Freeze Frame

KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio

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 Thursdays 11:58am Fridays 10:58am Saturdays 10:58am

  1. 1d ago

    Freeze Frame: "The Odyssey" (R), "They Fight" (Not rated)

    Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan's larger-than-life cinematic style is well suited for Homer's "The Odyssey," and his adaptation of the epic tale sails impressively onto the silver screen. Big ideas and big themes dominate the big screen in this ancient horror story. Matt Damon leads a strong ensemble as Odysseus, the morally conflicted king of Ithaca who must face down demons of all sorts as he questions his bloody role in the Trojan Wars, embarks on an ill-advised adventure, angers the gods...and just wants to go home. A notable cast aids Nolan's vision that puts an emphasis on violent conflict, symbolizing Odysseus' inner turmoil. The acting honors go to Robert Pattinson as the duplicitous, scheming Antonius and Smantha Morton as the wily witch Circe. While it's guilty of some clunky dialogue and a few minor missteps, "The Odyssey" is an impressive old school Hollywood spectacle that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The Hulu sports drama "They Fight" is the kind of movie that you root for. It's a true story, its inspirational themes resonate, and the cast is fine. Problem is, the execution is so bland and conventional, that the story never ignites as it should. Based on a 2017 documentary of the same name, "They Fight" is about a boxing coach recently released from prison, played by Andre Holland, who works with a group of Washington DC adolescents. Wendell Pierce runs a gym that gives Andre a chance to see if he can redeem himself and inspire the kids toward a championship. It's well intentioned, but the sluggish story fails to score a knockout.

  2. Jul 10

    Freeze Frame: "Moana" (PG), "The Invite" (R)

    So, what does the term "live-action version" really mean? In the case of Disney's remake of their 2016 animated musical hit "Moana," it means there are some real actors on screen along with a whole lot of computer-generated animation tweaked to look realistic. Same songs save for one. Dwayne Johnson is back as demigod Maui, and we have a new Moana nicely played by Cathrine Laga'Aia. Otherwise, it closely resembles the original. Somehow, that's not enough. What worked as a cartoon just seems too labored in 'live action.' “Moana” fans, stick with the original. The edgy sex comedy "The Invite" is the polar opposite of Disney. It’s an English language adaptation of the 2020 Spanish hit, that was sarcastically titled, “Sentimental.” Seth Rogan and Olivia Wilde play a bickering couple whose marriage is ready to derail. To spice things up, Olivia invites the swingers from upstairs, played by Penelope Cruz and Edward Norton, to come down for dinner. Naturally, things quickly get awkward. It's essentially a razor-sharp stage play, ably directed by Wilde, that provides a great cast with a decadently funny vehicle. But the constant quarreling is a bit hard to stomach. Warning: “The Invite” is not for the easily offended. Amy Goodman, host of the daily news program “Democracy, Now” that airs here on KKFI, is the subject of the film documentary “Steal This Story, Please!” Goodman and the filmmakers will be in town for screenings and Q&A sessions on July 17th and 18th at the Glenwood Arts Theater in Overland Park. Info is available at KKFI.org or fineartsgroup.com.

  3. Jul 2

    Freeze Frame: "Minions and Monsters" (PG), "Young Washington" (PG-13), "Enola Holmes 3" (PG-13)

    Looking for a holiday weekend flick to get the kids out of the blazing heat? You could do a lot worse than "Minions & Monsters," the third installment in the "Minions" prequel series and the seventh installment overall in the "Despicable Me" franchise. This time out, circumstances find the Minions in 1920s Hollywood, and they decide to make a monster movie. The pacing and animation are solid in this episode that has a lot of inside jokes for parents who are movie buffs. "Minions & Monsters" delivers exactly the kind of goofy family fun you'd expect. Just in time for the July 4th celebrations, Angel Studios offers the historical drama "Young Washington." Relative newcomer William Franklyn-Miller portrays the founding father in a respectful but underwhelming look at his life before the American Revolution. Washington's ambitions and his strategic blunders in a skirmish with the French are the focus of this well-mounted but superficial biopic. The supporting cast includes familiar faces who bring a gravitas that Franklyn-Miller's performance is missing. Best thing you can say is that "Young Washington" is an easily digestible history lesson. Is the third time the charm for Millie Bobby Brown in the Netflix comic mystery, "Enola Holmes 3?" Light, bright, and easy to digest, “Enola Holmes 3” is a tongue-in-cheek sequel that presents yet another mystery for the sister of Sherlock Holmes, appealingly played by Brown. This time out, Sherlock, played by Henry Cavill, is kidnapped while attending Enola's wedding in Malta. A sprightly feminist YA offering “Enola Holmes 3” floats along nicely thanks to a solid production and an appealing cast.

  4. Jun 26

    Freeze Frame: "Supergirl" (PG-13), "Lucky Strike" (R), "Couture" (R), "In the Hand of Dante" (R)

    While newcomer Millie Alcock soars as the new punk "Supergirl," her movie never quite flies. Giving her a personality that contrasts with her strait-laced cousin Superman was a smart choice, but the filmmakers aren't quite able to pull all the elements together. Still, the eye candy is first-rate, and the action sequences are well-staged. Maybe the best thing you can say is that "Supergirl" is a serviceable intro to a welcome new character in the DC Universe. Scott Eastwood plays a soldier caught behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge in director Rod Lurie's solid WWII flick, "Lucky Strike." While it covers familiar territory, “Lucky Strike” is a mostly effective tale of survival, heroism and the hellish nature of war. Whenever she's on screen, Angelina Jolie's strong performance propels the drama "Couture." Problem is, she's not on screen enough. Jolie plays a filmmaker working in Paris for Fashion Week when she discovers she's got breast cancer. The other stories involving peripheral characters fall flat. For a movie about fashion, "Couture" is surprisingly lacking in style. A strong cast and an interesting premise are swamped in director Julian Schnabel's colossally pretentious Netflix drama, "In the Hand of Dante." Oscar Isaac plays a writer recruited by mobsters to authenticate and then steal a manuscript of Dante's "Divine Comedy.” In an intersecting parallel story, Isaac also plays Dante himself as he struggles to write his masterpiece. While intriguing, the movie is profane, ugly, violent and saddled with laughable dialogue. Gerard Butler's performance as a murderous thug is a creepy standout in “In the Hand of Dante,” a head-scratching misfire.

  5. Jun 19

    Freeze Frame: "Toy Story 5" (PG), "The Death of Robin Hood" (R), "Peter Asher: Everywhere Man" (not rated)

    Can the folks at Pixar continue to extract gold from the "Toy Story" mine after over thirty years? As "Toy Story 5" deftly demonstrates, the answer is definitely, "Yes." This time out, the focus is on cowgirl Jessie and how she and the other old school toys are threatened by high tech devices. As we've come to expect the folks at Pixar spend most of their efforts on creating a compelling and heartfelt story. Take some tissues because "Toy Story 5" has the smarts and the feels. You won't find any Merry Men in the excessively dark, violent and dour revisionary drama, "The Death of Robin Hood." Hugh Jackman stars as an aging and tired Robin Hood who, as it turns out, was a selfish bandit who robbed from the rich…and kept it. After numerous injuries, all he wants to do is die, but a nun at a rural sanctuary played by Jodie Comer insists on nursing him back to health. Despite a great cast and atmospheric production, “The Death of Robin Hood” is brooding, bloody and boring. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is an involving documentary about the life of the pop star who arrived in the U.S. as part of the 60s British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon and stayed to become a phenomenally successful record producer steering the careers of superstars like Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor, Carol King and many others. Asher tells his own story through a unique live concert mixed with extensive film clips as well as observations from his many famous pals, including mentor Paul McCartney. “Peter Asher: Everywhere Man” is a snappy pop music time capsule.

  6. Jun 12

    Freeze Frame: "Disclosure Day" (PG-13), "Office Romance" (R), "Kraken" (Not rated)

    Kansas City's channel 4 news gets invaded by aliens in the wild new Stephen Spielberg sci-fi opus "Disclosure Day." Emily Blunt plays a KC meteorologist, and Josh O'Connor is a cybersecurity expert who each experience a psychic connection to an alien intelligence, putting them at odds with a shady non-government agency. The actors are fine, the suspense is palpable, and the camerawork and action sequences are masterfully executed. It all gets too literal when it could have benefitted from being more ambiguous. Still, "Disclosure Day" is very entertaining and shows that Kansas City is out of this world. It's very telling when the best thing you can think of to say about a movie is, "Well, it could have been worse." Such is the case with the Netflix rom com, "Office Romance." Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein of "Ted Lasso" fame star as a testy airline CEO and her awkward legal counsel. As the title suggests, they embark on an ill-advised affair. There's not a believable moment in Goldstein's vulgar script. “Office Romance” is an old-fashioned movie that relies on raunchy elements to make it seem contemporary. Bad idea. The Norwegian language monster flick “Kraken” is now available on digital platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Video. It’s not to be confused with the 2025 Russian monster flick of the same name. In this surprisingly effective little sci-fi opus, a marine biologist tries to figure out if the experimental techniques used by a salmon farm in a Norwegian fjord are responsible for some mysterious deaths. It’s derivative and takes a while to get going, but “Kraken” is a slickly produced Scandinavian take on the Kaiju genre.

  7. Jun 5

    Freeze Frame: "Power Ballad" (R), "Masters of the Universe" (PG-13), "Scary Movie" (R)

    With movies like “Once,” “Begin Again” and “Sing Street,” Irish filmmaker John Carney has found a way to make movie musicals relevant for contemporary audiences. His latest effort is "Power Ballad." Kansas City's Paul Rudd stars alongside Nick Jonas in the story of a struggling wedding singer who bonds with a pop star. When the former boy band member steals a song from his friend, things get dicey. Rudd is as good as he's been in years, and Jonas is solid in a role tailor made for him. “Power Ballad” is a rousing crowd-pleaser that's filled with catchy music. If you are familiar with the phrase, "By the power of Grayskull," then the clunky action fantasy "Masters of the Universe" might be nostalgic for you...but that's really all it's got going for it. In this update of the 80s adventure cartoons based on the line of Mattel toys, Nicholas Galitzine plays an annoyingly uncertain He-Man, Jered Leto provides the petulant voice of Skeletor and Idris Elba is wasted as a washed-up warrior. The movie’s tongue-in-cheek approach never works. “Masters of the Universe” lacks the power. The Wayans Brothers are back with yet another ultra raunchy horror movie parody. Despite its title, "Scary Movie" is actually “Scary Movie 6,” the latest installment in the franchise that started 26 years ago. It reunites many of the movies' familiar cast members including Marlon and Shawn Wayans and a few dozen other Wayans, Regina Hall and Anna Faris. Sadly, the Wayans have officially run out of ideas for “Scary Movie” and try to fill the gap with repetitive and aggressively offensive material. Now that's scary.

  8. May 29

    Freeze Frame: "Pressure" (R), "The Breadwinner" (PG), "Tuner" (R), "Propeller One Way Night Coach" (PG)

    When JFK asked Dwight Eisenhower why the Normandy invasion was a success, Eisenhower replied, "Because we had better meteorologists than the Germans." That's the crux of the new WWII historical drama, "Pressure." In this taut movie, Andrew Scott plays a brilliant British meteorologist who butted heads with Eisenhower, played by Brendan Fraser, over the timing of the D-Day invasion. “Pressure” is an involving look at the herculean behind-the-scenes efforts of unsung heroes. Can the popularity of standup comic Nate Bargatze translate to the big screen? If the juvenile family comedy "The Breadwinner" is any indication, the answer is...we'll see. Bargatze takes on a Mr. Mom-type role as an inept dad left temporarily in care of the household. There are more laughs in five minutes of Bargatze's standup routines than in this entire movie. The new thriller "Tuner" is gimmicky, but the gimmicks work. Leo Woodall plays Niki, a piano tuner with super-sensitive hearing. Criminals figure out how to manipulate Niki into using his talents to crack safes. Well-acted, smart and involving, "Tuner" is a surprisingly gripping sleeper. The Apple TV movie "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" marks the directorial debut of actor and aviation enthusiast John Travolta. The story is based on a children’s book Travolta wrote in 1997 about a young boy on his first airplane trip from New York to Hollywood on a TWA Constellation in the 1960s. The film was partially shot in KC as the actual Connie is, of course, housed in KC alongside the TWA museum. The lightweight story tends to drift off into the ether, but it's a harmless bit of travel nostalgia.

See All (606)

Ratings & Reviews

3.3
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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 Thursdays 11:58am Fridays 10:58am Saturdays 10:58am

Information

  • Creator
    KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Years Active
    2013 - 2026
  • Episodes
    606
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City Community Radio
  • Show Website
    Freeze Frame