Freeze Frame

Filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson once again proves to be one of the world's top filmmakers with his thinking man's action thriller, "One Battle After Another." Inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel "Vineland," Leonardo DiCaprio and Sean Penn star in a spellbinding, entertaining and profane tale involving wannabe revolutionaries, racism, military corruption, secret political cabals...and much more. Smart and masterfully made, "One Battle After Another” easily one of the year's best movies. Parents with preschool girls know that "Gabby's Dollhouse" is the partly live-action, partly animated Netflix series about a girl who shrinks herself to doll size for adventures with her tiny doll pals. The theatrical version "Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie" works surprisingly well thanks to imaginative art direction and a funny performance by Kristen Wiig as a cat-obsessed villainess. While squarely aimed at the tots, it's pleasantly painless for parents. The dark action thriller "Dead of Winter" stars Emma Thompson as a woman ice fishing in remote Minnesota who stumbles upon a ramshackle cabin where a strange couple have kidnapped a young woman. It's so well acted that one can almost forgive how unrelentingly grim it is. “Dead of Winter” is suspenseful but mostly unpleasant and implausible. With her directorial debut, Scarlett Johansson shows she's been paying attention. Ninety-five-year-old June Squibb stars in the touching story of a woman who pretends to be a Holocaust survivor, befriending a teenager enamored with her and her bogus story. Squibb and young Erin Kellyman are excellent in “Eleanor the Great,” a sweet-natured comic drama about the results of questionable choices.

While it doesn't all work, the fantasy romance "A Big Bold Beautiful Journey" is, at least, an interesting experiment. Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell are very appealing, but they're stranded in a bizarre story about strangers who revisit trying episodes from their past by passing through a series of mystical doorways. Its message that encourages risk-taking comes through, but “A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey” can't quite overcome some uneasy, saccharine elements. Don't be fooled by the name Jordan Peele above the title for the horror movie "HIM." He produced but did not write or direct this ugly and dull one-note chiller about a wannabe quarterback, played by Tariq Withers, who is lured into a Satanic cult led by Marlon Wayans to ensure he becomes the "GOAT." It's odd that a movie about football has no forward momentum. “HIM” fumbles an interesting premise. "Xeno" is an offbeat sci-fi tale that plays like an uneasy mix of the family friendly "ET" and the grisly "Alien." A troubled teenage girl befriends a stranded carnivorous space creature, but the bad guys are the government agencies hunting it. While it's reasonably well made, "Xeno" has a frustrating finale that will likely leave audiences underwhelmed. The Hulu drama "Swiped" purports to tell the true story behind the scandalous rise of dating apps "Tinder" and "Bumble." Lily James plays Whitney Wolfe Herd, the tech entrepreneur who experienced blatant sexism and misogyny as she helped establish the popular sites and wound up being exploited in the press. "Swiped" could have used a bit more bite, but it's an interesting historical nugget.

It's taken 41 years, but the sequel to the classic rock mockumentary "This is Spinal Tap" has finally arrived. In “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” Michael McKean, Christopher Guest and Harry Shearer return as the clueless British hard rock band attempts a perilous comeback. Rob Reiner is back as director -on and off screen- and Paul McCartney and Elton John join in the fun along with a number of others from the original movie. The sequel never quite hits the hilarious heights of the original, so it doesn't go quite to 11. Still, “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues” is an enjoyably goofy dip into satiric nostalgia. "The Conjuring: Last Rites" is the ninth and supposedly final chapter in "The Conjuring" franchise. We'll see. Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson are back as famed paranormal investigators Lorraine and Ed Warren in what is touted as a true story of demonic possession. Right. Fans of the franchise may want to indulge once again, but it's overlong, poorly paced and plays like a hodgepodge of scenes from the previous movies. The cast is right, but "The Last Rites" is wrong. The HBO Max documentary "Seen & Heard: The History of Black Television" is an enlightening overview of the ups and downs experienced by African American artists over the last 75 years. It's produced by Issa Rae. The first episode of the two-part series is excellent, an involving and entertaining history lesson. The second part, dealing with more recent history, tends to meander and goes a bit off-subject. Overall, “Seen & Heard” is still a timely and provocative examination of ongoing inequality.

The very adult comic drama "Twinless" is about a straight man named Roman, played by Dylan O'Brian whose twin brother dies in an accident. He befriends a gay man named Dennis, played by James Sweeney whom he meets in a support group for people who have lost a twin. Problem is, Dennis carries some dark secrets. Sweeney does triple-duty as writer/director and star, doing well in all departments. He cast himself as the troubled, self-loathing man who has trouble admitting the truth to his new friend. It doesn't all work but is well-acted and smart. For open minded audiences, “Twinless” is a thoughtful look at grief and self-deception. Chalk up "The Threesome" as yet another very adult comic drama. Zoey Deutch, Jonah Hauer-King and Ruby Cruz star in the awkward tale of young people who have an alcohol-fueled menage a trois and... guess what? Serious complications follow. The movie is a bit better than its premise might suggest, and the cast is very appealing. Problem is, it strives to find rom-com footing in a story that might be better suited to a darker drama. “The Threesome” is a nice try, but some of the plot consequences don't quite ring true. The tongue-in-cheek Hulu thriller "Eenie Meanie" hoped to be a female version of the action epic "Baby Driver," but didn't quite hit those heights. Samara Weaving is fine as a former getaway driver who reluctantly goes for one more caper to protect her reckless boyfriend from mobsters, headed up by Andy Garcia. “Eenie Meanie” is very familiar and very decadent but is somewhat redeemed by its game cast.

The very adult comic drama “Twinless” is about a straight man named Roman, played by Dylan O’Brian whose twin brother dies in an accident. He befriends a gay man named […] The post Freeze Frame: “Twinless” (R), “The Threesome” (R), “Eenie Meanie” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

Can Austin Butler carry a movie outside of "Elvis?" If the comic thriller "Caught Stealing" is any indication, the answer is 'Yes.' Butler is fine as a baseball washout who unwittingly becomes the target of rival gangsters when his next door neighbor disappears after asking him to cat-sit. It's essentially a 70s-style drive-in movie with wannabe Hitchcock vibes. It's got a great cast that also includes Oscar winner Regina King, Zoe Kravitz and Bad Bunny, and was made by a first-rate director -Darren Aronofsky- who's gone slumming in a new genre. "Caught Stealing" is finely crafted sleaze. When is a movie smart, witty, well-acted AND very unpleasant? When it's "The Roses," a re-imagining of the snarky 80s Michael Douglas-Kathleen Turner black comedy “The War of the Roses,” an adaptation of Warren Adler's novel. Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Coleman are excellent as a married couple whose petty bickering and jealousy ultimately lead to an eruption. Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg add some cynical comic touches in support. The mood swings are pretty wild with this one, and whether the bitter exchanges are funny or exhausting is in the ear of the beholder. “The Roses” is one nasty middle finger salute to marriage. Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsley star in the Netflix mystery, "The Thursday Murder Club," based on the bestselling novel. They play residents of an upscale retirement home who work on solving cold cases for fun...but things get dicey when homicide hits close to home. Under the direction of "Home Alone" vet Chris Colombus, it's an easygoing whodunit that plays a bit like an old episode of "Murder She Wrote."

Can Austin Butler carry a movie outside of “Elvis?” If the comic thriller “Caught Stealing” is any indication, the answer is ‘Yes.’ Butler is fine as a baseball washout who […] The post Freeze Frame: “Caught Stealing” (R), “The Roses” (R), “The Thursday Murder Club” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.

Filmmaker Ron Howard's latest movie "Eden" ain't paradise. In fact, the gifted director's awkward survival drama can't find a consistent pace or tone. Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, Sidney Sweeney and Daniel Bruhl star in the remarkable true story of Germans who fled to the Galapagos Islands in 1929 to escape fascism. Their search for ideal living devolved into an antisocial nightmare. Despite the efforts of a strong cast, "Eden" is a dour disappointment. Filmmaker Ethan Cohen once again ventures into a project without his brother, Joel. Margaret Qualley stars in "Honey, Don't," an amoral black comedy neo-noir thriller about a lesbian private eye investigating mysterious deaths in barren Bakersfield, CA. “Honey, Don't” is sleazy, violent and dopey in equal measure. Ethan, call your brother. The zippy and clever thriller "Relay" has a unique element. Riz Ahmed plays a secret go-between who brokers deals between corrupt corporations and whistleblowers. His efforts to protect one client, played by Lily James, gets complicated when he gets emotionally involved. Smart, suspenseful and sharply directed by David Macenzie, "Relay" is an involving white knuckler with something on its mind. Vanessa Kirby of "Fantastic Four" fame gives an intense, committed performance in the stark Netflix social drama, "Night Always Comes." Based on the bestselling novel, it's the story of a Portland woman who spends one desperate night trying to come up with $25,000 to ensure she and her family won't be thrown out of their home. While the cast excels, “Night Always Comes” is a meandering film doesn't have a firm grip on its moral compass.

Filmmaker Ron Howard’s latest movie “Eden” ain’t paradise. In fact, the gifted director’s awkward survival drama can’t find a consistent pace or tone. Jude Law, Ana de Armas, Vanessa Kirby, […] The post Freeze Frame: “Eden” (R), “Honey, Don’t” (R), “Relay” (R), “Night Always Comes” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

If the uber-talented assassin John Wick had been a family man, his movie might have looked a bit like "Nobody 2." Bob Odenkirk returns in the sequel to his surprise 2021 hit that blended bloody stunt work and cheeky humor. RZA, Christopher Lloyd and Connie Nielsen also return for round two. This time out, Bob takes the family on vacation to an aging amusement village where he manages to cross a notorious and ruthless crime boss, played by Sharon Stone. “Nobody 2” is a wild ride that goes a bit too far but is bolstered by terrific stunt work and a likable cast. The Netflix comedy "Fixed" may be animated but is definitely not for the kiddies. This lude and painfully obvious farce is about a dog that has one aggressively decadent night before he is to be neutered. Adam Devine, Idris Elba and Kathryn Hahn lend their voices to what is essentially a one-joke movie overloaded with excessively crass and grossout scatological elements. “Fixed” is made for adults, but the humor is strictly juvenile. The gritty slice-of-life drama "East of Wall" was one of the winners at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It's a docu drama inspired by the hardscrabble lives of South Dakota horse trainer Tabitha Zimiga and her teenage daughter Porshia. They play themselves as filmmaker Kate Beecroft dramatizes Tabitha's attempts to care for wild horses as well as a passel of wayward teenagers all while navigating multiple personal tragedies. While the pacing is a bit sluggish and the dialogue iffy, "East of Wall" is strengthened by its unapologetic realism.

If the uber-talented assassin John Wick had been a family man, his movie might have looked a bit like “Nobody 2.” Bob Odenkirk returns in the sequel to his surprise 2021 […] The post Freeze Frame: “Nobody 2” (R), “Fixed” (R), “East of Wall” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

Sometimes familiarity is what audiences want, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan deliver just that in "Freakier Friday," the sequel to their 2003 comic fantasy, "Freaky Friday." This time out, the supernatural body swap involves four characters including Lindsay's daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter. The complications and sentimentality are predictable, but the cast is obviously having a ball and fans of the original will, too. The wildly imaginative and weirdly unsettling horror flick "Weapons" is a creatively made slow burn creepfest. Julia Garner and Josh Brolin are excellent in the tale of 17 children who mysteriously disappear from the same grade school class. The story unfolds by jumping back-and-forth in time to work its way under your skin. "Weapons" should give even hardcore horror buffs a case of the shudders. If Stephen King wrote a horror movie for kids, it might look a bit like "Sketch." A troubled little girl draws monstrous images in her notebook in an attempt to cope with her mother's death. When the pictures are accidentally dumped into a magical pond, the destructive creatures come to life. While "Sketch" is an inventive and sweet PG family feature, it might still be a bit too scary for very young kids. Scarlett Johansson and Sienna Miller star in “My Mother's Wedding,” a sentimental comic drama that marks the writing and directing debut of actress Kristin Scott Thomas. Three bickering sisters attend their widowed mother's weekend nuptials and old emotional wounds are reopened. It's being trashed by most critics, but “My Mother's Wedding” is a pleasant enough timewaster that doesn't quite deserve the wrath of the haters.

Sometimes familiarity is what audiences want, and Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan deliver just that in “Freakier Friday,” the sequel to their 2003 comic fantasy, “Freaky Friday.” This time out, […] The post Freeze Frame: “Freakier Friday” (PG), “Weapons” (R), “Sketch” (PG), “My Mother’s Wedding” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

The extremely creepy and highly original body horror flick "Together" is a date movie for the truly twisted. Real life husband-and-wife Dave Franco and Allison Brie play a struggling couple who encounter a supernatural force that draws them close...closer than anyone would ever want to be. The cast is terrific and the sly and witty script makes some pointed observations about relationships. "Together" is undoubtedly where horror fans will gather. The 80s absurdist crime spoof TV series "Police Squad" morphed into the often hilarious three-movie "Naked Gun" franchise starring Leslie Nielson. The reboot stars Liam Neeson as Lt. Frank Drebbin, Jr. and he's well cast. While the new filmmakers work hard to recapture the preposterous tone and pace of the old series, many of the jokes just don't land. I may be the Grinch on this one, but "The Naked Gun" is a minor misfire. The animated action comedy "The Bad Guys" was a surprise hit in 2022. The not so surprising sequel "The Bad Guys 2" is about a gang of animal outlaws turned good guys who are blackmailed into one more shady caper by a band of female criminals. It's fast paced and goofy, providing more of the same cheeky antics. It may be too much of the same, but the kids won't mind. “She Rides Shotgun” is a gritty and violent action thriller starring Taron Egerton as an ex-con fleeing a vicious drug gang. He must also protect his 11-year-old daughter, sharply played by Ana Sophia Heger, from them taking out their vengeance on her. It doesn't all ring true, but “She Rides Shotgun” is still an engaging and disturbing crime drama.

The extremely creepy and highly original body horror flick “Together” is a date movie for the truly twisted. Real life husband-and-wife Dave Franco and Allison Brie play a struggling couple […] The post Freeze Frame: “Together” (R), “The Naked Gun” (PG-13), “The Bad Guys 2” (PG), “She Rides Shotgun” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

As a Marvel property, The Fantastic Four has been downright snakebit. There have been four live-action box office disappointments plus one in the 90s that was never even released. Thankfully, […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (PG-13), “Oh, Hi!” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

As a Marvel property, The Fantastic Four has been downright snakebit. There have been four live-action box office disappointments plus one in the 90s that was never even released. Thankfully, […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (PG-13), “Oh, Hi!” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer”…and it's pretty much the same thing you did in 1997. This reboot of the slasher franchise is about self-centered teens who cover up […] The post Freeze Frame: “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (R), “Finally Dawn” (R), “Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

“I Know What You Did Last Summer”…and it’s pretty much the same thing you did in 1997. This reboot of the slasher franchise is about self-centered teens who cover up […] The post Freeze Frame: “I Know What You Did Last Summer” (R), “Finally Dawn” (R), “Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

Do you long for the classic Superman, one whose main aspiration is wanting to do the right thing for humanity? If so, then writer/director James Gunn's new take on the […] The post Freeze Frame: “Superman” (PG-13), “Brick” (R), “Hotspring Shark Attack” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.

Do you long for the classic Superman, one whose main aspiration is wanting to do the right thing for humanity? If so, then writer/director James Gunn’s new take on the […] The post Freeze Frame: “Superman” (PG-13), “Brick” (R), “Hotspring Shark Attack” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” is the seventh installment in the wildly popular sci-fi franchise. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali lead a covert expedition to recover dinosaur blood samples from living specimens […] The post Freeze Frame: “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (PG-13), “The Old Guard 2” (R), “Heads of State” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

“Jurassic World Rebirth” is the seventh installment in the wildly popular sci-fi franchise. Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali lead a covert expedition to recover dinosaur blood samples from living specimens […] The post Freeze Frame: “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (PG-13), “The Old Guard 2” (R), “Heads of State” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

They have the need…the need for speed. If you've seen “Top Gun: Maverick,” just take the planes and substitute formula one race cars, and -‘presto'- you've got “F1 The Movie.” […] The post Freeze Frame: “F1® THE MOVIE” (PG-13), “MY MOM JAYNE” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.

They have the need…the need for speed. If you’ve seen “Top Gun: Maverick,” just take the planes and substitute formula one race cars, and -‘presto’- you’ve got “F1 The Movie.” […] The post Freeze Frame: “F1® THE MOVIE” (PG-13), “MY MOM JAYNE” (TV-MA) appeared first on KKFI.

The family sci-fi comedy “Elio” stands as yet another example of why Pixar remains the gold standard for animation. They get the story right before building the spectacular visuals. A […] The post Freeze Frame: “Elio” (PG), “28 Years Later” (R), “Deep Cover” (R), “Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical” (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.

The family sci-fi comedy “Elio” stands as yet another example of why Pixar remains the gold standard for animation. They get the story right before building the spectacular visuals. A […] The post Freeze Frame: “Elio” (PG), “28 Years Later” (R), “Deep Cover” (R), “Frozen: The Hit Broadway Musical” (TV-PG) appeared first on KKFI.

The live action remake of the terrific, animated fantasy “How to Train Your Dragon” may not be better than the original, but it's possibly its equal. It's an enjoyable adaptation […] The post Freeze Frame: “How to Train Your Dragon” (PG), “The Life of Chuck” (R), “The Unholy Trinity” (R), Echo Valley (R) appeared first on KKFI.

The live action remake of the terrific, animated fantasy “How to Train Your Dragon” may not be better than the original, but it’s possibly its equal. It's an enjoyable adaptation […] The post Freeze Frame: “How to Train Your Dragon” (PG), “The Life of Chuck” (R), “The Unholy Trinity” (R), Echo Valley (R) appeared first on KKFI.

“Ballerina” from the world of John Wick is an over-the-top action thriller that's really an extended stunt reel. In the fifth film in the bloody franchise, Ana de Armas plays […] The post Freeze Frame: “Ballerina” (R), “Dangerous Animals” (R), “Predator: Killer of Killers” (R), “Mountainhead” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

“Ballerina” from the world of John Wick is an over-the-top action thriller that’s really an extended stunt reel. In the fifth film in the bloody franchise, Ana de Armas plays […] The post Freeze Frame: “Ballerina” (R), “Dangerous Animals” (R), “Predator: Killer of Killers” (R), “Mountainhead” (R) appeared first on KKFI.

The quirky black comedy “The Phoenician Scheme” is the most “Wes Anderson-y” Wes Anderson movie yet. Benicio del Toro leads an all-star cast in the story of a corrupt 50's […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Phoenician Scheme” (PG-13), “Bring Her Back” (R), “Lulu is a Rhinoceros” (TV-Y7) appeared first on KKFI.

The quirky black comedy “The Phoenician Scheme” is the most “Wes Anderson-y” Wes Anderson movie yet. Benicio del Toro leads an all-star cast in the story of a corrupt 50’s […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Phoenician Scheme” (PG-13), “Bring Her Back” (R), “Lulu is a Rhinoceros” (TV-Y7) appeared first on KKFI.

Move over “Barbenheimer,” it's time for the “Stitch Impossible” weekend. The live-action remake of Disney's 2002 animated hit “Lilo & Stitch” has landed on Earth, with our fugitive alien befriending […] The post Freeze Frame: “Lilo and Stitch” (PG), “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (PG-13), “Fountain of Youth” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.

Move over “Barbenheimer,” it’s time for the “Stitch Impossible” weekend. The live-action remake of Disney’s 2002 animated hit “Lilo & Stitch” has landed on Earth, with our fugitive alien befriending […] The post Freeze Frame: “Lilo and Stitch” (PG), “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning” (PG-13), “Fountain of Youth” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, stars along with Jenna Ortega in the artsy and very dark musical drama, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Tesfaye wrote the script along with Reza […] The post FREEZE FRAME: “Hurry Up Tomorrow” (R), “Murderbot” (TV-MA), “Octopus!” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, stars along with Jenna Ortega in the artsy and very dark musical drama, “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” Tesfaye wrote the script along with Reza […] The post FREEZE FRAME: “Hurry Up Tomorrow” (R), “Murderbot” (TV-MA), “Octopus!” (Not rated) appeared first on KKFI.

Whether or not the Alec Baldwin movie “Rust” should have been released at all is a question for another time. Now available on streaming on demand platforms, the controversial Western […] The post Freeze Frame: “Rust” (R), “Fight or Flight” (R), “Clown in a Cornfield” (R), “Nonnas” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.

Whether or not the Alec Baldwin movie “Rust” should have been released at all is a question for another time. Now available on streaming on demand platforms, the controversial Western […] The post Freeze Frame: “Rust” (R), “Fight or Flight” (R), “Clown in a Cornfield” (R), “Nonnas” (PG) appeared first on KKFI.

Nicholas Cage gives yet another gonzo performance in “The Surfer,” an Australian production inspired by and modeled on 70s-era exploitation movies. Cage returns to the beach of his childhood to […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Surfer” (R), “Another Simple Favor” (R), “Bullet Train Explosion” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.

Nicholas Cage gives yet another gonzo performance in “The Surfer,” an Australian production inspired by and modeled on 70s-era exploitation movies. Cage returns to the beach of his childhood to […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Surfer” (R), “Another Simple Favor” (R), “Bullet Train Explosion” (PG-13) appeared first on KKFI.

In the action thriller “The Accountant 2,” Ben Affleck is back as the autistic savant money launderer and crime fighter…just go with it…who's trying to solve a murder. He recruits […] The post Freeze Frame: “The Accountant 2” (R), “On Swift Horses” (R), “Havoc” (R) appeared first on KKFI.