Author: Francine Brokaw

vinOair Wine Aerator from CorkPops

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Wine connoisseurs know that aerating wine is a must. Aeration increases oxidation, which softens the tannins. Aerating a bottle of wine also assists the liquid in releasing the aroma, and we all know aroma is important.

This cool design doesn’t detract from the bottle. As a matter of fact, being clear it is almost invisible. Yet it still performs as it should. And besides aerating the wine, it also acts as a decanter. Yep, you can aerate your delicious bottle of vino then pour a glass of your favorite wine, whether it is red or white. Some wine experts say it is not necessary to aerate white wine because white wines have less tannins than red, however if you are a white wine lover, give it a try and see if you get a more robust scent and flavor.

 

Oxygenated wine makes a difference. If you watch movies and some cocky/snooty guy who wants to impress his girl asks if the waiter let the wine breathe, well, that implies oxygenation.

This little item can easily be transported with you when you take a bottle of wine to a picnic. It is lightweight and makes pouring the beverage easy without any drips. And let me tell you, sometimes red wine stains cannot be removed. (Just look at my beautiful yellow dress that is now spotted with dark burgundy splotches!)

 

Businesses can have their logo imprinted on the aerator. Imprinting names on the item makes this a great gift. Think about a housewarming gift, a hostess gift, a promotion gift, or whatever. Making it personal adds a special touch. Just contact the company for pricing information about imprinting a wine aerator.

 

Another great aspect of this handy little tool is that the vinOair Wine Aerator is made in the USA. Hallelujah.

 

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.

Chris Pine is ‘The Contractor’ in a new movie

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

James Harper (Chris Pine) is a career Special Forces Sergeant. Unfortunately his career is cut short due to a knee injury. He is discharged from the Army without his pension. With a wife and son to support, what will he do?

The private sector comes calling. He is a bit ambivalent about going that route, however when his buddy  (Eddie Marsan) tells him about a private underground military force he himself works for, Harper decides to hire on. The black ops force is headed by a man named Rusty (Kiefer Sutherland). With an advance of fifty thousand dollars, Harper thinks this is a good job for him, and it will get his family out of debt.

The operation was supposed to be easy. In, do the job, then out and back home. So, the team does go in, does their job, but when they are exiting they encounter a problem. Soon Harper finds himself on the run, but from whom? Who are the people trying to hunt him down and kill him? What in the world is going on? It doesn’t look or feel like the operation he signed on for.

It takes the rest of the story for Harper to figure out what and who are behind whatever he is in. He must stay alive and evade those who are after him. Then he must deal with whatever went wrong with the operation. And it is indeed a good finale when he finally gets his due.

Pine is good at playing the morose former Army Sergeant who has good intentions but discovers something that he shouldn’t. Just what happened with his mission? Upon discovering what he had gotten himself into, he is not only furious but also bewildered.

This is not a “must see” movie, however there are those who will enjoy the black ops part of the story.

There is another film of the same name that came out in 2007, however it is not the same story.

The Contractor is rated R for violence and language. It will be in theaters and on digital April 1, 2022.

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, 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. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Possessions’ on HBO Max is riveting

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The melodramatic and thrilling  series Possessions on HBO Max  premiered in January. It is subtitled in both French and Hebrew and the first few minutes will draw you in. It is a French-Hebrew psychological thriller about a French family living in Israel. There are many complicated characters in this show but it all comes together beautifully.

The series opens with Natalie’s wedding in Israel. While viewers get a sense that things are not perfect with her family, they are drawn into the wedding and Natalie’s relationship with her groom.  But when the lights go out then come back the groom lay dead on the floor with Natalie’s wedding dress drenched in blood. She is holding a bloody knife meant for the wedding cake.

Natalie is immediately taken into police custody where she insists on having someone from the French consulate come to see her. She resists an attorney, insisting she is innocent.

Karim, a French diplomat, arrives to assist this ex-patriot with her dilemma. He is intrigued by Natalie and decides to look into the situation himself. Karim notices discrepancies in the attitudes of Natalie’s family and some strange behavior.

There is something amiss with her family. As he delves into their past and what is behind all their secrecies, he is intrigued with Natalie. There is something she is hiding however he knows she did not kill her husband. So what exactly happened when the lights went out for those few seconds?

Without any spoilers, let’s just say that this is an intriguing mystery that will capture the attention of viewers. With French and Hebrew subtitles, it might be a little off putting for some viewers, however it is not a difficult series to understand. And it is a diamond in the rough when it comes to shows that have not garnered much press. Check it out for yourself on HBO Max.

 

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, 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. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

Courtesy photo from HBO Max

Harry Potter anniversary

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


After capturing the hearts of Wizarding World fans around the globe, Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts is coming to Cartoon Network and TBS for the first time on Sunday, April 10. The enchanting retrospective special will air first at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT as part of Cartoon Network’s ACME Night with an encore presentation on TBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT. Viewers tuning in to each broadcast will be treated to a special sneak peek of Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, which is set to hit theaters on April 15.

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts invites fans on a magical first-person journey through one of the most beloved film franchises of all time. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson reunite, together with other favorite cast members and esteemed filmmakers across all eight Harry Potter films. Originally created as a celebration of the anniversary of the franchise’s first film, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, this unique television event includes brand new cast discussions, insights from the creative team behind the magic, and comments from creator J.K. Rowling.

Additional Harry Potter film alumni featured in the memorable tribute include Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Ian Hart, Toby Jones, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch, producer David Heyman, and directors Chris Columbus, Alfonso Cuarón, Mike Newell and David Yates.

Gizmo and the Mogwai return in a new animated series

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Gizmo and the mischievous Mogwai are set to run wild through the streets of Annecy in the new animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai. In Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, we travel back to 1920s Shanghai to reveal the story of how 10-year-old Sam Wing (future shop owner Mr. Wing in the 1984 movie) met the young Mogwai called Gizmo. Along with a teenage street thief named Elle, Sam and Gizmo take a perilous journey through the Chinese countryside, encountering, and sometimes battling, colorful monsters and spirits from Chinese folklore. On their quest to return Gizmo to his family and uncover a legendary treasure, they are pursued by a power-hungry industrialist and his growing army of evil Gremlins.

The series will be available on HBO Max in the near future.

Po returns

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Jack Black returns to Kung Fu Panda in the new series Kung Fu Panda- The Dragon Knight. When a mysterious pair of weasels set their sights on a collection of four powerful weapons, Po must leave his home to embark on a globe-trotting quest for redemption and justice that finds him partnered up with a no-nonsense English knight named Wandering Blade. Together, these two mismatched warriors set out on an epic adventure to find the magical weapons first and save the world from destruction — and they may even learn a thing or two from each other along the way.

The series, from DreamWorks Animation and Netflix, will stream later. As of now the date has not been released. For more information, go to the website.

Bring home ‘The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The new 2-disc Blu-ray release of The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm is filled with music, fantasy, fun, and plenty of bonus features. This is the story of the brothers who brought us Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb, Sleeping Beauty, The Golden Goose, and plenty of other stories that have entertained many generations as well as supplied bedtime stories for youngsters.

Once upon a time there were two brothers. Jacob Grimm (Karl Bohm) was conscience. Wilhelm Grimm (Laurence Harvey) had his head in the clouds but his feet on the ground. He reveled in fairy tales and prodded Jacob to work with him to compile a book of various stories that would entertain children. But Jacob was not interested, until it was evident that that was what children really wanted.

This 1962 movie is now available in a beautiful 4K restoration and looks better than the movie when it originally hit theaters. With songs, dances, and fun stories, the movie boasts a long list of actors that include Claire Bloom, Walter Slezak, Barbara Eden, Russ Tamblyn, Jim Backus, Buddy Hackett, and Yvette Mimieux. While the film runs well over two hours, it is not slow or boring. It is, rather, a sheer delight for those who love the stories penned by the German brothers.

As Wilhelm either writes or orates his stories, they play out on the screen. While the stories that have been reimagined by Disney are not part of those represented in the film, there are some wonderful Brothers Grimm tales that will delight all ages: “The Dancing Princess,” “The Cobbler and the Elves,” and “The Singing Bone.” Besides these memorable tales, the film delves into the lives of the brothers.

This Warner Archive Deluxe 2-disc Special Edition includes two Blu-ray discs; one in the restored Cinerama letterbox format and one in the restored film in the SMILEBOX format that replicates the curved way the film was projected in Cinerama theaters. There is an overture, intermission music, an Entr’acte, and exit music.

Bonus features look at how intricate and hard it was to restore the film from the original negatives. This was a long process however fans of this classic movie had been asking for a restored version for a long time. They now can enjoy the movie with brighter colors and sharper images than when it was shown in 1962. There is also a slideshow looking behind the scenes of the production. And a little featurette about how the town of Rothenberg erected a plaque to commemorate the production, which was filmed partially in that village.

The movie won the Academy Award for “Best Costume Design” and was nominated for two other Oscars. The movie runs 140 minutes, so if you are showing it to youngsters, you might want to split it up, and with the different stories portrayed in the film, as well as the musical interludes, it is easy to do without missing anything in the process.

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm is rated G and is available where Blu-rays are sold, as well as the Warner Archive website.

‘WeCrashed’ -When the era’s preeminent unicorn turns into another ‘winning at all costs’ corrupt swine

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Arrogance has run amok lately. True crime stories of infamous dead unicorns have been made into TV shows one after another; starting with the notorious bad boy Travis Kalanick in Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber (Showtime), then Palo Alto Marie Curie Elizabeth Holmes in The Dropout (Hulu), and soon a new limited series from Apple TV+ will follow.

Based on the Wondery podcast WeCrashed: The Rise and Fall of WeWork, the eight-episode limited series WeCrashed chronicles the rise of the era’s preeminent unicorn Adam Neumann (Jared Leto) and the most spectacular flameout in recent corporate history. It takes you on an emotional rollercoaster ride through the lens of WeWork cofounder/wife Rebekah Paltrow Neumann (Anne Hathaway) with the egomaniacal glamour and millennial mysticism of the ‘trophy couple.’

A college dropout with neither commercial real estate experience nor entrepreneurial success, Adam is the best used-car salesman in the parking lot. He easily fits the bill of a Silicon Valley disrupter; the millennial prophet or avatar of the new economy who envisions a “capitalist kibbutz” for freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners.

Spoiled and entitled Daddy’s girl Rebekah, however, has been aimlessly drifting through her ‘fortunate’ life with neither a calling nor a passion to save her life. No wonder the poor little rich girl hitches her wagon to a supernova. When Adam’s eccentricities and bombastic arrogance may prove to be his undoing, Rebekah swoops in to protect his fragile ego and props him up with woo-woo pep talk and pixie dust magic for her unicorn to soar.

When the female employees are up in arms about Rebekah’s mission in life — women must help men “manifest their calling in life” — her solution is to buy a journalist’s silence rather than admitting that she has no light of her own. Instead, Rebekah is a lurking wife who ‘manifests’ things for Adam to enjoy and exploit. Her bravado seems so phony and overplayed; it must be a smokescreen for her gnawing unworthiness. Rebekah’s unicorn overhaul project stalls as soon as it becomes a case of the blind leading the blind — no one knows what they are babbling about: WeWork exists to “elevate world’s consciousness,” It is a movement, complete with its own catechisms, “My family is the moral compass of this company.” Huh?

Adam’s sugar daddy, SoftBank’s Masayoshi Son (Eui-sung Kim), further pours fuel on the fire by affirming that he is not crazy enough to win the game. Adam, of course, takes his words to heart and rebels against the ‘adults’ like a drunk and doped up teenage boy thanks to WeWork’s “entitled, frat-boy culture.” While Adam is an absolute holy terror with erratic behavior, Rebekah’s holier-than-thou attitude, blatant classism and the 1960’s housewife-like antiquated belief are off-putting to say the least. And if, God forbid, you should cross her, you’ll pay the price dearly!

Just like Travis Kalanick, Adam Neumann was ousted by the board, but walked away with an obscene amount of payout in exit package and consulting fee. It really makes my blood boil to think about the beleaguered “natives” who drank the Kool-Aid and worked like slaves hoping for the IPO payday down the road. The ‘trophy couple’ alternately bullied and charmed these post collegiate staff into blind and complete subservience with their empty promises — “we’re family and this is our company.” They deluded you and shamelessly exploited you. You’re all victims of a ‘folie à deux’ — the presence of the same or similar delusional ideas in two persons closely associated with one another.

By the way, is Anne Hathaway’s Rebekah the reincarnation of Elizabeth Holmes? It’s really creepy and disturbing. Just saying…

The first three episodes of WeCrashed premiere March 18 on Apple TV+, followed by a new episode debuting every Friday for the remainder of season.

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.

COURTESY PHOTO

Bring home ‘Blue Skies’ on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The 1946 Irving Berlin musical Blue Skies is now available on Blu-ray from Kino Lorber Studio Classics.  The film stars Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, and Joan Caulfield.

The story is a bit reminiscent of Holiday Inn with both Crosby and Astaire infatuated with the same woman. And like Holiday Inn, the duo sing and dance a similar musical number with Astaire showing off his toe tapping skills and Crosby crooning in his usual style.

Jed (Astaire) is a Broadway star. His former vaudeville partner Johnny (Crosby) owns a nightclub where he entertains his guests with songs and fun. They are both taken with Mary (Caulfield) who is a singer in her own right. She is being seriously wooed by Jed but is in love with Johnny.

In the meantime, Johnny keeps selling his nightclubs to buy new ones. He cannot commit to his business or Mary who eventually becomes his wife, but for how long? He is definitely the epitome of wishy-washy. Jed continues to woo Mary but realizes she loves Johnny. This is a strange triangle.

Songs in the film include “Blue Skies,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” “A Couple of Song and Dance Men” with Crosby being the song and Astaire being the dance, “A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody,” “How Deep is the Ocean,” and “White Christmas.” While this has been described as one of Berlin’s great musicals, it falls short of some of his others, namely Holiday Inn and Easter Parade. However, it is a fun story with a wonderful cast. You cannot beat Crosby’s vocals and Astaire’s twinkle toes. Blue Skies was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song (“You Keep Coming Back Like a Song”) and Best Music Score.

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, 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. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Turning Red’ is adorable

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The newest animated film from Disney/Pixar is Turning Red, a fun story about family, friends, and growing up. It focuses on 13-year-old Mei Lee (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) and delves into her family life, school friendships, and her Chinese heritage.

Mei lives in Toronto with her mother Ming (Sandra Oh) and father. She is on the cusp of adolescence and under the strict thumb of her mother. Mei is dutiful daughter and happy with her life. She is an overachiever, excited about life, and if her mother has anything to say about it, Mei will be a future UN Secretary General.

Then something strange happens to Mei. One night she turns into a giant red panda. Upon learning that the women in her family turn into pandas when they reach adolescence, Mei is horrified. But there is a solution. When the next red moon rises, the family will perform a ritual to vanquish the panda from her life so she can return to her old self. In the meantime, however, Mei is stuck morphing into the panda when she gets too excited, which is quite often.

It takes something soothing to bring her back to being human, and she discovers that friendship is a comforting part of life. After all, who would we be without our besties? Think about your own school days and the friends that shared the ups and downs with you.

When Mei and her three best friends learn their favorite boy band 4*Town is coming to Toronto, they devise a plan to earn the money for the tickets and sneak into the concert, even though their parents disapprove. But just how they go about earning the money is a little unorthodox.

Adolescence is a difficult time, especially for girls. They have physical changes and their emotions get the best of them. Their first crushes are all-important in their lives. And for Mei and her friends, they have strong crushes on the five members of 4*Town.

The film includes songs with some original songs performed by the fictional boy band. “Nobody Like U” will most likely be a song sung over and over again by the kids in your house. “1 True Love” and “U Know What’s Up” are other songs included in the film and on the soundtrack.

Turning Red is a winner. The story of Mei’s self-discovery is something many girls experience, albeit without the giant red panda. This is a film that will undoubtedly be embraced by young girls everywhere, and even boys will enjoy the story. Do not think twice about taking your kids to see it. Adults will be able to reflect on this difficult time in their own lives when the world was big, the future was scary, and it seemed like everything was fresh and new.

Director Domee Shi said about Mei, “I just love her dorky confidence. I love her spunk and her spirit.” This little girl is not only adorable, she is also engaging. “I really wanted to explore the conflicts of a young teen girl,” Shi said, “how she’s torn between being a good daughter and embracing her true messy self.” Mei is “spunky, confident, nerdy, passionate, weird and a li􏰁le bit snooty.” And she is a character audiences will take to their hearts.

The movie is rated PG for thematic material, suggestive content and language. It opens March 11, 2022 and will be available on Disney+.

Heads up – Parents might have to discuss menstruation with their kids.

Photos courtesy Disney/Pixar. All rights reserved.

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, 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. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association, was a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club, and is accredited by the MPAA. Follow her on Twitter.