Freeze Frame

The grisly body horror flick "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" owes a lot more to "The Exorcist" than Boris Karloff or Brendan Fraser. A little girl goes missing and, eight years later, she's discovered to be alive and possessed by an ancient Egyptian demon. There are some effectively scary moments, but the movie is overlong and over reliant on gruesome makeup effects. Writer/director Lee Cronin had success reviving the “Evil Dead” franchise, but this one should have remained buried. Let's hope it’s a wrap on this version of The Mummy. If you want to see two brilliant actors go toe-to...

The grisly body horror flick "Lee Cronin's The Mummy" owes a lot more to "The Exorcist" than Boris Karloff or Brendan Fraser. A little girl goes missing and, eight years later, she's discovered to be alive and possessed by an ancient Egyptian demon. There are some effectively scary moments, but the movie is overlong and over reliant on gruesome makeup effects. Writer/director Lee Cronin had success reviving the “Evil Dead” franchise, but this one should have remained buried. Let's hope it’s a wrap on this version of The Mummy. If you want to see two brilliant actors go toe-to...

The latest cinematic treatment of Shakespeare's "Hamlet' tries an interesting new angle, placing the action among the Southeast Asian community of contemporary London. Riz Ahmed gives a strong performance in the title role, and fine turns are provided by Morfydd Clark as Ophelia, Timothy Spall as Polonius and Art Malik as Claudius. But some of the power of The Bard's poetry is lost when rushed or mumbled to give it a more edgy feel. This "Hamlet" is a respectable mixed bag. Keanu Reeves stars in a caustic Hollywood sendup, the Apple TV+ satire, "Outcome." Reeves plays Reef Hawk, a movie s...

In 2023, the animated comedy "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" took in over a billion dollars at the box office and became the biggest video game adaptation ever. Naturally, a sequel has arrived. "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie" offers more of the same. Same players, same game inspired goofiness and the same strengths and weaknesses. Once again, the intrepid Italian plumbers are called upon to save Princess Peach from Bowser and his son Bowser, Jr. The visuals are duly impressive, but the plot of “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” may evaporate from your memory faster than a Mario power-up. The scenario of "Th...

The story of acclaimed French writer and filmmaker Marcel Pagnol is depicted through animation in the unconventional biopic, "A Magnificent Life." Directed by Sylvain Chomet of “The Triplets of Bellville” fame, it’s a colorful overview of Pagnol’s life, from his childhood through his adult years focusing on his artistic and commercial successes…and failures. While mildly interesting, “A Magnificent Life” lacks the passion of any of Pagnol's classic movies. The extremely raw and edgy R-rated documentary "Andre is an Idiot" was the audience winner at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It's easy to see why. A free-spirited iconoclast named André Ri...

You can have all the great special effects and cute aliens you can muster, but without the charisma and star power of Ryan Gosling, the sci-fi opus "Project Hail Mary" would drift aimlessly into space. Gosling plays a science teacher who reluctantly becomes an astronaut and attempts to save our sun from a bizarre destructive force. While in deep space, he encounters an unlikely ally. While it's overlong and repetitive, "Project Hail Mary" is still an engaging crowd pleaser. Rose Byrne stars in the comic drama "Tow," the true story of a homeless woman trying to rebuild her life. Things t...

"Cohorts," the loyal followers of bestselling author Colleen Hoover, have been anxiously awaiting the cinematic adaptation of her latest novel, "Reminders of Him." They likely won't be disappointed. Maika Monroe gives a strong performance as a young woman recently released from prison after serving time for involuntary manslaughter. She returns to her hometown in hopes of meeting her daughter who was taken from her at birth and begins a romantic relationship with bar owner Tariq Withers. “Reminders of Him” is as predictable, calculated and manipulative as you might expect, but the committed cast is solid. Bring the Kleenex. The horror entry...

Even second-rate Pixar is better than most other animated features. The latest offering from the renowned studio is "Hoppers," a unique sci-fi fantasy about a rebellious girl whose mind is transplanted into a robotic beaver in an attempt to save a pristine glade from the bulldozers of shortsighted developers. Excellent animation, sharp voice work and a thoughtful screenplay elevate “Hoppers,” which should hop right to the top of the U.S. box office. The pro-environmental message comes through loud and clear, but the kids will only care about the wacky characters and zippy action. It may be a bit too scar...

If you don't know what the term BDSM refers to, then the comic drama "Pillion" may not be for you. Alexander Skarsgård and Harry Melling star in the very...I repeat, very...adult story of a dominant biker and his submissive partner. While it's well written and smartly acted, much of the content of this R-rated movie pushes it close to the NC-17 designation. Still, for open-minded viewers, the unconventional romance “Pillion” is an empathetic portrait of an unusual relationship. Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain stars in the dark and unpleasant drama, "Dreams." She plays a socialite having a steamy affair with a...

The black comedy thriller "How to Make a Killing" is inspired by the classic 1949 British film, "Kind Hearts and Coronets." But this version isn't quite sure what it wants to be. Glen Powell stars as an heir to a vast fortune who's been disowned by his callous family. He plots to bump off all his relatives who stand in the way of his inheritance. The audience is challenged to root for a guy who's obviously ethically challenged and Powell's charisma is a big help in that department. It's modestly funny, but the tone shifts in “How to Make a Killing” are s...

"Crime 101" is a slick and engaging thriller featuring Chris Hemsworth, Halle Berry, and Mark Ruffalo. Hemsworth portrays a jewel thief who is emotionally conflicted and determined to complete one final heist. Guided by a personal code of ethics, his character refuses to harm anyone and targets only insurance companies with his schemes. The film's impressive supporting cast includes Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro and Nick Nolte who all contribute to the film’s strong ensemble dynamic. Bart Layton, a British documentary filmmaker, brings surprisingly taut and effective direction, allowing "Crime 101" to remain engaging even when the plot stretches believability. “Crime 101” is an ent...

First world problems plague a pop star in the unpredictable mockumentary "The Moment." Charlie XCX plays a fictionalized version of herself in the story of her preparations for a concert and tour. While not a comedy per se, it pokes fun at the whole "Brat" phenomenon and satirizes pop stardom. “The Moment” is an interesting experiment more than a satisfying movie and features surprisingly little music. Those sensitive to flashing light, steer clear. French director Luc Besson offers his offbeat take on "Dracula." Caleb Landry Jones is impressive as the cursed vampire who spends centuries searching for his lost love. Besso...

The latest Jason Statham thriller "Shelter" provides exactly what you'd expect. It's packed with over-the-top action and ridiculous implausibilities. Statham is a disgraced special ops agent hiding out on a remote Scottish island who's forced back into action to protect an innocent preteen girl, well played by Bodhi Ray Breathnach. The action gets more elaborate and sillier as the movie progresses, but director Rick Roman Waugh puts the pedal to the metal and doesn’t let logic get in the way. Don't roll your eyes too much while watching “Shelter,” or you'll miss some decent stunt work. Omar Epps and Wiz Kh...

Artificial Intelligence is once again the antagonist in the sci-fi thriller, "Mercy." Set in the crime-ridden near future, Chris Pratt plays a detective on trial for his wife's murder. He has 90 minutes to convince an A.I. judge, played by Rebecca Ferguson, of his innocence. While it gets a bit goofy and stretches credibility to the limit, “Mercy" gets to its over-the-top climax in an entertaining manner. The gentle British drama "H is for Hawk" is based on an acclaimed memoir. Claire Foy plays naturalist Helen Macdonald who spent a year training a goshawk. She used the experience to cope wi...

It’s double feature time for fans of stalwart actor Ralph Fiennes. "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" is the fourth installment in the horror series about a zombie infection. Fiennes plays a doctor who confronts human evil worse than that exhibited by the zombies. While gripping, well-made and genuinely scary, its graphic and sadistic violence approaches the level of torture porn. Fiennes pops up again in a movie that couldn't be more different. In the gentle comic drama "The Choral," he plays a conductor in a small English village mounting an amateur performance of the Edward Elgar piece “The Dream of G...

In the very adult comic drama "Is This Thing On?" Will Arnett plays a man who tries out standup comedy as a way to cope with his impending divorce. Strong performances by Arnett and Laura Dern propel this empathetic tale, well directed by Bradley Cooper, who also has a funny supporting role. A number of noted comics appear as cynical versions of themselves. While fictional, the movie inspired by the true story of British standup comic Jim Bishop. Arnett’s foul-mouthed comedy material isn't really all that funny but still rings true. "Is This Thing On?" should appeal to those no...

Happy New Year. It’s time to look back and name my top ten movies, the cream of the cinematic crop for 2025. 10) THE SECRET AGENT is an oddly structured but involving Brazilian paranoia thriller set during that country’s political strife in 1977. 9) WEAPONS is an extremely original and genuinely unnerving horror chiller about 17 children who mysteriously disappear from the same grade school class. 8) IT WAS JUST AN ACCIDENT is a harrowing, secretly filmed Iranian drama about former political prisoners who kidnap a man they believe was their tormentor. 7) THE LIFE OF CHUCK is a thoughtful philosophical and ultimately life affirming comic...

Timothée Chalamet proves once again that he's the real deal in the whacky comic drama, "Marty Supreme." It's an offbeat character study from filmmaker Josh Safdie, set in the 1950s and involving the misadventures of a manipulative, conceited but somehow likable table tennis phenom. While fictional, it's inspired by the remarkable life of ping pong ace Marty Reisman. "Marty Supreme" is supremely watchable. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson star in "Song Sung Blue," a biopic about a Neil Diamond tribute band called "Lightning and Thunder" that achieved a degree of success in Milwaukee in the 1980s. They experience extreme hi...

"Avatar: Fire & Ash" is the third entry in the phenomenally successful sci-fi franchise, and delivers exactly what you'd expect, 3 hours and 12 minutes of spectacular visuals and zippy action. The story, however, is very repetitive and has little to offer that's new. Plus, there's no real sense of peril. The attraction is the remarkable eye candy, so if you opt to see it, go ahead and splurge on the Imax version. The very busy actresses Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried star in the goofy psychological thriller "The Housemaid." Sydney plays the maid who uncovers some dark secrets in the household of w...

The Netflix whodunit "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery" is the third movie in filmmaker Rian Johnson's tongue-in-cheek series featuring Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc. This time out, a young priest played by Josh O'Connor is accused of murdering a charismatic monsignor. The all-star cast includes Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington. They’re all obviously having fun and O'Connor, in particular, is excellent. But this mildly engaging mystery is overlong and really stretches credibility. Still, "Wake Up Dead Man" is more than entertaining enough to keep you awake. The wildly or...

The outstanding drama "Hamnet" is a speculative period piece about the inspiration behind Shakespeare's "Hamlet." Anchored by terrific performances by Paul Mescal and Jesse Buckley as Shakespeare and his troubled wife Agnes, it's an emotionally involving tale, adapted by director Chloe Zhao from Maggie O'Farrell's award-winning novel. Perhaps surprisingly, "Hamnet" is a better film than Zhao's previous Oscar winner "Nomadland." And speaking of Oscar, Buckley's moving performance is likely a Best Actress shoo-in. The Netflix showbiz drama "Jay Kelly" provides a role that fits George Clooney like a glove. He plays a movie star who tries to reconnect with his e...

The comic fantasy "Eternity" takes the romantic triangle concept to a multidimensional level. Elizabeth Olsen, Miles Teller and Callum Turner star in the tale of an afterlife weigh station, where a woman must decide whether to spend eternity with her husband of many years or her first husband who died decades earlier. The concept is better than the execution, but a likable cast gives this rom-com a considerable boost. The animated farce "Zootopia 2" is a worthy successor to the 2016 hit. In this lively, funny and smartly executed tale, a fox and a rabbit uncover the mystery of why reptiles are p...

Okay, Ozians. The wait is finally over. The second and final part of the big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical "Wicked" is finally here. In "Wicked: For Good," Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's Glinda use their vocal powers for good, providing a long but fitting climax. Both films combined have a running time of over 5 hours and, yes, it's padded. But thanks to spectacular production values and soaring vocals “Wicked: For Good” provides enough magic to satisfy all the Munchkins out there. In the sweet, low key comic drama "Rental Family," Brendan Fraser plays a struggling American actor in Japa...

"The Running Man" is a remake of Arnold Schwarzenegger's 1987 dystopian action thriller based on a Stephen King book. Oddly enough, it was set in 2025. This time out, Glen Powell plays a man desperate for money for his family, who agrees to appear in a TV reality game show where he attempts to outrun a team of murderous bounty hunters to win a billion dollars. Director Edgar Wright, who made "Baby Driver" and "Shaun of the Dead," knows his way around action and comedy and delivers on both counts. However, this time he just doesn't know when to quit. He's guilty...

Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro's dream project "Frankenstein" is now on Netflix. There is much to be admired in this visually stunning adaptation, including strong performances from Oscar Isaac as the egotistical creator and especially from Jacob Elordi as his misbegotten creation. While it's certainly worth a watch, this version adds some curious elements that resemble superhero movies more than Mary Shelley. "Frankenstein" is more to be respected for its ambition than for the end result. "Predator: Badlands" is the ninth installment in the popular sci-fi franchise. A runt exiled Predator ventures to a dangerous planet where he reluctantly teams up...

Tessa Thompson is solid in "Hedda,” the Amazon Prime reimagining of Ibsen's classic tragedy "Hedda Gabler." Writer/director Nia DaCosta has changed the setting and added lesbian and racial components that Ibsen probably never would have imagined. While not all of DaCosta’s changes work and purists may balk, “Hedda” is a mostly effective update that remains true of Ibsen’s themes concerning the dangers of greed, passion and ambition. The animated horror comedy "Stitch Head" is aimed squarely at the kindergarten crowd. It’s about the monstrous creations of a mad scientist who are more scared of humans than vice versa...

"Regretting You" is a drama about romance, infidelity and grief based on a popular novel by Colleen Hoover. A teenage girl played by McKenna Grace discovers dark secrets after some family members are lost in a tragic accident. She navigates the tragedy while experiencing a big high school crush. Grace is terrific, as is Allison Williams as her troubled mom. The story is very soapy, contrived and manipulative, so many viewers will feel like they've been jerked around. However, fans of Colleen Hoover, known as "Cohorts," will get exactly what they want in “Regretting You.” Everyone else, beware. The Hulu entry...

Who would have thought that a movie with a great cast, intriguing theme and acclaimed director could have resulted in something as bad as "After the Hunt." Julia Roberts stars as a college professor who becomes embroiled in a sex scandal. The strong supporting cast includes Ayo Edebiri, Andrew Garfield, Michael Stuhlbarg and Chloë Sevigny.  Director Luca Guadagnino is responsible for acclaimed films like “Call Me by Your Name” and “Challengers,” but he’s lost his grip here. Colossally pretentious, burdened with pompous dialogue and unlikable characters, it’s a burden to watch. The terrific performances are the only saving grace of “After...

Talk about product placement! The bizarre true story of a kind-hearted criminal gets the big screen treatment in "Roofman." In this entertaining comic drama, Channing Tatum stars as a clever thief who robbed dozens of McDonalds by entering the restaurants through the roof, was sent to prison, escaped, and then holed up for months in a Toys 'R' Us. Kirsten Dunst plays his clueless love interest. “Roofman” was directed by Derek Cianfrance, best known for the dark dramas “Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.” Here, he takes a much lighter approach. Funny and often touching, "Roofman" is a surprisingly...

Respectable. That may be the best thing one can say about the new Dwayne Johnson movie "The Smashing Machine." In this art house sports drama from writer-director Benny Safdie, The Rock plays troubled mixed martial arts fighter Mark Kerr who battles drugs and insecurity as well as his opponents in the ring. Emily Blunt is his impatient, moderately supportive girlfriend. The performances of real-life MMA fighters Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten and former heavyweight champion boxer Oleksander Usyk bring additional authenticity. The stars are fine, but in an attempt to avoid cliches, the movie also avoids dramatic momentum. This low-key, matter-of-fact...

Liam Neeson ("Taken") stars in a revival of the 80s absurdist franchise, "The Naked Gun," playing the son of the detective originally played by Leslie Nielson.

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 tin...

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 chill...

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 enjoyab...

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 […] The post Freeze Frame: "Caught Stealing" (R), "The Roses" (R), "The Thursday Murder Club" (PG-13) 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 […] 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, […] 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 […] 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 post Freeze Frame: "Freakier Friday" (PG), "Weapons" (R), "Sketch" (PG), "My Mother's Wedding" (R) appeared first on KKFI.