Review: Shedding Light on ‘Chloe and Theo’

Chloe and Theo posterIt all began with a dream. A dream that the world would receive a fatal kiss from the sun and the ice in the north would retreat. Director and screenwriter, Ezna Sands exhibits the concerns for our environmental well-being in his heartfelt cli-fi (climate change fiction), Chloe and Theo.

Theo (Theo Ikummaq), an Arctic Inuit man, was told about this dream from his elders, and if the “south” did not change their ways, destruction will overcome the earth. He was then sent to New York City to shed light on the world’s end, and he is immediately overwhelmed by the environment. The sun was blocked out by the skyscrapers, people constantly on the move; there was not a single moment of silence. This is where he meets Chloe (Dakota Johnson), a young runaway, and Bruce Lee devotee. “Together they will change the world.”

Dakota Johnson and first time actor Theo Ikummaq did a fantastic job with their roles as Chloe and Theo. The film brings a different side to storytelling, with both characters playing a sort of narrative role. Theo telling the story as it was occurring, and Chloe telling the story as though it already had happened. Mira Sorvino as Monica and Andre De Shields as Mr. Sweet, played crucial characters to Chloe and Theo’s story by showing how hard it is to get something globally recognized. Mr. Sweet, a man who Chloe is close friends with on the streets, opens Chloe and Theo’s eyes to the difficulty of getting people with power to listen. Although the sound mixing could have used more work, the shots and occasional use of animation were beautifully implemented throughout.

Overall, Chloe and Theo is a simple film, with a powerful message. Through a story of unlikely friendships, it brings light to our climate changes and their impact on our world. You can watch Chloe and Theo in select theaters and on VOD September 4th.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars.

September Movie Preview – 61 movies opening including 12 documentaries & 13 also on demand

September-Movie-Preview-Reel-News-DailyThere are an insane amount of movies releasing this September. There are 12 that are on the top of my watchlist. Which are on yours?

  1. 99 Homes
  2. About Ray
  3. Ashby
  4. Cooties
  5. Dragon Blade
  6. Finders Keepers
  7. Mississippi Grind
  8. Prophet’s Prey
  9. Sicario
  10. Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
  11. Stonewall
  12. The Keeping Room

September 2nd

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

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Produced by PBS, this is likely to be in a classic documentary style.

https://youtu.be/F56O3kZ9qr0


A Walk in the Woods

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Robert Redford tried to make a comeback last year with his solo effort, All Is Lost, but this time he teams up with Nick Nolte. Potential to be great.


September 4th

Before We Go – available to rent

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Chris Evans directs with the unpredictable and amazing Alice Eve. She also stars with Matthew Broderick in Dirty Weekend, out this same day.

https://youtu.be/QnJDq3k7t2Q


Bloodsucking Bastards
Also on VOD
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Liz is reviewing – stay tuned!


Break Point

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Dirty-Weekend_Press_1 TribecaDirty Weekend
Tribeca Film Festival 2015, also on VOD
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This didn’t impress Liz or myself, but Jeremy is going to give it a try. Stay tuned for his review!


Dragon Blade

Also on VOD
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Adrien Brody, Jackie Chan and John Cusack. Swords, armor and anticipated over-acting.


My Voice, My Life

Documentary

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Number One Fan

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https://youtu.be/iLZykA1w068


The Transporter Refueled

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Coming Home

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Welcome to Leith

Documentary[imdb id=”tt3962848″ plot=”short”]

Jeremy is reviewing – stay tuned!


chloe and theo stillChloe and Theo
Also on VOD
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Jordan is reviewing – stay tuned!


Steve Jobs-3Steve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
Also on VOD
Documentary[imdb id=”tt4425064″ plot=”short”]

Liz and I will attended a special screening and Q&A with director Alex Gibney – stay tuned for their side-by-side reviews! Can you guess which is the iPhone user?


Wolf Totem


September 9th

The Visit

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Are you going to give M. Night another shot?


Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

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September 11th

TIME OUT OF MIND NYFFTime Out of Mind

On demand September 18th
New York Film Festival 2014
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Sleeping with Other People
Tribeca Film Festival 2015
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Don’t even think about it – just see it. I raved about it here.


Breathe

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Mélanie Laurent directs. I’m there.


Goodnight Mommy

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Listening
also on VOD
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Meet the Patels

Documentary

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Paul Taylor Creative Domain

Documentary

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Triple 9

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TBD


90 Minutes in Heaven

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The Perfect Guy

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September 18th

Captive

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Cooties

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Pawn Sacrifice

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Kate Macer (Emily Blunt, right), Dave Jennings, (Victor Garber, center right), Phil Coopers (Hank Rogerson, center left) and Reggie Wayne (Daniel Kaluuya, left) in SICARIO. Photo Credit: Richard Foreman

Kate Macer (Emily Blunt, right), Dave Jennings, (Victor Garber, center right), Phil Coopers (Hank Rogerson, center left) and Reggie Wayne (Daniel Kaluuya, left) in SICARIO. Photo Credit: Richard Foreman

Sicario
Toronto International Film Festival 2015
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Emily Blunt once more kicking ass. Love it.


About Ray
Toronto International Film Festival 2015
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https://youtu.be/_86baBTbNtU


Black Mass-00001Black Mass

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You can catch the doc on Netflix right now here.


Everest

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This might be worth the extra moola for IMAX.


Katti Batti

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The New Girlfriend

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Prophet’s Prey

Documentary

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Amy Berg has wowed me with West of Memphis and Deliver Us From Evil, so I’m looking forward to this.


Uncle John
Also on VOD

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War Pigs

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https://youtu.be/CFdGHYADDZw


Some Kind of Hate
Also on VOD
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Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer

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https://youtu.be/irY1JuCY-u4


September 23rd

Pay the Ghost
Also on VOD
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Trailer TBA


September 24th

The Reflektor Tapes

Documentary, Toronto International Film Festival 2015

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September 25th

Finders Keepers

Documentary[imdb id=”tt3462002″ plot=”short”]


Mississippi Grind

Ben Mendelsohn is one of those actors that greatly elevates the movie without overshadowing it. CAN’T WAIT. (Insert joke from @harmonov about Ryan Reynolds)

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Stonewall

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Before I Wake

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https://youtu.be/mmfp1l1ZfCw


The Green Inferno

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Misunderstood

Also on VOD, New York Film Festival 2014

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Mission to Lars

Documentary

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https://youtu.be/G4ArGYzTtc0


The Intern

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10 Days in a Madhouse

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99 Homes

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https://youtu.be/sfttvNCIJvE


A Brave Heart: The Lizzie Velasquez Story

Documentary

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Ashby

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Ashby TrailerLife is about knowing how to take a hit. Brace yourself, Ashby opens in Select Theaters, On Demand and DIGITAL HD September 25th!

Posted by Ashby on Saturday, August 22, 2015


Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon

Documentary[imdb id=”tt1674785″ plot=”short”]


Labyrinth of Lies

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The Keeping Room

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https://youtu.be/Z_9zidgoPuA


Before I Wake

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Hotel Transylvania 2

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Brand: A Second Coming

Documentary

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Could not find a trailer. This is not a good sign.


Wildlike

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September 30th

The Walk
New York Film Festival 2015
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