Movie Review: "Assassins" (2020)

Image Source

Movie: "Assassins"
Director: Ryan White
Year: 2020
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

In February 2017, Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, was murdered in broad daylight in an airport in Malaysia. He was killed with a chemical nerve agent called VX, one of the deadliest nerve agents in the world. It instantly became international news, even more so when it was discovered that his killers were two young women in their 20s. BigJ and I didn't know much about this new story beyond these few facts. The women accused of the assassination were Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam. They were caught on CCTV cameras at Kuala Lumpur International airport, rubbing a substance on Kim Jong-nam's face right before walking away from the scene.

It seems like an open and shut case, right?

Wrong.

Doan Thi Huong and Siti Aisyah mugshot photos from the 2020 movie "Assassins." (Image Source)

Ryan White's documentary "Assassins" (2020) digs deeper into the story of the two women who purportedly assassinated the half-brother of one of the most notorious leaders of one of the most mysterious countries in the world. Siti Aisyah grew up impoverished in Indonesia and had to drop out of school at a young age to begin working. She eventually came to Malaysia with the hopes of finding a job to earn money for her family, though she wound up being employed as a sex worker. Doan took a different path to Malaysia as she had aspirations of becoming an actress. She even had a short and somewhat embarrassing stint on Malaysia's version of "American Idol." The ultimate question this documentary seeks to answer is how did these two women from different countries and different backgrounds who had never met each other both wind up carrying out the assassination of Kim Jong-nam on the same day at the same airport? Were they really just cold-blooded killers, or were they unwitting pawns duped into an accidental assassination by agenda-driven secret agents from North Korea? The latter choice sounds almost too wild to be true.

Ryan White explores the overwhelming evidence showing that, despite its immense improbability, that is precisely what happened to Siti and Doan. These two random strangers were set up months in advance to take the fall for Kim Jong-nam's murder so that Kim Jong-un could not be implicated by the international community in the assassination. Perhaps the worst part of this ordeal is that the country of Malaysia was willing to let these women take the fall, all so it could maintain a strong political relationship with North Korea. It's downright despicable that the lives of these two women meant so little that two entire countries were prepared to let them go down for a crime they didn't commit all to service the cold, calculated manipulations of men craving to please their master.

CCTV footage from the murder of Kim Jong-nam from the documentary film "Assassins." (Image Source)

Since we had not followed this case beyond the initial news report, "Assassins" (2020) gripped us from start to finish. We sat in awe as attorneys and journalists poured over the evidence in the case and the politics surrounding it. It's a comprehensive documentary full of an abundance of background information, as well as unexpected twists and turns. Everything that happens feels like it was ripped right out of the screenplay of a spy movie, one that you might think was too unrealistic if you didn't know it was true. "Assassins" (2020) is absolutely worth watching, especially if you're not familiar with this international case. We found it to be as compelling as any fictional crime thriller. It's one of the best documentaries we've seen this year.

My Rating: 8/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.5/10
RT Rating: ~100%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd | Pinterest | Twitter

Movie Review: "Escape from Extinction" (2020)

Image Source

Movie: "Escape from Extinction"
Director: Matthew R. Brady
Year: 2020
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 29 minutes

American Humane's documentary "Escape from Extinction" (2020) could be considered the anti-"Blackfish" (2013), the CNN-produced documentary that provided a scathing indictment of keeping whales in captivity. "Blackfish" (2013) attempted to link the violent behavior of one Orca as evidence of a whale's desire to be in the ocean rather than in an aquarium. It made claims that Orcas never attack humans in the wild, though recent footage of killer whales attacking boats in Spain calls this into question. It also argued against breeding programs, as well as the very existence of parks like Sea World. Like all things in life, there are two sides to every coin, and all documentaries come with some form of inherent bias. "Escape from Extinction" (2020) explores the importance of zoos and aquariums and the work they do to conserve endangered species throughout the globe. It serves to educate the public on the actual work these parks do behind closed doors and away from the public eye as they attempt to bring species back from the brink of extinction.

(Image Source)

There's no doubt "Escape from Extinction" (2020) is pushing its own agenda. However, it does offer a strong argument in favor of the existence of zoos and aquariums as long as they are accredited like the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and the Birch Aquarium, not 'for-profit' roadside zoos like the one seen on Netflix's "Tiger King." Documentaries like "Blackfish" (2013) rely on emotion and more anecdotal evidence, but "Escape from Extinction (2020) is much more facts-and-data-driven. It feels like its primary purpose is to reason with the audience and to explain what zoos and aquariums actually do. Director Matthew R. Brady wants to stress that these places are not animal prisons that recklessly put exotic creatures on display for the amusement of the masses, but are places of research and education that strive to give people information about and passion for wildlife and conservation.

As we mentioned, this entire project feels like a direct response to the animal rights activists who have continually called for global boycotts of zoos and aquariums until the immediate release of all animals into the wild. "Escape from Extinction" (2020) lets viewers know that releasing animals into the wild could very likely be a death sentence for creatures who have spent years in the care of humans. It'd be like taking a family dog (one that has spent its entire life in human care), letting it go, and making it fend for itself in the wilderness. The primary account cited against releasing animals into the wild is the story of Keiko from the film "Free Willy" (1993), who was released from captivity in 2002 but was never able to survive without human help despite millions of dollars invested and years of integration training. Up until his death in December 2003, Keiko sought out human interaction, and he was never able to integrate with other Orcas because humans were all he had ever known. He was supposed to be a success story, but spending $20,000,000 to keep one whale alive for publicity is anything but a victory. While well-intentioned, saying "free all the animals" frequently means "let's send these animals off to die." Writers Alex Blumberg and Peter Meadows really pound in just how many species would now be extinct if it weren't for the efforts of zoos and aquariums. Animals like the grey wolves of Yellowstone, the American bison, the black-footed ferret, and many others would be gone forever if not for the conservation done by these parks.

The other aspect of "Escape from Extinction" (2020) involves showing how we got where we are in terms of the sheer number of endangered and extinct species on our planet. These beings aren't becoming extinct because nature is taking its course. They are being destroyed by poaching, deforestation, urban sprawl, industrialization, and environmental pollution via oil and plastics. These are man-made problems, and if people are part of the problem, they also have to be part of the solution.

Sea World employees give medical care to a manatee in a movie still for the 2020 documentary "Escape from Extinction." (Image Source)

"Escape from Extinction" (2020) is a competently made film that features an excellent voiceover by Dame Helen Mirren. This isn't a documentary like "The Cove" (2009) that will leave you sobbing and/or in shock, but it might make you think (or rethink) about accredited zoos and aquariums. While it is certainly biased, it makes a compelling argument that's difficult to counter. As much as we agree with the subject matter, after a while, the information does start to feel a bit redundant. We understand early on that zoos are a vital cog in the enormous machine of animal conservation, so we felt like the runtime could have easily been cut by 10-15 minutes without losing its impactful point. Without zoos and aquariums, much of the funding for global conservation efforts wouldn't be there, and many of the experts who go into the field to help animals wouldn't exist without the training and interactions they have had with the wildlife at these places. We wish the movie had offered a few more solutions beyond "support the organizations in which we're heavily involved," but the message is crucial nonetheless.

My Rating: 6.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ---/10
RT Rating: ---%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Letterboxd | Pinterest | Twitter

Movie Review: "Knock Down the House" (2019)

Image Source

Movie: "Knock Down the House"

Director: Rachel Lears
Year: 2019
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes

A look at a movement of grassroots campaigns hoping to disrupt the status quo by running in primary elections to challenge career politicians within their own party.

Movie Review: "Studio 54" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Studio 54"

Director: Matt Tyrnauer
Year: 2018
Rating: TV-MA
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

A look at the rise and fall of the famed Studio 54 and the people behind it that made it such a cultural phenomenon.

Movie Review: "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley" (2019)

Image Source

Movie: "The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley"

Director: Alex Gibney
Year: 2019
Rating: TV-14
Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

A look at the company Theranos and its founder Elizabeth Holmes from her meteoric rise as a brand new entrepreneur and the youngest ever self-made billionaire in Silicon Valley to the company's eventual collapse and her criminal charges for fraud.

Movie Review: "Apollo 11" (2019)

Image Source

Movie: "Apollo 11"

Director: Todd Douglas Miller
Year: 2019
Rating: G
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

An up-close and in-depth look at the Apollo 11 mission to the moon from launch to landing to return to earth.

Movie Review: "Well Groomed" (SXSW 2019)

Image Source

Movie: "Well Groomed"

Director: Rebecca Stern
Year: 2019
Rating: UR
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

A look at the strange, colorful world of competitive creative dog grooming.

Movie Review: 2019 Oscar-Nominated Documentary Short Films

Image Source

Movie: "The Oscar-Nominated Short Films 2019: Documentary"

Here are our reviews for the Oscar-nominated documentary shorts: "A Night at the Garden," "Black Sheep," "End Game," "Lifeboat," and "Period. End of Sentence."

Movie Review: "Minding the Gap" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Minding the Gap"

Director: Bing Liu
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

A documentary filmmaker conducts interviews with his longtime friends/members of his skateboarding crew, learning about their lives as they face adulthood and reflect on the trauma in their pasts that brought them together.

Movie Review: "Free Solo" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Free Solo"

Director: Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Free solo climber Alex Honnold prepares to become the first person to ever climb the El Capitan vertical rock formation at Yosemite without ropes or safety equipment where one false step could mean his death.

Movie Review: "We Are Columbine" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "We Are Columbine"

Director: Laura Farber
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 18 minutes

Survivors of the Columbine massacre reflect on their experience that day.

Movie Review: "Blue" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Blue"

Director: Karina Holden
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Numerous conservationists look into the damage humans are doing to ocean life because of overfishing and the pollution of plastics.

Movie Review: "Living in the Future's Past" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Living in the Future's Past"

Director: Susan Kucera
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 23 minutes

A documentary that examines the nature of man and the environment as told in terms of energy in its forms.

Movie Review: "Dodging Bullets" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Dodging Bullets"

Director: Kathy Broere and Bobby Trench
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

A look at how historical trauma has influenced the present day lives of America's indigenous people and how the exploitation the Native American individuals continues even today.

Movie Review: "Seau" (2018)

Image provided by ESPN Films

Movie: "Seau"

Director: Kirby Bradley
Year: 2018
Rating: NR
Running Time: 1 hour, 28 minutes

A documentary chronicling the life, career, and death of Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Junior Seau.

Movie Review: "McQueen" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "McQueen"

Director: Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 51 minutes

A look at the life of fashion designer Alexander McQueen.

Movie Review: "Generation Wealth" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Generation Wealth"

Director: Lauren Greenfield
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes

A documentary exploring our modern society's obsession with wealth and opulence.

Movie Review: "Whitney" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Whitney"

Director: Kevin Macdonald
Year: 2018
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 0 minutes

The life story of singing sensation Whitney Houston.

Movie Review: "Three Identical Strangers" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Three Identical Strangers"

Director: Tim Wardle
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 38 minutes

Three identical triplets who were separated at birth and adopted by three different families meet each other at age 19 by pure coincidence. As they look into the reason for their separation, they soon discover that there is more to the story than they could have ever imagined.

Movie Review: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (2018)

Image Source

Movie: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?"

Director: Morgan Neville
Year: 2018
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 34 minutes

A look at the career and life philosophy of Fred Rogers.

"Television has the chance of making a real community out of the whole country." (Image Source)

The world could certainly use a man like Fred Rogers right about now. "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" is a documentary directed by Morgan Neville, who is best known for his Oscar-winning documentary "20 Feet from Stardom." This film chronicles the career of ordained minister and children's entertainer Fred Rogers, better known as Mister Rogers. He was the creator and host of the educational television show "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood," which aired for 31 seasons between 1968 and 2001. The life of Mister Rogers is told through interviews with family members, co-workers, historians, and through archival footage of Fred himself, as well as clips from episodes from his long-running show.

"Sometimes we need to struggle with the tragedy of life to understand the gravity of love." (Image Source)

Fred Rogers lived his life based on one philosophy: love. He believed everything in life stems from "love or the lack of it." This is a message that has been missing from our culture for the last couple of decades. In all honesty, it has probably been lost since Mister Rogers went off the air. Morgan Neville has created an uplifting, emotional documentary that has the ability to restore your faith in humanity if you only heed Rogers' words. Is it really that hard to be neighborly to someone in need, to be a decent human being?? This film is an ode to a man who touched the lives of so many people, who taught kids that they are special and that their lives have inherent value, even if they think they are ordinary.

Fred Rogers lived a life without much controversy. One may think that without much dirt, "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" would be utterly tedious and uninteresting. In truth, it is inspiring, simple, but truly inspiring. We watch Rogers push for social change and acceptance by integrating ideas and issues that were important to him into his show, making them palatable for children but never shying away from telling it like it was. He didn't hesitate to discuss tough subjects and understood that kids have to deal with things like death and divorce just as much as adults do. He "put it to children so they would understand" the gravity of terrible situations.

The most shocking thing about this documentary is that despite all the good he did in his life, and despite being a minister and lifelong Republican, Fox News still had pundits on their network that called him "evil" for teaching kids the importance of self-worth. Sound clips are played of talking heads blaming Rogers for the downfall of our youth, exclaiming that it was his push to get kids to value and love themselves that somehow contributed to our "participation trophy" culture. We cannot fathom the thought process that would cause someone to call Mister Rogers, of all people, "an evil, evil man." He was an exceptional man, one of the greatest, someone who inspired generations of kids not to be ashamed of who they are, to stand up for what's right, to be compassionate and good-hearted people, to love others justly, and to be good neighbors.

"It's not all clowns and balloons." (Image Source)

There was not a dry eye in our sold-out auditorium at the end of "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" People clapped during and after the film. Patrons walked out smiling and stood together to talk about it in the lobby. For a brief 94 minutes, it brought us closers together as human beings. It caused us to feel hope when we have so often felt hopeless. It made us feel good when we have so often felt bad. It made us think that if genuine, loving people in the world like Fred Rogers existed then, maybe there are people like him out there now. If there are, CAN THEY PLEASE STAND UP??? If you are looking for a movie to inspire hope in what seems like a hopeless time, this is it. This is mandatory viewing for every single person in the world, and at the very least, every single person in this country, at this moment in time, right now.

My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.7/10
RT Rating: 99%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Please be sure to check out Lolo Loves Films all over the internet!

Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Snapchat | Twitter