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Film reviews

Joy Ride Review

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Joy Ride is a title that was used in another film, from 2001. That one was a horror and suspense flick. This version of Joy Ride has suspense but not horror, and it’s focused on four close friends who are on an adventure with a lot of annoyances. The director is Adele Lim, who wrote Crazy Rich Asians (2018). In many ways Joy Ride is almost like Crazy Rich Asians on acid. There are drugs, big international errors, and much humor and ridiculousness. The writing felt heartfelt, but the film was really quite bonkers.

Joy Ride introduces its audience to a diverse group of four women who decide to go on a getaway through Asia. They are Audrey (played by Ashley Park), Kat (played by Stephanie Hsu), Lolo (played by Sherry Cola), and Deadeye (played by Sabrina Wu). As they travel they each begin to realize their purpose in life, what they love, what they are interested in, and many aspects about theirselves. But the process through which they gain these realizations has lots of slapstick. One of the women has a goal of trying to find her birth mother, while the rest seem to mostly wonder what raunchy behavior they can become part of. Sex, drugs, misused social media, and rock and roll are all part of the formula. Joy Ride has seemingly no filter to its explicit, yet hysterical, directing. There is a dark side to Joy Ride, but the laughs are more of the focus.

For me, the gross moments in Joy Ride were some of funniest, like when drugs make one of the characters very aroused, to the point where sports equipment becomes a means of sexual gratification. These ladies seem to be inexperienced or ignorant about use of drugs, and this is what leads to many of the gross scenarios.

But the dynamic between the four friends is where Joy Ride really gets its positive joy. Despite the weird or dangerous scenarios that arise on this international trip, the film is a reminder of all the fun that true friends can have together. The trip is a ride of quirks and mysteries throughout. The moments of laughter, disasters, and irreverent scenarios just doesn’t stop. The disasters that arise make the film’s audience want more and more.

There are some somber moments in Joy Ride, especially with the friend trying to find her birth mother. It’s not a major focus of the film, and its presentation comes in at the right time in the film, to calm the craziness a little. But there is plenty of time for both having fun and getting serious in Joy Ride. Three out of four stars for Joy Ride.

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2023, Film reviews

Afire Review

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The theme of conflicting perceptions is pervasive in Afire. The film’s title seems to intentionally have a double meaning referring to both the fire in personality and reality. The setup includes many curveballs and much of Afire is a rush of psychological adrenaline. There are moments of tension that stir the pot from the start. Afire proves that shared spaces create problems. There is also frustration in the underlying conflicts in the film, and the dynamic is somewhat of a skeptical blur.

Afire takes place in Germany on the Baltic Sea. Two friends, Leon and Felix, are on a getaway at a vacation home. Leon is played by Thomas Schubert and Felix is played by Langston Uibel. Leon finds the planned getaway a headache because he is a writer who is concerned about how what happens on the trip could impact his writing. Felix, on the other hand, creates art portfolios for a career, and he believes in embracing all the fun. They are good friends with different personalities and perspectives who encounter various surprises on their trip.

They end up with Nadja played by Paula Beer. She is just trying to find her way while living in the Baltic Sea area. She shares the house with Leon and Felix. There is also Devid played by Enno Trebs. Devid’s job is a lifeguard at the beach. He also comes by the house periodically. All the houseguests drive Leon insane.  The situation is made worse when have no choice but to remain together because travel is restricted due to the forest fires surrounding the area. Afire delivers a message regarding how certain things in life are unavoidable and learning to embrace the unknown leads to all kinds of experiences and emotions. It is riveting.

Leon’s continuous frustration is a major part of the film’s focus. From Leon’s attitude, his aggravations, and his conversations, Leon wants success. He does not have an inviting personality, but his heart is not necessarily in the wrong place. He has feelings for Nadja, but he is terrible at showing them. Between Leon acts like Felix and Devid are outsiders. It all boils down to Leon’s publishing, his fascination with Nadja, and the forest fires which keep everyone in proximity due to the travel restrictions.

The uneasy scenes grow heavier as the storms do. In moments where the storms become detrimental, I found that the storms in the film were utilized like personification like in a novel. For example, when there are updates or news reports regarding the storm, it signals a moment when the characters will take the words they are speaking more seriously. This especially holds true for Leon.  The movie is a ride full of misconceptions with shades of cinematic evidence which create surreal surprises in an emotional and triumphant way. The light does not come easy in this film, but it can be found. Afire is an amazing film in part due to its vast scenery. Three and a half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Asteroid City Review

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As a die-hard fan of Wes Anderson, he strikes gold again with brilliant directing and a bizarre world that feels interactive in his latest film.  There are loads of dynamics involving connections and conflicts between his characters who are stuck in one setting in Asteroid City. The movie is a bit like Wes Anderson’s The Twilight Zone because of the astronomy and physics he utilizes in his creative world. The all-star cast includes Jason Schwartzman (as Augie Steenbeck), Scarlett Johansson (as Midge Campbell), Tom Hanks (as Stanley Zak), Jeffrey Wright (as Grif Gibson) Tilda Swinton (as Dr. Hickenlooper), Bryan Cranston (as the Host), Edward Norton (as Conrad Earp), Adrien Brody (as Schubert Green), Liev Schreiber (as J.J. Kellogg), Hope Davis (as Sandy Borden), Stephen Park (as Roger Cho), Rupert Friend (as Montana), Matt Dillon (as Hank), and many more. It is an endless adventure of wit and giggles in an immersive world that will make audiences’ heads spin.

Asteroid City also offers an element of surprise which makes the film even more irresistible. The film begins with the Host presenting a play and then relating it back to Conrad Earp, a writer. The film’s introduction feels like a real experience which is a bit like Anderson’s The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). Only this time, the film jumps back and forth between the Host doing his introductions to moments from Conrad Earp to the conflicts in the film’s setting, Asteroid City. The back-and-forth storyline as a setup makes the movie invigorating. The film begins by focusing on the family of Augie Steenbeck, a recent widower who is explaining the sad news to his children. Augie’s father-in-law is Stanley Zak. The two men have a strained relationship. Augie and his family end up in Asteroid City due to car problems detected by the mechanic Hank. Once the car goes out of commission, more problems arise in the town. There is a quarantine order due to UFO danger as well as astronomy concerns. The scientific issues in the film are innovative and shift the dynamics of everyone in Asteroid City.

Astronomy is the focus of the unanswered questions for the film’s characters. Asteroid City explores a variety of intriguing subject matter. Augie finds himself feeling love for Midge Campbell. Augie is a photographer and is always taking pictures around the town. Another character is J.J. Kellogg who plays a boot camp father with strong family values. In addition, the characters are trying to pass the time in quarantine due to unprecedented UFOs. Anderson’s depiction of life in quarantine is relatable due to the actual world recovering from a pandemic. Piled onto these issues are the relationships and backgrounds of all the other characters. Like the approach utilized in Anderson’s previous projects, there are insights into political issues and current interests. Asteroid City is an outstanding work of fiction portrayed in a realistic, clever, and artistic form.

With the direction shifting between narration by Cranston and the scenarios playing out in Asteroid City, several questions and unexpected surprises occur which add to the strangeness and the politics of this fictional world. Anderson also presents scenarios which are unclear in his pictures, but still in tune because of how it relates to his characters and who is ultimately in charge. Asteroid City is one-of-a-kind world filled with egos of talented, crazy people who are under a quarantine in a deserted Nuke town. Asteroid City presents endless possibilities and pure nostalgic joy.

Everyone faces challenges around every corner in Asteroid City which are made more complex due to the egotistical behaviors in close quarters. There are also breathtaking and amusing scenes in Asteroid City that spark the imagination and create an unforgettable spectacle. Four stars for Asteroid City.