Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Starman’ – Collector’s Edition Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The Collector’s Edition of the hit 1984 film Starman includes some interesting bonus features.  The film stars Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen and was directed by John Carpenter who took a step away from horror films to direct this sci-fi romantic comedy. Bridges was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance and viewers will understand why when they watch him as an alien visiting Earth.

After his spacecraft crashes on this planet in Wisconsin, the alien wanders around and takes the shape of Scott Hayden, a deceased man whose widow Jenny (Allen) is still mourning his loss. She is astonished to see her dead husband standing in front of her, but of course it isn’t really him. It is the starman.

The starman needs her to drive him to Arizona for a rendezvous with his own kind where they will pick him up and take him home. Along the way the government is hot on their tracks as they intend on capturing this alien, not knowing his intentions.

Jenny and the starman have an interesting road trip and during their time together they fall in love. This romantic comedy is filled with humor and heart, as well as the sci-fi aspect. Viewers will undoubtedly feel the kindness of this “man” when he gives life back to a dead deer. He is a gentle soul and the ending is heartwarming.

This Collector’s Edition Blu-ray includes two very interesting bonus features. There is a vintage “making of” featurette that was created during the filming of the movie. In it Bridges, Allen, Charles Martin Smith (who plays Mark Shermin), and Carpenter discuss their characters and creating this movie that has stood the test of time, although they didn’t know how popular it would be at the time they made it.

There is a new 25-minute feature with Carpenter, Bridges, Smith, and script supervisor Sandy King Carpenter. They look back at their involvement with the film. Carpenter describes the movie as “an interspecies love story.” He says the script was great right from the start. “It was fun,” Carpenter acknowledges about making the movie. Bridges says he was given “a fascinating character” to play and took movement lessons to create this naïve and gentle starman. He also credits Karen Allen’s performance as adding to his way of getting the character to the level he wanted.

The story is a road trip and the production went on the road to create the trip that the two characters were taking. They filmed in Tennessee, Iowa, Utah, and of course Arizona where the Meteor Crater is and where the alien rendezvoused with his fellow kind to return home.

Starman is a fun and sweet story. It is rated PG.

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

‘Stan & Ollie’ – Movie Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Stan & Ollie is a delightful story about Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy in their waning years. The film includes many of their popular skits and brings audiences into their lives as the team that was once the biggest act tries to rekindle their popularity.

“You just have this wonderful picture of these two guys that had been such giants staying at little guest houses, playing tiny theaters and not realizing they did it because they loved each other,” says writer Jeff Pope. “This is the thing that inspired me to write the whole film. It’s a love story between two men.”

They had parted ways after a difference of opinion with Hal Roach and as they picked up their act over a decade later, they realize there are still hard feelings between them however their dedication to each other never faltered.

To regain their fame and popularity, the duo traveled to the UK for a series of shows. In the beginning the theaters were not filled but as they continued they had SRO crowds wherever they went. Though a team on screen and on stage, they were just friends when they left the film lot or the theater, that is until they reteamed and began their upward journey.

As Pope explained, ‘They were never really close until they took these arduous tours and they lived in each other’s pockets week in, week out. The premise of the film is how they became as close in their real lives as they were in their fictional lives.”

John C. Reilly plays Oliver Hardy and Steve Coogan is Stan Laurel. Their wives are an interesting element to the film. Nina Arianda is fun as Ida Laurel and Shirley Henderson is a loving wife as Lucille Hardy. Ollie was married three times and Stan was married five times.

The film shows Laurel as the brains behind the team while Hardy was content to gamble and play around. Laurel was always writing new material for them and always thinking about the act.

Although they had hoped to make a new film, the tour in 1953 turned out to be their swan song.

The casting of Coogan and Reilly was wonderful. They both inhabit their characters with empathy and charm.  Reilly had a major physical transformation to get into the skin, so to speak, of Oliver Hardy. It took 4 hours in the makeup chair to transform him into Ollie. “Only my face and the flats of my hands were exposed,” he recalls. “The rest was encased in prosthetics or a fat suit. So, in a way it was like wearing a mask on your whole body. The mask was so convincing it made me believe from the outside in that I could play this character.”  “You have to be very careful the viewer isn’t thinking, ‘What incredible make-up!’” explains Coogan. “They have to get lost in the performance, in the story. So, we didn’t want anything too distracting.”

Stan & Ollie is a wonderful tribute to this historic Hollywood team that still entertains fans via home entertainment and TV. If this film inspires you to see more of the real Oliver and Stanley, just check Amazon for plenty of DVDs and Blu-rays with their memorable performances. This bio-pic is both dramatic and comedic as it brings back the fun and sensitivity of these two Hollywood legends.

One additional note: Throughout the film Hardy is called “Babe” and viewers might wonder why. As Reilly explained, it was because his shape resembled and overgrown baby.

Stan & Ollie opens in theaters December 28, 2018.

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

Bring home ‘Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Santa is having a bad time. Blitzen has expectantly retired leaving him one reindeer short. And Santa’s not the only one having a bad time. Walter lives in North Dakota and his reindeer academy and petting zoo are in financial trouble. So, what do these two men have in common? Water’s miniature horse Elliot will soon help them both. Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer is a cute animated film with a bit of an edge.

Elliot and his best friend, a goat named Hazel, discover that the woman who is going to buy the animals at the petting zoo has other plans for them. She is going to make them into meat – to eat. Elliot and Hazel stow away in Walter’s flying car when he takes his prized reindeer DJ to the North Pole to compete for the opening spot on Santa’s team. They need to get help for their friends, and also Elliot wants desperately to win that coveted place on the team. Sure, he’s a miniature horse and not a reindeer, but this little fellow has spirit, determination, and yes, he can do whatever the others do. Even better.

Soon the competition is underway and Elliot is holding his own. But there are sinister elves that are causing problems for everyone. DJ (Donner, Jr.) is hoping to win so he can work alongside his dad, but he goes about the competition in an unscrupulous way.

The story is fun with some adorable characters. And the voice talent is top notch. Josh Hutcherson voices little Elliot, John Cleese, Martin Short, Jeff Dunham, Morena Baccarin, and Samantha Bee among others also provide voices. In the bonus feature, the actors discuss the film and their characters, giving viewers a little peek inside how they made the movie.

If you like animated films, if you like Christmas stories, and if you like cute characters, then this is for you. It’s a new story that will undoubtedly become an annual viewing experience in many households.

Elliot: The Littlest Reindeer is rated PG for some suggestive and rude humor. Don’t worry…none of the animals is hurt or killed in the story. The movie is available on DVD and Blu-ray.

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

DreamWorks’ ‘3Below: Tales of Arcadia’ coming 12/21/18

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


3Below Tales of Arcadia is the second chapter in the Tales of Arcadia trilogy from Academy-Award winning director Guillermo del Toro and is coming exclusively to Netflix on December 21, 2018.

To launch this new chapter, DreamWorks sent the media a cute holiday package. Thanks to Dreamworks for the free plush blanket and pillow. How cute are they?!

 

 

Again, my thanks to DreamWorks for the free holiday gift box.

 

And check out a trailer from the show.

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

‘3Below Tales of Arcadia’ from DreamWorks Animation on Netflix!

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

3Below Tales of Arcadia is the second chapter in the Tales of Arcadia trilogy from Academy-Award winning director Guillermo del Toro and is coming exclusively to Netflix on December 21, 2018.

The series features Luna and Tatiana Maslany in the lead roles of Krel and Aja.  Nick Offerman, Andy Garcia, Nick Frost, Alon Aboutboul, Chris Obi, Uzo Aduba, Cheryl Hines, Tom Kenny, Haley Atwell, Danny Trejo, and Ann Dowd will be lending their voices along with returning talent from Trollhunters including Emile Hirsch, Charlie Saxton, Lexi Medrano, Steven Yeun, Cole Sands, Kelsey Grammer and more. Additionally, The Crystal Method created the main title theme that you hear in the opening credits video.

Fans of the 7 time Emmy®-winning Trollhunters can expect to find several familiar faces in 3Below when two royal teenage aliens, and their bodyguard flee a surprise takeover of their home planet by an evil dictator and crash land in Arcadia. Now on the run from intergalactic bounty hunters, they struggle to blend in and adapt to the bizarre world of high school all the while attempting to repair their ship so they can return and defend their home planet.

A fitting end to NBC’s ‘Timeless’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The Lifeboat crew returns to NBC for one last time! 

 

Can you remember the last time your favorite show concluded with an unforgettable ending, let alone a cohesive closure? There have been so many series that fizzled out or got canceled way too soon. The networks do not have the patience with original drama series any more and quickly jump ship to less risky remakes/reboots these days.

 

When I reviewed Reverie, a high-concept original drama, in May, I pointed out that the show was ‘another nod to female empowerment’ from NBC. Mara Kint (Sarah Shahi) reminded me so much of Timeless’ Lucy Preston (Abigail Spencer). These petit yet dynamic, determined, and compassionate powerhouse women represent strength in vulnerability in the #MeToo movement and Time’s Up culture. 

 

And here we are, seven months later, Reverie has been unceremoniously canceled and now it’s Timeless’ turn to bid adieu. The only difference is that Timeless will go out with a bang on December 20, 2018 with a two-part finale. Quite a nice early Christmas present, isn’t it? The series’ principals (Abigail Spencer, Matt Lanter, and Malcom Barrett) promised me that it will be wrapped up quite nicely. In other words, they assured me that all the loose ends will be tied up, including the fans’ burning question of “Where is Amy?” I’ve been asking that question myself since the pilot aired in 2016; I could scarcely fathom the idea that my dear sister ceases to exist one day and is nowhere to be found.

 

Timeless is a Sci-Fi time travel drama created by Shawn Ryan and Eric Kripke. Homeland Security recruits Lucy (Spencer), a history professor, and Wyatt (Lanter), a Delta Force soldier, to create a team that attempts to prevent a secret organization from changing the course of American history. Rufus (Barrett), a brilliant scientist & engineer, operates a prototype machine, the Lifeboat, when Garcia (Goran Višnjić) stole the Mothership to travel back to 1937.

 

Although Timeless had been canceled at the end of each season and the coming two-hour finale will be it on NBC, the show was quite a gift for me. The series not only entertained me but also made me question what I think I knew, dig deeper, learn more, and move forward. According to Spencer, Season 2 intentionally pointed our attention toward marginalized characters, oppressed women, and people of color who have played a big part in shaping history. After all, the series’ villainous group Rittenhouse is the good ol’ boys club and strives for white male domination. They conspire to rewrite history to make our current world less diverse and less equal. Now you know why I have a new appreciation for women like Harriet Tubman (The General), Alice Paul (suffragist), Grace Humiston (attorney & detective), and Hedy Lamarr (inventor/actor).

 

Although the Lifeboat trio admitted it is bitter sweet to let go of the series, they hinted something could happen down the road. The creators kept the door open so that the show might find a new home. This gem of a show definitely deserves a second chance! Or a third, maybe a fourth to be exact…

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.

What to expect when ‘Mary Poppins Returns’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw



Knowing Julie Andrews received the Oscar for her performance in the 1964 film Mary Poppins must have been a consideration for Emily Blunt as she stepped into the shoes of the iconic character. However, Blunt is completely enchanting and a delight to watch. It looks like she had a great time filming every scene.

Mary Poppins Returns is the story of the Banks children, Jane and Michael (Emily Mortimer and Ben Whishaw), who are grown up and living in London. Michael is a widower with three young and precocious children: Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and little Georgie (Joel Dawson). His wife passed away and he is behind on his mortgage. His house is about to be reposed by a very greedy banker, William Wilkins (Colin Firth). Enter Mary Poppins.

With music, mayhem, and magic along with fun and fantasy, Mary Poppins Returns is a sweet story of love and family, like the original film. At its core it focuses on what is important in life.

The score is fun and lively, however the lyrics are very fast and the songs aren’t quite as memorable as the 1964 film, yet there are two that stand out: “Trip a Little Light Fantastic” and “Underneath the Lovely London Sky.” There are a few others that will be enjoyed by the audiences as they watch the fun unfold on the screen.

Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda) is a light keeper and manages to get around London on his bike. He’s the equivalent of Bert (Dick Van Dyke) from 1964. And, Dick Van Dyke makes an appearance as Mr. Dawes Jr. In the original film Van Dyke played Bert as well as Mr. Dawes Sr. This man is still as vital and manages a song and dance on a desk!

Angela Lansbury is the Balloon Lady and Julie Walters is the Banks’ housekeeper Ellen. They both are enjoyable characters. Karen Dotrice, who played the young Jane in Mary Poppins, makes a cameo. Meryl Streep plays Topsy and this is the one scene that isn’t necessary in the film. It feels as though the filmmakers decided they wanted Streep in the movie so they created this one scene for her. Otherwise, the movie flows beautifully.

Mary Poppins Returns is a bit darker than the original movie in the sense that the Banks children are motherless. That’s not an uncommon story for many Disney films. But Mary Poppins steps in, or actually flies in, and helps mend this broken brood.

As in the original movie, there are scenes with animated settings and characters. And the penguins that danced with Bert return to delight viewers. In several scenes there are shades of tunes from the 1964 film, which serve to tie them together. And they do it quite nicely, especially for cynics who poo-poo the idea that the filmmakers and the studio decided to add to the history of the famous nanny.

The bottom line is that this is a well-done sequel with a fine cast. Cherry Tree Lane is still the same and as audiences leave the theater they will undoubtedly feel happy and content with the way the movie honors the original and makes a new mark for the lovely Mary Poppins. Will Blunt follow in Andrews’ footsteps at the Oscars? Only time will tell.

Mary Poppins Returns is rated PG for some mild thematic elements and brief action. It opens in theaters December 19, 2018.

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

Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine in ‘The Apartment’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are adorable in this 1960 romantic comedy. The Apartment also stars Fred MacMurray and Ray Walston.

Bud Baxter (Lemmon) is a hard-working cog in a big company. He’s rising up the ladder because of the location of his apartment. He lives in a building that is convenient for all the executives to take their female friends where their wives won’t see them. So, to get ahead in his job, he loans out his key. But the problem is, his apartment is getting so much use the poor fellow isn’t getting enough sleep himself.

He has no choice in the matter: if he refuses to continue with this plan and loan his key to the executives, he will be fired.

In another plot twist, Baxter is smitten with the elevator girl in his office building, Fran Kubelik (MacLaine). Unbeknownst to him, she had had a brief affair with the company’s personnel director, Jeff Sheldrake (MacMurray), the man who eventually gives Baxter one promotion after another. Of course, he does so only after insisting Baxter only share his centrally located apartment with him. Baxter has no idea the woman to whom he is attracted is renewing her affair with Sheldrake. Eventually, things come to a head and Baxter is put to the test when it comes to Fran and Sheldrake. Can he step aside and be happy in his new position in the company while the woman he loves is shacking up with his boss in his own apartment?

This is a dark romantic comedy and MacLaine and Lemmon are a cute couple. And as usual, Lemmon is entertaining and gives another great performance. This man could do drama and comedy equally well, and in the case of The Apartment, he happens to do them both together. The two actors reunited three years later for Irma La Douce.

Many bonus features add to this Blu-ray edition. There is a half hour “making of” feature, focusing on the relationship between Wilder and Lemmon, and an interview with actress Hope Holiday, who has a small part in the film, she explains how she got the role, which is an interesting story in itself. And film historian Philip Kemp discusses how this movie is Billy Wilder’s blackest comedy.

The Apartment is not rated, however, due to subject matter involving sex and suicide as well as other adult issues, it is not meant 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

Lucille Ball is ‘Mame’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


In 1958 Rosalind Russell starred in the movie Auntie Mame, based on the book Travels with My Aunt by Patrick Dennis. The film was remade into a Broadway musical starring Angela Lansbury and then a feature film. This 1974 musical Mame stars Lucille Ball as the eccentric and loveable Mame Dennis. Bea Arthur reprises her role as Mame’s best buddy Vera. She originated the role on Broadway opposite Lansbury. Robert Preston is Mame’s beau/husband Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside.

Mame is a New York socialite with a fabulous apartment and a colorful group of friends. Then when her brother and his wife die, she is given guardianship of their young son Patrick. Mame sees this as an opportunity to open up the world to the young lad, but the executor of the estate, Mr. Babcock (John McGiver) has other ideas. He wants the boy to have a conventional upbringing and life in an upper class boarding school.

Even though they are separated Patrick and Mame still forge further with their bond of love. As much as Babcock wants to keep Mame’s lifestyle and views of living away from the boy, he cannot. Mame’s influence over the years has given Patrick a Mame-like view of the world.

Through all the ups and downs (see the movie to get this pun) Mame and Patrick have the deepest love any mother and son could have. She’s not his mother, but she has definitely instilled her joy of life in the young man.

The songs in the film are memorable: “It’s Today,” “Open a New Window,” “My Best Girl,” “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Bosom Buddies,” and of course the title song, “Mame.” And a new song written for the film, “Loving You,” is sung by Robert Preston.

The bonus feature looks at how Lucy stepped into Mame’s shoes to create this musical, fun, and thoroughly enjoyable version of the story. It was difficult for many people to think of Lucy in the role since Lansbury originated it on Broadway and she had second thoughts about taking it, but as viewers see, she did the character justice and is a delight to watch. It’s just a fun film. Even if you love Lansbury in the role, Lucy will put a smile on your face.

Mame is a fun film with a sweet story. It’s rated PG.

Mame is part of the Warner Archive Collection and can be ordered from their website or where Blu-rays are sold.

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

‘Write When You Get Work’ – Movie Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Emily Mortimer, Finn Wittrock, Rachel Keller, Scott Cohen, Jessica Hecht, and James Ransone star in this story of twists and turns. Write When you Get Workis a romantic drama with dark undertones.

Ruth and Jonny (Keller and Wittrock) were teenage lovers. They went their separate ways and the movie picks up twelve years later when Ruth is an assistant admissions officer in a privileged private girls school and Jonny is still skating between the two sides of the law and continuing his scams. When they reconnect Jonny is instantly infatuated with Ruth again and all his old feelings of love bubble to the surface.

Ruth is intent on keeping her job and living a lawful life, even though her past is riddled with petty crimes. When Jonny discovers where she works, he instantly concocts a new scheme to unload a rich family of their money. With the undertones of rich entitled people coming up against the working class, the film has a few funny parts, however it is more of a romantic drama than a romantic comedy.

The couple at the heart of Jonny’s scheme/scam is Nan and Steven Noble (Mortimer and Ronsone). He is entangled in a legal investigation of his shady business and she is worried that if he is convicted all of their belongings, including her jewelry, will be confiscated by the government. Enter Jonny who has a plan to “help” them hide their possessions.

Ruth is on the outside of this plan and wonders what Jonny is up to. He is hanging around one of the mothers of a student and has to have an ulterior motive. But what is it?

The story brings up shades of The Sting and Bonnie and Clyde. As viewers follow the unfolding plot with its twists and turns, they will undoubtedly be rooting for Ruth, Nan, or Jonny. But who will come out of the scheme on top?

Write When You Get Work is a slow-moving, intricate story. According to Director Stacy Cochran, “the movie is a love story and portrait of New York, a city where people live and walk in unexpected combinations, in their own heads but together. The characters in the movie, Ruth and Jonny, and also Nan and Steven, have loved each other and lost each other. They crowd each other, taunt each other, and evolve toward each other in wavy lines.”  The film runs 99 minutes but feels longer. It’s not rated but is not for young audiences. It comes out December 7, 2018.

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