Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart star in Equals, a story set in a future “utopian” society. After an apocalypse has destroyed much of civilization, a new form of humans has continued to thrive. These people have no feelings. They simply exist. However, slowly but surely, some people start to regain their human feelings. These people are thought of as “diseased” and in need of medicine while the scientists search for a “cure” to end their emotions once and for all.

It is a bland world. People go about their business without much thought to others. They simply live. And they live simply. In many ways they are robotic.

Silas (Hoult) is beginning to have feelings for his coworker Nia (Stewart). Any physical interaction is prohibited. And if anyone realizes that he is getting feelings of any kind, he will be thought of as diseased, which is what ultimately happens.

Nia is a hider. She has been hiding that she has feelings and when the two get together they realize that feelings for each other aren’t bad. But nevertheless they cannot share or show their affection in public.

This futuristic society has found a way to turn off the parts of the brain that have feelings like love and compassion. The people do not know what it is to fall in love. And when these two finally give in to what makes them human, i.e. their feelings, their lives are not ever going to be the same.

People diagnosed with this affliction are sent to a place where they receive special treatments, once they reach stage 4. Many of them commit suicide. No one wants to have feelings. After all, what do feelings do for the society? Getting feelings means you are diseased. That is something no one wants. Well, almost no one.

This is a story of a love that binds two people as they struggle to be together no matter what. It is slow moving and honestly, during the first part of the film I was considering turning it off. But there was something compelling about the story that made me continue to watch. And it has given me plenty of food for thought. Is this simply a story about two lovers or is it a story that shows what it is to be human and what makes us different than robots other than being flesh and blood.

The bonus features look at the making of the film and the story. The actors discuss their experience and yes, their feelings, about the film. What is probably the most interesting featurette explains that the film was not shot completely with green screen. They actually found a place where this utopian society could be filmed, with stark, modern, minimalist architecture. That place was in Japan.

Equals is rated PG-13 for thematic content, sensuality, partial nudity and disturbing images.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

Henry & Me is a sentimental yet uplifting animated story about one little boy’s journey from an emotional and physical challenge to hope and confidence about his life and future. The beginning is quite touching and possibly tearful for some viewers, but the journey of little Jack will lift anyone’s heart as he discovers there is a great, wonderful world out there to live and experience.

Jack (voiced by Austin Williams) is a big Yankees fan. This kid plays catch in his backyard with his dad and they enjoy their baseball time together. But Jack gets sick and while in the children’s cancer ward he loses all hope and desire. He insists on still wearing his Yankee hat, especially to cover his bald head from the chemo, but he has lost his zest and exuberance.

While sedated and awaiting yet another procedure, Jack is visited by a man named Henry (voiced by Richard Gere). Henry takes Jack on a magical journey to meet NY Yankees players from the past and present. Along the way they instill a sense of confidence in the boy. He is challenged to hit a ball and pitch a ball – against real Yankees. With encouragement and love, Jack gains self-confidence and regains his enjoyment for life that was lost when he got sick. He discovers he has fun again and when the time comes for him to return to his real life, the boy doesn’t want to go back. At least here, in this fantasy world, he has hair, can run around, isn’t tired, and enjoys life. But all things must come to an end. Or do they?

Once Jack wakes up, back in the hospital, he is a different fellow than the frightened boy who went into the procedure hours before. He now has a sense of confidence and knows he can get better and go out and play his beloved baseball again. And who knows? Perhaps he will wind up playing for the Yankees when he gets older.

On his journey Jack has encounters with Babe Ruth (Chazz Palminteri), Thurman Munson (Paul Simon), Lefty Gomez (Luis Guzman), Mickey Mantle (David Mantle), and in a surprise to everyone, Lou Gehrig.

Other voice actors include Lucy Arnaz, Cyndi Lauper, Danny Aiello, Reggie Jackson, Yogi Berra, Joe Girardi, and Hank Steinbrenner voicing his father George.

While the story does deal with the sensitive issue of childhood cancer, it is an uplifting story that shows how much our emotions and mental determination we have helps with our physical bodies. We need to stay positive even in difficult situations. And as little Jack learned, there is plenty to hold onto even when the odds are against you. While not every outcome is the same as his, Jack does regain his confidence and gets over his illness.

Henry & Me is currently available on Demand and Digital HD and will be out on DVD October 4, 2016.

Check out the trailer from Henry and Me:

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter

In 1967 Frank Sinatra stepped into the shoes of Miami private eye Tony Rome. This ex-cop is well connected and takes life rather casually. He lives on a boat and just goes about his business in a carefree style. But he always gets to the bottom of things, in his own way. So what if he has to bend the rules a little here and there? The bottom line is he is good at his job and he knows it.

The first movie in this franchise has Rome messed up in a family dilemma where people aren’t who they seem. Or are they? Somehow, people end up dead when they’re around Tony Rome.

After returning a young socialite to her family’s house she tells him she is missing her diamond pin. Rome goes on the hunt through Miami for the missing pin but what he finds leads him to even more problems for the girl and her family. But Rome is not deterred. He follows the clues and the dead bodies until he finally solves the mystery of this family.

Nancy Sinatra sings the title song in this simplistic yet intriguing little film. Jill St. John, Richard Conte, Simon Oakland, and Gena Rowlands costar in this 60s style gumshoe movie with old blue eyes controlling every scene.

The following year, 1968, Sinatra returned as Tony Rome in the film Lady in Cement. This time Raquel Welch costars with Sinatra with Richard Conte returning as Police Lt. Dave Santini, Rome’s homicide police buddy.

Rome discovers a dead woman with her feet buried in cement. Where does he find her? Deep under the water, while looking for buried treasure. This leads him to further intrigue, as usual.

The private eye is hired by a man to find her killer. This man, Gronsky (Dan Blocker), has a past of his own, so what is his endgame? Did he kill the woman? What Rome finds leads him through a web of deceit.

Nancy Sinatra doesn’t sing the title song in this second film. The music is contemporary for the era with plenty of upbeat, “hip” songs and wardrobe.

The second film isn’t as intriguing as the initial movie, however there are some fun parts. For instance, when Rome enters Gronsky’s room he has Bonanza playing on the TV. Dan Blocker was, of course, Hoss in that hit TV series.

Unfortunately, Rome is framed for a murder in this story so while hunting for the real murderer, he also must evade the police, which includes his buddy the homicide lieutenant (Conte).

There is nudity in this film so it is not recommended for children.

The Twilight Time Tony Rome/Lady in Cement double feature is limited to 3000 copies.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for 20 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.

Follow her on Twitter