Initially, doesn't look and feel like a Soderbergh movie but it gets there. With a huge dollop of Hitchcock. Weird.
It’s not the most inventive of plots, but it’s good at what it wants to do. A tight and lean thriller that proves just how effective simplicity can be sometimes.
I think the police could have been called sooner :neutral_face:
"Kimi" was a film I had no intention of watching, but it was able to grip me rather quickly. It follows Angela Childs, a tech worker with agoraphobia who comes across a dangerous conspiracy that makes her face her greatest fear. A primary backdrop is the AI device Kimi that the company she works for is developing.
The first half of the film was great. In my opinion, it did a great job at portraying agoraphobia and Angela's struggles with her mental health. Utilising contemporary themes of the Covid pandemic, lockdown, work-at-home culture, and social isolation was a risky move, but it was interwoven fantastically into the narrative. Could have felt like a tacky attempt at reaching a modern audience, but it's an integral part of the story. Most of this part of the movie works off of character exploration, with a solid focus on realism. I enjoyed delving into layers of Angela's character, as well as the various details in the small environment she has surrounded herself with.
Past a certain point, once the plot really kicks in, is where my major issues with the film come. It was entertaining all the way through, I'll give it that. But it was so bloody stupid that it felt like an entirely different movie, one of my prime gripes - the tonal inconsistency. From an uncomfortable portrayal of a rarely explored mental health issue, we quickly rush into a thriller with completely ridiculous stakes. To start with, having three hitmen sent against Angela came out of left field, even with the set-up. The realism was broken, moreso with how incompetent they were. Trying to abduct her right next to a huge crowd. All those points about the information age, but no one would mention the attempted kindapping of a girl in the middle of a riot? Then they got her at her home and were left dumbfounded, legitimately stunned, when she issued a few commands at Kimi. Worst of all, the ending was fun, but completely ridiculous and out-of-place. The movie turned into a very violent version of "Home Alone", just end everything with a nailgun and hitmen who are afraid to use their guns. And to my disappointment, the ending was tone-deaf. Apparently, surviving an attempted assasination and murdering three of your assailants is the perfect way to kick off your recovery from mental illness! Because Angela appears completely happy, like all her struggles are now gone. Without a scene to suggest how she approached such changes in her life, only the aftermath.
"Kimi" was a very intriguing film to see, but got marginally worse in quite the rapid fashion as it went on. It's a shame as I genuinely loved its more introspective set-up portion, before it delved into its actual plot. The mystery was disturbing, but the tonal shifts drove my suspense away, later leaving me only dumbfounded at what I'd just seen. Some great ideas in here, but they didn't contribute to as much as they should have in the end. One thing that remained consistenly great - Zoe Kravits's performance. Her mannerisms were quite varied and there was a lot of subtlety to her delivery.
It was good to see Mrs. Kim get out of Stars Hollow for once.
There isn't a single aspect of Kimi that I can compliment. The writing is bad, the acting is bad, and the direction is bad. This feels like it's a first attempt at a feature film with a low budget and little talent.
Overhyped thriller by Soderberg. Had I gone in with lower expectations, I think I would have enjoyed this much more. It just doesn't pop the way a thriller should but it does have a great final act and some interesting looks at our modern epidemic of shut ins.
For an American movie that's filmed in LA (Interior) and Seattle (Exterior), I'm getting real strong European vibes.
This reminds me of The Net with Sandra Bullock which I like better.
HBO Max's latest production is one of those films that has good intentions but falls short of many things.
The premise (a smart speaker that is a key player in a possible murder case and a young woman affected by agoraphobia as the only witness) is very interesting and, if handled well, could have been one of the films of the year. However, the development is inconsistent, never showing any real tension, and one of the most relevant aspects of the protagonist is immediately resolved. There are a multitude of things that happen "just because" or, at least, they don't come to fruition, rushing the end of the film in a rushed manner.
A mediocre film that is only saved by the sublime performance of Zöe Kravitz, whose gestures and movements grab you, while her dialogue makes you despise her.
Zoe Kravitz pretty much knocks it out of the park as a PTSD suffering, live action "Alexa" algorithm who overhears something through the titular "Kimi" device, not intended for non psychopathic "not with the cool folks" ears, and then makes the naïve mistake of thinking that her supervisors or their superiors would want to help, as the default response in most tech corporations is to either cover up anything nefarious, and or destroy anyone uncovering anything nefarious, unless it makes the company look SO horrible that they are forced to deal with it in a non homicidal manner, to get ahead of the backlash.
The setup is paced to allow you to somewhat understand the extent of her character, Angela Childs fears and phobias, although the explanation for them is glossed over with the standard "I was assaulted, and the police put me on trial instead of my attacker", rather than going into any in depth explanation. Yet, she still appears to have a completely intact and fully functioning libido, as evidenced by her apparently frequent "booty calls" with her would be paramour, Terry Hughes, who lives in the loft across the street, in a neighborhood where no one appears to be able to afford curtains or blinds, and are content to peruse and ogle each other, and not feel the least bit creeped out about it. But perhaps that's just me. Modern times, I guess...
Things pick up when she FINALLY realizes that the good guys are the bad guys, the Calvary ain't coming, and she's going to have to save herself, although, for a supposedly tech savvy person, she makes a few rookie mistakes such as not turning off her phone, removing the battery and SIM card, or disposing of it and using a burner phone if all else fails. Also, going straight to the folks her supervisors were hesitant to call in the first place, AFTER she realizes they mean her harm rather than helping her, but then again, it does make her more sympathetic in that she's not an omnipotent savant, but a very smart, somewhat damaged person simply trying to do the right thing.
The action ratchets up in the third act as someone we had questions about in the first two acts (...yes @JimDarko, that is INDEED Kevin McCallister's older brother "Buzz") who turns up seemingly out of nowhere to try to help. Things get pretty sketchy when Angela has the opportunity to turn the tables on the baddies with the help of her electronic helper / nemesis, and let's just say, she like "Lethal Weapon's" Murtaugh, "nails em' all".
Hmmmm, who knew that justifiable homicide was the cure for PTSD and Agoraphobia?
I enjoyed it, you might too, and like Forrest Gump, "That is all I have to say about that!!"...
The acting is good. The storyline is crap we have seen this before. Only and I mean only watch when there is nothing else to watch. There are better movies out there.
It's just Blow Out but instead of John Travolta we get a dead-eyed, blue-haired agoraphobic Reddit moderator. Passable enough until the final confrontation when it shifts from a low-energy "crime thriller" to an unintentional comedy as hitmen channeling their Three Stooges fail to corral a 90-pound "strong, brave" shut-in.
Interesting movie - I liked it. Probably the best I've seen from Zoe Kravitz.
Zoe Kravitz was great and the bit of exploring post-covid isolation issues was welcome. The main storyline, however, was quite simplistic and took some odd, escalating turns in the climax. What was most jarring was this decidedly non-action film ending with an action-oriented finale. This will be an interesting time capsule film, but beyond the novelty of acknowledging the pandemic, this was a pretty underwhelming mystery.
I have questions. Why zooms the CEO in a wardrobe fake room. And what on earth about Angelas back story? Seems the only thing that matters is not explained at all?
Appart from all quirks the sensation of watching Kravitz beeing Angela glued my eyes to the screen, but I dont know why.
What’s going on with movies these days? This is the second one I watched this week that slowly builds up and right before it gets interesting, it’s suddenly over! It’s like they cut out the last 30 minutes that would have been thrilling. It leaves you like a coitus interruptus very unsatisfied :worried:
This modern day Rear Window is Soderbergh’s best movie in quite some time. I didn’t quite understand one particular plot thread but despite a possible plot hole, it is still an enjoyable film.
A good entertaining nail-biter. Zoe Kravitz is such a wonderfull actrice. She makes things looks so good and so easy. It's a small movie but at the same time a big one.
I appreciate that it is schlock dressed up as something a bit more serious at the start, but I wished it leaned into the silliness a bit earlier. Also having Buzz there for the Home Alone-Esque climax is just icing on the cake
It's an okay movie. Would have been a much better movie if it remained within the whole kimi-surveillance-corporate oversight plot and the ethics of it all. Having it all devolve into to a conspiratorial cover up cheapened the story for me.
It’s a very straightforward story, and revolves around a single character. However, it was quite interesting at the same time. Clever. I liked it.
Is this any good? Or just political propoganda?
the first two acts are pretty good, but then the third act is rushed garbage.
what a gorgeous and completely unaffordable apartment, though
It was aight, not spectacular but not bad either.
Either I don't get it or it is one really dull movie. I found this very simple plot. I don't like it and I don't recommend it.
A well constructed claustrophobic thriller. A small film that punches above its weight. Really enjoyed it. Well timed right at 90mins also. Kravitz shines and although you need to suspend your disbelief in parts it doesn't take away from the entertainment at hand. Strong 7.0
Like playing Mine Sweeper, Kimi is a pleasant distraction despite its predictable simplicity.
Quick moving second and third acts and Zoë Kravitz's solid performance give this perfunctory thriller the edge it needs to be entertaining.
A mediocre, but not bad, thriller. Perhaps a bit too predictable. But at least it's realistic. No woke bullshit is nice for a change too.
On HBO Max.
Shout by SuitBlockedParent2022-05-22T09:57:11Z
Steven Soderbergh's latest film, Kimi, is a mess. Given Soderbergh and David Koepp's prior accomplishments., I had high hopes for this film. However, after a captivating opening half-hour, "Kimi" begins to lose its footing and never regains it.
Full of promise, but lacking in execution. Something feels lacking, due in part to Zoë Kravitz's character and a finale that feels out of place. Despite its flaws, Kimi does have some good moments. It's a well-paced film that offers commentary on themes of isolation and privacy, which are both relevant topics in today's world. Unfortunately, these aspects are not enough to overcome the film's shortcomings.
Rating: 6.2/10 Since I'm feeling generous.