Kodachrome (2017)

Memorable, crazy movie

A waste of 90 minutes of my life

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

'Kodachrome' isn't going to win any awards for originality. The family cross-country road trip story has been done before, often better than this. The hook: Ben (Ed Harris), a world-famous photographer, is terminal. Before he dies, he wants to drive from New York to Parsons, Kansas to develop old rolls of Kodachrome film that he's been saving for years. Accompanying him are his nurse Zoe (Elizabeth Olsen) and his estranged son Matt (Jason Sudeikis), who reluctantly agrees to join and only does so because he wants to meet with a band in Chicago and convince them to sign with his label. Each of the three have their demons. Ben is an insufferable jerk, Matt is divorced and dysfunctional, Zoe is also divorced and dysfunctional. But they're all together by choice, so they're still trying.If you think you can tell where this is going, you're probably right. Pretty much scene-by-scene it's predictable. This certainly lessens the impact, but the performances and dialogue will keep you engaged. Credit goes to the actors and the writers for making these characters and relationships feel lived in and real. The tension and acrimony between father and son showcase themselves almost immediately. Their dialogue cuts deeply, and the cruelty of the barbs they exchange startles. Zoe plays the role of conscience, doing her best to help these two hard-headed boys settle their differences before it's too late. As soon as Matt puts his sword away and begins to show a lighter side, Zoe notices, and the viewers notice her noticing. Again, it's not hard to predict where any of this is going.Zoe's character is frustratingly underwritten and underused. But the Matt and Ben relationship is well executed. The hostility feels real and so does the longing to connect, despite what has happened in the past. The film offers some mixed messages about letting go of the past, which haunts each of the main characters in some way. A crucial monologue urges them to move forward, yet they're driving across the country to develop old film and preserve old photos. It's also ironic that a movie that romanticizes film is streaming on Netflix. This film has meaningful messages to share, even if it's not entirely clear about everything it's saying. If you don't mind a formulaic family drama with moving and warm moments, this movie isn't a bad pick.

Nothing new to see here, folks - it's all been done before...

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.

At the dinner table Ben (Ed Harris) used the term, 'low hanging fruit.' The script writers had some understanding of the concept but then went on to write a screenplay that is all low hanging fruit. From the dying dad and the resentful son, the pretty nurse who's just along for the ride, the innuendo about Ben's brother's wife, the girl who likes The Pixies and The Smiths, the english bandmates acting like jerks. This screenplay was artless. Amazing because it was about a film photographer and a music producer who are trying to retain art in the face of corporate commodification. It was fun and enjoyable but so ridiculous and predictable.