Category Archives: Film reviews

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

Theater Camp Review

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During my high school years, I loved being involved in theatre. I performed in seven productions including The Nitwits, Les Miserables, Flowers for Algernon, MacBeth Did It, Get Smart, Sense and Sensibility, and The Music Man. When I saw the film Theater Camp, it allowed me to relive my younger days when I was in a community of theatrical enthusiasts learning acting and other important stage skills. I was reminded of trials and errors during auditions, but more importantly the positive feelings which come from being connected to many friends working together on a production. Theater Camp is a one-of-a-kind sensation that features voices that span all ages. It is a real treat for those who are aspiring to have a voice.

Theater Camp focuses on camp counselors Amos Klobuchar (played by Ben Platt) and Rebecca Diane (played by Molly Gordon). They are best friends who live for the arts and the theatre. The duo run a theater camp in upstate New York which is bound to be closed due to financial conflicts. The risk of the camp shutting down prompts Amos and Rebecca Diane to influence their students to be as lively as they possibly can be. With Platt and Gordon playing camp counselors who have loads of acting experience, they are perfect in these roles. They are the voices of this inspiring film which will appeal to audiences of all ages.

There are moments of frustration in the rehearsals for their show. This story line does, however, find its light. It reminds viewers that actors can have their moments of struggle. The movie also reminds viewers that any form of acting is a process, but it is ultimately about enjoying the craft and each stage of the work itself. Theater Camp is a positive retrospective that reminds us how theatricals can create memories to cherish forever.

Emotions experienced during the rehearsal process is where Theater Camp finds its vital connection to the world of the arts. There are times when the camp hits plateaus. The film shows how these hardships are overcome and they serve to make the camp stronger with better voices, innovative minds, and creative ideas. The joy of Theater Camp reminds me of the saying, “There are no small roles, only small actors.” Konstantin Stanislavski is credited for this comment and this quote was mentioned every time I walked into an audition. This quote correlates to Theater Camp because everyone is a winner. No matter how big their role, their craft, or their thinking are, each person is going to be successful in their own unique way.

I hope that those who see Theater Camp embrace the appreciation they experience through the performances of Platt and Gordon. It reminds us that in acting or any performance art, the importance of the mentoring from the directors. Theater Camp illustrates for viewers that the ones who deserve the attention for an amazing performance are those who are in charge but are often behind the scenes. This film is about community and appreciation of the arts. It is also about being an advocate for those who are passionate about the arts. Four stars for Theater Camp.

Film reviews

The Machine Review

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The Machine is a film that links to Bert Kreischer’s comedy special that made the Internet soar with traffic in 2016. The Machine is a fictionalized comedy with Kreischer playing himself.  His personality and comedic attitude are present throughout the film, but The Machine is just an average comedy. Luckily, the laughable gems in the movie are mostly on par.

The film focuses on Bert, a comedian who finds himself in turmoil due to family problems at home. When Bert’s father Albert (played by Mark Hamill) arrives, life becomes even more difficult for him. After the unpleasant surprise arrival of his father, Bert’s past in Russia comes back to haunt him leading Albert and Bert to be abducted. Despite Bert and Albert having a mixed relationship, they must work together to protect themselves from the dangers they face in Russia.

With Kreischer and Hamill playing father and son, there is an intriguing algorithm to their characterizations. Since Kreischer is a comedian and Hamill is a Star Wars alumni, The Machine is set up like a father and son tale. Their representation is a bit like two absent-minded jedis. The force is not with them in terms of being able to protect themselves, but it is with them when it comes to having witty chemistry which makes the movie amusing.

The words exchanged between Kreischer and Hamill are where the satisfaction lies in the film’s quality and where the most entertainment is to be found in The Machine. Many fans know that Kreischer’s signature move is taking off his shirt in his comedy shows. The act of removing his character’s shirt in The Machine is frequently linked to inducing laughter and providing comic relief.

The Russia connection links to a previous period when Kreischer’s character participates in a college trip abroad. From the movie, he was not the best student. That is where the link is made to the kidnapping scenario in The Machine. There is a “karma” theme played out in many layers of twisted parody. Fortunately, the director throws in joyful tangents which play to this theme, and which make the movie more interesting.

Although there is some backstory that adds a serious element to the film, “seriousness” is not the focus. The film is a farce with a comedic tone and writing. However, the continuity of the film seems to be lacking and the direction rushes to find the comedic moments. This causes the characterizations and setup to suffer.

Kresicher and Hamill give exceptional comedic performances in The Machine, making it must-see. Their unique humor had me laughing out loud throughout the show, resulting in an incredibly enjoyable experience. While it may not be groundbreaking, the pure hilarity delivered by The Machine easily connects with audiences, especially with the addition of Jedi veteran Hamill. Kreischer and Hamill’s frequent comedic banter kept me captivated from start to finish, and their chemistry is undoubtedly the star of the show. In my opinion, The Machine deserves two stars.

Film reviews

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the sequel to Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, takes the franchise to new heights. I was invigorated by the storyline and the backstory, and the many new dangers the film introduces made my head spin. It is a masterpiece of nostalgia and creativity. The nostalgia arises from its importance in the Spidey universe, and the creativity from the superb comic book animated filmmaking. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is simply a monumental achievement by directors Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson.

In Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Miles Morales (voiced by Shameik Moore) is Spider-Man. As life starts to get more challenging for him as Spider-Man, Miles continues to hide his Spider-Man identity from those who are important to him. The film jumps through many hurdles of the Multiverse, which is one of the things that makes Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse spectacular.

As Miles strolls through the Multiverse, the comic book animation is superb. The audience will feel intertwined in the amazing comic book world surrounding Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. A world with Spidey characters overseas, where many backstories find the light of day, and where all the twists are connected. But the film reminds us that nothing is permanent, and “those connections can be broken.”

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse will have its audience wondering how far into the comic book adventure the film can go. The precision with which the film presents its backstory is stunning; Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is completely faithful to its storyline. The film’s surrealism is captivating, and there are layers upon layers, seemingly endless layers, of surprises. The immersion into the Spidey world made me want more and more Multiverse moments. Throughout the film, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse continues its superhero vibe without losing its momentum.

In my view, this is one of the best animated cinema rides ever—a wild ride indeed that is as good as it gets with a superhero adventure. It’s the most comical, colorful, and visually stimulating film I’ve seen in a very long time. It’s in depth with its destruction, and it really tests the limits with its chaos and the number of enemies.

The Multiverse portrayed in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has interesting and awesome transitions. The transitions create more dangers than the audience expects, and every character, event, or puzzle is connected. The film also has a strong connection to all the previous Spider-Man movies.

There is just no stopping the galore of superhero animation. There are many moments of thinking all is lost, but then our hope is restored. Simply a spectacular film. Four stars for Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.