Aarcflick

 The Texas-born hip-hop duo UGK confidently gazed into the camera atop stallions in the music video for their fan-favorite song, "Wood Wheel." The visuals reflected the legendary Houston-area artist's mastery of blending stories of big-city hustle with charming Texas cowboy culture. "This isn't about Black people trying to assimilate into the Western lifestyle. Black people all over the country, from the East Coast to the West Coast, have prevailed in this space for years," said Bun B, who, along with partner Pimp C, became a pillar of Southern hip-hop, creating hits that helped make it the dominant rap genre today. Stars: Jordan Peele, Pam Grier, Glynn Turman Bun, an ambassador for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the first and only Black male hip-hop headliner in its history, shares his experiences in "High Horse: The Black Cowboy," a new docuseries executive produced by Jordan Peele and his production company, Monkeypaw Productions. The ...

Six lives intertwine through shared experiences of love, pain, and resilience over the course of a single day in Mexico City. This must be a very moving story, one that hasn't been seen in a long time. At its heart are the lives of six people over the course of a single day in Mexico City. And while you might think, "What can you possibly gain from observing the lives of six women?", prepare to experience a profound shift. We see the life of a young woman yearning to break free from the constraints that bind her. Then, we see the life of a mother forced to confront a family truth.  Director: Rodrigo García Writer: Rodrigo García Stars: Naian González Norvind, Adriana Barraza, Natalia Solián The question is: can she handle the truth and continue with her normal life? The next storyline is my personal favorite, where an Uber driver unexpectedly becomes involved in someone else's life simply because he overheard a conversation. It's not that the driver is willingly i...

 “Being cool isn’t a renewable resource,” says one contributor to this documentary about the rise and fall of Vice magazine. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Vice transformed from a punk magazine into a digital empire telling the world what was cool (more specifically, telling millennials, who were then at their peak). By 2017, it was valued at nearly $6 billion; in 2023, Vice filed for bankruptcy. One man who saw it all from the inside is TV chef Eddie Huang, the director and frontman of this film. He had a long-running show on the Viceland channel and says he’s still owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in royalties. Huang is also an advertisement for the best of Vice: fast-paced, funny, and authentic. The film opens with a host of must-see stories about pre-gentrification Brooklyn and interviews with early employees. It's not meant to be malicious, but Vice Is Broke will be essential viewing for anyone who worked there, with its detailed account of who held what position, job...

 Zackary Canepari and Jessica Dimmock update "Bowling for Columbine" for a country that still refuses to address one of its most preventable crises. Bulletproof frames that students can tip over at the first sign of danger. A robot dog the size of a Pomeranian that jumps and barks at the sight of an intruder. Inflatable bulletproof vests so light that an elementary school child could inflate them and hide behind them. These are just some of the more sensible products showcased in the opening minutes of "Thoughts & Prayers," Zackary Canepari and Jessica Dimmock's scathing and incisive critique: the least ludicrous selection of items that contribute to America's booming active shooter defense industry, which now generates more than three billion dollars a year. Directors: Zackary Canepari, Jessica Dimmock Stars: Quinn Davis, Tabitha Dwyer, Francis Brooke Of course, it's a small price to pay for the ludicrous illusion that we're taking meaningful st...

Finnish director Timo Vuorensola likes to take risks. A prime example is his Iron Sky trilogy, which places Nazis in space. If you need further proof, he's also behind a Star Trek parody series called Star Wreck. Before Altered, which isn't exactly a work of naturalism, his most realistic film, by far, was the failed reboot of Jeepers Creepers. So you know what to expect: cheap special effects, cheap science fiction, questionable politics, and mediocre acting. Unfortunately, Altered doesn't stray far from the theme, but hey, it does feature a well-known celebrity in Tom Felton of Harry Potter fame. At least that's something. This film, thankfully, has two things going for it: it's not about Nazis in space, and it's only eighty minutes long. Director: Timo Vuorensola Writer: Timo Vuorensola Stars: Aggy K. Adams, Daniyar Alshinov, Richard Brake Altered is almost charming in its lack of specificity. Science fiction usually works best when its genre elements are use...

Lee Sang-il, director of "Unforgiven," creates a decades-spanning historical drama starring Ryo Yoshizawa as an orphan aspiring to master the demanding art of kabuki. "Kokuho," a vivid portrait of a legendary kabuki actor throughout his career, joins a rich tradition of films that depict the personal toll of artistic creation. Too often, these stories present a simplified version of the demands and qualities of this art, diluting the essence of what drives the characters to undergo such rigorous trials. In contrast, the unexpected success of Japanese director Lee Sang-il, "Kokuho," devotes much of its runtime to capturing the beautiful physicality and poignant stories around which the performances revolve, reflecting the numerous struggles and complex triumphs in its protagonist's life. Director: Sang-il Lee Writers: Satoko Okudera, Shûichi Yoshida Stars: Keitatsu Koshiyama, Soya Kurokawa, Ai Mikami The title "Kokuho" translates as "nati...

Review of the Carman Family Deaths: When Linda Carman and her son, Nathan, went fishing, no one in her family imagined they would never see her again. This led to an exhaustive investigation where all suspicions point to Nathan as the mastermind behind such a horrific crime… but the story doesn't end there. This true crime documentary revisits the chilling saga and horrific tragedies of the Carman family. Beginning with the mysterious disappearance of Linda Carman after going fishing with her 22-year-old son, Nathan, the film recounts how Nathan was finally found eight days later, adrift alone in a life raft 100 miles from Martha's Vineyard, with no trace of Linda. And while this might seem like just another tragedy at sea, a deeper look reveals another terrible situation in the Carman family: the horrific murder of Linda's father, John Chakalos. Director: Yon Motskin Stars: George Banghart Jr., Keli Solomon In an unexpected twist, Nathan becomes a suspect in both cases, an...

At the risk of sounding like the Grinch, I must lament once again the release of Christmas movies before Thanksgiving. The temperatures may finally be dropping, but we're still too close to the blues of the time change and too far from the holiday splurges to fully enjoy Netflix's now-traditional annual feast of cheap Christmas sweets. Nevertheless, its content machine keeps churning, offering treats as substantial and long-lasting as cotton candy since mid-November. Like American chocolates that no longer contain real chocolate but sell like hotcakes at Halloween, the Netflix Christmas movie—like its rival Hallmark, the queen of Christmas movies—is used, even adored, for its peculiar style, its mechanical familiarity (nostalgic cast, minuscule budgets, polystyrene snow, deliberately absurd premise), and its undeniable artificial filling, for its ability to deliver doses of sugary pleasure without ever quite living up to expectations.  Director: Mark Steven Johnson Writer: Mark...

What Daniel Rezende wants to convey with this film is that hate is not an incurable disease. Love is all that is needed to overcome it. The world is plunged into chaos. Community violence is rampant, would-be dictators occupy the positions of president and prime minister, the LGBTQ+ community still faces enormous difficulties in accepting its true identity in most countries, and hate speech is openly delivered at public gatherings and political rallies, while law enforcement is compromised. With The Son of a Thousand Men, Daniel Rezende points out that hate has always been present in our society. It is not a new disease. The film, adapted from Valter Hugo Mãe's novel of the same name, is set in the mid-20th century and doesn't look very different from our current reality.  Director: Daniel Rezende Writers: Duda Casoni, Valter Hugo Mãe, Daniel Rezende Stars: Rodrigo Santoro, Rebeca Jamir, Miguel Martines A grandfather tells a boy to stay away from "effeminate men" and ...

Harry and Jack Williams created this series about a contract killer and her journalist son, set in various stunning European locations. With a blend of absurdist entertainment and simplicity, the new AMC+ series, The Assassin, is sustained by the charisma of its stars, Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore. Creators: Harry Williams, Jack Williams Stars: Keeley Hawes, Freddie Highmore, Shalom Brune-Franklin Whether this is enough to sustain what feels more like a paragraph sketch than a full television season depends on your opinion of beautiful European landscapes and empty plot twists. Just a few days after finishing the first six episodes, I remembered nothing of the second half of the season. Even so, I'd probably be convinced to watch Hawes as 007 and Highmore charmingly stuttering again. Both the strengths and limitations of The Assassin are typical of creators Harry and Jack Williams, masters at devising compelling premises—see Rellik, Liar, and The Tourist, among other series—bu...

Blue Eyed Girl is a poignant story at times about accepting an unfulfilling life, but its catharsis relies on a poorly executed romantic comedy plot. The film centers on Jane (Marisa Coughlan), a married mother in her forties whose father, Jack (Beau Bridges, One Night in Miami), has recently survived a suicide attempt. She travels to his hometown to see him, accompanied by her sisters Alex (Eliza Coupe) and Ceci (Bridey Elliott). As the situation unfolds, Jane is forced to confront her past regrets and discover how to find the happiness that eludes her, especially when she reconnects with her high school sweetheart, Harrison (Sam Trammell, The Fault in Our Stars). Director: J. Mills Goodloe Writer: Marisa Coughlan Stars: Eliza Coupe, Beau Bridges, Sam Trammell None of the film's shortcomings lie with the actors. Beau Bridges undoubtedly delivers the best performance, his rugged yet warm presence conveying genuine wisdom to those around him while also revealing the vulnerability th...

The Mighty Nein takes place twenty years after the events of The Legend of Vox Machina, and like its predecessor, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but rather enthusiastically recycles it. The Mighty Nein takes place twenty years after the events of The Legend of Vox Machina, and like its predecessor, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but rather enthusiastically recycles it. I was surprised by how much I grew fond of the main characters: a motley crew of misfits. By the end of the series, you might even want to join their quirky group. The members are Molly (Taliesin Jaffe), Caleb (Liam O'Brien), Beau (Beau), Nott the Brave (Sam Riegel), Fjord (Travis Willingham), and my personal favorite, Jester (Laura Bailey). Creator: Critical Role Stars: Laura Bailey, Taliesin Jaffe, Ashley Johnson Every time they refer to themselves by name, everyone else wonders how it's possible that this group is called The Mighty Nein (Nine) when there are only six of them. Nein, as you can see, come...

 Now You See Me: Now Is Not a light and entertaining crime comedy, offering plenty of illusions, but sometimes struggling to figure out what to do with its numerous characters vying for attention. However, I would describe this third installment of Now You See Me as a rather enjoyable option for a pleasant time at the movies, especially for those needing a break from all the prestige and/or horror films dominating the fall lineup. Director: Ruben Fleischer Writers: Michael Lesslie, Paul Wernick, Rhett Reese Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco Directed by Ruben Fleischer, with a screenplay by Seth Grahame Smith, Michael Lesslie, and Rhett Reese, the film opens by revealing a new group of magicians in town. The new Horsemen are led by Bosco (Dominic Sessa), who is essentially the new Atlas; the other two newcomers are Charlie (Justice Smith), who works behind the scenes, and the cunning con artist June (Ariana Greenblatt). In that opening sequence, the trio takes to ...

The series follows a young documentary filmmaker who interviews an infamous serial killer and, in doing so, opens a door to dreams, ghosts, first love, and a dark past that refuses to stay buried. Watching the first few episodes of "If I Hadn't Seen the Sun" was like entering a room where the lights constantly flicker; you're never quite sure what you're seeing, what's real and what's a disturbing memory. I was expecting a psychological thriller, and I found it, but also something more emotional and strangely tender than I anticipated.  Stars: Jing-Hua Tseng, Moon Lee, Hsiao-hsuan Chen The premise is solid: our protagonist, Zhou Pin-yu, goes into prison to interview Li Ren-yao, the man who has confessed to serial murders, but who, with his calm voice and unsettlingly steady gaze, bears no resemblance to the monster one might imagine. From there, the series doesn't take the easy route of simply interrogating a killer; It delves into his past, into the g...

 A group of warriors are sent to a remote temple where their mission is to survive until they reach Tokyo and win a huge prize. So, dear viewers, if you've seen series like Shogun and Squid Game, this one will seem predictable. The plot is as follows: set during the Meiji Restoration in Japan, a group of warriors is summoned to a remote temple. There, they are forced to participate in a competition where each is given a wooden tag and must follow one rule: steal each other's tags and survive until Tokyo. Once there, they can claim a prize of 100 billion won.  Stars: Taichi Saotome, Jun'ichi Okada, Yumia Fujisaki However, as in other similar series, the protagonist participates in the game not for wealth, but to save his family and his village. This plot offers nothing new. I remember seeing something very similar many times. And, of course, there has to be a protagonist who doesn't play to "win," but for his village and his family. How lovely! And of course, t...

The finale of Bat-Fam focuses on the titular family's efforts to save Damian from the Joker's clutches, while also trying to stop the Clown Prince of Crime from turning Gotham into an uncontrolled hellscape by using the Anti-Shine against its citizens. The series primarily adopts an anthology format, with each episode telling a self-contained story that showcases the characters' development. However, an overarching narrative is introduced in the third episode, where we see the Mad Hatter and Bright break into a Wayne Industries warehouse to steal something valuable.  After being thwarted, Clayface and Killer Croc also attempt to rob Wayne Industries. But only after Bright reveals that she is actually Alicia and that she, like Batman's villains, is searching—albeit for different purposes—for something called the Anti-Shine. A scientist named Dr. Light had invented this device, which had the ability to absorb all light. Creators: Mike Roth, Jase Ricci Stars: Luke Wilson, ...

As a non-Thai, I'm unfamiliar with the legend of Tee Yai. A man who, apparently, is more famous than the prime minister. A criminal who garners so much attention often becomes a legend and the subject of programs like this one. But how often are these films and series actually good? Do we watch them simply because they're based on legends and we want to know more about the truth? Legends exist all over the world these days.  However, how relevant are they to a young audience? The film is set in the 1980s. Not so long ago, until you realize that those who know this legend are already around 40 years old. Actor Apo Nattawin, known for his role in the hit teen romantic drama KinnPorsche, is certainly very popular with young people. The 31-year-old actor has demonstrated his talent, but will that be enough to spark interest in a film like this? Director: Nonzee Nimibutr Writer: Chanchana Homsap Stars: Wisarut Himmarat, Supassra Thanachat, Apo Nattawin Wattanagitiphat The film is se...