Freeze Frame Archiv
638 Episoden
2 Minuten
“The Birth of a Nation” is Nate Parker’s controversial but powerful film about the educated slave Nat Turner who became a pastor and led an ill-fated slave revolt in 1831. Parker wrote, directed, produced and stars as Turner in this unflinching look at the horrors of American slavery. While the violent content is certainly disturbing, the emotional force and the importance of the story help make up for some filmmaking flaws. It’s vibrant enough to start some meaningful conversations. “The Girl on the Train” is an adaptation of the bestselling thriller. Emily Blunt plays an emotionally disturbed alcoholic who may or may not have seen evidence of a crime during her daily train commute. The narrators of this story are unreliable, so the mystery is a bit convoluted. Blunt is terrific in a difficult role that requires her to spend most of the film’s 112 minutes in tears. As this trashy train comes to its final stop, however, it may generate more laughs than chills. “The Great Gilly Hopkins” is an adaptation of the 1979 National Book Award winner for children’s literature. On screen, however, it comes off like a soppy 1979 After School Special. Sophie Nélisse (NAY-less) plays Gilly,…
2 Minuten
Disney’s “The Queen of Katwe” may be the sunniest view of Uganda you’re likely to see. David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong’o and newcomer Madina Nalwanga star in the true story of a brilliant young girl who escapes her difficult circumstances when she discovers the world of competitive chess. While this lovely story is told in a pedestrian way, the terrific cast and never-say-die spirit that makes it work. “Deepwater Horizon” is a well produced disaster movie based on the tragic true story of the 2010 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico. Kurt Russell and Mark Wahlberg lead a solid cast in what is essentially an exercise in chaos. The jargon-laden dialogue is very hard to take in, but you could watch this one without the sound and not miss a thing. There’s not much depth in “Deepwater Horizon,” but it successfully puts the audience in the midst of disorienting mayhem. “Masterminds” is an action comedy based on a true story about nitwit thieves who manage to make off with $17 million, only to get into plenty post-heist trouble. Owen Wilson, Zach Galifianakis and Kristen Wiig star in this goofy and mildly amusing farce that could have been an episode…
2 Minuten
Western fans have been eagerly anticipating the remake of the classic 1960 shoot-‘em-up, “The Magnificent Seven.” Antoine Fuqua’s reimagining of the story isn’t magnificent, but it could be called “The Pretty Good Seven.” Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke lead a group of vigilante gunmen who help defend a small western town from an evil industrialist and his private army. Seems the homesteaders stand in the way of his mining interests. There’s plenty of action and some occasionally hilarious moments, mostly thanks to Pratt’s terrific comic timing. But this revenge tale is overlong, chaotic and extremely violent. The folks who gave this a PG-13 rating are dum-dum-da-dum, dum-dum-dum-da-dum. The latest computer animated farce “Storks” delivers…almost. No longer delivering babies, storks now deliver packages FedEx style. Andy Samberg gives voice to a stork who goes through daunting tribulations to deliver one last baby. The fast-paced humor is hit-and-miss, and when it hits, it’s very funny. But the screwy storyline plays out like they were making it up as they went along. The talented voice cast also includes Key & Peele, Ty Burrell, Jennifer Aniston and Kelsey Grammer. While it’s a bit too manic for it’s own good, “Storks” has some…
2 Minuten
It’s been 12 years since the last Bridget Jones movie. It’s amazing how little she’s evolved in the meantime. Rene Zellweger and Colin Firth are back, this time joined by Patrick Dempsey in a love triangle involving Bridget’s pregnancy and her doubts about the identity of the baby’s father. Her antics were amusing when she was young and stupid. At middle age, they seem a bit embarrassing. The cast is likable, but “Baby” is labored. Seventeen years ago, "The Blair Witch Project" created a new movie genre, the "Found Footage Film." The reboot “Blair Witch” comes from Columbia, MO, screenwriter Simon Barrett and his frequent collaborator, director Adam Wingard. There is nothing new here, but horror fans may enjoy a few familiar shocks in this creepy entry. The concert documentary, "Hillsong: Let Hope Rise,” focuses on the phenomenon known as Hillsong United, a Christian pop band that sprang from an Australian mega church. Fans should love the inspiring music and candid behind the scenes footage. Oscar-winning director Ron Howard turns his attention to the Fab Four with his compelling and immersive documentary about The Beatles during their heyday. “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week –The Touring Years” boasts a wealth…
2 Minuten
Tom Hanks is an actor who, like the late Jimmy Stewart before him, has a natural aura of decency that comes through in his characters. That makes him the ideal person to portray a modest American hero, airline Captain Sully Sullenberger. In “Sully,” he plays the man who, in 2009, steered a disabled jet into the Hudson River saving the lives of all 155 passengers. Clint Eastwood’s movie focuses on some intriguing aspects of the story that most people probably don’t know. Like the man himself, “Sully” the movie has a modest, low-key integrity. What would it be like if the animals told the story of shipwreck victim “Robinson Crusoe?” That must have been what the makers of “The Wild” said in their studio pitch. Too bad they got the green light. “The Wild Life” is one of the weakest computer animated entries in recent memory. If the makers of this desert island adventure had spent as much time on the script as they did on the colorful animation, then they might have had some success. “The Wild Life” might be a reasonable distraction for the youngsters, but is squirm-worthy for the rest of the family. "The Beatles: Eight Days…
2 Minuten
“The Light Between Oceans” comes tantalizingly close to being a great movie. Sadly, its missteps derail the efforts of an impeccable cast and a stunning production. Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander play a troubled Australian lighthouse keeper and his dutiful wife who face an ethical dilemma when a baby washes ashore in a rowboat. This slow moving but involving drama turns into a soap opera that becomes almost too painful to watch. “The 9th Life of Louis Drax” is a bizarre art film that combines elements of mystery, thriller, romance, psychological drama and sci-fi. Jamie Dornan plays a doctor who falls for the mother of a young boy in a coma. This intriguing movie loses its footing in the final reel when it is undone by its own absurdities. “Morgan” is a sci-fi thriller that hopes to be another “Ex Machina.” The directorial debut of Luke Scott, son of Ridley, stars Kate Mara as a corporate investigator who tries to determine if an artificially created super human poses a threat to humanity. It’s sufficiently creepy, but ultimately predictable. What do you get when you combine Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and acclaimed director Gus Van Sant of “Good Will Hunting” fame?…
2 Minuten
There are times while watching “Don’t Breathe” that you probably won’t. Yes, it’s yet another sordid, R-rated horror flick, but it’s an exceptionally well made edge-of-your-seat chiller. Three young and foolish thieves break into the house of a blind man, thinking they’ll make off with easy money. Their victim, however, is a former military man who turns the tables on them. Smart and original, “Don’t Breathe” may very well take your breath away. Barak Obama’s 1989 first date with future wife Michelle is the focus of “Southside With You,” a likable, nicely acted romance. TIka Sumpter and Parker Sawyers give appealing performances as the sharp lawyer and the brash intern who pursues her. Like the first couple themselves, “Southside With You” has an easygoing charm. The infamous words “No mas” get some cinematic context in “Hands of Stone,” a biopic about celebrated Panamanian boxer Roberto Duran. Edgar Ramirez plays the troubled welterweight, Robert Di Niro is Ray Arcel, his astute trainer, and Usher Raymond portrays his nemesis, Sugar Ray Leonard. It plays a bit like a mash-up of every boxing movie you’ve ever seen, but benefits from a solid cast and sincere approach. “Eat that Question: Frank Zappa in His…
2 Minuten
In terms of spectacle and emotional power, few films have equalled the 1959 epic, "Ben-Hur." Although the new version big screen version is adequate for the uninitiated, it pales by comparison. Jack Huston steps into the role that won Charton Heston an Oscar, a Jewish aristocrat who is betrayed by his Roman best friend during the days of Jesus in Jerusalem. Purists may balk at some of the changes the filmmakers have made in the story, but visually, the new version delivers. It may be too early to talk about Oscars, but we may well be mentioning the modern Western "Hell or High Water" at awards time. Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster star in this terrific Texas bank robbery flick that may have the best screenplay of the year. It's a social commentary and character study disguised as a thriller. Every frame of "Kubo and the Two Strings" is work of art. The visuals for this stop-motion animated tale about magic in ancient Japan are deserving of the term "stunning." The story may be too intense and tangled for the very young, but older kids and adults should enjoy its opulent pleasures. "War Dogs" tries to do for…
2 Minuten
Disney goes back to the well for yet another reimagining of one of their family film classics. This time, it’s “Pete’s Dragon,” a sweet but by-the-numbers remake of the 1977 adventure that featured a goofy, cartoon dragon. The story has been updated, the musical numbers have been jettisoned in favor of a more realistic treatment and the dragon is now the best that computer imagery can offer. It may be a bit too intense for the very young, but it’s a likable popcorn flick. “Sausage Party” is an animated comedy that is definitely not for the family. Seth Rogan and Kristen Wiig are among a large ensemble of gifted actors who give voice to raunchy, R-rated grocery store food items. Every dirty food-related double entendre is exploited until the filmmakers run out of ideas. Then it devolves into a supermarket orgy. There are some funny moments, but not enough sustenance for a feature-length movie. Meryl Streep once again proves she can do no wrong in the lightweight true story, “Florence Foster Jenkins.” Streep stars as the worst singer of the first half of the 20th century. No one would be honest with because she was a wealthy patron of the…
2 Minuten
DC Comics attempts to expand its universe with the highly anticipated superhero thriller, “Suicide Squad.” While involving, it never quite lives up to its promise. Viola Davis plays a U.S. intelligence big wig who assembles a team of dangerous incarcerated super villains. Her aim is to train them as a military team to use as a last ditch option just in case other super villains invade the Earth. Naturally, the plan backfires and the team members have to clean up Viola’s mess. The terrific, diverse cast includes Will Smith as the assassin Deadshot, Jared Leto as The Joker, Jay Hernandez as firestarter El Diablo, Karen Fukuhara as super samauri Katana and Margot Robbie as wacko Harley Quinn. I, for one, wouldn’t mind seeing Robbie in a stand-alone Harely Quinn movie. Writer/director David Ayer who helmed the action features “End of Watch” and “Fury,” has amped up the violence, so it’s surprising that this exercise in mayhem got away with a PG-13 rating when it obviously deserves an “R.” While it’s just as dark as “Batman V Superman,” Ayer has injected “Suicide Squad” with some shots of welcome humor to lighten the bleak atmosphere. This DC effort hasn’t quite captured the…
2 Minuten
If you’re looking for frenetic action, car chases and general paranoid mayhem then look no further than “Jason Bourne.” Matt Damon returns for the fourth time as Robert Ludlum’s CIA […]
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2 Minuten
From 1991 to 2012, the hard drinking, hard partying fashionistas from British TV’s popular sitcom “Absolutely Fabulous” had worldwide audiences laughing at their narcissistic antics. Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley have returned for “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie,” a breezy farce that has Edina and Patsy fleeing to the South of France when they’re accused of drowning model Kate Moss. Fans of show will be happy to know that the girls are as amusingly clueless as ever as they enter their self-interested senior years. However, those unfamiliar with the original show will undoubtedly wonder what all of the fuss was about. Sam Neill and newcomer Julian Dennison star in the wacky coming of age comedy from New Zealand, “Hunt for the Wilderpeople.” Dennison plays Ricky, a young delinquent brought up in foster care who is sent to live with an older couple in a rural bush area. When the woman suddenly dies, Ricky and the sixty-something Hec, played by Neill, run into the mountains to evade the authorities that want to remove the boy from the elderly man’s care. Writer/director Taika Waititi, known for his collaborations with the musical comedy group “Flight of the Conchords,” puts the emphasis on offbeat, eccentric…
2 Minuten
When you wanna laugh, who you gonna call? Guess what, all you misogynistic Internet trolls who were certain that an all-female version of “Ghostbusters” would be a disastrous rip-off. The […]
The post FREEZE FRAME: “Ghostbusters,” “The Infiltrator,” “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble,” “Weiner-Dog” appeared first on KKFI.
The post FREEZE FRAME: “Ghostbusters,” “The Infiltrator,” “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble,” “Weiner-Dog” appeared first on KKFI.
2 Minuten
“Toy Story” showed us what toys did when their owners weren’t around. Ditto for Legos in “The Lego Movie.” The conceit should work for pets, too, and, by golly it does in “The Secret Life of Pets.” The folks who gave us “The Minions” provide a goofy, likable animated family flick about the vibrant world of anthropomorphic critters that emerges when humans leave for work. Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet and Kevin Hart provide voices for the main characters. This scruffy comedy is familiar and predictable, but is also fast paced and clever. It may not be best in show, but “The Secret Life of Pets” is far from being a movie dog. “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates” is the latest in the ever-increasing line of raunchy stoner comedies that try to justify their crudity by laying on the sappy sentiment. Zac Efron and Adam DeVine are chronically irresponsible brothers whose parents demand that they bring respectable dates to their sister’s Hawaiian wedding. Two party animals, played by Aubrey Plaza and Anna Kendrick, play it straight to con the boys into a free trip. The vulgar material gleefully pushes the envelope as the filmmakers actively try to up the ante…
2 Minuten
After 98 years and at least 48 cinematic adaptations, do we really need another big screen Tarzan? Hollywood thinks so. “The Legend of Tarzan” stars Alexander Skarsgård as the former King of the Jungle, who is conned into returning from Victorian England to Africa by nefarious colonialists. The great cast also includes Margo Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson and Chistoph Waltz and the story has a few unique twists. While serviceable, this adventure flick never quite overcomes its sheen of computer-generated artificiality. Alexander’s father Stellan Skarsgård plays a Russian mob accountant who attempts to defect in the John le Carré thriller, “Our Kind of Traitor.” Ewan McGregor and Naomie Harris play an innocent English couple that accidentally gets swept up in the intrigue. While smart and involving, it’s never quite as riveting as it should be. “The BFG” is Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of Roald Dahl’s popular children’s story about a Big Friendly Giant who befriends a young girl and protects her from flesh-eating behemoths. Mark Rylance’s motion capture performance is terrific in this whimsical tale that’s loaded with eye-popping special effects. It’s likable, but unusually sluggish for a Spielberg movie. “De Palma” is an involving documentary about the filmmaker behind hit…
Freeze Frame
Freeze Frame is a weekly show reviewing the latest movies from Hollywood's best films to independent and arthouse movies. The segment airs at the following times: Mondays 12:30pm Tuesdays 9:30am Thurs...