Directed By: Fletcher Moules Story By: Kid Cudi and Kenya Barris Written By: Ian Edelman, Maurice Williams, Esa Lewis, Sidney Schiff and Judnick Mayard Editor: Carole Karvetz Aykanian
Featuring: Kid Cudi, Jessica Williams, Laura Harrier, Ty Dolla $ign, Vanessa Hudgens, Timothee Chalamet, Macaulay Culkin, 070 Shake, Jaden Smith, Christopher Abbott, Keith David, Arturo Castro, Teyana Taylor, Luis Guzman, Kenya Barris
Jabari, a charming, streetwear-clad artist on the cusp of real success. After a chance run-in with his cool new photographer neighbor, Meadow, Jabari has to figure out whether he can make space for love in his life.
This was initially supposed to be a series for Netflix before it was decided to just combine all the episodes and make it into a film. Which explains the episodic nature of the film. As well as why the film is broken up into chapters. It’s all for the better here.
This film might come across as a Kid Cudi vanity project. As he created it, produced it, and came up with the story. to go with his album of the same name or the movie was thought out first and he just made music for it. Either way, it is a triumph.
Like the animated Spider-verse movies with the same kind of animation. Only here it is used to tell an urban love story with a lot of surreal imagery and a kind of fantasy version of an urban life love story. That constantly feels like a dream, you want to live in and makes New York into the wonderland you always wanted or remembered. Adding to its legendary status.
This is a movie you wish was told in love action, but the animation makes it come off more magical without it. It might make an impact but not as strong.
Even if the story is familiar as a love story. Only with more modern and hip elements. That is to the overall experience. As we get side characters telling their tales as advice that are comedic elements all their own, and add to the climate, but also shows how what the main character have is special. Especially as this film features characters of color and also adds in certain sexual elements that the spider-verse couldn’t delve into.
The dialogue and script could be a bit sharper, but works leaving room for realism and the reality of the moments.
This truly is a rare type of film where an audience of color gets to see themselves represented in a love story that isn’t all about sex and fighting for your relationship to survive. Where the audience gets a colorful point of view with a diverse cast and cutting-edge animation. While focusing on the love story has something today about microaggressions and the prejudice minorities deal with, especially in professional settings and even the art world. Though that never overpowers the narrative
Directed By: Sydney Freeland Written By: Shelby Farell Cinematography By: Quyen Tran Editor: Michael Taylor
Cast: Ashleigh Murray, Rachel Crow, David Sullivan, Arturo Castro, Sasheer Zamata, Danielle Niccolet, Tim Blake Nelson, Sharon Lawrence, Missi Pyle
After their mother ends up in jail, two sisters turn to train robbery in order to support their family.
This is a film that feels special. It is perfect for a younger audience whereas it might not be the most exciting it is a majorly offensive free film. Full of charm and energy that starts off low-key and slowly pulls you in.
The film is so heartwarming, it’s almost like a Disney film with more sinister material. As it tries to be more realistic rather than too fairy tale
The leads are full of charm and even though they have their flaws are impressive and identifiable. So much so that they have a certain Sweetness where you keep rooting for them.
It is also nice to see a racially diverse film that has women of color in most of the leading roles. Not to mention presenting them as smart and talented.
The film is also one of the rare films that are directed by a woman of color. The film has a light touch that feels like a world that you recognize while building it as its own.
It has a more mustache-twirling villain who comes across as more of a twerp than a menace but leaves just enough of an impression to build tension.
Though the film is predictable one of its strengths is presenting us with characters who at first seem more over the top comedic and strictly one-note then later give us a whole new impression of them by letting us see life through their eyes.
The film feels independent and tries to have more of a hangdog look at life and the rough prospects that the family faces. Though the stakes are very low and seem more projected by what if consequences more than anything.
The film just stays pure of heart and luckily stays away from being a tragedy or plain old unbelievable wish fulfillment. Though stays sweet all the way through.
Which might be it’s one problem is that the main characters and circumstances are so sweet they don’t feel real and for some. It may come off as annoying as their is no cynicism in this movie, So if looking for something lite and sweet for the family or just you. This is the film.
Written, Edited & Directed By: Greg Araki Cinematography: Arturo Smith
Production Design: Patti Podesta
Cast: James Duval, Rachel True, Christina Applegate, Nathan Bexton, Guillermo Diaz, Jeremy Jordan, Kathleen Robertson, Jordan Ladd, Ryan Philippe, Heather Graham, Charlotte Rae, Chiara Mastroianni, Debi Mazar, Joshua Gibran Mayweather, Mena Suvari, Sarah Lassez, Alan Boyce, Jason Simmons, Beverley D’Angelo, Denise Richards, Teresa Hill, Traci Lords, David Leisure, Eve Plumb, John Ritter, Shannen Doherty, Rose McGowan, Christopher Knight, Stacy Kennan, Devon Odessa, Stephane Sednaoui, Gibby Haynes,
In it’s own way this film is like a nihilistic beach party movie. Way removed from Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.
This film is a kind of spoof teen movie like SCREAM making fun of teens and teen movies. While being one but being modern and way over the top. Showcasing what teen moves at the time shows away from showing Drugs, Sex, Suicide, eating disorders, homosexuality, date rape, murder, alien invasions and face it all a rough edge.
The film has cameos and appearances galore which makes it feels like a Robert Altman cast with spot the guest star of musicians and actors who were recognizable at the Time. As well as established actors from television. Where some seem here more to challenge their image and be a bit rebellious
This is a low budget odyssey meant to be surreal with great art direction. The film certainly has a diverse cast where an African American character is the most popular and sought after female in the film. And a Great alternative 90’s soundtrack.
It’s an ensemble so the story and film Is supposed to feel unfocused at times. At heart this film wants to be a comedy. Yet hits in serious issues but at other times ends them in more silly ways.
Though the couples are sexually fluid throughout this is the closest at the time Of director Greg Araki making more heterosexual cinema. As before this most of his film had been considered queer cinema. Though this film has a few same sex pairings.
This is kind of a preview of what his future film KABOOM and Television series NOW APOCALYPSE would be like only more structured. Kind of wish it had more of this films madness and world. Love or hate the films of Greg araki they are never boring.
This is a dark decadent comedy that allows sitcom stars to play against type with different stories going on while an alien invasion is taking place. Letting the stars play more dirty and against type.
This is certainly a film to experience and while more a cult classic that at times tries to find art and beauty in trash. Yet always aspiring to be trash. In more a sharp and stylish way then a John Waters way.
The actual leads of the film are mroe the lesser known names in the cast.
This film seems more like an examination, dedication and showcase of the culture at the time, more California based. Where as it seems full of good looking people, fashion and fads, but they are usually doing the worst or bad things and we get to know some more then just face value. To see what lies inside them and what they cause. As sometimes even the most pretty beauty is all they have to offer. Nothing else really.
The film ends nihilistic like most of Araki’s films here we are all lost or doomed in this unpredictable universe and no matter what all we try and search for is to not be lonely and have that person to go through the best and worst with.
This plays like a demented , warped satire of BEVERY HILLS 90210 and teen movies and culture of the 90’s. The film takes place over one day in california. It follows a group of teen friends and their misadventures. No real solid plot as much of the movie just seems to happen, not much seems actually planned.
Though it’s a teen movie it definitely is not for kids. It tackles all the usual subjects. Drugs (tons of them) Infidelity, Date Rape, Suicide, Love, First dates, Butit also includes new ones like Zombies, Cross Dressing and Fetishes. The film also takes typical cliched characters and turns your pre-concieved notions of them and turns them on their ear.With characters named Dark, zero, ducky, Lucifer, Dingbat, Kozy, Hand Job, and Egg. you know this is not your typical film.
It’s has a very surreal stlye. The saturated colors in scenes. One character even has the lyrics of a song superimposed on his bedroom walls that surround him at every turn. It tries to be more punk style if film more then anything else.
This is the third part of Greg Araki’s Teenage apocalypse trilogy though his film KABOOM deals with similar subjects. Truth be told this at the time was the first film of greg araki’s that i enjoyed. The film is a nihlistic piece of work as usual fro him in his early work. He calls this his first heterosexual film. As most of his previous work was considered gay cinema.
Even though the film takes place in one day. the characters change clothes numerous times throughout the film.
This film is filled with both tons of cameos giving it a all star cast and filled with at the time many up and coming actors. The film is filled with sex but oddly very little nudity. Though it does contain plenty of graphic shocking violence.
This film feels like a chance for the young stars of the film to distort whatever images they have in film and television. To show they have an edge and sense of humor. It also gives them a chanceto do a indie film. Which was the cool thing to do at the time. The film is almost like a time capsule to 90’s culture.
It is a beautiful film to look at no matter how trashy it tries to be. The art Direction, Camera work are truly admirable, but in the same mindset. The film can make things beautiful, but also stomach turning even the characters.
Just like the film the soundtrack is very vivid itself. Scoring the film with uneasiness and energy.
This film is crazy and definately out there, but i can honestly say i enjoyed it enough to give it a mild recommendation.
the story of twenty-year- old Lucy and war veteran Stupe. Texas is trying to secede from the U.S., and NYC is being used as a negotiation tool. Lucy meets Stupe after coming up from the subway into the military invasion of Brooklyn. Together they decide to cross the treacherous five blocks of Bushwick – littered with looters, local militias, the invading forces, and one crazy cousin – in order to get home and be reunited with Lucy’s grandmother.
Cut To The Chase 