Movie Review: K-Pops

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B

A very charming but familiar feel-good movie. 

In this film, a down on his luck American drummer takes a job in Korea playing for a TV show about finding the next K-Pop star. Unexpectedly this results in him meeting the son, who is one of the constants, he never knew he had. 

The storyline of this movie doesn't do anything we haven't seen before, and you always know exactly what is going to happen next. However, despite this the movie is simply very charming. Much of this comes from the father son relationship. This relationship is just incredibly sweet and heartwarming. You can see both of them growing as a person, the more time they spend together. The father becomes more mature and less selfish, the more time they are together. Meanwhile the son becomes more confident and willing to put himself out there. All of this feels very real and natural. The chemistry between Anderson .Paak (who also directed and co-wrote the movie (as well as written some of the songs)) and Soul Rasheed is simply phenomenal making you never doubt that you are really looking at a father and son. I found the moments in which they shared the screen simply warmed my heart. 

Add to this some good music (Earth, Wind and Fire even appear in the film), funny moments and a good supporting cast and you simply have a charming movie. 

Yes, this may be incredibly predictable and familiar, but it is also a real charmer. 

Movie Review: Midwinter Break

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B+

A quite moving film. 

This movie tells the story of an older couple who travel to Amsterdam. On their trip they find just how much they have drifted apart and must deal with their failing marriage. For a movie like this, one of the most important aspects is who is cast as the couple. Luckily these characters are played by Lesley Manville and Ciarán Hinds. Both of them are truly fantastic here fully bringing out the humanity and vulnerability behind these characters. Their performances constantly glue us to the screen, even with the slow pace. Another expected but important aspect for a film like this is the visual look. This movie very much captures the visual beauty of Amsterdam and after watching this film you will want to go there. Yet what really makes this movie work so well is the complexity of the main couple's relationship. I won't give much away, but what I loved about this movie is that there is not a right side or a wrong side in this relationship. Instead, these are simply two people, who view the world in completely different ways. There is no point where a character cheats on the other nor do they set out to intentionally hurt one another. Rather it is simply their extreme differences in worldviews that causes them to wonder if they are actually compatible. This makes the film all that much more moving, thought provoking and heartbreaking. 

This is a rare modern movie in which I think it should have been longer. 90 minutes is simply not enough time to tackle all the complex social matter that this movie wants to and because of this some of the most interesting ideas are not explored to the depth they should be. While the ending is supposed to be ambiguous, it instead comes off as rushed and abrupt.   

Despite any flaws though, this is an excellent movie.     

Movie Trailer: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime the Movie: Tears of the Azure Sea

 

Movie Trailer: Mortal Combat II

 

Movie Trailer: Scream 7

 

Movie Review: Redux Redux

 

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A wonderful sci-fi thriller. 

In this film a woman is traveling through each alternative universe in the multiverse. In each of these alternative universes she kills the man who killed her teenage daughter. She gets so caught up in revenge and violence that she starts to lose grip on her own humanity.  

It is no secret that by now the whole multiverse premise has been done to death. That makes it all the more impressive that this film was able to make it feel fresh. Much of this is due to how it approaches this familiar premise in a unique way. While most Multiverse movies show worlds that are drastically different from each other. However here the differences between these different universes are very miniscule to the point where it is difficult to tell the difference. This fits the story and themes of this film perfectly. It places our main character fully in a loop, repeating the exact same actions in nearly the exact same setting. We understand how with this she can get into the position of becoming completely dehumanized. The story also stands out from many other multiverse films as the sci-fi elements take a backseat to characters. This is first and foremost a character study. Both our main character and the teenage girl she befriends along the way are very well-developed characters who are more complex than your average heroes or villains. We find ourselves connecting extremely deeply with these characters, almost feeling that we know them as well as we know ourselves. The relationship between them is also incredibly well developed and at times even quite touching. 

This movie is also boosted a very strong villain, who is so incredibly real that is even more frightening than any supernatural monster we might see in a horror film. Also, heavily because of this character, the movie has one of the most intense and suspenseful climaxes I have seen in a new movie in quite a while. 

This is a top-notch film that I highly recommend.   

Cinecon Pop-Up Day at Old Town Music Hall

 

Exciting news for classic movie fans who will be in Southern California this March. The Cinecon Classic Film Festival is holding its second annual pop-up day on Saturday March 21 from 9:30am to 8:30pm. It will be held at my favorite place to watch movies El Segundo's Old Town Music Hall (140 Richmond St, El Segundo, CA 90245). 

For any of you who are not familiar with the Cinecon Classic Film Festival, it tends to focus on rare old movies and TV shows that are hard to find and many of which even the most dedicated film and TV buffs have never even heard of. There are also premieres new restorations of classic movies and special guests who are related to the films. This pop-up day is a small sampling of what a Cinecon film festival is, and all funds will go to support the festival as well as Old Town Music Hall. 

This year's pop-up day will begin with the Paramount short, Find What's Wrong (1938).

After this will be a rare comedy movie that hasn't been seen in decades, Two Gals and a Guy (1951). This movie stars Robert Alda, Janis Paige and James Gleason. It also boasts the film debut of actress Patty McCormack, who will be appearing at the event in person.

 Then comes a new restoration of the silent film, The Johnstown Flood (1926) starring George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor (the stars of F.W. Murnau's Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927)).

After a lunch break is Sterling Yearian playing Old Town Music Hall's own 1925 Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ. This is followed by a new restoration of the classic Laurel and Hardy silent short, Big Business (1929).

Then comes a rare Paramount short film entitled Ted Husing's Television Preview (1940).

Afterwards is a 1960 episode of the classic TV western, The Rifleman. The episode features child actress Gigi Perreau, who will be at the event in person.  

Then comes a new restoration of the Tru-Color Roy Rogers western, Night Time in Nevada (1948). 

Afterwards is a new 2K restoration of the silent feature length movie, The Four Feathers (1929) starring William Powell, Richard Arlen and Fay Wray. 

The event ends with a new 4K restoration of House of Strangers (1949) starring Edward G. Robison and Susan Hayward. The film will be introduced by Kevin Schaeffer, the director of restoration and library management for the Walt Disney Company as well as Edward G. Robison's granddaughter, Francessca Robinson. 


If you wish to buy tickets for this event you can do so at Cinecon's Website.