On this day in movie history - The Revenant (2015 movie & novel):

The Revenant

directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu,

written by Mark L. Smith and Alejandro G. Iñárritu,

based on the novel by Michael Punke,

was released in the United States on December 16, 2015.
Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto.

Cast:

Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhnall Gleeson, Will Poulter, Forrest Goodluck, Paul Anderson, Kristoffer Joner, Duane Howard, Melaw Nakehk'o, Arthur Redcloud, Lukas Haas, Brendan Fletcher, Tom Guiry, Grace Dove.

Recommended reading:

The Revenant

By Michael Punke.

Published by Picador.

Movie tie-in edition published in 2015.

Published 2002.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 9781250072689

ISBN-13: 978-1250072689

Description:

Read the book that inspired to major motion picture.

A thrilling tale of betrayal and revenge set against the nineteenth-century American frontier, the astonishing story of real-life trapper and frontiersman Hugh Glass.

The year is 1823, and the trappers of the Rocky Mountain Fur Company live a brutal frontier life. Hugh Glass is among the company’s finest men, an experienced frontiersman and an expert tracker. But when a scouting mission puts him face-to-face with a grizzly bear, he is viciously mauled and not expected to survive. Two company men are dispatched to stay behind and tend to Glass before he dies. When the men rob and abandon him instead, Glass is driven to survive by one desire: revenge. With shocking grit and determination, Glass sets out, crawling at first, across hundreds of miles of uncharted American frontier. Based on a true story, The Revenant is a remarkable tale of obsession, the human will stretched to its limits, and the lengths that one man will go to for retribution.

“The makings of a western classic, Michael Punke's novel The Revenant provides muscle and sinew to the vengeful and epic tale of mountain man Hugh Glass that even a sow Grizzly couldn't rend asunder.” – Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire novels.

“One of the great tales of the nineteenth-century West.” – The Salt Lake Tribune.

On this day in music history - Top 20 Solo Piano, by Michele McLaughlin (2015):

Top 20 Solo Piano

Album by Michele McLaughlin,

released December 14, 2015.

Track list:

A Beautiful Distraction; Across the Burren; Breathing in the Moment; Celtic Christmas; Cheryl’s Hope; Dedication; Finn McCool; Full of Love; Irish Rain; Melancholy Snowfall; Midwinter Memories; Out of the Darkness; Perseverance; Spiritual Awakening; Stargazing; The Druid’s Prayer; The Eternal City; The Space Between; Waking the Muse; Winter Solstice.

On this day in music history - Calm Within, by Laura Sullivan (2015):

Calm Within

Album by Laura Sullivan,

released December 11, 2015.

Track list:

Emerald Isle; Inner Harmony; Sunlight Through the Rain; Starlight on the Shannon; Cathedral of Trees; Sands of Time; A Beautiful Future; Cloud Forest; High Desert; Gratitude.

On this day in music history - Winter Symphony, by Jennifer Thomas (2015):

Winter Symphony

Album by Jennifer Thomas,

released November 20, 2015.

Track list:

Angels We Have Heard on High (FT. the Ensign Chorus); Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy; Carol of the Bells; Alleluia (FT. Felicia Farerre, the Ensign Chorus); Ice Dance (FT. the Ensign Chorus); I Saw Three Ships; Breath of Heaven; Theme from Home Alone (Somewhere in My Memory); What Child Is This (FT. Taylor Davis); Silent Night (FT. the Ensign Chorus); Winter Symphony; O Holy Night.

On this day in movie history - Legend (movie & book):

Legend

directed and written by Brian Helgeland,

was released in the United States on November 20, 2015.
Based on the book The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins by John Pearson.
Music by Carter Burwell.

Cast:

Tom Hardy, Paul Anderson, Christopher Eccleston, Joshua Hill, Emily Browning, Colin Morgan, Tara Fitzgerald, Nicholas Farrell, Adam Fogerty, Mel Raido, Millie Brady, Chris Mason, Stephen Thompson, Sam Spruell, Taron Egerton, Alex Ferns, Martin McCreadie, Shane Attwooll, Richard Riddell, Huggy Leaver, Sam Hoare, David Thewlis, Frankie Fitzgerald, Christopher Adamson, Chazz Palminteri, Alex Giannini, Duffy, Samantha Pearl, Mark Theodore, Lara Cazalet, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Tim Faraday, John Sessions, Kevin McNally, Tim Woodward, Nick Hendrix, Robert Ashby, Geoffrey Beevers, Jane Wood, Jon McKenna, John Sears, Stephen Lord, Lorraine Stanley, Ashley Byam, Clive Aitkins, Fraser Andrews, James Francis Andrews, Lasco Atkins, David Olawale Ayinde, Aneurin Barnard, Roy Beck, Francesca Bennett, Jimmy 'The Bee' Bennett, Paul Bettany, Paul Biddiss, Martin Bishop, Steven Blake, Nicholas Blatt, Andy Blithe, Ancuta Breaban, Steve Brunton, Jon Callaway, John Carr, Alan Chimes, Bern Collaço, Trevor Comber, Carmen Cowell, Chris Cowlin, Bob Cryer, Leigh Dent, Raphael Desprez, Christian Di Sciullo, Gary Douglas, John Duggan, Shola Ebofin, Begona F. Martin, Dino Fazzani, Holly Field, Ellie Fox, Rich Goble, Claire Greasley, Guna Gultniece, Charlotte Habib, Abigail Halley, Jack Hamson, Shane Hart, Michael Haydon, Robin Hooper, Kornelia Horvath, Philip Howard, Adam Hypki, Danny Jackson, Alex Jaep, Steven J. Jobes, Paul Kerry, Jefferson King, Evia Laizane, Wesley Lloyd, Nick Longland, Darren Luckin, Christopher Marsh, Sonia Mason, Martyn Mayger, Matthew David McCarthy, Jackson Milner, David Mott, Campbell Muirhead, Benjayx Murphy, Josh Myers, Philip Myklebust, Debbie J. Nash, Johnny Neal, Celina Nessa, Tyrone Nestor, Hugh O'Brien, Yves O'Hara, Tom Ogg, Jeremy Oliver, Tony Pankhurst, Julia Papp, Stephen Parker, Christophe Philipps, Scott Plumridge, Glenn Power, Matt Rentell, Claire Richardson, David G. Robinson, Katherine Rodden, Geoff Rolph, Jd Roth-round, Tiger Rudge, Tom Sandell, James Thomas Scott, Timothy Scott, Janette Sharpe, Teresa Shaughnessy, Ruth Shaw, Sam Shoubber, Tristan Teller, Tom Urie, Daniel Westwood, Chris Wilson.

Recommended reading:

The Profession of Violence:
The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins

By John Pearson.

Filmed as Legend (2015), directed and written by Brian Helgeland.

Paperback.

Published by William Collins.

First published 1972.

ISBN 13: 9780008150273

ISBN 10: 0008150273

ASIN: 0008150273

Description:

The classic, bestselling account of the infamous Kray twins, now a major film, starring Tom Hardy.

Reggie and Ronnie Kray ruled London’s gangland during the 60s with a ruthlessness and viciousness that shocks even now. Building an empire of organized crime that has never been matched, the brothers swindled, extorted and terrorized – while enjoying a glittering celebrity status at the heart of the swinging 60s scene, until their downfall and imprisonment for life.

On this day in movie history - I Am the Blues (2015):

I Am the Blues

documentary directed and written by Daniel Cross,

was released at the IDFA Festival in the Netherlands on November 20, 2015.

Cast:

Jimmy Duck Holmes, L.C. Ulmer, Bobby Rush, Little Freddie King, Robert Bilbo Walker, R.L. Boyce, McKinney Williams, Barbara Lynn, Lil' Buck Sinegal, Lazy Lester, Henry Gray, Carol Fran, Bud Spires, Reverend John Wilkins.

On this day in music history - Dark Sky Island, by Enya (2015):

Dark Sky Island

Album by Enya,

released November 20, 2015.

Track list:

The Humming; So I Could Find My Way; Even in the Shadows; The Forge of the Angels; Echoes in Rain; I Could Never Say Goodbye; Dark Sky Island; Sancta Maria; Astra et Luna; The Loxian Gate; Diamonds on the Water; Solace; Pale Grass Blue; Remember Your Smile.

On this day in music history - Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings, by Natalie Merchant (2015):

Paradise Is There: The New Tigerlily Recordings

Album by Natalie Merchant,

released November 6, 2015.

Track list:

San Andreas Fault; Beloved Wife; Carnival; River; The Letter; Where I Go; I May Know the Word; Seven Years; Cowboy Romance; Jealousy; Wonder (Paradise Is There Version).

On this day in music history - Elements, by Ludovico Einaudi (2015):

Elements

Album by Ludovico Einaudi,

released October 16, 2015.

Track list:

Drop; Four Dimensions; Elements; Whirling Winds / Amsterdam Sinfonietta & Ludovico Einaudi; Twice; ABC; Numbers; Mountain; Logos; Song For Gavin; Drop Variation; Elements Variation; Twice Variation.

On this day in movie history - S is for Stanley: 30 Years Behind the Wheel with Stanley Kubrick (2015):

S is for Stanley:
30 Years Behind the Wheel with Stanley Kubrick

documentary directed by Alex Infascelli,

written by Alex Infascelli, Vincenzo Scuccimarra and Filippo Ulivieri,

based on the autobiography Stanley Kubrick and Me by Emilio D'Alessandro,

was released at Fantastic Fest in the United States on September 25, 2016.

Music by John Cummings.

Cast:

Emilio D'Alessandro, Alex Infascelli, Roberto Pedicini, Clive Riche, Janette Woolmore.

On this day in movie history - The Martian (2015):

The Martian

directed by Ridley Scott,

written by Drew Goddard,

based on the novel by Andy Weir,

was released at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada on September 11, 2015.
Music by Harry Gregson-Williams.

Cast:

Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Mackenzie Davis, Donald Glover, Nick Mohammed, Shu Chen, Eddy Ko, Enzo Cilenti, Jonathan Aris, Gruffudd Glyn, Geoffrey Thomas, Yang Haiwen, Narantsogt Tsogtsaikhan, Brian Caspe, Matt Devere, Mike Kelly, Szonja Oroszlán, Greg De Cuir, Mark O'Neal, Peter Linka, Declan Hannigan, Peter Schueller, Waleska Latorre, Frederik Pleitgen, Nikolett Barabas, Karen Gagnon, Lili Bordán, Charlie Gardner, Nóra Hörich, Kamilla Fátyol, Yang Liu, Xue Xuxing, Richard Rifkin, Nick Wittman, Balázs Medveczky, Ben O'Brien, Scott Alexander Young, Jason Ryan, James Dougherty, Irén Bordán, Dilyana Bouklieva, Dora Endre, Björn Freiberg, James Fred Harkins Jr., Minouche Kaftel, Gayathri Kasupathipillai, Viktor Mitev, Arnold Montey, Tom Nguyen, Tamás Sebe, Sam Spruell, Norbert Szekeres, Dominika Szosznyák, Zalán Takács, Lara Ilona Thompson, Balázs Veres, Henry Winkler.

Recommended reading – Beeswax Alchemy (2015):

Beeswax Alchemy

How to Make Your Own Soap, Candles, Balms, Creams, and Salves from the Hive

By Petra Ahnert.

Paperback.

ISBN-10: 1592539793

ISBN-13: 978-1592539796

Published 2015.

Description:

“This is the book I’ve been waiting thirty years for. Excellent instructions. Bountiful information. Beautifully done.”

– Kim Flottum, beekeeper; author of The Backyard Beekeeper, Better Beekeeping, and The Backyard Beekeeper’s Honey Handbook; and editor of Bee Culture magazine.

Create natural beeswax products for health and home.

Beeswax is truly the miracle of the beehive. Although honeybees use it to build their hives and protect their young, you can use it to make everything from candles to lip balm to decorative fabric.

Regardless of whether you are a veteran beekeeper or someone who just likes the way beeswax looks and smells, you’ll learn from apiarist and entrepreneur Petra Ahnert, who will teach you how to transform this miraculous material into the beautiful, useful, and unexpected.

Inside you’ll find:

An introduction to beeswax’s form and functions.

Tips and techniques for transforming beeswax into useful products for home and health.

Detailed recipes to get you started crafting your own soaps, balms, salves, and more.

On this day in music history - Sacred Alliance, by Anima (2015):

Sacred Alliance

Album by Anima,
released July 9, 2015.

Track list:

Great Mother’s Dominion; Surrender; Sewa; Sacred Lands; Offering; Camino De Pedro; Gonawindua; Kogi Transmission; Ancestral Fathers of the Stars.

On this day in music history - Flute Flight, by Sherry Finzer & Mark Holland (2015):

Flute Flight

Album by Sherry Finzer & Mark Holland,
released June 30, 2015.

Track list:

Looking Through; Seasons of the Heart; Echo of Desire; Always a Dream; Illumination; From Afar; Luna’s Dance; Sea of Stars; The Way; Reflection; Planetary Drift; Nature’s Spirit; Into the Light.

On this day in music history - Dark Before Dawn, by Breaking Benjamin (2015):

Dark Before Dawn

Album by Breaking Benjamin,
released June 23, 2015.

Track list:

Dark; Failure; Angels Fall; Breaking the Silence; Hollow; Close to Heaven; Bury Me Alive; Never Again; The Great Divide; Ashes of Eden; Defeated; Dawn.

On this day in music history - Spirit of the Ancients: Crystal Bowl Sound Healing, by Tryshe Dhevney (2015):

Spirit of the Ancients: Crystal Bowl Sound Healing

Album by Tryshe Dhevney,
released May 26, 2015.

Track list:

Time Outside Of Time; Breaking Light; A Temple Deep Inside; Emergence; You Have Wings; Walking Turtle Blessing.

On this day in movie history - Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story (2015):

Harold and Lillian: A Hollywood Love Story

a documentary directed and written by Daniel Raim,

was released at the Cannes Film Festival in France on May 23, 2015.
Music by David Lebolt.

Cast:

Lillian Michelson, Harold Michelson, Bill Krohn, Stuart Cornfeld, Mel Brooks, Danny DeVito, Jim Bissell, Norman Newberry, Rick Carter, Francis Ford Coppola, Gene Allen, Alfred Hitchcock, Gabriel Hardman, Marc Wanamaker, Thomas A. Walsh, Alan Michelson, Anahid Nazarian, Tom Waits, Richard Sylbert, Patrick Mate, Tish Hicks, Will Vought, Dennis Michelson.