Magic in the Moonlight “The Magic of Love”
Sep 2nd
“Hotshots” looks at a movie!
MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT is Woody Allen’s latest film, and it has been getting moderately mixed reviews.
Some reviewers generally liked it, some generally disliked it, but I liked it a lot.
It is a romantic comedy, but it contains more romance than comedy.
And if you believe that Allen has his ups and downs in the movies he makes, I believe this film is one of his ups.
It begins in 1928 in Berlin, and we see the stage act of a renowned Chinese magician named Wei Ling Soo, who is actually an Englishman, Stanley Crawford, played by Colin Firth and wearing elaborate Chinese stage makeup and clothing.
The magician makes a live elephant on stage disappear, he cuts a woman assistant in half and proves that her body is in two parts, and he himself disappears inside a box and suddenly reappears onstage sitting in a chair that he swivels around, which will be used again later in the story to a nice effect.
Stanley brags that he invented that last trick himself, and Stanley is a suffering, egotistical, obnoxious person in real life who ridicules anyone who claims to have psychic powers.
When Stanley is told about a young pretty woman who holds seances and makes contact with the dead, he says, “A pretty face never hurt a cheap swindler.”
Stanley is told about Sophie Baker, an American played by Emma Stone, by Howard Burkan, a childhood friend of Stanley’s and also a magician, although not as successful as Stanley is.
Howard says that he can’t spot any trickery in Sophie’s claims, and he invites Stanley to accompany him to the south of France, where Howard believes Sophie will be trying to fleece a rich widow out of a lot of money.
Of course, Stanley jumps at the chance to expose another public phony, and he goes to France using an assumed name to do so.
However, while Sophie conducts a seance and establishes contact with the wealthy widow’s dead husband, neither he nor Howard can find any evidence to expose Sophie.
And when Sophie tells Stanley about things in his life that she could never have guessed, he starts to believe in her powers and to fall in love with her.
MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT might have you believing in the magic of love.
I’m Dan Culberson and this is “Hotshots.”
Great American Beer Festival 2006
Aug 28th
The Great American Beer Festival happens every year where you can get a taste of all America’s best beers in Denver Colorado. The Great American Beer Festival not only offers the chance to sample some of the finest beers the world; it offers multiple opportunities to learn about all things beer. Lauren takes us to the floor to show us a sneak peak from the festival.
Jann Scott’s 1997 Best Brews TV Special: retro
Aug 28th
A retro look at the craft beer industry in America. It’s Jann Scott Tonite’s 1997 Best Brews in Colorado TV special, he visits breweries and talks with people about their favorite beers and drinking stories. First brewery is the Left Hand Brewing Company where we learn about Ales and Lagers and some of the things they add to the beers during the brewing process. Then Jann heads back to Estes Park Brewery to learn about some new beers they make and how they’re made. Then we talk with the creators of New Belgium Beer in Ft. Collins. After that Jann heads just down the path to Odell’s Brewing Company and learn how they got into the retail bottling business. Then back in Boulder Jann visits with Rockies Brewing formerly Boulder Beer and learn how the new owners completely turned the oldest Colorado beer brewery business around. Jann then heads back to Ft. Collins to H.C. Berger Brewing and we get a short history of their beer and what food pairings they go good with. And what’s a beer tour without more beer! Jann heads to Breckenridge Brewery and learn about the history of their beer and how they grew to large for the city of Breck and moved to Denver to grow their operation. Then it’s off to BJ’s Brewery in Boulder and we learn about their Pizza and of course beer. That’s not all, Jann also visits the Rock Bottom Brewery in Downtown Denver and learn about some of their beers, how they brew it and how much they go through a day. After that Jann visits the Denver Chop House and talk shortly with their brewmaster and check out their new beers. The show then wraps up at the Walnut Brewery in Boulder, hope you enjoyed the tours and try out some of the great Colorado made Brews!
