Freeze Frame: “My Dead Friend Zoe” (R), “Riff Raff” (R)
Update: 2025-02-28
Description
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has stepped into yet another role, movie producer. His production company has released a new film that is much better than its awkward title might suggest. "My Dead Friend Zoe" is a beautifully acted comic drama about PTSD. Written and directed by Army veteran Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, it's an empathetic portrait of a troubled Afghan War vet named Merit, beautifully played by Sonequa Martin-Green, haunted by the memory of a late fellow soldier Zoe, portrayed by Natalie Morales. The always reliable Morgan Freeman and Ed Harris are solid in supporting roles, Freeman as a concerned counselor and Harris as Merit’s ailing grandfather. As the end credits demonstrate, many of the supporting players are actual combat veterans. Reportedly, ninety percent of the cast members are, in fact, former military. Funny, touching and realistic, "My Dead Friend Zoe" is an effective, eye-opening plea for compassion.
You could call the edgy and bloodstained comic crime drama "Riff Raff" a Quentin Tarantino wannabe. Or, at least, a Coen Brothers knockoff. The busy Ed Harris plays a former criminal whose murky past is about to catch up with him. His quiet woodland life is upended when ethically dubious family members show up carrying dangerous personal baggage. The impressive cast includes Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union and Lewis Pullman. University of Missouri grad Brooke Dillman shows up in a funny bit part as a noisy, nosey neighbor. The violent and decadent humor is hit-and-miss, but for tolerant viewers, "Riff Raff" might just grow on you.
You could call the edgy and bloodstained comic crime drama "Riff Raff" a Quentin Tarantino wannabe. Or, at least, a Coen Brothers knockoff. The busy Ed Harris plays a former criminal whose murky past is about to catch up with him. His quiet woodland life is upended when ethically dubious family members show up carrying dangerous personal baggage. The impressive cast includes Bill Murray, Pete Davidson, Jennifer Coolidge, Gabrielle Union and Lewis Pullman. University of Missouri grad Brooke Dillman shows up in a funny bit part as a noisy, nosey neighbor. The violent and decadent humor is hit-and-miss, but for tolerant viewers, "Riff Raff" might just grow on you.
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