Freeze Frame

KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • 0.0 (0)
  • FILM HISTORY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Freeze Frame is a weekly show reviewing the latest movies from Hollywood’s best to independent and arthouse movies.

  1. 3 DAYS AGO

    Freeze Frame: "The Moment" (R), "Dracula" (R), "Solo Mio" (PG), "The Wrecking Crew" (R)

    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. Besson's opulent, operatic approach is visually engaging, but the movie is overlong and peppered with unintentionally funny moments. "Dracula" doesn't exactly suck, but it isn't a full-blooded horror, either. Perhaps the best thing you can say about the Angel Studios romantic comedy "Solo Mio" is that it's harmless. Kevin James plays a middle-aged schoolteacher who travels to Rome with his fiancée, only to be jilted at the altar. Will he ever find love again? Everything about the script is utterly phony, but the photogenic Italian scenery gives "Solo Mio" a minor boost. The main things wrecked in the Amazon Prime action comedy "The Wrecking Crew" are cars, motorcycles, helicopters, property...and logic. Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa play estranged half-brothers who are forced to work together to solve the mystery of their father’s death. The action is relentless, and the Hawaiian scenery is "nani." But the lapse of plot coherence in “The Wrecking Crew” wrecks any real sense of peril.

    2 min

  2. 30 JAN

    Freeze Frame: "Shelter" (R), "Moses the Black" (R), "Wonder Man" (TV-14)

    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 Khalifa lead the cast of the morose and violent crime drama "Moses the Black." Serbian writer/director Yelena Popovic attempts to juxtapose a modern story about a Chicago gang leader recently released from prison with that of the martyred Ethiopian saint from the fourth century. Epps is saddled with the responsibility of staring endlessly into void while supposedly seeing visions of the saint who turned from a life of crime to a life of asceticism. “Moses the Black” is bleak, awkward and as subtle as a sledgehammer. Just when you think that you might not be able to bear another Marvel TV offering, Disney+ presents the unique and involving 8-part series, "Wonder Man." Yahya Abdul-Mateen II plays a struggling actor who is saddled with superpowers that are hard to control. He must hide his outlawed abilities in order to make it in Hollywood. Ben Kingsley plays a fellow actor who may or may not offer support. Often funny and refreshing, "Wonder Man" is a knowing and engaging satire of both Hollywood and superhero cliches.

    2 min

  3. 23 JAN

    Freeze Frame: "Mercy" (PG-13), "H is for Hawk" (PG-13), "In Cold Light" (R), "Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man" (TV-MA)

    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 with the death of her father and her own clinical depression. “H is for Hawk” is relatable, thanks to Foy's performance, but never quite soars. Another strong performance from Maika Monroe can't save the depressing crime thriller, "In Cold Light." Monroe plays a drug dealer recently released from prison who wants back in the game but comes into conflict with mobsters and crooked cops. Good guys are hard to find here. "In Cold Light” is a little too cold and a little too calculated. The two-part HBO Max documentary "Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man" is a funny, loving and sometimes critical look at life of the legendary comedian and filmmaker from director/interviewer Judd Apatow. Brooks, who is both revered and reviled for his low-brow comedies like "Blazing Saddles" and "Young Frankenstein" is a natural performer who may not always be candid in his interviews, but he's always entertaining. A lineup of famous comics shares their adoration, and some family members share their criticism. Overall, “Mel Brooks: The 99-Year-Old Man” is a worthwhile overview of a remarkable life.

    2 min

  4. 16 JAN

    Freeze Frame: "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" (R), "The Choral" (R), "The Rip" (R), "Dead Man's Wire" (R)

    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 Gerontius” while struggling with the challenges of WWI. “The Choral” is well crafted, but very lightweight. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck team up once again for the taut and intense Netflix crime thriller, "The Rip." Inspired by a true story but highly fictionalized, it's about a team of Miami drug agents who stumble upon a stash of $20 million in cartel drug money. The discovery sews distrust between the agents as they are forced to decide what to do with the cash, resulting in a lot of violence and intrigue. Fans of the genre will enjoy the action of “The Rip,” as well as the challenge of figuring out who the good guys are...if there are any. In the bizarre true story "Dead Man's Wire," Bill Skarsgård plays a troubled man who took a bank executive hostage over a disputed mortgage issue, forcing the media to cover the standoff. In a bit of stunt casting, “Dog Day Afternoon” star Al Pacino shows up in a supporting role. While it generates a certain level of tension, this thriller from filmmaker Gus Van Sant is really a sober study of utter desperation.

    2 min

  5. 9 JAN

    Freeze Frame: "Is This Thing On?" (R), "Father Mother Sister Brother" (R), "Rosemead" (R)

    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 not easily offended. What's really being said when estranged family members engage in awkward 'small talk?' Indie film darling Jim Jarmusch offers a suggestion in "Father Mother Sister Brother," three unrelated stories of family dysfunction. The strong cast includes Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Mayim Bialik, Charlotte Rampling and Cate Blanchett. Surprisingly, this restrained and subtle drama was the big winner at the 2005 Venice Film Festival. The talented cast helps a lot, but “Father Mother Sister Brother” is one that will probably only appeal to fans of Jarmusch's slow, low-key style. Lucy Liu's impressive performance is the main draw of the excruciating true story "Rosemead" which is based on a 2017 article from the Los Angeles Times. Liu plays a widow suffering from terminal cancer who is forced to decide what to do with her teenage son who's struggling with schizophrenia. The intent is admirable, and the execution is competent enough. But “Rosemead” is a hard watch that offers no easy answers. It’s tragic and depressing in equal measure.

    2 min

  6. 1 JAN

    Freeze Frame: The 10 Best Movies of 2025

    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 drama about a terminal cancer victim but told in reverse chronological order. 6) BLACK BAG is a clever and twisty drama that plays like “Who’s Afraid of Virgina Wolf?” but with spies. 5) MARTY SUPREME is an offbeat character study about a brilliant but manipulative and conceited ping pong champ, set in the 1950s. 4) SENTIMENTAL VALUE is an insightful Danish drama about a filmmaker who tries to make up with his estranged daughters by making a film about his family. 3) HAMNET tells an absorbing speculative tale about William Shakespeare and his wife whose personal tragedy inspired his most acclaimed play, “Hamlet.” 2) SINNERS is a grisly vampire film that’s really about racism, Jim Crow, the Blues…and much more. 1) ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER is a wildly entertaining thinking man’s action film dealing with wannabe revolutionaries. Smart and skillfully made, it’s the best film of 2025.

    2 min

  7. 26/12/2025

    Freeze Frame: "Marty Supreme" (R), "Song Sung Blue" (PG-13), "The Testament of Ann Lee" (R), "Goodbye June" (R)

    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 highs and lows in their personal and professional lives. The stars are very appealing, but if you're not a fan of Diamond's music, steer clear. Amanda Seyfried gives a strong performance in the unorthodox historical musical drama, "The Testament of Ann Lee." She portrays the title character, the founder of the Shaker movement who was considered by some of her followers as the second coming of Christ. She attempted to establish a utopian religious society in 1700s New England but met with ample hardships and considerable backlash. The music is a mix of original songs and hymns of the era. “The Testament of Anne Lee” is dark and dramatically erratic but oddly involving. Kate Winslet makes her directorial debut in the Netflix family drama, "Goodbye June." Winslet plays one of four siblings who come together when their mother, played by Helen Mirren, is hospitalized with terminal cancer during the holiday season. It's manipulative and obvious, but the sterling cast prevents “Goodbye June” from becoming too saccharine.

    2 min

  8. 19/12/2025

    Freeze Frame: "Avatar: Fire and Ash" (PG-13), "The Housemaid" (R), "The Secret Agent" (R), "David" (PG)

    "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 wealthy Amanda. Seyfried is excellent but Sweeney is merely adequate in this trashy flick. "The Housemaid" doesn't clean up because the filmmakers didn’t have the nerve to go full camp...which would have been the better route to take. The strange political thriller "The Secret Agent" is a nominee for this year's Critics' Choice Award for Best Foreign Language Film. Set during Brazil's political strife of 1977, Wagner Moura plays a tech pro who is being pursued by secret foes. The structure of “The Secret Agent” is disjointed for sure, but only that adds to its offbeat appeal. The animated musical “David” is the latest from faith-based distributor Angel Studios. This well made and involving movie tells the story of the King of Israel from his early days as a lowly shepherd to his heroic defeat of Goliath and his ascension as leader of his people. The story’s violence has been toned down, but it’s still faithful to the Biblical themes and is a painless introduction for the kiddies.

    2 min
See All (291)

About

Freeze Frame is a weekly show reviewing the latest movies from Hollywood’s best to independent and arthouse movies.

Information

  • Creator
    KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    291
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Show Website
    Freeze Frame