Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Snowtime!’ – Movie Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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Snowtime! is a new animated film based on the live-action film La Guerre des Tuques (The Dog Who Stopped the War.) The premise of the story is that on their 2-week winter break from school, a group of kids (around 11 years old) would build a snow fort and there would be a war to capture it. At the end of the vacation, the group who occupied the fort wins the war.

First off, it might be disturbing to parents to have little kids playing at war. But as we all know, kids have snowball fights and build forts in the winter, so this is just an extension of that. What happens in the story is unsettling and will undoubtedly be very emotional for many viewers.

Spoiler Alert: One of the little boys has a friendly and loveable St. Bernard named Cleo. She goes to school with him, plays with him and his friends, and is part of their group. She is a slobbering little – ahem big – dog who enjoys being with the kids and they enjoy being with her. She is “the dog who stopped the war” in the story, but she does this by dying. Yes, this is an emotional and very disturbing part of the film.

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The movie is about war and loss. One of the little boys had father who was killed in a war and he is still grieving and getting over that loss. Luke still feels the pain of his father’s death. And then when Piers’ dog Cleo is killed by the snow war, everyone else learns about grief and loss.

The film brings up the subject of war and consequences of actions. According to Producer Marie-Claude Beauchamp, “The character Piers is carrying the other big message: You have to overcome the loss of someone dear to you. Luke’s father died in war and Piers lost his dog. These are terrible and sad events but they are part of life and we show the audience that as sad as these events are, you grieve and you go on.” She said the third message in the film is friendship.

On the surface Snowtime! is a cute little story of kids and winter fun. But it quickly becomes a story with a message about war, consequences, grief, friendship, loss, and camaraderie. Yes, it is disturbing because of the death of Cleo. For many parents this is something to consider before taking your child to the theater. It is definitely a tearjerker and will affect kids – and adults. Cleo was my favorite character in the film and I was entertained by her antics and love of life.

Snowtime! is rated PG for mild thematic elements and rude humor. It opens in theaters February 19, 2016.

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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

John Travolta Talks “American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson”

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 
Premiere of FX's "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story" - Arrivals
“This story is one of the great American stories. This is the story about everything that obsesses the American people. This is the story about race, sex, violence, sports, Hollywood, and the only eyewitness is a dog,” states The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson author Jeffrey Toobin.

Toobin was referring to the arrest, the trial, and subsequent acquittal of the football icon in the murders of his wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. From the moment Simpson stepped into that white Ford Bronco until his acquittal in 1995, more than 100 million American viewers accompanied him on his journey.

Despite the passage of two decades, the issue of different perspectives on the justice system and charges of police brutality continue to dominate the headlines almost daily.

Premiering Tuesday, February 2, 2016, FX’s 10-episode limited series, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story won’t contemplate the defendant’s quilt or innocence, but instead offers some insight into why the jury had no other alternative then to reach their not-guilty verdict and what it meant to the people involved.

Heading the impressive cast is Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, but much of the focus is directed at the lawyers on both sides of the courtroom, beginning with Courtney B. Vance as Simpson’s head counsel Johnnie Cochran, who uttered those immortal words over a pair of shrunken leather gloves, “If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” That immortal phrase continues to be part of the legal community’s general lexicon.

The defense team also boasts John Travolta as Robert Shapiro, along with David Schwimmer as Robert Kardashian, sire of the notorious reality TV family, whose domain was business law. Among the opposing legal eagles is Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark, Sterling K. Brown as Christopher Darden and Bruce Greenwood as then District Attorney Gil Garcetti. Presiding over the cast is Kenneth Choi as Judge Lance Ito.

Not everyone was immediately sold on the idea of participating. It took Travolta four months of coaxing to return to the small tube for the first time since his breakthrough run in Welcome Back Kotter which ended in 1979.

Travolta explained, “I wanted to be certain that it was going to be a multilayered message. As further assurance, executive producers Ryan Murphy and Nina Jacobson allowed me to have some participation in the production as insurance that the product would not be going in a sensationalist way, but in a way that communicated and enlightened. I never needed to assert that producer card, because everyone was so excellent in their departments.”

In inviting the audience to take the journey with him, Travolta built his character in layers. “Before I do any hair and makeup, I see if I can mimic the behavior. So after watching all the videos and reading a lot about him, I decided that I could do it with or without the makeup.

“TV is a visual media, so I like to invite the audience in and not have the story upstaged by my visuals like when I did Clinton.”

In that vein, how much did he add to duplicate Shapiro’s eyebrows? “If you studied him it was an along with a receding hairline. The combination was what sold it and he had a bigger lower lip. When I spoke, I spoke with a protrusion, and he had a little cadence to his voice. Those were the things I used.”

While Travolta never personally reached out to Shapiro, he exhibited an obvious empathy for the man. “Yes, it’s true. Especially, when he was demoted and Cochran moved up to head counsel. There’s a scene, that really happened, that I’m hoping they keep in, where he’s in the temple and he’s pissed. They ask him to hold the Torah. He’s going in with the pride Robert has, and he starts to hear groans from the people gathered. And you see him crumble. I fought to keep it in, because I wanted some semblance of his humanity. The only time he shows it is in his love for his wife and the implication that he loves his kids.”

Did Travolta’s character really believe his client was guilty? “While no one can be absolutely certain, I played it as if Shapiro always knew he did it, but was portraying what his client told him, but the whole time he wanted to settle. He wanted to get a good deal out of it,” he said.

Shapiro’s determination to settle leads to what Travolta labels “the most despicable scene I’ve ever played in my life. “I blackmailed Kardashian, because I wanted him to talk the group into settling. He won’t and I suddenly start to leverage him, make him think he might be put in jail for it. It’s awful what he does at that moment and I was so uncomfortable playing Shapiro, but it’s one of the best moments in the whole series, because you can’t believe what he’s doing,” Travolta interjected.

Acknowledging that The People v. O.J. Simpson has generated an unprecedented favorable buzz, Travolta, who hasn’t yet seen the finished project. He concluded, “The writing was so through as to what each character was thinking and the reception from the media so responsive, that I can now watch it and enjoy it and just let myself go.”

About the Author

Winnie Bonelli is a former entertainment editor for a daily metropolitan New York City area newspaper. She is passionate about movies and television and loves to take readers behind the scenes.

 

Fun Valentine’s Day Suggestions from the Folks at Disney

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

It’s hard to believe but it’s time to think about your Valentine. Instead of candy and flowers, there are plenty of other fun things to show your special someone how you feel – especially if they are fans of Disney. And who isn’t? (Okay, so some people aren’t, but if you know me you know I am definitely a Disney girl!)

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Check out your local Disney store of DisneyStore.com for some good ideas like the Princess mugs. How about putting your Valentine’s favorite hot beverage in a Belle, Aurora, Ariel, or Rapunzel mug and delivering it with a little bobble? pandora

We know Ariel loves thingamabobs, whatzits, gizmos and gadgets. Add a little something with the Ariel mug (maybe a Pandora charm? Just saying.) and your Valentine will know you care. Or a simple red rose with Belle’s mug shows your true feelings. You get the idea.bellemug

Perhaps two mugs for the two of you is what you’re looking for. There are two red mugs with Mickey and Minnie with heart handles that are perfect for February 14. mm mugs2

Plush is always fun and who does plush better than Disney? Lilo and Stitch fans are in for a treat with the Valentine’s plush editions of Stitch and Angel. And the fun Sweet Heart editions of Duffy and ShellieMay are more than cute. They’re downright adorable.
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Mickey and Minnie also come adorned for the holiday. Check out Cupid Mickey and “I’m with Cupid” Minnie.
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There are plenty of fun ideas from Disney. Just add a bit of your own magic to make this a special Valentine’s Day to remember.
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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

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Season 1 Part 1 DVD GIVEAWAY

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

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Get those Scooby snacks ready! That lovable Great Dane is back to entertain viewers with new mysteries, more cool adventures and non-stop fun in this updated version of the legendary cartoon. It’s a new look and feel for the Scooby-Doo! gang as they hit the road in a state-of-the-art Mystery Machine and get wrapped up in a set of intriguing new mysteries.

In Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! Season 1 Part 1, high school is over and Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred have just completed their senior year. What better way to celebrate summer break than by going on a road trip? This could be the gang’s last summer together, so the teens decide to live it up by hitting the road in the Mystery Machine in search of fun, laughs and great adventures. Along the way, the teen sleuths encounter some of the most mind-blowing mysteries yet. Will Scooby-Doo and the gang complete their trip or will ghosts and monsters throw them off course? Viewers will want to come along for the ride in this freshly redesigned, smart, funny adaptation of the legendary cartoon classic!

We have some DVDs to giveaway.

To be eligible to win a copy of Be Cool, Scooby Doo!, email us at [email protected] with “Scooby Doo Giveaway” in the title. Please supply your name, address, phone number and email address (so we can let you know if you are a winner).

The deadline for this giveaway is February 19, 2016.

The Dyson Humidifier

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Dyson has come out with a humidifier that does double duty. In the winter (and in the summer too) it humidifies the air to keep the correct humidity in your house and in the summer it is also an air cooler. Dry air is responsible for a variety of problems, including dry eyes, sore throats and noses, and even dry skin. By adding humidity back into your environment, these problems are lessened, making breathing easier and skin softer.

By using their patented “Air Multiplier” technology that is present in their fans and heaters, the Dyson Humidifier is safe for little kids. There are no places for tiny fingers to get caught and the design allows for even flow of the air. This is a quiet unit that comes with a remote control and the capability to run for 18 continuous hours.

In the winter the air inside homes is dry. With the windows shut and the heaters turned up, as well as fireplaces running, the humidity drops rapidly. Think about that. With dry air, nasal passages often feel sore and throats feel dry and scratchy. Water is the source of life and essential for our survival. It’s also essential in our air.

The Dyson Humidifier uses Ultraviolet Cleanse technology to clean the water and eliminate over 99.9% of bacteria from the water before it ejects it into the atmosphere. This in itself is an important element in this unit. Another benefit to the Dyson is that it measures the temperature and humidity in a room and adjusts itself to keep the optimum of each.

Where is the best place to keep your humidifier? The nursery is definitely important for babies. Putting the unit in the family room where the fireplace is is another great location. And sleeping with humid air will keep your nasal passages moist and lead to a better night’s sleep.

When I was little we had a humidifier we used only when someone in the house had a cold or the flu. This heated the air and spewed out steam. I can only imagine all the bacteria that it also spewed out. Then came the cool humidifiers, which we also used only for times of colds or flu. Today’s humidifiers are not only for those days, they are for all days, because science has found that moisture in the air benefits all areas of our bodies.

According to Popsugar.com, humidifiers help relieve sinusitis, speed up recovery from colds, asthma and allergies by keeping nasal passages lubricated, help prevent nosebleeds, alleviate snoring (think about that one!!), and moisturize skin.

Times have changed. Instead of using a humidifier only when we are sick, they are now an everyday product that benefits the entire body. Sure, they are great when someone is suffering from sinusitis, a cold, or the flu, but they also moisturize the inside and outside of your body all the time. And because this unit kills 99.9% of the bacteria that could escape into your environment, the Dyson is definitely a beneficial humidifier for the entire family. The bottom line is it’s quiet, has great health benefits, and safe to have around kids.

The Dyson AM10 Humidifier comes in three colors: white/silver, iron grey/blue, and nickel/black. They each list for $499.99 from Dyson.com.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, 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.

Follow her on Twitter

‘The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave’ on DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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They’re back and just as fun as ever. Littlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike, the beloved dinosaurs from the popular franchise, are together for a new and exciting adventure. The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave is filled with all the antics of these cute little dinosaurs as well as several memorable songs.

Littlefoot has been anxiously awaiting his annual visit from his father Bron who leads a herd every year. This year, however, something went wrong. Bron was trapped when the “fire mountain” erupted. So Littlefoot decides to trek through the rough landscape to find his dad.

The little longneck is joined by his friends who want to help. Along the way they wind up in several dangerous situations, but in true form they manage to get by. Cera is just as obstinate as always and when she and Littlefoot disagree on the path to take, the gang splits up, with Littlefoot going it alone.

Littlefoot then meets a new friend, Etta (voiced by Reba McEntire). Etta knows Bron and saw what happened to him. She and Littlefoot get trapped in a cave and Etta sings one of the several new songs – “Look for the Light.”

Well, soon the rest of the gang meets up with Littlefoot and Etta and they continue on their journey to help Littlefoot’s father. They learn that together they are stronger than apart.

When the elders learn what the youngsters are doing, they set out to help their children, with the help of two little ones – Chomper and Ruby. If you know the series, you know that Chomper is a “sharptooth,” aka T-Rex, but doesn’t eat other dinosaurs. He is a friend.

The Land Before Time is still a classic movie. This 1988 film inspired TV series and video games. There are also many direct-to-video movies.

  • The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994)
  • The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving (1995)
  • The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists (1996)
  • The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island (1997)
  • The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock (1998)
  • The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire (2000)
  • The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze (2001)
  • The Land Before Time IX: Journey to the Big Water (2002)
  • The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (2003)
  • The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinusarurses (2005)
  • The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers (2006)
  • The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends (2007)
  • The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave (2016)

Every one of these stories is filled with songs, fun, and adventure. The closeness of the five main characters is what holds the series together. They are friends until the end and time after time put themselves in harms way to help each other. In most of the stories a new character is introduced. This latest adventure introduces Etta and Wild Arms (voiced by Damon Wayans Jr.).

Bonus features on the DVD are several sing-alongs, including the main song by McEntire, “Look for the Light.” Other memorable songs your kids will be singing and you will be humming (over and over again) are “Today’s the Day,” “Hot and Stinky,” and “Better off Alone.” And yes, “Hot and Stinky” is something you won’t be able to get out of your head! 

The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave is rated G and is fun for the entire family, especially considering these loveable characters have been around for 28 years! Who is your favorite? Is it sweet and caring Ducky? Always hungry Spike? Stubborn Cera? Nervous Petrie? Or loyal Littlefoot?

The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave is available exclusively at Walmart and walmart.com.

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

‘Murder of a President’ on PBS’ American Experience

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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James Garfield was only in office less than a year. The 20th President of the United States was a man with vision and a strong sense of justice. He gave the country hope. His life was cut short by an assassin’s bullet, as Abraham Lincoln’s life had been just 16 years earlier. As this documentary, Murder of a President, shows with reenactments and discussions with historians, Garfield’s wounds were not necessarily fatal. How they were treated was just as deadly as the actual bullet. Today Garfield’s wounds would be minimal with the modern medical practices, however in 1881 his doctor was not able to save him. As a matter of fact, as viewers will learn, his doctor probably inadvertently caused the death of the president.

The life and times of James Garfield are examined in this almost spellbinding account. Garfield was an extraordinary man. He grew up very poor. His mother only had enough money to send him for one term of college. After that money ran out, he worked hard to pay the rest of his tuition. And in his second year of college, this highly intelligent man was made a professor. It’s amazing to see how far he came and how intelligent as well as caring he was.

Garfield began “Front Porch Talks” where people would gather around to listen to him discuss liberty and his vision of the country. He was stunned when he first encountered slavery while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. He made his life’s work about bringing liberty to all Americans.

So, why was this man of conscience assassinated? His enemies were the Stalwarts led by Senator Roscoe Conkling, or those who wanted to maintain the traditional politics and resisted reform. While back room politics went into his decision to make Chester Arthur his Vice President, that’s as far as Garfield would yield to the Stalwarts.

It was Charles Guiteau who pulled the trigger that fateful day. Guiteau had been a supporter of Garfield and expected a reward for his efforts. But Garfield didn’t appoint the man to any position. Guiteau was emotionally unstable. Today he would be called a paranoid schizophrenic. He was filled with delusions of grandeur and felt the country would honor him for killing the president.

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James Garfield and Charles Guiteau’s stories are only two thirds of this amazing chapter in American history. The third is the medical treatment Garfield received. The doctor was a selfish man who would not entertain any ideas other than his own. Had he not been so stubborn, there could have been a chance of saving the president. Even Alexander Graham Bell created the first metal detector to locate the bullet in the president’s body, but the doctor would not allow him to search any place other than the location he felt was where the bullet had lodged. As a matter of fact, he was totally mistaken. The bullet had traveled to another part of the president’s body and had the doctor allowed Bell to scan the entire body, they would have found it.

So these three stories come together in an amazing look at this chapter of history. After he was shot, Garfield lasted 79 days. During that time he most likely could have been saved with the right treatment. This is the story of James Garfield, Charles Guiteau, and medical practice – or malpractice.

For those who are not aware of Garfield, this is definitely an interesting lesson. He was a man who gave the country hope, not unlike John Kennedy. Both men did not have the luxury of time to prove their capabilities. Garfield only had a mere 200 days.

American Experience: Murder of a President premiers Tuesday, February 2, 2016 on PBS.

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

‘Our Brand is Crisis’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


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Sandra Bullock is amazing in this tense political story about campaigns, campaigning, dirty tricks, and hope. How can they all go together? Just leave it up to the professionals to run a campaign that utilizes all of those items. Our Brand is Crisis is an interesting story of how strings are pulled and how candidates are used and manipulated.

Jane Bodine (Bullock) was a professional campaign strategist who has been in retirement, living a simple existence in the mountains, and trying to stay sane. Her last job put her over the edge. She is brilliant at strategy, but has a difficult time with the consequences. When she is recruited to go to Bolivia to work on the presidential campaign, she reluctantly takes the job. As a matter of fact, she a responsibility to take it because her nemesis, Pat Candy (Billy Bob Thornton), the man who put her over the edge, is the strategist for the opposition and she wants to get even.

When she arrives in Bolivia, she is overtaken by the altitude and the mess in which the campaign seems to be. She needs to find a message for her candidate that will resonate with the people. She decides it is “crisis.” That is how she is going to brand the campaign. She sets out to show that the country is in crisis and the only person with the courage and experience to take it on is her candidate Castillo (Joaquim de Almeida).

While she dives head-on into this campaign, Candy goads her at every turn. He is trying to get under her skin and throw her off her game. But she gets the upper hand.

As she makes this a personal campaign between her and Candy, the candidates continue to play the game and are basically puppets to the two professional strategists. The campaigns are interesting to watch as the two strategists play out their games using the candidates to make their case. These strategists don’t care for whom they work. They only care about winning. They have to be tough and tough skinned because the outcome might be unsettling in the long run.

That is what happens to tough-minded Jane. She ultimately realizes that there is more to life than winning a campaign. There are issues and lives at stake. How can she live with herself if she continues on the same path?

The bonus feature looks at Sandra Bullock taking on this intense role. She was lucky in that George Clooney couldn’t undertake it at the time and she thought it was a good role for a woman. Clooney was a producer on the film, and the role went to Bullock after some rewriting.

Our Brand is Crisis is rated R for language including some sexual references. It is also available on DVD.

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