and surreal imagery make it either a film you either emphatically love or intensely hate (but no matter what, you’re bound to have some sort of emotional reaction after the fact).

Donnie Darko (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an emotionally despondent young man who lives in a world mixed between fact and fantasy. As his parents try to help him receive psychiatric support, Donnie starts experiencing vivid hallucinations of a mysterious man in a bunny suit (James Duval) who warns Donnie of a coming apocalyptic event.

It’s helpful to think of Donnie Darko as the film equivalent of Twin Peaks or Silent Hill. Despite its allusive, hard-to-penetrate narrative, it serves as a clever combination between science fiction, horror, surrealism, and subtle characteristics of a teen movie.

Comedy: 9 to 5

If you’ve ever worked a nine-to-five job (or really any job at all), it’s likely you’ve imagined some elaborate fantasy where you finally told off your boss. Channeling every working person’s adult daydream is 9 to 5, the ultimate escapist movie for anyone who has to deal with a domineering employer.

Tired of being abused by their sexist, ill-tempered, arrogant boss (Dabney Coleman), three underappreciated women (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton) at a large company decide to overthrow him, secretly installing themselves as surrogate managers of the workplace.

If you’ve never seen 9 to 5, it’s almost a given you’ve heard Parton’s Academy Award-winning theme song of the same name. As catchy as Parton’s song is, we recommend tuning into this underrated 1980 gem — a satisfying and succinct comedy ensemble if ever there was one.

Romance: Chungking Express

Commonly named one of the most heartfelt romance movies there is, Chungking Express offers not one, but two love stories in its breezy hour-and-a-half-long runtime, each of which are as tender and emotionally gripping as Casablanca or Annie Hall.

Split into two sections, each part of Chungking Express follows separate policemen (Takeshi Kaneshiro and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) as they search for love in their lives, finding it in the arms of an elusive woman smuggling drugs (Brigitte Lin) and a peculiar convenience store worker (Faye Wong).

It’s not often you see a movie succeed in telling two stories at once. But like most successful anthology movies, Chungking Express alternates between its two central narratives with ease and precision, allowing you to easily bond with every character and relate to the storylines presented in each section of the movie.

Biopic: Spotlight

In the early 2000s, the staff of The Boston Globe uncover a lengthy history of cover-ups by the Catholic Church related to allegations of priests sexually assaulting children in the city.

The investigation on the decades-long sexual misconduct by Catholic priests was one of the most shocking exposés ever conducted by a media organization. Facing continuous pressure to silence their story, the intrepid team at The Boston Globe continued with their probing, unearthing a legacy of startling allegations against official members of the Church.

Providing a snapshot of this investigative team is the film Spotlight. Relying on an ensemble cast of veteran actors (Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, and Stanley Tucci), the movie portrays the earliest forays of The Globe’s reporters as they unknowingly stumble into the biggest story of the time.

Musical: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

It’s strange to think that a director as famously off-beat as Tim Burton is so effective at handling musicals. Taking Stephen Sondheim’s hit Broadway play to the big screen, Burton’s aesthetic made for an ideal fit with the gothic world of Sweeney Todd — a sharply tuned musical tragedy with elements of a slasher blended in.

In Victorian London, the formerly exiled barber Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp) returns home, seeking revenge against the power-mad judge (Alan Rickman) who banished him from England in order to steal his wife.

Perhaps the darkest movie Burton has ever worked on, Burton uses his explicit R-rating to its fullest extent in this film. While some sections of the movie might be hard to stomach, the main narrative of the film and the cast’s performances make it an effective adaptation of Sondheim’s musical.

Mystery: Chinatown

On the surface, Chinatown may seem to have all the glamor and glitz of a classic ‘40s noir film, yet it’s anything but. Far darker, more biting, and incredibly shocking even by today’s standards, it’s a gritty and cynical movie that makes classic Bogart films seem upbeat by comparison.

Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a suave private detective working in 1930s Los Angeles. Hired to follow a man accused of cheating on his wife, Gittes enters a labyrinth of corruption, putting him at the mercy of the city’s most elite officials who want to keep their secrets buried.

Largely considered to have the greatest script ever written, Chinatown comes across as a postmodern takedown of the hard-boiled noir genre. Tackling subjects seen as taboo then and now, it’s a wildly inventive if frequently disturbing mystery film.

Classic: The 400 Blows

The crown jewel of the French New Wave, The 400 Blows is one of the most important international films born out of the 1950s. Prior to its release, no film had ever broken quite so many rules, reexamining what a movie can be and what subjects it can explore within its limited runtime.

Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud) is a young teenage boy in Paris who loves trouble. Ignored by his bickering parents and misunderstood by his teachers, he spends his days escaping into adolescent adventures in the city.

The French equivalent of Rebel Without a Cause, The 400 Blows was responsible for ushering in a new movement not just in French film, but in the entire world of cinema. Lacking any semblance of a plot, it’s a slow, dramatic film that touches upon the more sobering aspects of childhood, from fear and loneliness to parental fighting and authoritative adults who emphasize conformity.

Family: Kung Fu Panda

There aren’t many DreamWorks movies able to match the popularity of the Shrek franchise, Kung Fu Panda being a rare exception. While each film in the franchise thus far boasts its own individual sets of strengths, the original Kung Fu Panda is more than enough to please viewers, regardless of your age.

In a version of ancient China populated by anthropomorphic animals, Po (Jack Black) — a panda bear noodle chef and an avid fan of kung fu — is unexpectedly named the Dragon Warrior by the wizened master, Oogway (Randall Duk Kim). With a limited time to complete his training, Po is mentored by Oogway’s pupil (Dustin Hoffman), building up to a climactic battle between Po and the fugitive kung fu master, Tai Lung (Ian McShane).

A rare children’s film with a heart, Kung Fu Panda effortlessly vaults between an abundance of laughs, some first-rate action, and plenty of grounded emotion. For audiences young and old, it’s a creative and original martial arts parody with some surprisingly strong undertones and themes permeating throughout.

Underrated: De Palma

Brian De Palma is rarely singled out as the greatest director of his generation. Coming of age during the influential New Hollywood movement, De Palma was a filmmaker who gained prominence the same time his close friends George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, and Martin Scorsese were redefining the American landscape of film.

Unfortunately, De Palma’s later career undermined the success of his earliest projects (Carrie, Blow Out, Dressed to Kill, Phantom of the Paradise), leading to his relative lack of success compared to colleagues like Spielberg. Thankfully, Noah Baumbach’s touching documentary, De Palma, sheds light on the director’s career and influence in Hollywood.

Comprised almost exclusively of De Palma discussing his start as a director and each of his many films over the years, De Palma is just as much an examination of the filmmaker’s rise and fall as it is a portrait of the oppressive and incredibly demanding Hollywood system.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Richard Chachowski is a freelance writer based in New Jersey. He loves reading, his dog Tootsie, and pretty much every movie to ever exist (especially Star Wars).

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Ranking All the Movies of the Twilight Saga

Post By Money Making movies, Ranking All the Movies of the Twilight Saga, Saga, Twilight, Wealth of Geeks

Twilight has been a part of the cultural consciousness for almost fifteen years. Here’s how all the movies stack up.

A Phenomenon

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

When the first Twilight book arrived on shelves in 2005, it quickly became a favorite for many readers, and it didn’t take long for a movie deal to come together.

Three years later, in 2008, the first film arrived in theaters and broke box office records. The film’s debut – and the phenomenon it inspired – made Twilight inescapable for the next four years. The film series was everywhere as a new entry in the saga arrived each year and continued to break box office records through to the end.

Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Backlash

Image of the cast of the Twilight Saga — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Of course, there was a significant backlash during this time and after. The “still a better love story than Twilight” meme reigned on the internet, and the fandom was the target of much ridicule.

Luckily, in recent years Twilight has bounced back in a significant way. The “Twilight Renaissance” has been going strong since 2018, the first film’s tenth anniversary year that saw it re-released in theaters (which your humble writer excitedly attended). And in the summer of 2021, the top five movies on Netflix were all the Twilight Saga films.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Twilight Renaissance

Twilight stars at the movie premier — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

It’s unclear what brought the franchise back to such glorious life. Still, it seems that the renaissance isn’t ending anytime soon. This time Twilight may just be cool now and forever. So in the spirit of engaging with one of the most loyal fandoms and offering some new fodder for discussion, I’ll dive into the saga and rank every film from worst to best.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

5. Breaking Dawn – Part 1

Image of the movie Breaking Dawn - Part 1 — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

After the Harry Potter franchise split the final book into two films, to great financial success, The Twilight Saga followed suit. Sadly, the novel, Breaking Dawn, doesn’t lend itself to splitting very well. The first half adaptation suffers significantly from the break as it mostly feels like set dressing for the more successful second half.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Significant High Points

Breaking Dawn – Part 1 follows the wedding of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) and their subsequent honeymoon, where they finally have sex. Sex leads immediately to Bella’s pregnancy and, ultimately, her needing to be turned into a vampire to save her from the otherwise fatal situation.

The movie isn’t necessarily bad and, in fact, has some significant high points across all the films. The wedding is beautifully realized and emotionally potent for any series fan.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Horror Territory

Bella’s pregnancy is the farthest the series ever pushes into horror territory, with her half-vampire fetus feeding on her blood and growing faster than a human fetus. The pregnancy culminates in a cesarean-section sequence that’s genuinely disturbing and easily the most frightening thing in the entire series.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Struggling for Time

The reason that Breaking Dawn – Part 1 lands last in this ranking is simply because not much else happens. Most of the honeymoon period is dull, especially in the wake of the gorgeous wedding. In addition, the pregnancy plotline takes some time to come to a head, leaving the film often feeling like it’s struggling for time and serving as filler.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

4. Eclipse

Eclipse movie poster — Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Eclipse brought in director David Slade, who wasn’t (and sadly still isn’t) a household name. However, he had two films under his belt, making him an excellent choice for the Twilight franchise. Before coming onto Eclipse, Slade helmed the Elliot Page starring sexual predator revenge movie Hard Candy and the vampire action-horror 30 Days of Night.

These movies showed that Slade could handle delicate topics, mainly concerning teenage girls, and create striking action sequences centered on vampires.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Action-packed

Image from the movie Eclipse — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Sadly though, Eclipse focuses more on the action than the drama. Instead, the film centers on the vampire Victoria (Bryce Dallas Howard, replacing Rachelle Lefevre), as she seeks revenge on Bella, Edward, and the entire Cullen family for their murder of her mate James (Cam Gigandet) in the first film. She sets up a base in Seattle and begins turning more and more humans into vampires so that she can lead an attack on the Cullens.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Best in Series

Slade creates a distinct look and sound design for the vampire violence unique to Eclipse. In addition, he allows for some stretching of the PG-13 rating regarding dismembering bodies. Perhaps making the action in the film the best in the entire series.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Strange Detour

Still, the story of Victoria’s revenge feels unnecessary. It draws focus away from the drama of Bella, Edward, and Jacob (Taylor Lautner), which seems like a step back for the saga after the introduction of the Volturi in New Moon.

Eclipse is a solid standalone vampire action film. Still, it’s a bit disappointing as a film in the ongoing Twilight Saga. It’s a strange detour from the teen drama storyline and the developing threat of the Volturi.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

3. Breaking Dawn – Part 2

Breaking Dawn – Part 2 suffers from the same issue as Part 1: it feels like half a story padded out to an overlong runtime. Unfortunately, that padding overwhelmingly comes in the film’s first quarter, where we see the immediate fallout of Bella’s becoming a vampire and Jacob’s imprinting on baby Renesmee.

To be fair, this does lead to one of the most wonderfully quotable lines in all the movies: “you nicknamed my daughter after the Loch Ness monster?!” But overall, it takes longer than it should in a film with much more interesting narrative ground.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Strictly Forbidden

Image from the movie Breaking Dawn - Part 2 — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

After the first quarter (almost third) of the movie, the Cullens learn that the Volturi believe that Bella and Edward turned a child into a vampire, which is strictly forbidden.

The Volturi then set out to attack our heroes, prompting the Cullens to gather vampire “witnesses” from across the globe to testify that Renesmee is, in fact, a hybrid vampire/human child.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Teamwork

These scenes are a lot of fun and bring to mind “getting a team together” sequences from heist films as we’re introduced to several new and exciting characters allied with the Cullens.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Join Forces

When these characters join forces with the Cullens and Jacob’s werewolf pack, it results in the most significant action scene in the film’s finale. Breaking Dawn – Part 2 hits a high point that stands as one of the best in the series. However, it still can’t escape feeling like half of a story, and a movie significantly padded out with unnecessary material.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

2. New Moon

Image from the movie New Moon — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Despite the significant critical dismissal, New Moon broke multiple box office records upon release and remains the second-best of the movies. New Moon lands high on this ranking for the same reason that Eclipse lands low; the focus on teenage drama.

New Moon centers on Bella’s sadness over her break-up with Edward early in the movie. Then, we watch as she begins to recover through her friendship with Jacob, with a quick lore introduction of the Volturi at the end.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Teenage Drama

Image from the movie The Twilight Saga New Moon — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

The story is quite similar to Twilight‘s as Bella becomes aware of and a part of a new supernatural community. But this time, instead of Edward’s world of vampires, she finds herself in Jacob’s world of werewolves.

This focus on teenage drama and how New Moon retreads the beats of the first and (spoiler alert) still best movie in the saga makes it stand as one of the best movies in the series. New Moon functions a bit like a coming-of-age story for Jacob as he learns to accept and control his new abilities as a werewolf.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Casual Chemistry

The time we spent with Bella and Jacob was lovely. Stewart and Lautner have casual chemistry that invites the audience to feel like they’ve known these characters as long as they’ve known each other. And the support that they lend one another through their struggles in the film feels authentic to teenage relationships and friendships.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Hang-out Movie

Oddly, this movie about vampires and werewolves often feels like a hang-out movie, which is a good thing as the draw of The Twilight Saga has always been the characters.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

1. Twilight

Image from the movie Twilight — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

This list wouldn’t exist without Twilight taking the top spot. There wouldn’t be five or even two movies in the saga if Twilight weren’t the colossal success it was.

First, of course, there was the built-in fan base from the books. Still, not every hugely successful book series becomes a hugely successful film series, as we’ve learned from The Golden Compass and Eragon adaptations. Quick (maybe not so) fun fact: New Moon director Chris Weitz had previously directed The Golden Compass.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Moody Atmosphere

Twilight‘s deserved success is a sign of director Catherine Hardwicke’s vision for the film, which bears a striking visual style and moody atmosphere. It’s also a result of the talents of Stewart and Pattinson as leading actors.

In the hands of a lesser filmmaker, Twilight could easily have felt empty, like a weak cash grab attempting to capitalize on the success of the books. Instead, the film is a distinct piece of media that builds on Stephanie Meyer’s narrative and has a real sense of personality.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Iconic Performances

That personality is, of course, helped by the iconic performances from Stewart and Pattinson. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t offer their best performances (though it may offer Pattinson’s most prominent). Still, their charisma and chemistry make Edward and Bella exciting to watch.

Like New Moon, Twilight is first and foremost a teen drama, a subgenre that succeeds or fails on the strength of its teen leads, and the pair is fantastic here.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Flawed

The first movie isn’t without its flaws, though. First, there’s Edward’s gaslighting and his possessive and extremely sex-negative behavior. Still, these behaviors exist and evolve in later films, so those flaws aren’t only in this movie in the series.

Image Credit: Summit Entertainment.

Cullen Clan

More specific to Twilight, there’s the abrupt tonal shift from a fun teenage melodrama to an action/horror movie in the film’s finale as James hunts Bella. She is then saved by Edward and the rest of the Cullen clan.

Twilight has been inviting viewers to a melodramatic, romantic, and slightly scary adventure in Forks for almost fifteen years as its performances and feel continue to overshadow its flaws.

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This post was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Kyle Logan studied philosophy and now constantly overthinks music and movies.

He’s a film and television critic and general pop culture writer who has written for Cultured Vultures, Chicago Film Scene, Castle of Chills, and Filmotomy. Kyle has covered virtual film festivals including the inaugural Nightstream festival in 2020 and the 2021 Fantasia Film Festival. Kyle is interested in horror films, animation, Star Wars, and Adventure Time, as well as older genre films written and directed by queer people and women, particularly those from the 1970s and 80s. Along with writing, Kyle organizes a Queer Film Challenge on Letterboxd.

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Overwhelmed at Work? Here’s 7 Positive Ways To Say ‘No’ to Your Boss | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making Overwhelmed at Work? Here’s 7 Positive Ways To Say ‘No’ to Your Boss, Wealth of Geeks

You’re completely overwhelmed with work. But your boss either doesn’t know or doesn’t care and here they are, coming over with a new request. Can you just say “No”?

No. Well, you can… But, you shouldn’t. Just as this is a word you should try to avoid in job interviews, it’s also one you should limit in your interactions with your manager. Sure, they may have unreasonable requests sometimes. But outright shooting them down will probably cause more trouble for you.

By this, we mean saying “no” and walking away. Of course, you can still turn down the request in some circumstances, all while doing it in a well-thought-out, polite way that’s more likely to solicit a positive response.

Good Reasons To Say ‘No.’

There are some poor reasons for saying “no” — if you’re scared of learning or trying something new, for example. But there are also several good reasons to do it. They include:

You’re Truly Overwhelmed With Work.

You already have so much work on your plate that you’re not sure whether you’ll even be able to finish it all. Agreeing to take on one more project or assignment wouldn’t be possible. You’d have to neglect your other responsibilities or deliver subpar results, neither of which is going to impress your boss.

You Lack The Necessary Skill Set.

If you don’t have the proper skill set to complete the assignment, you won’t be able to complete it satisfactorily. Just say so. Otherwise, you’ll struggle through a project without meeting expectations.

Of course, there are some things you might be able to learn quickly. If it won’t take you too long to get up to speed, then you’re probably not justified in refusing.

There Are Competing Priorities.

Perhaps you have a meeting to attend — one your boss forgot about or was unaware of in the first place — and it would interfere with your ability to complete this additional project. Or maybe there are other competing priorities. This is an important reason; after all, you can’t do two things at once.

You have a personal or family emergency.

If you have a real personal or family emergency, such as the death of someone close to you, this is a very good excuse for not only refusing to take on yet another project but also a valid reason for calling out of work. Most likely, your company already has a policy about these types of situations in place. But if not, you should talk with your boss about your circumstances and how you need to be supported.

Your Boss Is Asking You To Do Something Immoral, Unethical or Illegal.

Hopefully, this is an occasion you’ll run into infrequently, if at all. But your boss might ask you to do something that goes against the company’s principles or your own. Perhaps they might even ask you to do something illegal. This is unacceptable and may be the most crucial reason why you should say no. This situation will often warrant further action, such as reporting it to a higher-up — or even pursuing legal recourse.

7 Ways To Say ‘No’ to Your Boss.

These approaches will help the conversation go more smoothly.

1. Give a Concrete, Justified Reason.

Rather than saying “I can’t do it,” upfront, give a real, concrete reason. If, for example, you have competing priorities, such as the aforementioned example of an important meeting, lay it all out.

“I’d be happy to do it, but I have that meeting with the sales team this afternoon.”

“I wish I could, but I have tasks A, B, and C to finish by the end of this week.”

Chances are, your boss will accept this response and may propose a way around it or find an alternative way of getting the assignment completed. Or, they could change the project’s specifications, such as pushing the deadline to accommodate your schedule.

2. Reframe Your Phrasing.

“No” can be a harsh word, as simple as it sounds. It is, by its very nature, negative. So, rather than framing it negatively, try to reframe it.

“I really wish I could do it, but I’m not sure it’s feasible given X, Y and Z.”

“Hmm, I have so much on my plate right now. Could we perhaps alter the timeframe?

Often we don’t think carefully enough about what we say and how we say it. Paying closer attention to how you frame things will almost certainly positively influence your interactions in other respects, too.

3. Propose an Alternative.

Perhaps you disagree with the idea your manager is asking you to execute. Or, maybe you can’t feasibly do it successfully. Rather than dismissing it outright, try proposing an alternative route.

“What do you think about doing such and such?”

“Can I suggest an additional [or alternative] approach?”

“Would you consider doing X instead, or in addition to that?

If you outright dismiss or shoot down an idea, it puts your boss on the defensive. You shouldn’t put anyone in that position. And if you do it to an authority figure, you’ll be risking yourself and your career. It will look like you don’t respect them.

4. Be Empathetic.

Demonstrate that you understand your boss’s perspective before immediately shooting it down. This will make them feel heard and understood. If you immediately say “no,” they’ll be less willing to listen to you and agree to your alternative proposal.

“I understand where you’re coming from. How about we do X?”

“That makes a lot of sense. Perhaps we could combine ideas and do [Y]?”

5. Ask For Their Help.

People love being asked for their help unless the help you’re requesting poses an undue burden on them. But generally speaking, it shows that you respect their opinion and that they can be a real asset to you. And, of course, everyone wants to feel appreciated.

So, rather than simply saying no, you can’t do something, reframe it by asking for their help.

“I have a lot of competing priorities right now. Could you help me prioritize my to-do list?”

“I also have [X project] on my plate right now. Actually, I’d love to get your opinion on it. Maybe we could go through it before I take on [Y project]?”

This will also help your boss see everything you have going on, which may make them rethink the team’s priorities and what they need you to do first.

6. Show Your Manager The Evidence.

Nothing supports your argument as well as concrete facts. If you have evidence, use it.

“I’m not sure if I can squeeze that into my to-do list. Here, let me open up the tracker and show you what I’ve been doing.”

“The results for our last campaign suggest that we should be spending more time on [X] than [Y]. Let me show you the analytics…”

7. Offer to Share The Load.

The fact remains: there is work on the table that needs completing. If you can’t do it, try suggesting an alternative or offering to share the work with a colleague.

“I have a lot on my plate right now, but I know Lisa is really good at [skill]. Perhaps I can handle this part of the project, and she could take the other part.”

“I have the sales meeting at the same time as this meeting. But maybe Lisa could go in my place? I know she’s been eager to take on more responsibilities.”

Not only does this help ease your burden, but it could give coworkers opportunities to prove themselves.

5 Tips for The Perfect Delivery.

Here’s how to say “no” like a pro.

Be Completely Honest.

Or rather, as honest as you can be without endangering yourself.

So, so long as it’s possible and safe, be forthcoming. If you lack the skills to complete the work successfully, say so.

Be Direct.

Be clear when explaining why you aren’t able or willing to do the job you’re being asked to do. Don’t allow your boss room to misinterpret — intentionally or not — what you’re saying.

Rather than saying, “I don’t think I can, but…” say, “I can’t.” Sure, you can temper your language, so it doesn’t sound rude, but avoid leaving wiggle room. Be straightforward so your boss isn’t left thinking you’re going to do something you’re not.

Acknowledge Who’s in Charge.

That’s your boss. Like it or not, they’re the person who has the ultimate control. Maintain a respectful tone throughout your conversation. Don’t forget that you’re the employee; they’re the manager.

For example, start with, “I know that this is your call…” The whole discussion goes a lot better than if they question whether you understand who’s the boss.

Keep Feelings Out of It.

Don’t cry. Don’t talk about your problems that have nothing to do with the work situation. Feelings should not be part of this conversation. Instead, keep it as professional as possible.

If you bring your emotions into the conversation, you’ll come across as unprofessional, and it will undermine you and your request.

Choose Your Timing Wisely.

Did a significant setback occur within the company? Did you make a mistake — one that could be costly? Is your boss stressed about a work or personal issue? That’s not the right time to bring up a problem with a request.

You can’t always control it — you don’t know when your boss will decide when to drop an assignment on your plate. But whenever you can, try to time your response such that you’re not piling it on top of bad news.

This article was produced by FairyGodBoss and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Laura Berlinsky-Schine is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn with her demigod/lab mix Hercules. She specializes in education, technology and career development. She also writes satire and humor, which has appeared in Slackjaw, Points in Case, Little Old Lady Comedy, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket and The Haven.

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#Overwhelmed #Work #Heres #Positive #Ways #Boss #Wealth #Geeks

World’s Most Recognizable Opera House, Plus 7 Equally as Stunning | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making opera house, Plus 7 Equally as Stunning, Wealth of Geeks, World’s Most Recognizable Opera House

With the birth of opera in the late 16th century came a demand for structures big enough and luxurious enough to hold lavish productions that combined music and theater.

Once the first opera house was built in Venice in 1637, other major cities followed suit. These venues became known as a place where the upper class would gather to attend famous operettic performances such as The Barber of Seville and La Traviata.

Many opera houses built since then have disappeared. Still, some have stood the test of time and have become historical structures recognized worldwide for their stunning architectural design.

While the Sydney Opera House may be the world’s most recognizable opera house, others are equally as impressive. Enjoy this list of eight incredible opera houses around the globe.

1. Sydney Opera House: The Most Recognizable in the World

Located on Bennelong Point in Sydney, Australia, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is easily recognized by its one-of-a-kind design. Although initially expected to cost $7 million and take four years to build, it took $104 million and 14 years to construct. Much of the money came from a state lottery system.

The massive structure is large enough that seven A380 airplanes could sit onsite wing-to-wing. More than one million Swedish-made tiles cover the roof.

Nearly 11 million people fly in from around the world to visit the Sydney Opera House annually, including many famous guests like Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen of England opened the opera house on October 20, 1973, and visited four times throughout her life.

The first opera performed was Sergei Prokofiev’s War and Peace in 1973. Other notable performers over the years include Thin Lizzy (1978), Crowded House (1996), and Prince (2016).

2. La Scala: The World’s Most Famous Opera House

Although commonly referred to as La Scala, the full name of this Milan, Italy, opera house is The Teatro alla Scalla. It is one of the most famous opera houses in the world.

La Scala opened on August 3, 1778, and was initially called the New Royal-Ducal Theatre alla Scala. It was home to many opera and ballet performances before being heavily damaged during World War II. It was rebuilt and reopened in May 1946 with a concert featuring a soprano solo by opera sensation Renata Tebaldi.

There are 3,000 seats in the building, including six tiers of box seats known as the “loggione.” The loggione is where the most enthusiastic, if not ruthless, spectators sit. In 2006, a performer was booed off the stage during his rendition of Verdi’s Aïda. This caused his understudy to rush on stage as a replacement without even time for a costume change.

3. Metropolitan Opera House: The Largest in the World

Originally built in 1883 by one of New York’s millionaires, Faust was the first opera ever performed on its stage. Later, the decision was made to move it to a new location, and a much larger, grander opera house was constructed.

The current Metropolitan Opera House resides in Manhattan at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, along with the New York Philharmonic, the New York City Ballet, and the Juilliard School. It has a capacity of 3,995 people, including standing room, making it the largest opera house in the world.

The Met was designed by the same architect as Rockefeller Center and is world-famous for its gold ceilings and enormous chandeliers. More than a million sheets of gold, each 23 carats, were carefully and individually applied to construct the ceiling. The project required so much gold that only a small amount was available to the Met each week so the project wouldn’t deplete the national reserves.

4. Royal Opera House: One of Europe’s Most Celebrated Opera Houses

London’s Royal Opera House is one of the city’s most iconic and recognizable buildings. Referred to by locals as simply “Covent Garden,” it’s home to both the Royal Opera and the Royal Ballet, two of England’s most prestigious organizations.

Construction of the first building was in 1728, but a second, larger theatre was later built and opened in 1809 after a fire destroyed the original structure. Disaster struck again in 1856, when the second building burned to the ground. The third building opened in 1859 and is the one that stands today.

Significant renovations began on the third building in the 1960s, lasting for several decades. Much of the Royal Opera House now visible is a result of this renovation project.

More than one million people visit the Royal Opera House yearly to see major performances such as The Nutcracker performed by the Royal Ballet and The Barber of Seville by the Royal Opera.

5. Teatro Di San Carlo: The Oldest Working Opera House

Real Teatro di San Carlo or “Royal Theatre of Saint Charles,” is often referred to as simply the Teatro San Carlo.

Located in Naples, Italy, it holds the title of the world’s oldest working opera house. Built in 1737 by The Bourbon King Charles, the majestic building has stood the test of time despite suffering significant damage.

Having survived wars, fires, and a revolution, the opera house has been renovated and enlarged over the years. Yet, the original structure remains at its heart, making Teatro San Carlo the oldest working opera house in the world.

There are a total of 1,379 seats in the opera house, including 184 boxes distributed in six tiers, plus a box for royalty. The original design included a mirror in each box that pointed to the royal box, and spectators were expected to watch the king to mimic his reactions.

6. Copenhagen Opera House: The World’s Most Expensive Opera House

The modern and widely recognizable Copenhagen Opera House opened in 2005. However, the original building was inaugurated in 1748 and remained prominent in Danish society for more than 100 years.

Funded by the private investment of a Danish billionaire, much of the design was of his choosing. The opera house is located in Copenhagen’s harbor, giving the audience a fabulous view of the Copenhagen skyline.

The metal roof is a notable aspect of the design, which can be easily seen from a distance. The original design called for a glass ceiling, but it was constructed with metal to last longer.

Not only is the Copenhagen Opera House one of the newest built, but it is also the most expensive. The 2.5 billion DKK construction cost is equivalent to approximately 370 million USD.

7. Vienna State Opera: One of the Busiest Opera Houses in the World

The Vienna State Opera House is one of Austria’s most prominent and noticeable buildings. Construction on the Neo-Renaissance style structure began in 1861 and took eight years to complete. The massive building is home to the Vienna State Opera and the Vienna State Ballet.

In March 1945, toward the end of WWII, bombing destroyed the auditorium and stage, along with a massive inventory of props and costumes for more than 120 operas. After much debate, the decision was made to reconstruct the opera house to its former glory, with a few modernizing improvements.

Today, the Vienna Opera House seats 1,709 people with standing room for 567 more, for a total capacity of 2,284. It is also one of the world’s busiest opera houses, producing 50-60 operas each season and more than 350 ballet performances. The opera house employs more than 1,000 people. It’s not uncommon for a different opera to be produced every day of the week.

8. Palais Garnier: A Symbol of Paris With a Ghostly Past

Originally named Opera le Pelletier (Old Opera House), this magnificent Parisian structure got a new name after being destroyed by a fire. It was named Le Nouvel Opéra de Paris (the New Opera House) after reconstruction. Later, to reflect its grandeur and to honor Charles Garnier, the design architect, it was again renamed Palais Garnier.

It took 14 years to build Palais Garnier, with construction starting in 1861 and ending in 1875.

Palais Garnier is one of Europe’s largest opera houses, with a seating capacity of 1,979 people and an enormous stage that can fit 450 performers. The horseshoe-style auditorium boasts the largest stage in Europe. The stage is built at a slant to provide better viewing for the audience and give an illusion of depth.

The opera house has another, more recognizable claim to fame. In May 1896, one of the counterweights used for the massive chandelier fell and killed a concierge. French author Gaston Leroux later added the scene to his now-famous novel, Phantom of the Opera. When Andrew Lloyd Weber wrote his opera of the same name, he used Palais Garnier as the setting.

Final Thoughts

There are many extravagant buildings in the world, from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Dubai, Saudi Arabia, but few rival the exquisite detail and design of some of the world’s most famous opera houses.

This article was produced by Wealth of Geeks.

Karee Blunt is the founder of OurWovenJourney.com, a travel blog focused on inspiring others to create memory-making adventures with their loved ones. Karee is passionate about encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone and live the life they dream of. She is the mother of six kids, including four through adoption, and lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. You can learn more about Karee on her about me page.

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Top 30 Harrison Ford Films | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making Top 30 Harrison Ford Films, Wealth of Geeks

There is no doubt that Harrison Ford had some legendary roles throughout his life. His swagger and portrayal of lovable scoundrels captured our hearts long ago.

Let’s check out his best 30 films so far! It should be no surprise which two characters are all over the top of this list.

1. Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Image Credit: LucasFilm Ltd.

Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
IMDb: 8.7

This is a worthy continuation of the story as the second installment, or what is now known as Episode V, in the Star Wars franchise. We come back in with our favorite characters, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo, three years later on the snowy planet of Hoth. After some sexual tension and banter between Leia and Han, we learn that Luke hasn’t returned to the shelter, so Han goes out to look for him.

A Worthy Continuation of The Story

Harrison Ford Films The Empire Strikes Back LucasFilm Ltd — Image Credit: LucasFilm Ltd

The story progresses from there as Luke begins his Jedi training, and we encounter the awesome Yoda with Frank Oz’s voice. More epic lightsaber battles, and the best plot twist in cinematic history as we learn that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father, makes this one of the best movies ever made.

2. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope 1977 Lucsfilm 1 — Image Credit: Lucasfilm

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDb: 8.6

The most epic franchise in history began in 1977 with Star Wars. Its lasting impact and huge fandom are a true testament to the story. Harrison Ford’s role as Han Solo is one of his most iconic and one of the two for which he’ll always be known.

One of His Most Iconic Roles

Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope 1977 Lucsfilm 2 — Image Credit: Lucasfilm

A description hardly seems necessary, but here we have Luke Skywalker, who buys two droids, one of them carrying a secret message from a woman for Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke finds him, and they embark on a mission to take the secret plans to her father on Alderaan. They hook up with pilot Han Solo and his Wookie co-pilot Chewie to fly them there. Ford excels as the cocky Han and embodies the scoundrel we all love.

3. Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989)

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
IMDb: 8.2

While the next installment is still pending, there is no doubt that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is the best Indiana Jones film to date. The storyline, Harrison Ford’s Indy, and the addition of Sean Connery as his father make this one a near-perfect film.

The Best Indiana Jones Film to Date

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

We get some fun here, peeking into Indy’s past and seeing some of his spunk as a teenager, played by the great River Phoenix. Then, we’re on to a quest to find Indy’s kidnapped father, who the Nazis kidnapped because of his knowledge of the Holy Grail. Filled with emotion and faith, this makes for an incredible cinematic ride.

4. Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
IMDb: 8.1

As the first installment in the Indiana Jones franchise, only barely surpassed by the third installment’s greatness. In the film, originally only titled Raiders of the Lost Ark, not only are we introduced to the greatness of Indiana Jones, we also have Marion (Karen Allen), who is superb as his old flame.

The Greatness of Indiana Jones

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

He is again in a race with the Nazis. This time they are all searching for the Ark of the Covenant. One of the best things about this one is the rich backstory. We get to know a lot about Indy here as he fights bad guys and reconnects with Marion.

5. The Fugitive (1993)

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%
IMDb: 7.8

Even though Tommy Lee Jones’ deputy marshall doesn’t care that you didn’t kill your wife, we do, Kimble! It is hard to forget as one of the most famous lines of the film

Accused of Murdering His Wife

Harrison Ford Films The Fugitive Warner Bros — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Harrison Ford stars as Dr. Richard Kimble in one of his best roles, a man accused of murdering his wife. Even though he didn’t do it, he is sentenced to death. En route to prison, his transport crashes. He escapes and goes on the run. While being chased by Deputy Samuel Gerard, he sets out to find out who killed his wife. The suspense is on point, and the mystery will keep you intrigued until the end.

6. Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of The Jedi (1983)

Harrison Ford Films Return of The Jedi Lucasfilm Ltd — Image Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
IMDb: 8.3

As the thrilling conclusion to the first three films (at least in order of release date), we have Episode VI. We catch up with our favorites again. After the heart-wrenching ending of Episode V, where Leia admits her love for Han, and he gets frozen in carbonite, this installment is most welcome.

Thrilling Conclusion to The First Three Films

Harrison Ford Films Return of The Jedi Lucasfilm Ltd 3 — Image Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd

Leia comes to bust Han out of Jabba’s palace but is captured herself and made to wear the famous gold bikini, and Luke must come to rescue them all. One of the most satisfying moments in this film is when Leia strangles Jabba with the chains he kept on her. We also have another confrontation between Luke and his father, with a redemption arc you don’t see coming.

7. Star Wars: Episode: VII – The Force Awakens (2015)

Harrison Ford Films The Force Awakens Lucasfilm Ltd — Image Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDb: 7.8

After so many years without Star Wars movies, it was fun to see this return again to continue the Luke, Leia, and Han stories. Having these three actors embody their most iconic roles was thrilling to see. One of the highlights was Han and Chewy’s entrance. Harrison Ford did a great job with this, easily stepping back into the role.

We’re Home, Chewie

Harrison Ford Films The Force Awakens Lucasfilm Ltd 2 — Image Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd

This film takes us to Jakku, where it introduces us to Rey. When a droid carries the map to where Luke Skywalker has been hiding, Rey must help him find his way to Princess Leia. A former Stormtrooper named Finn, then Han, and Chewie join her. We are also introduced to a new villain in Kylo, and Ford gets the ending he wanted for his character all along.

8. Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984)

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%
IMDb: 7.5

While not quite as strong story-wise as the first and third installments, Temple of Doom is technically a prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Chilled Monkey Brains

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Here we have Indy crash landing in India with a boy called Short Round and a lounge singer named Wilhelmina “Willie” Scott, although neither show up in other installments. They go to the village and learn that their children and sacred stones are missing. The trio set out to get them back. No doubt the most memorable scene in the film concerns “chilled monkey brains.”

9. Witness (1985)

Harrison Ford Films Witness 1985 Paramount PIctures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 93%
IMDb: 7.4

With an unusual setting, we have the film Witness. It features a romance set against the danger of murder.

Romance With Danger

Harrison Ford Films Witness 1985 Paramount PIctures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Ford stars as police officer John Book, who seeks to protect a young Amish boy and his mother after the boy witnesses a brutal murder of an undercover cop. While Book attempts to figure out the mystery, he discovers that the boy is in danger because the murderers know about his investigation and are hiding in the Amish community. Book moves into the community and begins a romance with the boy’s mother. According to Roger Ebert, “Harrison Ford has never given a better performance in a movie.”

10. Blade Runner (1982)

Harrison Ford Films Blade Runner 1982 Warner Bros — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Rotten Tomatoes: 89%
IMDb: 8.1

This unique Sci-Fi film features Harrison Ford in a different kind of role than we usually see him. Even though we’re a few years past it now, this film was a futuristic look as it took place in 2019.

Reaction Time is A Factor

Harrison Ford Films Blade Runner 1982 Warner Bros 2 — Image Credit: Warner Bros

It features Ford as a retired detective who is called upon to track down some escaped humanoid androids from an outer space mining colony. They are hiding on Earth, and while he tracks them down, he discovers some interesting information about the android’s manufacturer.

11. 42 (2013)

Harrison Ford Films 42 2013 Warner Bros — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
IMDb: 7.5

In this biographical film about legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson, we have an excellent performance by Harrison Ford as the owner of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey. The film centers around Rickey’s defying the color barrier by signing Robinson. It tells an important story and shows how far things have come.

The Owner of The Brooklyn Dodgers

Harrison Ford Films 42 2013 Warner Bros 2 — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Regarding Ford’s performance, film critic Richard Roeper wrote, “Harrison Ford is all eyebrows and speeches as Branch Rickey, the Dodgers executive determined to break the color barrier. It’s a rather remarkable performance by Ford in that he goes for it whole hog, scowling and barking and delivering sound bite-sized life lessons.”

12. Clear and Present Danger (1994)

Harrison Ford Films Clear and Present Danger 1994 Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
IMDb: 6.9

Based on the novel of the same time by Tom Clancy, Clear and Present Danger is another worthwhile action film from Harrison Ford. The story is the sequel to The Hunt for Red October and Patriot Games. The second in which Ford also played Jack Ryan.

Another Worthwhile Action Film

Harrison Ford Films Clear and Present Danger 1994 Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

In this installment, Jack becomes the acting director of the CIA. He soon must investigate the murder of a friend of the president. Once Jack starts digging, he finds links between the deceased and drug dealers.

13. Presumed Innocent (1990)

Harrison Ford Films Presumed Innocent 1990 Mirage Enterprises — Image Credit: Mirage Enterprises

Rotten Tomatoes: 86%
IMDb: 6.9

Another book adaptation, Presumed Innocent, is based on a novel by the same name written by Scott Turow. Harrison Ford does well in these crime dramas, and this one has him playing chief deputy Rusty Sabitch to Brian Dennehy’s prosecuting attorney, Raymond Horgan.

A Crime Drama

Harrison Ford Films Presumed Innocent 1990 Mirage Enterprises 2 — Image Credit: Mirage Enterprises

Horgan assigned Sabitch to investigate the rape and murder of Carolyn, a colleague of theirs, but Horgan has a closer relationship with her. They were having an affair before she died, and the evidence soon implicates Rusty in her murder. This film presents an intriguing mystery that keeps you captivated until the end. According to Roger Ebert, “The lead performance, by Harrison Ford, must have been a delicate balancing act, since at every point he must seem plausible both as a killer, and as an innocent man. Ford’s taciturn and undemonstrative acting style is well suited to the challenge.”

14. The Age of Adaline (2015)

Harrison Ford Films The Age of Adaline 2015 Lionsgate — Image Credit: Lionsgate

Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
IMDb: 7.2

The premise of The Age of Adaline is a fascinating one that allows the film to explore multiple decades, given the title character’s long life and agelessness. It is a unique film that is enjoyable to watch.

Delivers an Impressive Performance

Harrison Ford Films The Age of Adaline 2015 Lionsgate 2 — Image Credit: Lionsgate

Adaline (Blake Lively) is in a car accident in 1937, which makes her stop aging. She appears as a 29-year-old woman for several years, with her daughter aging past her. She changes her identification often to avoid being studied, but she must give up anyone she’s become close to before they realize that she doesn’t age. One of these people is William Jones (Harrison Ford), who is heartbroken when she disappears.

Years later, she encounters him again when she is dating his son. He is stunned by her appearance, and she tries to convince him that the woman he knew was her relative instead of her. Ford delivers an impressive performance here. According to film critic Matt Zoller Speitz, “Ford’s voice—always deep, lowered an octave by age and one more by William’s longing—is even more powerful. This is Ford’s best performance since The Fugitive, maybe since Witness.”

15. Air Force One (1997)

Harrison Ford Films Air Force One 1997 Columbia Pictures — Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
IMDb: 6.5

The storyline of Air Force One is an intriguing one that gives us a strong president in Harrison Ford’s character James Marshall. After a speech outlining how he will not negotiate with terrorists, the president is tested when they take over Air Force One and threaten to kill the hostages—the president’s wife and daughter.

Get Off My Plane!

Harrison Ford Films Air Force One 1997 Columbia Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

The cool thing here is that the president is also a veteran. He fakes an escape and then works on taking back control. According to Roger Ebert, Ford is what makes this movie, despite the cliches. He wrote, “Harrison Ford is one of the most likable and convincing of movie stars, and he almost pulls off the impossible in “Air Force One.” I don’t mean he saves the day; I mean he almost saves the movie. Here is a good example of how star power can breathe new life into old cliches–and “Air Force One” is rich with cliches.”

16. Patriot Games (1992)

Harrison Ford Films Patriot Games 1992 Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
IMDb: 6.8

As Harrison Ford’s first time playing CIA analyst Jack Ryan in this sequel to The Hunt for Red October, he does a great job of taking over the role originally played by Alec Baldwin. This action film takes the story to a new level.

A Solid, Convincing Actor

Harrison Ford Films Patriot Games 1992 Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Jack witnesses an IRA terrorist attack on a member of the royal family. While he prevents the assassination, the brother of the terrorist escapes from prison and targets Jack and his family. According to Roger Ebert, “Harrison Ford once again demonstrates what a solid, convincing actor he is.”

17. Sabrina (1995)

Harrison Ford Films Sabrina 1995 Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
IMDb: 6.3

As a remake to the 1954 classic, this version of Sabrina does okay thanks to Harrison Ford’s charming portrayal of Linus. While Humphrey Bogart seemed distant in his role (maybe because Audrey Hepburn and William Holden, who played David were having an affair at the time), Ford brings some passion into the role.

Charming Portrayal of Linus

Harrison Ford Films Sabrina 1995 Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

As the story goes, Sabrina, the chauffeur’s daughter, has a crush on David. After being away for two years in Paris, she can finally gain his attention, but not if his older brother Linus has anything to say about it.

18. Ender’s Game (2013)

Harrison Ford Films Enders Game 2013 Summit Entertainment — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment

Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
IMDb: 6.6

Even though Ender’s Game omits some key scenes from the novel it is based on, it still makes for an enjoyable film in Harrison Ford’s repertoire. This sci-fi film brings plenty of action.

Aliens Attacking Earth

Harrison Ford Films Enders Game 2013 Summit Entertainment 2 — Image Credit: Summit Entertainment

It features mean aliens who attack the Earth, and while humans were victorious the first time, they must prepare for the next time and need someone to fill the shoes of the first victor, who is now too old. Col. Hyrum Graff (Ford) and his colleagues form a program to help them find the next kid who can defeat the aliens and come across Ender.

19. Working Girl (1988)

Harrison Ford Films Working Girl 1988 Twentieth Century — Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

Rotten Tomatoes: 85%
IMDb: 6.8

This film has 1980s romantic comedy written all over it, and Harrison Ford presents a likable love interest for Melanie Griffith’s character Tess. Ford’s character is a bit caught between two women, but it’s mostly about business.

A Likable Love Interest

Harrison Ford Films Working Girl 1988 Twentieth Century Fox 2 — Image Credit: Twentieth Century Fox

The premise revolves around a secretary (Griffith), who wants to be so much more. When her boss is injured, she discovers that her boss was about to steal her idea. She hatches a plan to impersonate her, and make a huge deal with an investment broker (Ford).

20. Frantic (1988)

Harrison Ford Films Frantic 1988 Warner Bros — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Rotten Tomatoes: 76%
IMDb: 6.8

It seems that some danger or mystery surrounds finding out what happened to his wife in quite a few of Harrison Ford’s films. Frantic is another one with a similar premise, but Ford, as always, plays the detective role well.

Plays The Detective Role Well

Harrison Ford Films Frantic 1988 Warner Bros 2 — Image Credit: Warner Bros

Frantic centers around a doctor and his wife who are in Paris for a medical conference. While he is taking a shower, his wife disappears. Having difficulty getting any help, he decides to investigate her disappearance himself and soon enters a world of drugs and gangsters. This film is a combination of thriller and film noir.

21. K-19: The Widowmaker

Harrison Ford Films K 19 The Widowmaker Paramount PIctures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 60%
IMDb: 6.7

As one of Harrison Ford’s gripping dramas, K-19 is intriguing even though it doesn’t completely stick to facts. While it does take some liberties, it is still interesting to watch.

A Gripping Drama

Harrison Ford Films K 19 The Widowmaker Paramount PIctures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

We are plunged into the Cold War when Russia launches a nuclear submarine with Captain Alexei Vostrikov (Ford) and executive officer Mikhail Polenin on board. The two often clash but come together when the nuclear reactor system begins to leak. The captain must choose between his men and his orders. According to Roger Ebert, “There is one surprise in the movie, a decision having nothing to do with the reactor, that depends entirely on the ability of the characters to act convincingly under enormous pressure; casting stars of roughly equal weight helps it to work.”

22. Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull (2008)

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull 2008 Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 78%|
IMDb: 6.1

Although this fourth installment of Indiana Jones gets a lot of hate, it does have many redeeming qualities. For one, we got to see Harrison Ford don the iconic fedora once again. For another, Marion is back, and their love story is completed.

Back Fighting Bad Guys

Harrison Ford Films Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of The Crystal Skull 2008 Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Despite issues with the plot (including the refrigerator savior), we still have bad guys trying to get powerful and priceless artifacts, here in the form of the crystal skull. Indy is back fighting bad guys, and that’s often all it takes in the end.

23. Regarding Henry (1991)

Harrison Ford Films Regarding Henry 1991 Paramount Pictures — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 43%
IMDb: 6.7

Regarding Henry is a fascinating look at how someone might change if they completely lose their memory. The film explores how someone would change without all of the experiences that make them who they are.

A Fascinating Look at Memory and Personality

Harrison Ford Films Regarding Henry 1991 Paramount Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Paramount Pictures

This premise is what happens to Harrison Ford’s character Henry. Before getting shot in the head, he is a ruthless lawyer who brings much of that personality home to his family. His amnesia turns him into a much kinder person after his recovery. It is unclear whether it’s because he had to struggle so hard to recover and now appreciates what he has or it really is from missing his memories.

24. The Call of The Wild (2020)

Harrison Ford Films The Call of the Wild 2020 20th Century Studios — Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

Rotten Tomatoes: 62%
IMDb: 6.7

Based on Jack London’s novel of the same name, The Call of the Wild is primarily about a dog during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush. Buck is stolen from his home in California and arrives in the Yukon, where he befriends John Thornton (Harrison Ford).

Brings Heart and Dignity

Harrison Ford Films The Call of the Wild 2020 20th Century Studios 2 — Image Credit: 20th Century Studios

The film received mixed reviews because of the CGI animals, but Ford was praised for his performance. As for the good things, film critic Nell Minow wrote, “The Alaskan and Canadian scenery is spectacular, the production design is exceptional, and Ford brings heart and dignity to his role, including the narration throughout the film.”

25. What Lies Beneath (2000)

Harrison Ford Films What Lies Beneath 2000 Dreamworks Pictures — Image Credit: Dreamworks Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
IMDb: 6.6

Harrison Ford’s only role in a horror movie came in 2000 with What Lies Beneath. Starring opposite Michelle Pfeiffer as his wife, the two play off each other well and are convincing. The mystery comes in whether his wife is crazy or if there’s a ghost.

His Only Horror Movie

Harrison Ford Films What Lies Beneath 2000 Dreamworks Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Dreamworks Pictures

She tells him she hears voices and sees a young woman, but he quickly dismisses her. She thinks it might have to do with the couple next door as the wife disappeared. At her husband’s urging, she sees a therapist, but he says she should try to make contact.

26. Morning Glory (2010)

Harrison Ford Films Morning Glory 2010 Bad Robot Productions — Image Credit: Bad Robot Productions

Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
IMDb: 6.5

This romantic comedy features Harrison Ford in a supporting role, but it is a fun movie. He plays an egotistical, grumpy news reporter named Mike, who Rachel McAdams’ character brings in to save her show.

A Supporting Role

Harrison Ford Films Morning Glory 2010 Bad Robot Productions 2 — Image Credit: Bad Robot Productions

The problem comes in when Mike refuses to do puff pieces and starts fighting with his co-host, played by Diane Keaton. Although focused primarily on McAdams, Ford puts in an entertaining performance that fits with some of his more cantankerous roles.

27. Extraordinary Measures (2010)

Harrison Ford Films Extraordinary Measures 2010 Double Feature Films — Image Credit: Double Feature Films

Rotten Tomatoes: 28%
IMDb: 6.4

This movie focuses on the fact that you will do pretty much anything for your children. Brendan Fraser stars as John Crowley, who is on his way up in the corporate world when he gets the devastating news that the two youngest of his three kids both have a fatal disease.

A Brilliant Scientist

Harrison Ford Films Extraordinary Measures 2010 Double Feature Films 2 — Image Credit: Double Feature Films

John quits and dedicates his life to finding a way to save his kids. This point is where Harrison Ford enters as a brilliant scientist named Dr. Robert Stonehill. Working together, they fight to find a cure before it’s too late.

28. Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Harrison Ford Films Cowboys and Aliens 2011 Universal Pictures — Image Credit: Universal Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
IMDb: 6.0

Not cinematic gold by any means, but the premise here is enough to redeem it in a way. Cowboys fighting aliens? Let’s do it.

Cowboys Fighting Aliens

Harrison Ford Films Cowboys and Aliens 2011 Universal Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Universal Pictures

When a stranger named Jake (Daniel Craig) comes into a town called Absolution, he finds the locals unwelcoming. That is until aliens threaten them and the only weapon able to fight them is the thing attached to Jake’s wrist. When Col. Dolarhyde (Harrison Ford)’s idiot son is taken, the men work together to get everyone back.

29. Six Days Seven Nights (1998)

Harrison Ford Films Six Days Seven Nights 1998 Touchstone Pictures — Image Credit: Touchstone Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 37%
IMDb: 5.8

While this film is a bit fluffy, it provides an enjoyable ride with some fun scenery. The banter is also a good time between the late Anne Heche’s character Robin and Harrison Ford’s Quinn.

An Enjoyable Ride With Fun Scenery

Harrison Ford Films Six Days Seven Nights 1998 Touchstone Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Touchstone Pictures

Robin hires Quinn to take her to Tahiti for an assignment while on vacation in the South Pacific with her boyfriend. Instead of making it to Tahiti, they are forced to make an emergency landing on a deserted island. While they tend to bicker, they must put that aside to survive and get someone to rescue them.

30. The Devil’s Own (1997)

Harrison Ford Films The Devils Own 1997 Columbia Pictures — Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

Rotten Tomatoes: 35%
IMDb: 6.2

The union of Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt make The Devil’s Own an interesting movie to watch. This thriller features Ford as a police officer named Tom, who lets Pitt’s character Frankie, aka Rory, stay with him.

Another Thriller

Harrison Ford Films The Devils Own 1997 Columbia Pictures 2 — Image Credit: Columbia Pictures

What Tom doesn’t know is Rory is really Frankie, one of the IRA’s deadliest assassins. They form a friendship, but things get messy when Tom realizes that Rory isn’t who he claims to be. It causes a moral dilemma that Tom must work through. The fact that the movie works is a testament to the actors. Roger Ebert wrote, “Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt are enormously appealing and gifted actors, and to the degree that the movie works, it’s because of them.

Using all the gifts of the actor’s craft, they’re able to sell scenes that don’t make sense and don’t add up.”

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

Kristen Winiarski has worked as a professional writer for 15 years, studying classic TV shows and films to further her expertise and understanding about how they have evolved. This passion led her to start her own classic movie blog before branching out into the professional entertainment writing world.

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Exodus From California and Illinois to Florida and Texas Continues | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making Exodus From California and Illinois to Florida and Texas Continues, Wealth of Geeks

2022 saw a booming demand for U-Haul equipment from California, Illinois, and New York as citizens chose to flee the West Coast, Northeast, and Midwest. Growth states are calculated by the net gain of one-way U-Haul trucks entering a state versus leaving that state in a calendar year. California and Illinois ranked 50th and 49th, respectively – marking their third consecutive year in these positions.

But what could be causing such a mass exodus from states like California, New York, and Illinois?

Long-Term Migration Patterns Hold Steady

U-Haul rental trucks had the highest demand for outbound moves from California and Illinois in 2022.

In 2022, the top growth states according to U-Haul’s Annual Growth Index were Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas—emerging as particularly sought-after one-way truck rental destinations. In fact, since 2016, when U-Haul started tracking statewide migration data, Texas and Florida have consistently topped the preferred states chart, while California and Illinois have been at the bottom of the list.

The top states for growth according to this metric (including their ranking in 2021) are as follows:

1. Texas (1)

2. Florida (2)

3. South Carolina (4)

U-Haul’s records demonstrate that migration to the Southern and Southwestern United States saw a surge last year – an occurrence instigated and amplified by the pandemic. Even though DIY moves in most states had some slight deceleration from 2021’s record-high rate of relocations, they remained at elevated levels.

Texas remains the top growing state for a record-breaking second consecutive year and the fifth time since 2016, trumping all other states. Florida follows closely behind as an equally impressive growth state – taking out the number two spot seven years in a row!

The Census Bureau corroborates the population increase by state, with Texas emerging as the largest-gaining state across the nation, totaling 30,029,572 inhabitants. Texas joined California as one of two states boasting an astounding 30 million residents or above.

2022 saw Florida become the fastest-growing state in the nation, with its population surging a remarkable 1.9% yearly and totaling 22,244,823 residents.

Is The Migration Due To Political Ideologies?

The top five states seeing a mass exodus (including their ranking in 2021) are all Democrat-controlled.

46. New York (45)

47. Massachusetts (47)

48. Michigan (42)

49. Illinois (49)

50. California (50)

Over the nine years between 2010 and 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau reports that California, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois have seen a collective population decline of 4 million.

Moreover, a recent U-Haul study found that the five states with the highest influx of new residents are Republican strongholds, such as Texas and Florida. These migration trends could suggest the political management of states driving the exodus.

Impact of Changing Economic Conditions

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) statistics released Dec 23, 2022, reveal that 47 states and the District of Columbia (D.C.) experienced a rise in their real gross domestic product (GDP) during the third quarter of 2022.

Alaska topped the percent change in real GDP at 8.7%, followed closely by Texas at 8.2%.

The BEA tracks the income people living in each state get from wages, proprietors’ income, dividends, interest, rents, and government benefits to help assess and compare the economic well-being of state residents.

The mining industry was the leading contributor to the increases in real GDP in Alaska, Texas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, North Dakota, and New Mexico, the six states with the most significant increases in real GDP, and in West Virginia, the state with the eighth-largest increase in real GDP.

In the third quarter of 2022, state personal income increased at an annual rate of 5.3% across all 50 states and D.C.

Personal income in Texas and Florida increased at a 6.9% annual rate, compared to California at only 5.2%.

The percent change in real personal income trend from 2021 showed similar patterns, with Texas and Florida at 4.8% and 4.7%, compared to California at 3.7%.

Why Are Certain States Shedding Residents?

From the high cost of living to remote job opportunities and even weather, there are numerous reasons why people left California and Illinois in 2022. Regardless of their motivation for migration, one thing is sure: a significant movement away from these states occurred this year.

As remote working options become increasingly available, a surge in population growth and migration to lower-cost-of-living areas will occur. Furthermore, these cities and states now afford more significant job opportunities than ever.

The Census Bureau reports that the pandemic had a modest impact on retirement timing. Individuals having poor health were more likely to retire early, with 5.6% mentioning that they had already retired or will be retiring soon.

Also, the retiring baby boomer generation likely would migrate towards states with warmer weather and lower living costs and taxes. Texas and Florida are ideal locations for those worried about income taxes since they do not have a state income tax.

Companies move across state borders due to taxes, labor costs, and a lack of available employees. Unfortunately, when businesses vacate a region, work opportunities disappear. Consequently, this could result in an influx of citizens to the new state and stifle economic growth for the states abandoned by the businesses.

Importance of Tracking Migration Trends

The movement of human capital across state lines would impact the state’s potential economic output by changing the size of the labor force. Typically, highly skilled personnel occupy vital roles essential for any economic development.

Migration trends also directly impact the state’s tax base and net fiscal contribution. It also affects property values for the local population and demand for real estate investing.

Population growth is one of the many factors to consider when picking the best states for real estate investors. Texas property taxes are based on the appraised value compared to California, where the assessed value is equal to the purchase price, and annual increases are capped at 2%.

For the first time in its 171-year history, California has seen a decrease in congressional representation due to changes based on new population estimates for each state reported by the U.S. Census Bureau. The number of seats allotted in Congress dropped from 53 House districts to 52.

One fewer representative in the House also means one fewer vote from California in the Electoral College that decides the presidency and proportionately less of the federal money allocated based on population each year. The power shifts to Texas, which adds two seats, and Florida adding one seat based on population growth.

As these migration trends continue to increase, California and Illinois, ranked at the bottom of the list yearly, will have to consider the long-term ramifications of their citizens’ departures.

This post was produced by Financial Freedom Countdown and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

John came from a third world country to the US with only $1,000, not knowing anyone, guided by an immigrant dream. In 12 years, he achieved his retirement number.

He started Financial Freedom Countdown -https://financialfreedomcountdown.com/ to help everyone think differently about their financial challenges and live their best lives. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, enjoying nature trails and weight training.

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Your Complete Guide To The Best Remote Voice Over Jobs

Post By Money Making remote voice over jobs, Wealth of Geeks, Your Complete Guide To The Best Remote Voice Over Jobs

Even with little to no experience in the voice acting industry, finding high-paying and exciting job opportunities is still possible.

According to data from the leading voiceover platform, Voices, there is a heavy demand for new talent in the voiceover industry. Demand for English-speaking voiceover artists rose by a massive 43%, and the market for non-English speakers grew even more.

If you’ve got a voice that friends and family compliment or enjoy putting on silly voices and speaking in different accents, you could be the perfect fit for voice acting.

One of the most attractive things about this kind of work isit can be done remotely. Yes, voice artists can find 100% remote voiceover jobs. It’s also a field where entry-level candidates can thrive.

What is a Voiceover Job?

You might wonder what voiceover is if you are new to the term or industry.

A wide range of businesses want talented voice artists to read and record their scripts for shows, movies, commercials, etc. The company hires a voiceover actor who reads a script aloud in the agreed-upon style.

What Skills or Qualifications do Voice Artists Need?

It’s a common misperception that a degree in voice acting is required to get started, but it is not. Instead, the focus is on skills and abilities. The more voices you can do, the more appealing your services will be to potential clients.

Tech Skills

For even a small role, you will need to be tech-savvy. You will need to learn how to use voice recording software and develop some stellar editing skills. In addition, you’ll likely need to remove errors from your recording or place time gaps. Of course, these skills will improve with experience, so with that in mind, consider making a recording today to brush up on your tech skills.

Vocal Abilities

The better your pronunciation and diction, the more chance you have of being a successful voice actor. You should be able to speak clearly and accurately. In addition, it is beneficial to use your voice in diverse ways; if you can talk in anime and cartoon voice styles, you will have more opportunities. If you need to become more familiar with these types of voices, consider watching some popular cartoons and pay close attention to how the actors use their voices.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

Like tech skills, communication and interpersonal skills are a must-have for any freelancer. You will regularly interact with clients, and they’ll expect you to be polite, friendly, and timely with your messages.

What Qualifications Does a Voice Actor Need?

The good news is that you do not need a degree or special qualification to become a voiceover artist. That said, you will need a demo, which is a recording of your voice. Your demo should contain a good variety of different styles and tones. Your demo must be of the highest quality. It’s your opportunity to show potential clients why they should pick you. Put time and effort into it, because it can pay off massively.

What Equipment Does a Voice Actor Need?

As this is a freelance role, you must have your own equipment at home to create your voice recordings. It would help if you established your own recording studio.

You will need to have the following equipment to accept gigs in the voiceover market:

Microphone

Splurge for good quality, as the better your microphone, the better you will sound in your recordings. Settling on a cheap option would be doing yourself a disservice. It would help if you also had a stand or a microphone mount for the microphone. If you’re holding the mic in your hand, the sound quality will be inconsistent.

Quality Headphones

You need headphones to accurately listen to the audio you have recorded.

Pop Filter

A pop filter stops hissing and popping sounds in your audio recordings.

Shock Mount

Shock mounts stop the effects of unwanted vibrations and disturbance in your audio recordings, making them professional quality.

What Voiceover Jobs are Available?

Voiceover artists work on all kinds of projects. This is great because this increases your chances of finding something suitable for your voice.

Voiceover work includes:

Children’s cartoons
Adult cartoons (think Family Guy)
Anime
Dubbed movies and television series
Commercials
Video games
Phone messages
Podcasts
YouTube channels
Radio
Audiobooks
Educational videos
Business videos

Is Free Training Available for Voiceover Artists?

If you are new to the market, then it’s definitely worth getting some training. It will improve your skills and confidence and prevent imposter syndrome. The good news is there is free training available online. So it’s highly recommended that you take advantage of it before trying to find work or recording your demo reel.

You can join SkillShare and learn from master voiceover artists. They offer a week’s free trial of their service. If you don’t want to pay, you can unsubscribe after seven days.

If you would prefer, you could check out free videos on YouTube.

How Much Does a Voiceover Artist Get Paid?

According to SPG Studios, the average hourly American wage for voiceover acting is $37.

Of course, that does not mean you will earn $37 per hour; you could make more or less. Factors determining your rate include your experience and ability, the project, and the client’s budget.

Another wage-increasing factor is unions. You will earn more if you are a union member and have union-based clients. Consider joining a union such as SAG AFTRA.

The highest earners in the industry earn MILLIONS per year. Consider Nancy Cartwright. She is a voiceover actress for the Simpsons. She makes about $400,000 per episode.

How To Increase Your Earnings as a Voice Artist

If you have high hopes as a voiceover artist, you might be asking yourself how to increase your earnings. Implement some of these tips to make yourself stand out from the crowd and land your dream gig.

Build Your Own Website

This will require a small investment, but it’s worth it if you plan on making it big in this game. The good news is that it’s super easy to set up a simple and attractive website. You don’t need any coding skills. Instead, consider using a website builder like WordPress or Squarespace (other website builders are available).

Build a Social Media Presence

To hit the big time as a voiceover artist, you must have a social media presence. It’s an opportunity to showcase your skills to a vast audience. You can also use social media to connect with other artists and gain valuable insights into the industry.

Consider using platforms like Twitter and TikTok to create short skits or clips showcasing your talents. Alternatively, take it a step further and create your own YouTube channel where you produce longer-form content.

Quality Over Quantity

It’s tempting, especially for newbies, to try to work as much as physically possible to make some money. The problem with this mindset is in the long term, you’re doing yourself an injustice. It’s not sustainable to work endlessly and maintain a high standard of work.

Every project you work on stands as a testament to your professional reputation. In the gig economy, reputation is everything. So don’t sacrifice your brand to make some quick cash. Instead, try to focus on your long-term goals. You will foster a far better career this way.

10 of the Best Remote Online Voiceover Jobs

Here are 10 legitimate freelance voiceover jobs available to total novices without experience.

1. Voices

Voices is considered by many to be the leading voiceover marketplace. They have established themselves as the largest online community of voice artists. In addition, they boast over 2 million freelancers from 160 countries. Because of this enormous community, clients and businesses flock to it to find the best talent on the market.

After you’ve signed up and created a kick-ass profile (don’t forget to add all your best demos and samples), clients can contact you and invite you to jump on their latest project.

If you land gigs with Voices, you can expect to make anywhere between $150 to $1500 per project.

It’s free to become a member and create a portfolio. If you have success with Voices, you may consider upgrading your account to its premium version known as ‘Voices Talent Membership’. At $499 per year, it’s pricey, so be sure you like the website and are finding regular gigs with it before you spend money.

If you decide to join the premium version of Voices, then you will receive some sweet perks. When clients search through the website, they bump up your profile, and you can ‘audition’ for gigs.

Another neat thing about Voices is they pay via PayPal, and they cover the cost of the fees, so you get 100% of your earnings.

It’s also worth mentioning that Voices have some mega clients, like Microsoft and the History Channel, who source their talent from the Voices marketplace.

ACX is all about audiobooks; the audiobooks produced with ACX are sold via iTunes, Amazon, and Audible. They hire voice artists and producers who can bring authors’ characters to life with their well-adjusted voices. Making this an ideal gig for the bookworms out there!

It’s a relatively simple sign-up process, follow the registration prompts and then add an unlimited number of your excellent samples. Next, pick how you want to get paid.

You can receive an hourly rate from the client or opt for a portion of the royalties. If you choose to get a share of the royalties, you will get 50%, which is generous.

Then you can start searching for work. When you find something that looks like a good fit for your voice, you provide a short demo using their offered manuscript. If the Rights Holder likes your style, then they can make you an offer.

You both agree on your terms, then you get to work.

If it sounds like a good fit for you, then there is no better time to start with ACX than now; theyhave over 1700 job postings just waiting for the right voice.

2. Voice123

Another reputable entry-level voiceover artist marketplace is Voice123. Again, it’s a great fit for beginners and experts alike.

Voice123 has been around since 2003 and has completed over 250,000 projects, making them well-established.

They offer a free account for beginner voice actors to get started. If you want to increase your job opportunities, consider upgrading to a Premium or Platinum account. Premium accounts cost up to $4,950 per year; because of this high price tag, they are best suited to experienced professionals.

Similar to Voices, Voice123 allows clients to search through the voiceover artists’ profiles. Then once the client finds the person they like, they can contact them and negotiate pay and terms.

Voice123 has some world-renowned clients; Coca-Cola, The New York Times, and 21st Century Fox use Voice123 to find their vocal talent.

Rates with Voice123 range from $30 to over $100 per hour.

3. Backstage

Looking for voice acting jobs for beginners? Look no further. Backstage has got you covered.

To find work with Backstage, you must pay $9.99 per month(billed annually). They have no free options, unfortunately. However, although they lack a free option, they make up for this with their high-quality clientele. Netflix, Disney, and HBO all use Backstage to find project talent.

They’ve been around since 1960, so you know they are credible and 100% legit.

Unlike other sites,Backstage allows users to apply directly to gigs, which is why this site is preferable.

You scroll through the casting calls (thousands of them to look at). Then, once you find something that fits you well, you apply, and if you get picked, you get paid. It’s that simple.

Another perk of Backstage is there are no commission fees associated with their site, just the membership fee, which is relatively low.

You can also find general acting work with Backstage.

4. Snap Recordings

Another place to find no experience voiceover jobs is Snap recordings.

Snap recordings provide their clients with high-quality voices and fast turnarounds. So, ensure you can meet their 3-to-5-day turnaround before you sign up.

Another plus for Snap recordings is their super-fast and easy sign-up process. All you need to do is fill out a short form, add some basic personal information and provide your best voiceover sample for them to review.

If they like your demo reel, they will send you jobs directly. You can earn between $50 and $100 per hour if hired.

They offer voice recording services for businesses and corporations, mostly telephone messages and systems.

Their clients include BMW and iHop.

Snap recordings have been in the business since 1997.

5. The Voice Realm

The Voice Realm is “the biggest network of casting websites for advertisers, producers, and creatives to source world-class voices.”

If you want to start voice acting from home, then The Voice Realm could be an ideal place.

Their application is straightforward. They need all your credentials and some other information too, like the brand of your microphone and editing software. Then, of course, they require your all-important demo reel.

The Voice Realm offers high rates. Many artists make over $100 per hour here, so make sure you’re ready to perform high-quality voiceover audio. Another awesome thing about the Voice Realm is it is free to join them. Still, on the negative side, they are known for taking a while to accept new artists.

They also handle all the payments and invoicing, so you are always guaranteed to get paid, which makes things simple.

6. Bunny Studios

Don’t be put off by their silly name. Bunny Studio is a great place to find entry-level voiceover jobs, and they have over 50,000 clients, including Airbnb.

They offer work to people of almost any language (over 100 languages available), making them well-suited to those who do not speak English as a first language.

Like other sites, Bunny Studios focuses on quick turnarounds for orders. 85% of orders are completed in less than 12 hours. Make sure you’re ready to work relatively quickly before signing up with Bunny Studios.

A perk of Bunny Studios is they pay you for your auditions, and even if the client rejects your work, Bunny Studios still pays you.

They also have a Trust Pilot rating of 4.7, so you can have peace of mind working with them.

7. Voice Jockeys

Voice Jockey offers remote voiceover jobs for beginners. Their clients include Walmart and JCPenney.

The sign-up process is fast and short. Just send over some basic information and your demo reel; they will get back to you in about 24 hours.

Once approved, you can find work, although you might want to consider their 50% commission fee. This is a reasonably high rate, but the site is still valuable for people looking for voiceover jobs without experience.

8. Fiverr/Freelancer/Upwork

These three remote working platforms have all been put into the same category because the principle for all three is identical.

They all connect freelancers with clients around the world. All three are highly reputable and have user-friendly websites.

All three-offer work for various remote jobs, including at-home voiceover jobs.

All you need to do is create a quality profile, upload your credentials, and start applying for freelance gigs. Make your rates competitive, and you will quickly find work as a voiceover artist.

It’s worth noting that according to various freelance workers, Fiverr is the most preferable site to use, as they also have the most users.

9. Indeed

Indeed, it is one of the leading online job marketplaces in the world. They offer job postings in almost every profession. Including voice acting jobs.

Consider uploading your resume to the site and checking out some available positions. You might even find long-term work there, which is always a good find for a freelancer.

The average voice actor salary rates start at about $15 with Indeed. Still, you can earn considerably more with a suitable CV and demo reel.

Final Thoughts

Remote voiceover jobs are generally easy to find if you know where to advertise your services and how to best promote yourself.

Voiceover work for beginners is just as easy; again, you need the know-how to find these gigs. Luckily, you have everything you need to start and explore fantastic opportunities with the information in the article.

Now all you need to do is apply everything you’ve learned and start landing amazing gigs.

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The Mount Rushmore Of The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time: Who Should Be On It? | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making The Mount Rushmore Of The Greatest Guitarists Of All Time: Who Should Be On It?, Wealth of Geeks

For context, Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a mountain sculpture carved in the Black Hills region of southwestern South Dakota, U.S. The colossal structure depicts the faces of four former American presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. According to the artist, Gutzon Borglum, they represent important events in the American history, and serve as a symbol of freedom.

Now, a Redditor asked, “Let’s say there was a Mount Rushmore of the greatest guitarists of all time. Who would be the four people on there, in your opinion?”

Tough question, but Redditors passed different verdicts, and these are the guitarists whose legacy deserves to be cast in the stone of “Mount Rockmore”.

1. Jimi Hendrix

Half of Reddit thinks Hendrix is overrated, and the other half regards him as one of the founding fathers of the guitar world. One even compared him to Thomas Jefferson; one figure on Mount Rushmore.

“Like Jefferson, Hendrix opened an entire new continent of possibilities on the instrument, and explored most of it. No other single person did as much to show what the guitar is capable of.”

To date, Jimi Hendrix remains one of the most influential electric rock guitarists, even though he only had a four-year reign as a superstar.

2. Les Paul

Les Paul was an American jazz and blues guitarist, and one of the pioneers and inspirations of the solid-body electric guitar of the Gibson Les Paul. Artists like Jimi Hendricks, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton have enjoyed playing the guitar for its versatility.

A Redditor said, “Les Paul deserves to be there somewhere. Talk about influencing the influencers. He’s literally one of 2 people who invented the electric guitar.”

3. Prince

Prince may be renowned for his incredibly high pitches and influences on fashion and culture, but he was also a virtuoso at instruments, more specifically, guitars. He was often regarded as the next great after the Hendrix era, with a matching “electric” stage presence. His signature song, “Purple Rain,” featured one of his best guitar solos.

Prince was not a common name on this Reddit thread, and fans who saw his name dropped comments like, “finally!”, “took long enough!”, and “why did it take so long to see this one?”

4. Chuck Berry

A Redditor said, “The first Rock and Roll guitar hero. Created a basic vocabulary of rock guitar licks that influenced Joe Perry, Keith Richards, George Harrison, and thousands of others.”

Chuck Berry, influenced by musicians like T-Bone Walker and Nat King Cole, influenced other artists like Bruce Springsteen, George Harrison, and Pete Townshend. He also paved way for artists like The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. He rose to prominence through his innovative, creative style, becoming one of the most influential artists of his time.

5. Eddie Van Halen

“Most influential guitarist since Hendrix, which is a little more of a mixed bag, since he inspired an army of generic shredders. Still, as bombastic a sound as Roosevelt’s foreign policy, while with musical ambitious that match Roosevelt’s wide reading and post presidential life,” u/Kai_Daigoji wrote, comparing Halen to former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt Jr.

Eddie Van Halen, raised by a multi-instrumentalist, was a Dutch-born guitarist and keyboardist, renowned for his number one hit “Jump”. His record “Eruption” features one of the greatest guitar solos of all time, and the artist’s best. His love for guitar fueled his existence to the point of his death, when he was buried with the guitar “that inspired him the most.”

6. Frank Zappa

u/Its_Just_A_Typo said, “I would go with Frank Zappa as the unifier over Kiefer as a promoter of diversity in the industry – outspoken and intellectual, who brought more talent to the stage with all his bands’ incarnations and multitude of amazing musicians to make sounds that will resonate on though the future.”

Another wrote, “Zappa did some amazing things on the guitar, but I don’t see it talked about as part of his legacy very much. He was this incredible expressive, and sometimes vulnerable player, but the breadth of his compositions overshadow his personal musicianship.”

Frank Zappa was an American guitarist. He had a distinctive, experimental, and boisterous style, with a musical complexity attributed to his high IQ — 172. His non-conforming, self-governing nature presided over his lifestyle, permeating through the groundbreaking art he created.

7. Jeff Beck

A fan said, “Jeff Beck, the John Adams of his day. Rest in peace.”

Jeff Beck rose to prominence as a member of the rock band the Yardbirds. He was a founding member of Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert & Appice. Rolling Stone described him as “one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock” and included him in the top five of their “greatest guitarists” ranking.

Jeff Beck was one of the boundary pushing, groundbreaking guitarist, who expanded the world of rock.

8. Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton is the one Redditors have crowned “The man, the legend, the myth.” Clapton is an American trailblazing guitarist, singer, songwriter, and one of the founding fathers of the rock genre. He features in major “greatest guitarists” rankings including Rolling Stone‘s and Time magazine’s. He was also part of the Yardbirds as bandmate to aforementioned Jeff Beck and the only three-time inductee to the Rock and roll Hall of Fame.

Clapton revolutionized the world of Rock and Roll; fans, through the help of a widespread meme, have immortalized him as a god.

9. Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana is an American guitarist who rose to prominence with the Santana Blues Band. He is one of the most influential and greatest guitarists of this decade. His music is renowned for its genre-bending, innovative style, inspired by the likes of B.B. King, T-Bone Walker, and Ray Charles. It is often a fusion of jazz, blues, and rock, with Latin undertones.

Honorable Mentions:

Redditors said: “Knopfler is a poet on the guitar.

“Terry Kath was the psycho from Chicago.”

“Mick Mars is the most underrated hair metal guitarist out there.”

“I agree Chuck deserves a spot, but Charlie Christian basically invented the ‘guitar as a soloists instrument’”

“Yesss to BB king!!! That man puts on such a great show!”

“Sister Rosetta Tharpe should be up there given that all the early Rock ‘n’ Roll people were hugely inspired by her.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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10 Smartest Classroom of The Elite Characters, Ranked | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making 10 Smartest Classroom of The Elite Characters, Classroom of the Elite Characters, Ranked, Wealth of Geeks

(Spoiler warning: This list of 10 Classroom of the Elite characters contains spoilers from the light novel.)

Classroom of the Elite is one of the best high school anime that amazed many fans with its exciting plotline. The series is based on a light novel written by Syougo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose.

The series revolves around a school filled with elite students fighting to be deemed eligible for Class A, to which the most capable students belong.

There are a lot of amazing scenes that the anime didn’t adapt from the light novel, and many details are not stated. Considering that, aren’t you curious about who really are the brightest students in the series?

10. Horikita Suzune

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Horikita Suzune

Horikita Suzune is one of the supporting characters in the series. She belongs to Class D along with Ayanokojie. She is known as an aloof girl and hates relying on others. This makes her classmates despise her attitude.

Armed with her intimidating aura, Horikita is always on her own since she doesn’t trust anyone but herself. She’s also the younger sister of former Student Council President, Horikita Manabu, who was one of the most respected and dignified students on the whole campus. Manabu, her brother truly detests her because, to him, she’s a incompetent person who is determined to follow in her brother’s footsteps and can’t do anything on her own.

Because of this, Horikita’s biggest wish is to be acknowledged by her own brother by beating all the Classes, especially Class A.

Horikita is the leader of Class D despite her bad attitude and can be considered one of the smartest in her class. According to Ayanokojie, Horikita is a good leader who is still evolving. If Horikita develops her communication skills, she’s sure to be a formidable leader feared and respected by every class.

9. Ichinose Honami

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Ichinose Honami — © Lerche

Ichinose Honami is also one of the characters in the series and a central figure in Class B. Unlike other students, Ichinose is popular even among the students in the higher-ranking classes because of her approachable nature.

Compared to other leaders in every class, Ichinose doesn’t typically want to destroy other classes in order for them to be on top. She’s known as a Pacifist person and wants to make every student from each class, making her really popular among everyone.

Despite her friendly attitude towards her rivals, Ichinose is truly an intelligent student who is acknowledged by Ayanokojie. She’s the only student throughout the series who saw through her plans once during the Zodiac Special Exam on Cruise Ship (Volume 4). Among all the classes, Class B, under the leadership of Ichinose, is the most united and most cooperative, making her class a formidable opponent.

8. Katsuragi Kohei

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Katsuragi Kohei — © Lerche

Katsuragi Kohei is one of the supporting characters who belong to Class A, the highest-ranking of all classes. He is a sharp and cunning person and could be considered the 2nd brightest student in Class A.

During the Uninhabited Island Exam (Volume 3), Katsuragi led Class A with a magnificent plan that could beat any class. Unfortunately, it was countered by Ayanokojie without his knowledge. Ayanokojie admitted that Katsuragi is a brilliant person, especially compared to regular students, and he wasn’t reckless enough to do things that could harm his class.

Many people wonder why Katsuragi looks old despite being a high school student. It was mentioned that Katsuragi had a particular illness that affected his body, and one of the effects was the hair loss. Despite that, Katsuragi isn’t ashamed of his appearance and instead earns the respect of his followers using his intellect.

Despite being in Class A, Katsuragi has trouble leading the class since, Sakayanagi, a fellow classmate, wants to be the leader believing that Katsuragi isn’t capable enough to be one. Half of Class A is on Katsuragi’s side while the other half supports Sakayanagi, thus, splitting the class right into two and creating a lot of trouble for Katsuragi.

7. Ryuen Kakeru

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Ryuen Kakeru — © Lerche

Ryuen Kakeru is one of the supporting characters and the leader of Class C. Unlike any other leader, Ryuen leads the class using terror and dictatorship so no one can defy him. Among the class leaders, he is probably the most dangerous of all.

He is the embodiment of a rule breaker. Rules just don’t exist for him. Ryuen will do anything to gain what he wants, regardless of the process. He always uses cruelty and brutality in his actions, making everyone afraid of him.

Despite his inhumane nature, Ryuen is one of the most competent characters in the series, even though he is just in Class-C. Although he uses dirty tactics as part of his plans, he doesn’t get caught because of his flawless schemes that only Ayanokojie and Sakayanagi can beat him at.

He isn’t scared of the consequences of his actions because there is literally nothing that can frighten him.

6. Ichika Amasawa

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Ichika Amasawa — © Lerche

Ichika Amasawa is one of the junior students and supporting characters in the series. She’s someone who’s obsessed with Ayanokojie since she has known him at the very young age.

She is one of the few people who knows the true identity of Ayanokojie. She knows that he is extraordinarily smart, even more than anyone can even imagine.

Just like Ayanokojie, we catch only a glimpse of her abilities, but, so far, it seems that she’s just like mini version of Ayanokojie. She tried to test Ayanokojie by trying to expel him with other juniors, but Ayanokojie realized it and countered her.

During the special exam (Volume 15) that had students from different years competing against each other, Ichika beats Horikita and Ibuki in hand-to-hand combat with ease to stop them from approaching Ayanokojie knowing that they would become a hindrance to him. She even possesses tremendous strength like Ayanokojie, which makes her both physically and intellectually superior to most students.

5. Koenji Rokusuke

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Koenji Rokusuke — © Lerche

Koenji Rokusuke is one of the most mysterious characters in the series, especially considering that he is almost as powerful as Ayanokojie. Unlike Ayanokojie, Koenji doesn’t hide his capabilities. But he chooses to ignore his powers and only use them when absolutely necessary.

He is the second physically strongest when it comes to physique and much more superior to Horikita when it comes to intellect. Despite that, he doesn’t care about others, especially his class, because he knows he can enter Class A without the help of anyone.

During the Special Exam (Volume 15), Koenji shows his true abilities because of a deal with Horikita that he would have his freedom in exchange of him winning 1st place in the exam. Koenji ended up victorious against many higher ranking rivals and even defeated the president of the student council and his allies.

4. Miyabi Nagumo

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Horikita Manabu — © Lerche

Miyabi Nagumo became the current Student Council President after Manabu Horikita graduated, making him the latter’s successor.

Compared to Manabu, Nagumo uses his power whenever he wishes and goes on to throw out those students who are incompetent according to him. Unlike the other leaders, Nagumo is the leader of not just one class but the whole 3rd-year curriculum, making him very influential.

Just like Ryuen, Nagumo uses dirty tactics and doesn’t care about the repercussions of his actions. He decides to become the Student Council President to change the systems which Manabu had built for the school. Nagumo truly respects Manabu and that’s why he wants to destroy the latter and prove that he is better than even Manabu. He considers Manabu his rival, yet Manabu doesn’t care about him.

The only person that Manabu recognizes because of their abilities is Ayanokojie, which made Nagumo focus his hatred on the latter after Horikita Manabu had graduated.

3. Horikita Manabu

Horikita Manabu is the former Student Council President of Advanced Nurturing High School and the older brother of Horikita Suzune.

He is indeed one of the most brilliant characters in the whole series, especially considering how he was chosen as president of the most prestigious school in the whole country. Manabu is one of the few people aware of Ayanokojie’s capabilities since Ayanokojie sabotaged his own entrance exams.

Just like his little sister, Manabu is also capable enough of beating almost everyone in hand-to-hand combat in a way that not even Ryuen can beat him. He is the only person that Nagumo admires yet wants to destroy entirely in order to prove that he’s more capable than him. His little sister admires him since they were kids and the only reason why Suzune enrolled in Advanced Nurturing High School was because of him. She wants to follow her brother’s path and earn his acknowledgment.

2. Sakayanagi Arisu

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Sakayanagi Arisu — © Lerche

Sakayanagi Arisu is one of the smartest characters in the series and one who knows Ayanokojie the most in the series. She belongs to Class A and becomes the leader of it after she dethrones Katsuragi.

Sakayanagi isn’t fully introduced in the anime, but she has a lot of impact on the story. She knows Ayanokojie since she was a child, but Ayanokojie doesn’t wholly know her. When she realizes that Ayanokojie is currently studying with her in the same school, she feels her boring student life has come to an end since she found someone who can be her rival.

She always carries a cane because of her crippled leg. Despite that, it doesn’t affect her mentality. She often has body guards around her in the form of some classmates who are always around to protect her.

No matter the consequences of her actions, she also does what she wants, just like Ryuen and Nagumo. Her one and only wish is to beat Ayanokojie and show that everyone that a true genius will always be better than an artificial genius like Ayanokojie.

1. Ayanokoji Kiyotaka

Classroom of the Elite Characters - Ayanokoji Kiyotaka — © Lerche

Ayanokojie Kiyotaka is the protagonist of the series. He belongs to Class-D, where most of the low weak students are sent to. He enrolls in Advanced Nurturing High School to experience freedom that he didn’t have due to his past.

His intellect is far superior to any other human in every aspect, since he was taught how to do everything since a very young age. In spite of his capabilities, Ayanokojie doesn’t want to attract unnecessary attention so he chooses to hide them and live a life like a regular student.

Chabashira Sae, his teacher, knowing he is a superior to all other students, blackmails him to help bring the class rank up. So, he chooses to work behind the scene since he doesn’t want to attract anyone’s attention. He ends up giving all credit to Horikita for all the things he does.

He is the hero and villain at the same time throughout the series. He will help the class if necessary, and he will sabotage things if he needs to in order to protect himself. He uses people to achieve what he wants to and considers humans as tools for him to manipulate. Humans are a shield for him to protect himself and sword to attack others so he can make anyone obey him. This makes him the most flawed and dangerous student in the whole school.

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25 Magical Movies That Will Make You Give Up Your Vices | Wealth of Geeks

Post By Money Making 25 Magical Movies That Will Make You Give Up Your Vices, Wealth of Geeks

While drinking and even casual drug use are woven into the modern American fabric, and are common themes in popular culture, an estimated one-third of Americans don’t drink. A significant portion of the population identifies as fully clean and sober. On days when sober individuals want to watch a movie, but also want a reminder of why they choose not to drink or use drugs, they can turn to these films—which, by the way, are actually good.

1. Leaving Las Vegas (1995)

Photo Credit: United Artists

Arguably Nic Cage’s most compelling role and film, Leaving Las Vegas chronicles the rapid demise of Cage’s Ben Sanderson. The screenwriter flees Hollywood for Vegas, a liquor store’s worth of booze in tow.

In Sin City, Ben meets escort Sera (Elisabeth Shue), and a twisted romance unfolds amidst the neon lights and seedy motels of the Vegas Strip. An excellent soundtrack and mood-setting cinematography add to this film’s can’t-help-but-look allure.

2. Flight (2012)

A truly original film, Flight casts Denzel Washington as pilot Whip Whitaker, who we find out has a habit of flying while tipsy, if not drunk. But when Whitaker executes a miraculous maneuver to save an airplane of passengers in dire circumstances, complex questions arise as the pilot’s conduct comes under scrutiny.

Flight is an engrossing character study of really, really high-functioning alcoholism.

3. A Star Is Born (2018)

One of the rare examples where a remade film is arguably better than the original, A Star Is Born features Bradley Cooper as an addict-musician Jackson Maine. Lady Gaga’s Ally, the apple of Maine’s eye, balances her own skyrocketing career and a relationship with a spiraling partner.

4. Honey Boy (2019)

In a Rennaissance year for Shia LaBeouf, Honey Boy gave viewers a look into the seeds of LaBeouf’s well-noted personal struggles. This loose biopic in which LaBeouf plays his own rodeo clown, substance-abusing father, will tug at your heart and stick in your memory.

5. Trainspotting (1996)

Danny Boyle’s masterpiece about heroin addicts bop through Edinburgh is a rare film that combines humor with drug addiction. One of the esteemed films with an IMDb rating of greater than 8, Trainspotting does the chaotic life of a junkie justice.

6. Rocketman (2019)

Taran Egerton’s turn as Elton John in this 2019 box-office smash showed Sir Elton at high highest and lowest. Those low points include the pianist’s struggles with drugs and alcohol, which led him to get (and stay) sober for over three decades (and counting).

Rocketman is a thoroughly entertaining, visually-appealing film that shines a light on the rollercoaster life of an iconic showman.

7. Krisha (2015)

A24 purchased the low-budget Krisha after strong critical reception. The film tells the story of party gal Krisha, who shows up at the family Thanksgiving unannounced after a ten-year estrangement from her family members. Cringe ensues.

Clean and sober viewers will appreciate the awkwardness that emanates from a character trying to navigate a super-awkward social situation without intoxicating aid. But will Krisha succeed?

8. Crazy Heart (2009)

Another compelling story of the music industry’s ability to coax out a man’s demons (seeing a common theme here), Crazy Heart follows Jeff Bridges’ Bad Blake. A country star well past his prime, Blake is working the small-bar circuit when he meets Jean, a journalist who starts to coax something else out of Blake.

With cameos from Maggie Gyllenhaal and Colin Farrell, the cast alone is sufficient reason to watch Crazy Heart.

9. Beautiful Boy (2018)

Based on a true story of an author whose son slips into an addiction that makes him unrecognizable to his family, Beautiful Boy allows Steve Carell to shine in a dramatic role. Its basis in reality, means that this film presents a story that viewers with addiction in their lives will find familiar—for better or worse.

10. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Once you see Requiem for a Dream, you can’t un-see Requiem for a Dream. A surrealistic take on addiction in its many forms, Darren Aronofsky’s hellish thriller puts Jared Leto, Marlon Wayans, Jennifer Connelly, and Ellen Burstyn through a Dante’s Inferno-level descent into madness.

11. Barfly (1987)

Based on the life of legendary poet Charles Bukowski, Barfly is a portrait of a drinker. Mickey Rourke takes lead in this film that is unabashedly about booze, infusing humor while never hiding the rinse, repeat cycle that lifelong barflies live.

12. Smashed (2012)

What happens when two people who have always bonded over alcohol decide to make a change? Or, to be specific, one of them decides to make a change? Can the relationship (in this case a marriage) survive?

These are questions that Smashed strives to answer to great dramatic effect.

13. Drugstore Cowboy (1989)

Drugstore Cowboy is the drug user’s answer to The Town. Rather than robbing banks, Matt Dillon’s Bob and his gang of thieves knock over drug stores to fund their habit. A frenetic film that has a Trainspotting-like pacing, Drugstore Cowboy allows you to laugh at the madness of addiction.

14. Julia (2008)

One of the lesser-known films on this list, Julia casts Tilda Swinton in an unfamiliar role. She plays a desperate Julia, whose alcoholism has left her with increasingly few career options. When presented with a hair-brained scheme that a rational person would never consider, the viewer begins to see the depths of Julia’s desperation.

15. Walk the Line (2005)

Like Elton John, Johnny Cash proves that the pressures of the music industry, mixed with the demons that often motivate great artists, are a recipe for disaster. Walk the Line was a smash hit at the time of its release in 2005, and it’s beyond due for a re-watch.

16. Everything Must Go (2010)

Will Ferrell’s take on the plight of the drunken family man, Everything Must Go is a singularly unique film. Ferrell’s Nick Halsey loses his job, loses his wife, relapses on the sauce, and decides to stand guard of all the stuff his wife has thrown out of the house.

While it has an undeniably humorous bent, Everything Must Go ultimately delivers the get-your-stuff-together message that’s typically called for with films of this type.

17. Ironweed (1987)

Jack Nicholson plays a drunken drifter in Depression-era upstate New York. Need we say any more? See Ironweed, which remains one of the most underappreciated gems in Nicholson’s catalog.

18. The Hangover (2009)

So you’ve probably seen The Hangover already. However, for most who saw this comedy classic around its release date in 2009, The Hangover quickly became a movie you watched so many times that you’d swear you’d never watch it again. So, it might have been a minute since you watched this cautionary tale about the excesses of alcohol, so why not take it for another spin?

19. Traffic (2000)

Director Steven Soderbergh has a knack for making films that are simultaneously thrilling and heartwrenching. Traffic hits that same note, weaving several stories together to touch every angle of America’s War on Drugs. With Benicio del Toro, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and a strong supporting cast, this acclaimed film will leave you thinking.

20. Clean and Sober (1988)

Michael Keaton stars as Daryl Poynter, who enjoys cocaine, alcohol, and his life as a hotshot real estate agent. But when the facade comes crashing down, Poynter is forced to go to rehab. When Keaton’s trademark spark meets the no-nonsense persona of Morgan Freeman’s Craig, who counsels recovering addicts, this film evolves into something more than first meets the eye.

21. Half Nelson (2006)

You’re so used to seeing Ryan Gosling as the silver-tongued Mr. Suave or the brooding hero, but have you seen Ryan Gosling as a crack-addicted schoolteacher? With the indie hit Half Nelson, you can witness Gosling flex his acting range.

22. Rachel Getting Married (2008)

This 2008 movie finds Anne Hathaway as Kym, the black sheep of her family who has to skip out of rehab for a bit to attend her sister’s wedding. A reminder of how life moves on while addicts often re-experience the same hurdles repeatedly, Rachel Getting Married is directed by renowned filmmaker Jonathan Demme.

23. Once Were Warriors (1994)

One of the most renowned international films of its time, Once Were Warriors examines poverty among New Zealand’s Polynesian population. Themes of domestic violence, substance abuse, and legal troubles blend with a heartfelt sense of community and warmth to make this a unique and enduring film.

24. The Panic in Needle Park (1971)

What is it with Al Pacino doing the grittiest of gritty films in the 1970s. From Serpico to Dog Day Afternoon and The Panic in Needle Park, Pacino played some dudes in tooough situations. This heroin-tainted love story will reinforce addicts’ decision to get clean.

25. Ray (2004)

Jamie Foxx plays Ray Charles in Ray. Foxx would win the Oscar for Best Actor in a landslide, as he masterfully mimics Charles’ mannerisms, voice, and blindness. Foxx also emulates Charles’ descent into heroin addiction. The music in this movie, by the way, is pretty darn good, too.

This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.

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