#joshbaker

[ieatmovies]

KIN (2018) Au premier abord, KIN ressemble à un dérivé de cette vague de teen-movies héroïques faisant de ses héros de jeunes adolescents promis à un destin plus grand: et en plus de ça, le film des frères Jonathan et Josh Baker arbore sa plus belle parure de long-métrage moderne, au visuel techno-terne grisâtre, avec une grosse dose de S-F pour le background. On doute donc énormément de KIN, guettant la moindre gaminerie pour pester: fort heureusement, le film s’avère être assez original, bien soutenu par Zoe Kravitz, Dennis Quaid et James Franco -eux en arrière-plan par rapport à la trame dramatique “road-trip fraternel”, très réussie. KIN, c’est l’histoire de ce gosse adopté qui erre la journée, séchant les cours pour aller faire de l’urbex, afin de récolter des métaux pour gagner quelques sous: une errance solitaire symbolique, avec ce père adoptif veuf sévère, et ce demi-frère qui sort de taule, qui mènera le pré-ado à découvrir un mystérieux artefact. Une usine abandonnée où gisent d’étranges soldats vêtus de combinaisons issues d’une technologie ultra-avancée, et un ray-gun surpuissant abandonné, ce sont les fondations de KIN: affilié à l’arme, le petit Jimmy va devoir fuir les meurtriers de son père aux côtés de son demi-frangin, ce dernier tentant d’échapper à sa dette envers ses “créanciers” l’ayant permis de survivre en prison. Sortant de l’ombre, deux individus similaires aux cadavres découverts dans l’usine désaffectée prennent en chasse l’arme -un désintégrateur futuriste aux dégâts monstrueux, faisant de KIN un road-movie mature et inattendu, piochant sa base là où il faut -tout commence à Detroit, la ville de ROBOCOP (1987), propice à une S-F urbaine de qualité-. Twisté d’une élégante manière pour son final inattendu et prometteur, KIN a le bon ton de prendre le temps pour donner de la consistance à ses protagonistes, faux stéréotypes lissés par les affiches cinéma prenant ici une dimension narrative capitale: à la façon d’un reveal énorme augmentant de façon exponentielle son champ d’action, le film prend la direction d’un final qu’un PANDORUM (2009) ne renierait pas. Intelligent, KIN est de loin l’exception qui confirme la règle des teen/kid-movies actuels -THE DARK TOWER (2017) l’a prouvé, par exemple-: mais comme on nous le suggère, il faudra patienter quelques années pour en voir l’alléchante suite. On tient avec ce long-métrage un discret renouveau du genre, bien que conséquent et valable pour un public adulte: une introduction brillante à une saga de S-F moderne, faisant de KIN la préface d’un univers travaillé -narration, son, image et designs ultra-classe- et intéressant -nombreuses thématiques et niveaux de lecture- qu’on espère retrouver avec les promesses annoncées -quelque chose d’immense et épique-. Le titre français, KIN - AU COMMENCEMENT a beau mal sonner, il n’est pas menteur. A voir absolument! BIG FUCKIN GUN /20

[doomonfilm]

Review : Kin (2018)

I love it when I see a trailer for a film, and I just know that it will be one that I love.  It’s been happening quite a bit in 2018, and that trend has continued with the release of the science-fiction drama that is Kin. 

An abandoned Midwestern warehouse is suddenly the stage for a mysterious battle between opposing forces that do not seem native to Earth.  In the wake of the battle, which took the lives all involved, a mysterious weapon is left behind, which is discovered by Elijah Solinski (Myles Truitt), a young man from a troubled household on a scrapping expedition.  Elijah, due to a seeming connection with the weapon, ends up keeping it, hiding it from strict father Hal (Dennis Quaid) and fresh out of jail brother Jimmy (Jack Reynor).  Meanwhile, Jimmy is trying to hide problems of his own in the form of a debt owed to Taylor Balik (James Franco), a crime lord who employed his men to protect Jimmy during his stint in prison.  When Jimmy realizes he cannot rely on his father for help, he is forced to take desperate measures, resulting in a botched robbery that kills Hal and members of Taylor’s crew (including his brother).  Jimmy, feeling cornered, hides Hal’s death from Elijah as he takes him across the country in an attempt to hid from Taylor, not knowing that Elijah has a mysterious pair of soldiers searching for him and the weapon in his possession.

Parallel narratives run through this film in a beautifully woven tapestry of brotherly love and doing whatever it takes to protect those closest to you.  Jimmy is trying to protect his family from one threat, Elijah is attempting to protect Milly (Zoe Kravitz) and Jimmy from a different threat, and those tracking down the weapon from Elijah play a similar role.  Our protagonists and antagonist are all motivated by a strong connection to their brothers, and obligations to either protect or avenge them.  Their are even multiple levels of road films going on : a story about connection, the chase film and the rebels on the run style of road film all come into play.  The stakes in the film, while numerous, are all attended to in a way that makes each of them hold weight, making the extremely tense (and, in my opinion, quite rewarding) final moments extremely satisfying.  

The points being made in this film hit home well.  The narrative on how brotherly bonds can permeate broken trust is the driving narrative, but the undercurrent narrative about strength in your scars (or perceived weaknesses) is also present and easy to relate to in terms of the story being told.  The often used allegory of discovering your true potential is used as a catalyst for continuation rather than the force that motivates Elijah, which keeps this film feeling fresh and not like a re-tread of familiar territory, such as Flight of the Navigator or other similar films from the 1980s that obviously inspired this one.

Even though the film is seemingly set in the modern day, their is a nostalgic feel to it.  The shot compositions tend to offer a sense of being trapped, with lines in the frame creating boxes (read, prisons) around the characters.  The cold color timing in combination with ‘natural’ (meaning, in-world of the film) lights that cut through the coldness is quite effective.  The design on the weapon, the soldiers sent to retrieve it, and their bloodhound-like tracking device are all familiar yet original in both design and function. 

Myles Truitt plays extremely cool, calm and collective, a bit surprising considering the circumstances of his character, but his performance pulls it off prior to the redeeming final moments of the film.  Jack Reynor plays the lovable wild card well, with his best and worst actions all being rooted in a deep love for his family.  Zoe Kravitz is (purposefully) a bit of a tag along character, but her presence provides a bit of lightness among the tension and high stakes.  Dennis Quaid plays the stern father well, not losing our respect despite the manner in which he treats his sons.  James Franco is a force to be reckoned with, owning every moment of screen time provided to him as the protagonist.  

Not to give too much away (as you should definitely see this film if you are even remotely interested), but the resolution is heavily leaning towards this being part one of a series.  If this turns out to be the case, I am very excited to see this world expanded, as the taste we are given of the possibilities felt like one of the best teases I’ve received from a film in years.  Making a best of list at year’s end will certainly be a tall task due to films like this one.

[mystudioflow-blog]

Somehow moving and upright piano that weighed about as much as a small car went smoothly! 😎 #mystudioflow #wheretheresawilltheresaway . . . . . #piano #grandpiano #uprightgrand #uprightpiano #baldwin #baldwinpiano #pianopiano #swflmusic #beatmaker #audioengineering #musicmaker #musicproducer #musicproducerlife #audioaddict #musicfiend #songwriter #singersongwriter #gogetter #vaynernation #recordinglife #recordingmusic #recordingconnection #rrfc #joshbaker #gogetter (at EQ Recording And Multimedia)

[mystudioflow-blog]

I must say fabricating all the custom cut acoustical paneling for my vocal booth felt like it took forever! You can watch the full length video on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4xRPeolfhE&t=910s

[mystudioflow-blog]

I built removable window isolation units to take care of the three windows in my studio space. They were made mostly out of scraps with five layers including MDF, drywall, plywood and a TON of acoustical caulking!!! Check out the full video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4xRPeolfhE&t=910s