Author: Francine Brokaw

‘Couples Therapy’ Season 2 digs deep into the whys and wherefores of participants’ self-sabotage amid the global pandemic

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Key Art for COUPLES THERAPY. Photo Credit: Courtesy of SHOWTIME.



Couples Therapy, my latest psychoanalytic lollapalooza after The Affair bid adieu in 2019, returns to Showtime on April 18, 2021. It was ‘a wild experiment’ by documentarians Josh Kriegman and Elyse Steinberg to see “if it’s possible to create a space that actually allows people to do therapy authentically while everyone knows that it’s being filmed.” They teamed up with their kindred spirit, Orna Guralnik, PsyD, discovered they work well together, and the rest is history.

“I think I’m a better therapist having done this,” Guralnik expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the one-of-a-kind docu-series at Showtime’s virtual panel interview in February. A former film student, Guralnik recognized the benefits of being immersed in the filming process 24/7: “I have treatments, and then I see the treatments. I talk about them, and then I see them later coming back. There’s so much opportunity to reflect and then think again and tie it to theory, and then I teach, so I tie it to my teaching. So, I think it has deepened my work a lot.”

In Season 2, Guralnik 2.0 is a lodestar that guides three new couples through the rough waters into the harbor with her keen ‘psychoanalytic sensibility.’ Although they have different and distinct relationship issues, it is glaringly obvious that their pre-existing self-sabotaging behavior are further exacerbated by the pressure cooker inside homes due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

“I took more risks with couples during this season trying to get closer to the reality of people’s experience,” Guralnik explained in our phone interview conducted late March. “There’s no way to protect privacy in the way you do when you’re working from the office so it just became less of a boundary and more ‘we’re all in this together.’” Hence, more footage of the participants as well as the therapist herself engaged in family activities! No wonder Season 2 disseminates ‘comrade-in-arms’ vibes; the therapist and the participants work for the same purpose while sharing the same danger and difficulties.

In Season 1, the candid discussions between Guralnik and her clinical advisor, Virginia Goldner, PhD, gave us a fly-on-the-wall view of Guralnik’s humanity. In Season 2, however, they are strategically edited into episodes as a storytelling engine with a beginning, middle, and end. Guralnik 2.0 discusses her concerns, frustrations (even outrage! if you can believe it), and observations. Goldner, in return, offers insight into how to deal with the ‘enigmatic unconscious’ since people don’t always know what’s motivating them and what’s at play. The beauty of this storytelling is that we get to witness not only how Goldner’s suggestions play out but also how Guralnik 2.0 execute them with exceptional diplomatic finesse and utmost compassion. Furthermore, a little glimpse into Guralnik 2.0’s own dysfunctional family patterns makes her more relatable and endearing. Couples Therapy Season 2 is a reminder of one of the hard-won lessons I learned from my divorce – “We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are.”

The nine-episode season premieres Sunday, April 18, with the first two episodes airing back-to-back at 10 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes will continue to air back-to-back on Sunday nights for four weeks, with the finale airing on May 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The entire season will also release for on-demand streaming on Showtime and across all Showtime partner platforms on April 18.

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

‘Secrets of the Whales’ is extraordinary

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


From Disney+ and National Geographic comes an amazing four-part series about the extraordinary mammals that live in our oceans. The whales are amazing to watch and in this series viewers get up close and personal with them as well as viewing actions that have never been seen before.

Episode One: Orca Dynasty looks at the beautiful animals and how they interact with each other in their families and their relationships. Yes, whales do have relationships with other whales and it is an eye-opening experience to watch these wonderful animals as they live in the oceans and communicate with each other.

Episode Two: Humpback Song explores the world of humpbacks in the South Pacific and Antarctica. This episode captures 30,000 humpbacks swimming, breaching, and communicating with each other as they head south. It is really something to see.

 

Episode Three: Beluga Kingdom uncovers evidence that these whales give each other names and can decipher one whale from another. Young ones know the sound of their mothers. When one young whale gets separated from his mother, she struggles against the odds to make her way to him. And finally, their reunion is a heat-warming thing to see.

Episode Four: Ocean Giants (Sperm Whales) captures a calf feeding on its mother. Prior to this it was not known how they nurse, but now we know their secret. These whales have been portrayed as monsters in films, however they are not menacing or mean. On the contrary, they are special animals with feelings and families.

This amazing series also captures something rare, or even new. When a young narwhal whale is separated from its pod, he needs to find some way to survive. He cannot survive on his own. Then a group of belugas comes upon him and allow him to join their pod. Wow. What an amazing triumph and this shows how whales of all kinds have emotions and understanding. They are quite simply, outstanding animals.

This wonderful series is something families should enjoy together. Learning about life under the water it often overlooked, however the whales are an important part of our ecosystem. They are the giants of the oceans and just as intelligent as dolphins.

Do not miss this extraordinary series. Secrets of the Whales will capture your heart as you learn about them and understand these wonderful mammals. The series is narrated by Sigourney Weaver.

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. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Cruel Summer’ looks at teen drama

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Cruel Summer is the new teen drama on Freeform. The story is set over three summers and bounces back and forth between the three. This is a psychological thriller focusing on two young women who come of age during these three years and also face a traumatic experience.

Kate is the popular girl at school. She has a rich family with a large house, a fabulous wardrobe, and perfect hair. Is her life as wonderful on the inside as it looks on the outside?

Jeanette is the nerdy girl. She wants to be one of the cool girls, but just cannot quite get past the guard of Kate.

Then Kate is abducted. What happened to this sweet young girl? When she points the finger at Jeanette, Jeanette turns to a dark place.

The way the three summers unfold in fragmented units is a bit challenging. Viewers must keep up with the different years and the different characters. It was a bold decision to use this format to show the story unfold. However by doing so, viewers see what has happened to the characters over the years. Are they really who they appear to be? Is Kate the sweet innocent young woman and is Jeanette the conniving, backstabbing young woman she is framed to be?

All is not what it appears to be. People are not who they appear to be. What goes on inside of them is usually kept secret, and that is the case with these two young girls. How does Jeanette go from being the fun-loving nerd to the most despised person in the country? Is this a justifiable judgment? Or are there other things at play here? It’s obvious to viewers that nothing is obvious. Who is really telling the truth? Is Kate lying or is Jeanette hiding something? Or perhaps Kate is really hiding things about her life. Who can we believe?

Olivia Holt, Chiara Aurelia, Michael Landes, Froy Gutierrez, Harley Quinn Smith, Allius Barnes, Blake Lee and Brooklyn Sudano star in this teen drama that looks at life, friendships, popularity, jealousy, greed, and family.

Aurelia, who plays Jeanette, stated at a virtual press conference, “I think that it was a really unique opportunity to be a part of this show because there was such an evolution of Jeanette Turner and her character.  And I think that each year kind of represents a different element of all of our lives, you know, the darkness, the sadness, the youthfulness.  And I think that, obviously, wardrobe and hair and makeup play a big part in it.  And mentally, you kind of have to differentiate where you are and what you’re thinking and what’s going on.  But I think it’s a lot in the mindset and just trying to understand her and understanding how much people can change and what she’s going through over these three drastic years.”

Kate is played by Hold who said, “I think we see the entire cast go through a really big journey within the three years.  But as far as Kate goes in her past and her history and where she comes from and who she is, we’ll see a big shift from those three years.  And she comes from a family who is very complicated, which, I think, makes her as a young female trying to understand who she is; it really shines a light on the complex part of being a teenager and trying to figure out who you are in the midst of a million things that are going on.  And I think she is really kind and really smart, and I think you’ll see a lot of different layers of her in all of the years.”

Cruel Summer premieres Tuesday, April 20, 2021 on Freeform. It is a good series for summer viewing.

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. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Courtesy photo

‘The Chicken Squad’ hatches on Disney Junior in May

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Disney Junior’s egg-citing new animated comedy-adventure series The Chicken Squad premieres FRIDAY, MAY 14 (7:30 P.M. EDT/PDT), with two back-to-back episodes on Disney Junior and DisneyNOW. Inspired by Doreen Cronin’s popular children’s books, the series follows a trio of young chicken siblings—Coop, Sweetie and Little Boo—and theirretired search and rescue dog mentor, Captain Tully. Together, they team up on problem-solving adventures in their backyard to help their animal friends, while modeling what it means to be good community helpers and finding the joy in assisting others. A digital soundtrack, “Disney Junior Music: The Chicken Squad,” featuring the theme song and music from the series is also set for release Friday, May 14, on Walt Disney Records.

Whether rescuing a stranded puppy from a creek, helping a bird track down its missing food, or solving the mystery of how their mom’s prized flowers got trampled, the Chicken Squad is always ready to lend a helping wing. Each episode, comprised of two 11-minute stories, features the recurring “Chicken Charge” anthem that the chickens sing upon determination of a new mission and at least one new original song that showcases a variety of musical styles ranging from pop and R&B to country, hip-hop and electronic.

MONSTER PETS: A HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA SHORT

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

“What would it be like if the Drac Pack all owned pets? We couldn’t be more excited to jump back into the world of Hotel Transylvania, and explore all the fun and lovable frustrations of pets through a monster lens,” said Monster Pets directors Jennifer Kluska and Derek Drymon. “What happens when your golden retriever is 5 stories tall? Or your chihuahua breathes fire? Being able to introduce an all-new group of characters in Monster Pets who are just as funny and weird as the Drac Pack was an absolute blast. We hope audiences enjoy the short, and look forward to seeing the monster pets make an appearance in the upcoming Hotel Transylvania: Transformania!”

“This short has been a labor of love from the teams at Sony Pictures Animation and Sony Pictures Imageworks, and we’re pleased that we can bring heartfelt laughter to families around the world in this time,” added Christian Roedel, Monster Pets producer. “The Hotel Transylvania franchise is all about family, and it has been an honor to work alongside our newest members Jennifer and Derek, the amazing directing duo who will take the reins for this exciting new chapter.”

And don’t miss the final chapter of the franchise, Hotel Transylvania: Transformania, coming to theatres July 23, 2021.

‘The Art of Raya and the Last Dragon’ Book Review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The Disney/Pixar film Raya and the Last Dragon is a beautiful display of artistry that goes along with the entertaining story and of course, a good message. The book “The Art of Disney Raya and the Last Dragon” brings back all the enchantment of the movie.

As Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estrada, Paul Briggs, and John Ripa state in the Forward, “The film you see is the result of the talent, craft, expertise, and, most of all, commitment of so many.” In these pages are the results of all of those elements that went into creating the movie.

The book includes concept art that viewers have not seen. There are also images of areas inside the lands that are fleshed out more so readers can see a more in-depth view of the buildings as well as the landscape and the characters.

Besides the wonderful art, this hardcover has details about the story, the characters, and the film. There are some great inside stories that lend themselves to the enjoyment of the movie. And it is a completely enjoyable movie that brings some fun characters to the screen as well as a new Disney heroine.

I always love these books because they open up a new window into the films. The movies are brought back through the pages and each page is worthy of attention.

The movie is colorful and all those beautiful colors are on these pages with the allure of the Southeast Asian cultures. The story takes place in a fictional land, but the imagery is definitely Asian-inspired. The book opens with a synopsis of the story then delves into the characters with insights and imagery.

Storyboards are usually how films begin, and that is true for animated films as well as live-action movies. Looking at these images and getting in depth information about how the characters came to life is just part of the fun of these books.

The world the movie encompasses is vast with beautiful landscapes and an interesting city. Looking at the pages, the whole world is brought to the readers in a way that is not only a great adjunct to the film, but also an education into the making of this film.

If you liked the movie, and most people who see it really love it, or you are simply interested in how animation is created, then this is a book to have in your library. As a matter of fact, it is a nice coffee table book for visitors to look at.  The story and the characters are enticing and add a new chapter (no pun intended) to the Disney/Pixar catalog.

Raya and the Last Dragon is a visually stunning film and this book adds greatly to the charm of the story and the movie itself.

Parents can read the information to their kids and look at the pictures together. This can lead to further discussions about the story and the characters. It’s a good bedtime experience and maybe your child will dream of the colorful world of Kumandra.

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.

‘Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

They have starred in two feature films and have a TV show. Now the Space Dogs are back for a third adventure. Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure is the third and final film in the movie trilogy. Belka and Strelka return for an all-new adventure that is more down to earth than out-of-this-world.

The duo is completing their mission on another planet when they are abruptly called back to earth. A strange whirlpool is sucking up the Atlantic Ocean. If they do not stop it, the planet will cease to exist. After all, the ocean is a necessary part of the ecosystem.

They quickly return to earth and set out to find the source of the mysterious whirlpool. But soon they are captured by pirates. These pirates just happen to be jellyfish. Keep in mind this is a completely animal world. No humans are part of the story. Animals only. And there are some pretty wild animals in this movie.

The space dogs ultimately discover the source of the whirlpool. But how can they stop it from sucking up all of the water in the ocean? Well, it is pretty easy once they understand the reason the water is being taken. The culprits are aliens that need the water to survive. Belka and Strelka help their new alien friends learn how to make enough water of their own without taking any from earth. Problem solved!

The movie was produced in Russia. The space dogs are referred to as “cosmonauts” and Moscow and Cuba are mentioned. As a matter of fact, Cuba plays a big part in the story. It is where the space dogs’ friends gather and where they all meet up for this daring adventure.

What everyone learns is that by figuring out the problem, there is usually a way to solve it without inflicting further damage or problems on others.

Space Dogs Family is the TV series and season three will be released soon. These characters are popular with kids. Teens might find them boring, but the little ones will enjoy this new adventure with the space dogs.

Space Dogs: Tropical Adventure is in theaters April 2, 2021 and available on VOD April 6, 2021 and on Blu-ray April 20, 2021.  Enjoy the fun of this little animated animal world canine adventure. There are songs and plenty of cute animal antics.  It is rated TV-Y7.

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. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘North Shore’ now available on Blu-ray

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


The 1987 cult surfing movie, North Shore, is now available on Blu-ray. The film is not the best surfing movie, however it does have a large following and fans of the movie will be delighted with the Blu-ray edition.

The story is about the kinship that evolves between a teen surfer and a long-time surfer who takes him under his wing and teaches him about waves, surfing, and the way of the land, or I should say ocean. The photography is beautiful, taking viewers into the curl and on top of the waves.

Rick (Matt Adler), an artist, has grown up surfing in a wave pool in Arizona. After winning the local championship, he thinks he is good enough to tackle the waves in Hawaii. So off he goes, very naively, to Oahu where he thinks he can fit in with the rest of the surfers. He has no idea that surfing in a real ocean, let alone the big waves on the North Shore, is quite different from the surfing pool back home. He immediately learns that haolies, aka outsiders, are not welcome among the local gang of surfers. Turtle (John Philbin) is well connected and takes pity on the newcomer and befriends him. He knows the way of the islands and works at the local shape shack of Chandler (Gregory Harrison) who makes boards. His boards are the top of the line.

With the Banzai Pipeline competition around the corner, Rick decides he is ready for the challenge but he is in for a rude awakening. Chandler gives him room and board in exchange for Rick’s art expertise designing a new logo for the surfboards. Chandler has been surfing the big waves his whole life and knows all the ins and outs of how the waves break, etc. Soon he is teaching Rick, who becomes his protégé.

The thing about Rick is that the hotshot shredding of some of the pros impresses him. That is not what Chandler is all about. He is a soul surfer who surfs for the love of the sport, not with the intention of showing off or winning contests. Winning is not what soul surfers are in it for. They are only in it for the surfing. That is a lesson that Rick learns. Does he want to be a “shredder” or a “soul surfer?”

While in Oahu for the summer, Rick meets a local Hawaiian named Kiani (Nia Peeples). Their friendship turns into a full-blown romance. Will it keep him from returning to the mainland in the fall to attend art school? Will the lure of Hawaii and the big waves change his mind about becoming a professional artist and will he decide to try his luck at becoming a professional surfer?

The relationship between Chandler and Rick is touching. It is the heart of the film.

On a bonus feature Gregory Harrison acknowledges that his character of Chandler is the most like his real self. He grew up in Catalina and is still an avid surfer today. The bonus feature also reveals that the role of Kiani was recast and all her scenes were reshot with Peeples in the role. An alternate ending shows the original actor in the part, and it is no wonder that Peeples was cast to replace her. Also, the alternate ending is not as satisfying and enjoyable as the one that was ultimately used.

The movie features appearances by wave legends Gerry Lopez and Laird Hamilton and World Champions Shaun Tomson, Derek Ho and Mark Occhilupo. North Shore is a classic for fans of surfing and they who know every line. Move over Gidget and Moondoggie, Chandler and Rick are on the waves now!

North Shore 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. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Bring home some ‘Soul’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

In the same way Disney/Pixar Inside Out examined what goes on within a person, the new film Soul looks at what goes on with our souls before we are born and after we die. This is an interesting look at life itself, with Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey supplying the voices for the two main characters in this inspiring animated film.

When Joe (Foxx), a school music teacher, finally lands an opportunity to play jazz with a famous quartet, he is over the moon. This is his big chance. His whole life is about jazz. Unfortunately, Joe has an accident before the show, aka gig, and his soul winds up on its way to “The Great Beyond.” Joe resists this transformation and insists on going back to his body so he can take his big chance at playing professionally.

Joe’s soul causes a bit of a problem in the other world and he gets transported to “The Great Before.” This is the place where souls are formed before they go to earth to be born in bodies. Personalities are formed here. But Joe doesn’t care about any of this. He just wants to go back to his own body.

He meets 22 (Fey) who has been a soul without a body forever. She resists everyone who tries to give her a “spark” so that she can be born. She just wants to stay in “The Great Before” and not go to earth.

Things go awry again for Joe when he finally finagles his way back to earth along with 22. The thing is, Joe’s soul gets placed in a cat and 22 gets put into Joe’s body. That’s where their experience discovering about life really begins. Joe and 22 both learn a lot and in the end, well, this is a Disney/Pixar film after all, so in the end all is right with the world.

The movie comes in a DVD, a Blu-ray/DVD/Digital, and a 4K version. The Blu-ray and 4K versions include an entire additional disc with plenty of bonus features. Because the film deals with a world that no one can describe, the filmmakers had to create both “The Great Before” and the way station where souls enter “The Great Beyond.” In other words, as they say, they had to “visualize the unvisualizeable.”

The studio took on this ambitious movie. Producing an animated film about the meaning of life was unique. They used their creativity to invent their vision of where we came from. “The Great Before” is really a beautiful place filled with adorable little “noob” souls that are being prepared for life.

Another bonus looks at the sound and music in the film. And jazz musicians discuss what music means to them: expression, feeling, healing, emotion, etc.  There is an interesting look at and explanation of how an animated film gets made with some fun deleted scenes that just didn’t make it into the final film.

And with Covid taking over the planet, the final weeks of production were undertaken from the various homes of the filmmakers. That was a challenging way to work but they managed to finish with a wonderful film that has garnered plenty of praise from viewers and critics. Yes, it is deep, as far as the message is concerned. But it is also visually entertaining. And it will remind us to “live every minute” of life. “The Great Beyond” might just be an illusion created by Pixar. We just don’t know. So we should live every day to the fullest.

Soul is rated PG for thematic elements and some language.

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. She is a longstanding member of the Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.