‘Woman Times Seven’ on Blu-ray

Posted on April 11, 2020April 11, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

Shirley MacLaine was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performances in the 1967 film Woman Times Seven. This film shows MacLaine’s strength as an actor as she plays seven very different women in this haphazard and fragmented film.

MacLaine takes on the roles of seven women each dealing with personal crises. First she is Paulette, a newly-widowed woman at her husband’s funeral grieving while being wooed by a friend (Peter Sellers).

In another segment of this film MacLaine is Maria Teresa, a woman who just discovered her husband is cheating on her with her friend. What should she do? She contemplates becoming a prostitute for a night to teach him a lesson. Strange lesson.

As Linda, MacLaine is a translator who seems to be a common and straight woman, but she has another side of her personality. And as Edith she is a sweet wife who goes out of her way to make her husband notice her. In another segment she is a rich, spoiled wife obsessed with a one of a kind dress.

As Marie she and her lover (Alan Arkin) make a suicide pact, and when MacLaine portrays Jeanne, she is a woman being followed by a handsome man (Michael Caine) with an ulterior motive.

These are the kinds of women portrayed in the seven segments of this film. While it might not be an appealing movie for many viewers, it will entertain fans of the actor as she moves from one persona to another and displays her acting chomps going from highs to lows. Her range as an actor is on display in this movie.

Woman Times Seven is not rated however due to subject matters, it is not suitable for young viewers.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Free at-home activities from DreamWorks

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

Check out all the fun activities to do at home while we are all isolating, courtesy of DreamWorks Animation:
http://create.dreamworks.com

Decorate your Easter Eggs with White House style

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

The annual Easter Egg Hunt at the White House has been cancelled, along with Passover and other holiday events around the world due to the Corona COVID 19 virus. If you still want a fun Easter Egg activity to do with your children, download these White House Easter Eggs to color and stick on your own eggs and you can have your own White House Easter Egg Hunt in your own home!

Download larger versions here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/egg-coloring-pages.pdf

‘The Good Fight’ Season 4 depicts the current lawless chaos

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

The Good Fight, a drama series that openly questions and challenges Trump in real time, returns Thursday, April 9, 2020 on CBS All Access. Robert & Michelle King have produced the spin-off and sequel of The Good Wife for four years with acuity and much needed insights. First they decided to drag our liberal power attorney Diane Lockhart (Christine Baranski) kicking and screaming into an unfriendly environment of Chicago’s preeminent all African-American law firm.

The Good Fight has been extremely successful in capturing the ‘Trump-fatigued’ good people. In ‘the Dark Night of the Soul’ second season, Diane stumbled through the topsy-turvy months of assault after assault on our democracy. When resistance proved to be futile, however, Diane discovered that the secret to happiness is insensitivity. Trust nobody. Mistrust everything. Naturally, I followed her lead.

In the ‘storming’ third season, Diane joined a covert operation of political nuts to take Trump down and reluctantly followed the New Rules; move fast, be smart, attack, lie and don’t get caught. Diane found comfort in fighting the good fight, but when she refused to stoop to the ‘victory at all costs’ approach, she became yet another victim of the group’s harassment tactic. Diane was SWATted!!!

The Good Fight Season 4, ‘Catch 22 year,’ shifts the focus from Trump per se to the current lawless chaos. Dumped by Chumhum, Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart had no choice but to be a part of STR Laurie, the world’s 7th largest company. Diane, now in charge of pro bono cases with 22 lawyers under her, quickly finds out that the BSL partners might have rushed into this inscrutable partnership; they might have just sold their souls to the devil…

When Diane loses case after case for preposterous reasons, she realizes that she’s fighting a losing battle. The ‘Catch 22 year’ is about a gross absurdity in witnessing the uneven playing field. The rich and powerful, defended by STR Laurie’s own, don’t feel they need to obey the rules any more since they can afford to work the system to their advantages. We’re reminded again and again what the current political situation is doing to the law. If the federal court ignores the law, what’s left?

While the fourth season depicts injustices in the world, it also alludes to the impending doom and gloom of being ruled by one gigantic profit machine triggering social and regulatory consequences. STR Laurie claims to be a good corporate citizen, but behind the facade of Nirvana lays nefarious plans for domination of the universe. You know which overlord they’re talking about, right?

CBS All Access original The Good Fight Season 4 returns Thursday, April 9, 2020. A new episode drops every Thursdays except April 23. There are a total of ten episodes.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

Any political views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent Family Magazine Group.

‘Like a Boss’ for home viewing

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

Like a Boss is the story of friendship. Rose Byrne and Tiffany Haddish star in this comedy that is a bit crude so it is for adults only.

Mel and Mia (Byrne and Haddish) have been best friends since middle school. After college they started their own cosmetics company called ‘Mia and Mel.’ Mel is the brains and Mia is the artistic partner of the operation. Together they make a great team, both in business and in their social lives. They live together and are truly the best of friends. But the business is not doing as well as their friendship.

Then a cosmetics mogul, Claire Luna (Salma Hayek), offers them a business deal that is almost too good to be true. Claire has ulterior motives other than adding ‘Mia and Mel’ to her conglomerate. She wants to split up their friendship so she can take control of their entire operation.

While Claire is doing her dastardly deeds, Mel and Mia’s friendship begins to unravel. Claire’s plans are coming to fruition. She will soon have complete control of their company. Or will she?

This is the story of friendship. Businesses come and go but true honest-to-goodness friendships last a lifetime. Through ups and downs, good and bad, if a friendship is true, it will last.

Jennifer Coolidge co-stars as Mia and Mel’s friend and employee, along with Billy Porter. Lisa Kudrow has a small but important part in this story of business and camaraderie.

The relationship between Mel and Mia is at the heart of the film. And watching Byrne and Haddish together is fun and the best part of the movie. They are a wonderful on screen team.

Like a Boss is available to buy on digital beginning April 7, 2020. It will be available “on demand” and on DVD and Blu-ray beginning April 21.

The film has some funny scenes and is peppered with raunchy dialogue and some inappropriate elements for children. Like a Boss is rated R and is definitely meant for adults.

About the Author

Raycop RN Product Review

Posted on March 30, 2020June 19, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

I have always been an allergy sufferer. I am also a germaphobe. So when Raycop sent their latest and greatest hand-held vacuum, the Raycop RN, I was overjoyed and excited to try it. This new vacuum is meant for furniture and mattresses and will clean the particles out from deep within the fabrics.

This newest hand-held vacuum from Raycop has powerful suction. This new vacuum has a strong pulsating brush to get deep and clean even pet hair while at the same time sucking up dust, dirt, allergens, pollen, mites, and mite eggs.

Also part of this unit is a UV Light for super sanitation. UV Light can kill bacteria and viruses. Not every virus is killed immediately with this device, but it has been proven to kill many of our everyday viruses and influenza. The COVID 19 virus is too new to have been tested on the unit, however the flu virus as well as others have definitely been tested and killed with this unit.

So, there is the strong pulsating brush to suck up all the gunk, the UV Light to kill bacteria and viruses, and a HEPA filter that will not let the particles back into the air. What else can users expect from the new RN? There is a new ventilation technology that won’t let the unit suck up fabric while it is sucking up the pollens, dirt, dust, mites, and hair. This is a great feature. There is also a high capacity box that allows users to use the Raycop longer before having to clean it. And the dust box and filter are easily removed for cleaning.

The Raycop RN is easy to use. The handle is comfortable to hold. It is a bit heavier than other handheld units, however the strong power and the peace of mind at having the germs gone are worth it

As I mentioned in the beginning, I am a germaphobe and suffer from allergies. I regularly clean my linens in hot water. After all, I do not want to sleep with mites and their feces and eggs. Who does? After using this RN for the first time on my mattress, I was shocked to see all the junk it collected. And this junk contains not only dust, but also mites, their feces, and eggs as well as possible bacteria and maybe viruses.

Just see how much junk was sucked up from one supposedly clean mattress:

This Raycop RN is going to get a lot of use in my house. With allergy season in high swing, all of my couches, chairs, and other surfaces will be getting a regular and thorough cleaning with the Raycop RN.

The bottom line is that the Raycop RN kills the germs and mites deep within mattresses, couches, chairs, etc., and with the strong pulsating and rotating brushes with all that suction, it sucks them out of your furniture. So you will not be sharing your couch or mattress with mites, their eggs, their feces, viruses, bacteria, and other unwanted particles.

I get many products to test and some of them are keepers. This one is definitely a keeper and going to be used over and over again. Keeping my house and family clean and rid of dust, pollens, mites, bacteria, viruses, and all the junk courtesy of those disgusting mites, it a priority. Raycop delivers on its promise to “clean the unseen.”

Check out their website for more information and other models. I am using the Raycop RN and personally recommend this unit. With the pulsating brush it is the best unit for pet hair.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Vivarium’ is a Twilight Zone-style suspense

Posted on March 30, 2020March 30, 2020 by Francine Brokaw

Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots star in Vivarium, a movie that takes viewers into a Twilight Zone-style world. This film would have been a great episode of the sci-fi series except for the ending.

Tom and Gemma (Eisenberg and Poots) are a young couple looking toward their future. They embark on a quest to find a home to start their new life. They meet a very weird real estate agent who insists they look at the new community of Yonder.

The couple follows the agent to a strange community where every house looks the same, they are all the same color of green, and the lawns are perfectly manicured. When they enter the house, #9, they see what looks like an idyllic house with a nice yard and pleasant rooms. The nursery is blue and Gemma remarks it is for a boy. But the couple do not have any children.

Soon they realize the agent has gone. His car is gone and he is nowhere to be found. So they get into their car and head out of Yonder. But they cannot find an exit. Every road leads them back to #9. After driving in circles for hours, their car runs out of gas – in front of #9.

They have no options other than to stay the night. The night turns into days, with boxes of food and other items mysteriously arriving in front of the house. And then one day a box arrives with a baby boy inside, with the instructions to raise the child and they will be released.

From there the story gets really strange. Their lives get even more bizarre, leaving audiences to wonder what the finale will be. Unfortunately, the finale leaves a lot to the imagination. It would have been better to have a definitive ending. The concept is interesting but the film falls flat.

Vivarium is rated R. .