Kodachrome (2017)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Charming and brutal

There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

Matt is a record executive about to lose his job. He receives the visit of smart*ss Zooey, his estranged father PA. Turns out, dad Benjamin is a world famous photographer and also about to die of cancer.Benjamin is your standard cantankerous old man, not even cancer can redeem. Matt is resentful because dad wasted too much time travelling and taking photos, rather then being a good dad at homeObviously, Matt proclaims he is not interested in meeting dad, but we know the two will eventually meet ... and what better that throwing in a road trip for the occasion?The road trip involves delivering rolls of unprocessed Kodachrome film before they stop developing them for good. Seeing which photos are so precious for Benjamin is supposed to be the big surprise at the end of the movie, although anybody with minimal experience can see the "surprise' coming from a mile away.And there lies the biggest weakness of the movie: we never get to see the photographic masterpieces Benjamin was famous for (Was he a war photographer? Travel landscape? Social commentary? Fashion?) but we're supposed to get very emotional when we discover what his most precious photos were about...PS and expect the usual nasty repartees between characters, only to end predictably with love and affection

Sometimes a film that doesn't mess with the formula fly's by thanks to its charms, smarts and loveably on-song cast, Netflix's Kodachrome is one of those such film experiences.A road trip movie that centres around dysfunctional father and son duo, Jason Sudeikis's failing music manager Matt and Ed Harris's dying photographer Ben and all round meanie Ben, with the addition of Elizabeth Olsen's caring nurse Zoe, as the trio set-off to get Ben's Kodachrome film rolls developed before the dying technology is exterminated, Kodachrome is one of those films that you will have figured out from about 5 minutes in, but it really doesn't matter thanks to its execution and pitch-perfect delivery from its cast.As the mismatched trio set forth on their adventure to Kansas City, we're treated to some fantastically realised and often rather poignant character driven moments, stemming from Matt and Ben's complicated father and son relationship and Ben's increasing feelings towards Olsen's troubled yet compassionate and likeable Zoe.Director Mark Raso keeps things moving at a steady pace as Kodachrome refuses to linger to long in any one place and while never going too deep into the backstories of these relatable characters, we get to know just enough about each of them to ensure that Kodachrome will be watched without a dry eye in the room.Kodachrome's ability to draw out real and tangible feelings from its audience is thanks largely to its aforementioned cast members and while Sudeikis is as good as his ever been as the troubled Ben, its Harris and Olsen that steal the show here.Relishing the chance to get cantankerous, Harris is a blast as the hard to love but hard to hate Ben while Olsen further establishes herself as one of the most likeable and watchable actresses working in the industry today with another fine turn as Zoe.It seems at present that the sibling of Mary-Kate and Ashley can truly do no wrong.Final Say - With great turns from its cast members, a toe-tapping soundtrack and a strong emotional core, Kodachrome is a road-trip worth taking and despite its long foreshadowed ending and adherence to the rulebook, this is one of the best Netflix films to find its way into our households (or cinemas as is the case in Australia) this year.4 thrown away cassette tapes out of 5

Estranged father and Son going on a road trip isn't entirely new material. Ed Harris as the father , Ed Harris as he is always delivers. Jason Sudeikis for some reason always looks like a Mister Know it all in many of his roles, it makes one wonder if he has other facial expressions or emotional depth, he always appears to be the same person in all his roles. If you're a baby boomer like me, you will feel the nostalgia we have pre-selfie era. There is something magical with how the old cameras worked and the placing of the film roll. Indeed those were the days.You'll know what happens in this film, predictable as it is there are still some charming elements in it.

Ed Harris (Benjamin Ryder, famed photographer, a fictional character) dominates this movie with excellent acting (adding to his many fine performances during his career), and his displays of both sarcasm and pathos after years of bitterness. He and his nurse (Olsen), who encourages his estranged son Matt (Sudeikis) to accompany them to Kansas to develop Kodachrome film rolls on the last day that that film type will be done by a photo shop in Kansas. Harris is dying of liver cancer and the film revolves around his reconciliation with his son and his son's reconciliation with his failing music career and failed marriage. The film was released in April, 2018, so the 2017 date is incorrect. Harris should get an award nomination at the least for his riveting performance. All the cast was excellently cast and it's an excellent flick dealing a historical event, the end of Kodachrome (see the article in NYT December, 2010 article "For Kodachrome Fans, Road Ends at Photo Lab in Kansas" which was the inspiration for the movie). Director Mark Raso blends three separate reconciliations into one very good movie.