Freaky Tales: Oakland's Wild Ride Through Time, Genre, and Grit
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck’s "Freaky Tales" is a film that takes viewers on a ride through 1987 Oakland. This movie might not be what one would expect to see on the big screen but it definitely lives up to the Sundance premieres – gritty and gory thriller with a modern twist representing both location and time.
The feature is divided into four chapters which are all interconnected, painting colorful pictures of subcultures present in Oakland at that time. It tells stories such as punk rockers taking on neo-Nazis, wannabe rappers fighting for respect, hitman looking for redemption, and basketball legend seeking revenge. Each tale is unique and captivating in its own chaotic way.
Notably recognized by "Captain Marvel," Boden and Fleck go wild with their creativity here by giving us this energetic stylish extravaganza as they have never done before. The directors do not limit themselves only to live action shots; they also use animation, documentary style footage etc., all these different visual techniques help tell the story better while sinking audience deeper into 1987 atmosphere. Not just another nostalgic trip down memory lane – this approach makes it fresh again without losing any familiarity points along the way!
All actors shine together as one ensemble cast should when working together perfectly like pieces in jigsaw puzzle that fits so good you never wanna take them apart again! Pedro Pascal plays hitman haunted by past mistakes while Jay Ellis portrays kung fu basketball star Sleepy Floyd who fights nazis during his rise to fame among other things… They both bring such vibrant energy into their characters’ performances which serves as anchor points throughout this genre hopping journey through time orchestrated by film makers who know exactly what buttons push how hard make us feel something new every minute we spend watching movies just like “Freaky Tales”.
That being said there are still some areas where this masterpiece falls short from being flawless: supernatural part represented by green glow appears underdeveloped or even unnecessary at times; structure used for telling stories within an anthology film does not always work well enough on its own terms leaving viewers craving either more unity between narratives or deeper exploration into each separate story presented. But even with these minor flaws "Freaky Tales" stays strong thanks those lower budget vibes mixed up with higher level of action packedness keeping everything together tightly! Any way you slice it, this here is one helluva good time!
What really makes ‘Freaky Tales' special is the fact that it pays tribute to Oakland and the Bay Area as a whole. This movie captures the essence of what living in such diverse community means, showing love towards different cultures which are present there through every frame worked onto celluloid thus making them seem alive rather than just being pieces stuck together during production process. Although not destined for box office success like other blockbusters released around same period – still has potential to become cult classic due its mix between humor & action set against local backdrop.
In conclusion I would say that “Freaky Tales” represents itself as wild, sometimes chaotic yet entertaining journey across genres and times. It is also worth mentioning that watching it on big screen helps fully appreciate all energy put into making this film because when you see something larger than life happening right before your eyes then everything becomes much clearer so don't miss out! However if someone isn’t willing take off their seat belt for couple hours while embracing unpredictability of events occurring during such ride – they might find themselves disappointed after witnessing something like “Freaky Tales”. Nonetheless we can't wait until next project from Boden & Fleck who have already proved themselves capable creating exciting original works challenging traditional methods storytelling forever more!