Kokomo City (2023)
★★★★
This review may contain spoilers.
wow, this was great. worth the wait, wish I had got to watch it sooner, moreover wish it was showing in theaters near me because I would have gone to see it then.
the raw and realness of these conversations are this film's standout IMO, the things that they are saying are so powerful. the shit that these women have been through really is insane. That is all I got, I love the way these women talk about themselves though, something that stuck out to me most of all is these little moments where they check themselves out in the mirror or fiddle with their hair or the way they interact with D. Smith, the way they talk about how much better they feel after they transition.
I love the great music and sound editing on this film that is where it is great, the sound effects feel so powerful and real, and the music choices here are wonderful from the jazzy upbeat funky intro to Aint I Woman, to the French song that plays mid-way to the film, I could go on and on because each song that played was perfectly chosen it not only play to the scene, with some beats matching the scene's choreography but emphasize it, there are a couple of really good sound effects that I noted that added to the scene, the fire in the later part of this movie feels so good, the gunshots how all sound cut off and there is a moment before the sound plays and a few moments after that is great.
next, I wanted to mention the great editing these two kind of go hand and hand because the edit here is great, the way it chooses to frame some scenes with other footage was pretty great but more over the cuts that are done as these women reach the point of the thing that they are talking about that is when the edit shines IMO.
next, I wanted to mention the way the camera moves is great, the slow movement shots were all great, and the way that D. Smith chooses to block some scenes though really where I think this shines, through doorways, with a couch taking up part of the bottom of the frame, the way she frames one of the women on the ground and it's just her face taking up the entire frame, so many great blocking choices for this film.
great film, will probably rewatch again sometime.
notes below
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- may I first say how excited I am to watch this, I've been looking for it everywhere and it kept telling me when I would search for it on Paramount Plus that it wasn't on there, but I finally got it to work so here we go.
- I love this opening shot how it was framed is very cool.
- damn the music in this opening section is perfect.
- I love the black-and-white color grading, it's very cool.
- I love the jazzy soundtrack, and I love funk jazz-type music.
- I love the shots in this film, they look great.
- loved how the music cut off when the window shut off.
- loved that roll-down window reenactment such a good beat.
- loved how that whole interview segment was framed around a dance, very cool.
- oh my god how that cut together, the music, the shots, great. (15min)
- Lo's introduction scene was great, the music going reverb was awesome.
- the music production on this doc is stellar, the songs chosen and how they are edited into the film are spectacular, and the music going from full volume to muted or muffled is great.
- just noting this conversation where she is talking about hiding her true self but feeling good doing it.
- I love how these girls talk about themselves.
- I love the text that is popping up on the screen and also the font that has been chosen, it's amazing.
- it's so real and raw these conversations that they are having, I particularly like this conversation set that started around 43 minutes in and ran till about 50 ish mins, the realness of this conversation is so great.
I love this French song that was used here.
- "I am just enjoying getting to know her" - it felt notable this was said so I am noting it.
- ooo I like these fire sound effects.
- I love this montage happening (55mins)
- That shot with the VFX dust on it was great when she is on the deck. (She is talking about how hard it is to get out of the game)
- wow that was emotional.
- love the cell shading on these flowers
- that last song Ain't a Woman is great.
- wow.. just wow.
