Freeze Frame

July 23, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Old” (PG-13), “Snake Eyes” (PG-13), “Joe Bell” (R)

Have you ever felt like you’ve aged while watching a movie? That’s the feeling you’ll get if you decide to endure the latest eerie experiment from M. Knight Shyamalan, “Old.” A family goes on a vacation to an island resort only to realize that a strange beach causes them to age a lifetime in a single day. The dialogue is awful, and the plot twists will make your eyes roll. It might have worked as an episode of “The Twilight Zone,” but as a feature-length “Old” just feels, well…old.

“Snake Eyes” is an action thriller that serves as an origin story for the G.I Joe Cinematic Universe. Henry Golding stars as a fighting drifter who joins a Japanese clan and learns the ways of the ninja. His goal is to avenge his father’s murder. Goulding is a serviceable hero and some of the fight choreography is impressive. “Snake Eyes” is two-thirds of a pretty good movie, but the plot and action become so absurd in the final third that the whole enterprise goes off the rails.

Good intentions don’t always make for a good movie. Such is the case with “Joe Bell.” Mark Wahlberg is miscast in this true story of a man who decides to go on a nationwide walk to bring attention to the issue of bullying. Reid Miller is very good as his son who was tormented by schoolmates for being gay. But the execution is listless and it’s poorly paced. It’s also unlikely that it will change anyone’s mind on the subject. “Joe Bell” never rings true.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, and fineartsgroup.com.

July 16, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Pig” (R), “I Carry You With Me” (R), “Deep” (TV-MA), “Die in a Gunfight” (R)

The unconventional career of Oscar-winner Nicholas Cage just got a bit more offbeat.. He gives a brilliant, nuanced performance in his latest film, the eccentric comic drama “Pig.” Cage plays a hermit living in the Oregon woods who goes on a bizarre adventure in an attempt to retrieve his stolen truffle-sniffing pig. Writer/director Michael Sarnoski explores some thought-provoking existential themes, creating a moody, touching and often funny movie. “Pig” flies its oddball flag with honor.

The Spanish language entry “I Carry You With Me” won the Audience Award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It’s a true story about a gay Mexican man who decides to leave his partner and young son behind, and illegally immigrate to the US to pursue a career as a chef. Throughout most of the film, the roles are played by actors, but in the final segment, the roles are played by the real people the actors portrayed. The movie explores the sacrifices the main character makes and grapples with the question of whether his actions were necessary or selfish. “I Carry You With Me” is a very low-key and dreamlike love story.

“Deep” is a Netflix horror film from Thailand about some young med students who agree to take part in a sleep-depravation experiment. But the people behind the study have nefarious motives. The movie is directed more like a pop music video than a horror film, so the scares are negligible. “Deep” is a horror film for the TikTok generation.

If a Quentin Tarantino wannabe adapted a contemporary comic book version of “Romeo and Juliet,” it might look a bit like “Die in a Gunfight.” Diego Boneta and Alexandra Daddario star in this cynical romance that has flashes of inspired decadence but is a bit too self-satisfyingly hip for its own good.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, and fineartsgroup.com.

July 9, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Black Widow” (PG-13), “First Date” (Not rated)

“Black Widow,” The latest extravaganza from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plays more like an over-the-top spy movie along the lines of James Bond than a superhero adventure. Scarlett Johansson stars in this action-packed movie that takes place sometime between the events of “Captain America: Civil War” and “Avengers: Infinity War.” If you don’t follow the MCU that closely, no worries. The film also serves as an origin story thanks to multiple flashbacks. “Black Widow” can stand alone for the uninitiated.

While the film has the spectacular eye candy you’d expect given its $200 million budget, the real value of “Black Widow” comes from its cast. Johansson is solid as Natasha, but the movie is stolen by Florence Pugh who is terrific as her long-lost sister Yelena, a highly trained assassin who has escaped the mind control technology used on her by a KGB breakoff organization.

Director Cate Shortland ably emphasizes the story’ strong feminist angle and establishes a credible sisterly bond between the leads. While some of the fight sequences become a shaky blur, “Black Widow” mostly delivers the action goods.

“Black Widow” has bite.

The indie action comedy “First Date” cost less to make than Scarlett’s makeup budget for “Black Widow.” Tyson Brown stars as an awkward teen whose date with a classmate turns into a nightmare when he unwittingly purchases a stolen car. He finds himself in the crosshairs of the cops, drug smugglers and an assortment of lowlife oddballs. “First Date” becomes a bit repetitious, but fans of decadent drive-in fodder will find much to like.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, and fineartsgroup.com.

July 2, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “The Tomorrow War” (PG-13), “The Summer of Soul” (PG-13), “Boss Baby: Family Business” (PG)

Take one part “Terminator” and two parts “Alien,” shake with big budget vigor and you might come up with something like “The Tomorrow War.” Chris Pratt stars in this action-packed sci-fi extravaganza about people transported into the future to save humanity from an extraterrestrial invasion. The trappings are familiar, but “The Tomorrow War” is a fun popcorn movie thanks to great special effects, a likable lead and sharp pacing. Sci-fi fans can check “The Tomorrow War” on Amazon Prime today.

Questlove’s award-winning documentary “The Summer of Soul (…Or When the Revolution Could Not be Televised)” is a stirring and wildly entertaining film that chronicles what was dubbed “The Black Woodstock.” In 1969 the “Harlem Cultural Festival” brought a series of concerts to New York’s Mount Morris Park featuring dozens of top musical artists like Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, the Staples Singers, Sly and the Family Stone and Mahalia Jackson. In addition to bringing the footage to audiences for the first time, Questlove interviews several attendees and artists, and their insights provide substantial cultural, social, and historic context. Great music smartly presented. When it comes to the “Summer of Soul,” what’s not to like?

The animated farce “The Boss Baby: Family Business” is a sequel to the surprise 2014 hit and popular Netflix TV series. It’s a frenetic enterprise that furthers the adventures of two estranged adult brothers, voiced by Alec Baldwin and James Marsden, who’ve been transformed into babies to stop a maniacal educator, voiced by Jeff Goldblum, from turning parents into zombies. Yeah, don’t ask. Though harmless, “The Boss Baby: Family Business” is the cinematic equivalent of a candy-fueled sugar rush.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, and fineartsgroup.com.

June 25, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “F9: The Fast Saga” (PG-13), “False Positive” (R), “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” (PG-13), “The Ice Road” (PG-13)

In a scene from the latest in the “Fast and Furious” franchise, “F9,” a character played by Ludacris aptly says, “Nobody’s gonna believe this!” Exactly. Entries in the 20-year-old 10-film franchise have morphed into preposterous over-the-top action fantasies that make “Transformers” movies seem credible by comparison. The script is awful, but you can still enjoy “F9.” Just forget the laws of physics, throw logic out the window and go with the action flow.

Comedian Ilana Glazer makes a big leap into full blooded horror with the unsettling entry “False Positive.” Glazer and Justin Theroux play a couple who have trouble conceiving. They consult a fertility doctor played by Pierce Brosnan who uses a new invitro technique and, voila, pregnancy. But Ilana begins to believe that something is amiss…and she’s right. The tension and paranoia slowly build in this well acted drama. Although the climax leaves much to be desired, for horror fans, “False Positive” offers true creepiness.

She’s an EGOT, having won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony. Eighty-nine-year-old actress Rita Moreno has had a memorable life and career and the documentary “Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go For It” covers her triumphs and failures, both personal and professional. Alternately shocking and inspiring, it’s an involving, eye-opening showbiz documentary.

She endured the rampant sexism of Hollywood in the 50s and 60s, but was additionally challenged as a woman of color, never quite able to break through to the kind of roles she yearned for.

Liam Neeson may be long in the tooth, but he still has action movie mojo. Too bad his talents are wasted in the nonsensical adventure “The Ice Road.” Neeson plays a trucker who hauls heavy equipment over thin ice to try to save some workers trapped in a Canadian mine. Mother Nature and bad guys complicate matters. Creaky dialogue and sketchy special effects make “The Ice Road” a route to avoid.

June 18, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Luca” (PG), “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” (R), “Fatherhood” (PG-13)

Even lesser Pixar offerings are better than most of their competitors’ work. Such is the case with “Luca,” a sweet and beautifully animated fantasy about the adventures of some nice sea monsters. Two young ocean dwellers near the Italian Riviera venture onto land and discover they turn human whenever they’re out of the water. It’s no classic, but “Luca” has just enough warmth and humor to appeal to both adults and kids and has a gentle message of tolerance. “Luca” is a minor charmer.

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” is a sequel to the 2017 comic action flick “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek are back in another goofy, over-the-top and chaotic extravaganza of violence and mayhem. At least they get to riff and blow people away against the background of dozens of beautiful European locales. If your idea of a good time is a high body count, sarcastic banter and a script that bludgeons you with F-bombs, then “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard” may be the movie for you. To others, it will feel like being mugged on a rickety roller coaster.

Comedian Kevin Hart goes for a serious change of pace with the comic drama “Fatherhood.” He plays a man struggling to bring up his daughter alone after his wife tragically dies shortly after giving birth. There’s a lot that seems derivative in the familiar beats of the plot, but an appealing cast and the film’s tender nature enable it to gloss over some of its flaws. The real litmus test is one’s reaction to Hart’s performance. Is it earnest or affected? In any case, “Fatherhood” is a tender homage to those who embrace the paternal challenge.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.

June 11, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame “Awake” (TV-MA), “Queen Bees” (PG-13)

The new Netflix offering “Awake” is yet another apocalyptic sci-fi thriller with a gimmick. After the radiation from solar flares bombards the earth, people lose their ability to sleep. After a few days of universal insomnia, chaos reigns and civilization begins to crumble. A young mother, played by Gina Rodriguez, attempts to protect her children, one of whom is still able to sleep. Seems a shady government agency wants to dissect the little girl to see if they can find a cure. Rodriguez provides a solid performance that anchors the movie, but the action and plot elements seem to be cribbed from a number of other movies in the genre. “Awake” has an intriguing setup but doesn’t live up to its unique promise. If you’re suffering from insomnia, watching “Awake” just might provide the cure.

The lightweight comedy “Queen Bees” could have been called “Mean Girls: The Geriatric Edition.” “Queen Bees” features a sturdy cast of movie veterans doing the best they can to make something memorable out of a very tired premise. Eighty-eight-year-old Ellen Burstyn, one of the greatest actresses of her generation, stars as a woman who reluctantly takes up temporary residence at a luxury retirement home. To her dismay, she discovers that the cliques are worse than those from high school. To her delight, she also finds romance. The venerable cast includes James Caan, Ann-Margret, Loretta Devine, Jane Curtain and Christopher Lloyd, but the limp, overly familiar script and sluggish direction stymie their efforts. It’s like an episode of the “Love Boat” set in a senior center. The cast gets A’s, but “Queen Bees” gets a C-.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.

June 4, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Spirit Untamed” (PG), “Endangered Species” (R), “Chasing Wonders” (Not rated)

Pre-teen girls comprise the target audience for “Spirit Untamed,” a big-screen adaptation of the animated Netflix TV series “Spirit Riding Free.” Set in the 19th century American west, it tells the story of a young girl who befriends a wild Mustang stallion after she relocates to a small frontier town. They team up to thwart a group of shady wranglers who want to exploit the wild herd. There is nothing notable in the movie’s story or execution, but the voice cast is strong and the theme of female empowerment is prominent. While harmless, “Spirit Untamed” is for undemanding youngsters only.

A dysfunctional upper class American family is hunted by both wild animals and poachers when an African safari goes awry in the action thriller "Endangered Species." Rebecca Romijn leads the cast in this iffy enterprise. While the scenery is spectacular and intentions pure, the CGI animals are a bit sketchy, and the family is so spoiled and annoying that you start rooting for the animals to take them out. Talk about making bad choices. In this movie, logic is the endangered species.

The road to the Outback is paved with good intentions in the low-key coming-of-age story, “Chasing Wonders.” A bright young Australian lad from a family of Spanish immigrants can’t seem to understand why his father is so cold and distant. The family dutifully tends their vineyard makes their wine, but never discuss the reasons dear old dad seems so troubled. This leisurely paced film takes its time to uncover the tragedy at the core of the family dynamic. While very sweet and lovingly filmed, “Chasing Wonders” never quite hits the emotional soft spot it was aiming for.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.

May 28, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “A Quiet Place: Part II” (PG-13), “Cruella” (PG-13), “Blue Miracle” (Not rated)

The long-delayed sequel to filmmaker John Krasinski’s wildly original sci-fi horror thriller has finally arrived in theaters. “A Quiet Place: Part II” is a worthy follow-up that seems even more timely as we emerge from quarantine. The blind aliens with acute hearing continue to wreak havoc on humanity as one family tries desperately to remain out of earshot. This PG-13 horror film succeeds thanks to earnest acting, a smart script and sharp editing. “A Quiet Place: Part II” sounds like a winner to me.

Disney has created yet another origin story for one of their most memorable villains. The PG-13 rated offering “Cruella” stars Oscar winner Emma Stone as the titular fashionista we first met in “101 Dalmatians.” Set in London’s Mod 70s, “Cruella” shows how this orphaned waif became a stylish street criminal trying to break into the world of haute couture. While Stone is fine in the role, Oscar winner Emma Thomas steals the movie as a nasty baroness who controls the fashion industry by hook or crook. While the look of the film is sumptuous, “Cruella” is overlong and dramatically clunky. Thank goodness for Thompson. Her presence makes “Cruella” a Disneyfied version of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

“Blue Miracle” is yet another feel-good movie based on an inspiring true story. Dennis Quaid and Jimmy Gonzales star in the tale of a Cabos San Lucas orphanage on the verge of financial ruin. In a long-shot attempt to save their home, the orphans and their guardian enter a lucrative fishing contest, partnering with an aging, has-been former fishing champ. Can they beat the odds? Hey, I said it was a feel-good story, right? Yes, it’s very predictable, but this likable family-friendly fishing movie just might hook you.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.

May 21, 2021 Arts & Culture, Podcast, Short Segment

Freeze Frame: “Army of the Dead” (R), “Dream Horse” (PG), “Four Good Days” (R)

You can always expect dynamic visuals and plenty of breakneck action from filmmaker Zach Snyder. You can also expect his movies to be overblown, self-indulgent and overlong. “Army of the Dead” is no exception. Dave Bautista stars in this grisly and bloody hybrid movie that plays like “Ocean’s 11” meets “World War Z.” After an alien spreads a zombie infection that infests Las Vegas, a ragtag group of thieves attempts to break into a casino vault and make off with a fortune before they become zombie food. The whole affair is silly, illogical and lacks obligatory humor. But if two-and-a-half hours of visceral gore sounds appealing to you, then by all means, sign up for “Army of the Dead.”

Toni Colette and Damien Lewis star in the heartfelt comic drama, “Dream Horse.” It’s a family-friendly true story about a small-town British grocery store worker who talks her fellow villagers into buying and raising a racehorse. The fact that no one involved had any experience in the field was only a minor deterrent. Yes, this feel-good crowd pleaser is formulaic and totally predictable, but thanks to its veteran cast, genial good nature and well-filmed race scenes, “Dream Horse” avoids becoming too saccharine. If you hear folks complain that they just don’t make ‘em like they used to, tell them that “Dream Horse” is an odds-on favorite.

Glenn Close and Mila Kunis star in “Four Good Days,” a drama now available to stream that was inspired by a true story. Close plays the long-suffering mom of a heroin addict, played by Kunis, who makes multiple agonizing attempts at sobriety. The cast is fine, but the film is a one-note affair that lacks a dramatic arc. “Four Good Days” is well intentioned, but an excruciating watch.

Your local art house theaters are offering online viewing options for a number of intriguing movie titles. More information is available at nelson-atkins.org, Screenland.com, fineartsgroup.com and drafthouse.com.