Review of Kodachrome (2017) by Mariko T — 22 Apr 2018

This movie takes its time getting started with no one in the first 20-25 minutes being particularly relatable. Stay for the 3rd act and the excellent performances. In Kodachrome, a famous photographer is facing his own mortality, asks his estranged son (through the photographer's nurse/assistant) to accompany him on a journey to Kansas where the last of Kodachrome film is being developed by one shop which is closing their Kodachrome department.

This photographer has discovered 4 undeveloped containers of Kodak film (his only medium throughout his career) which he wants developed for a final show. Ed Harris (as Ben Ryder the photographer), Jason Sudeikis (as Matt Ryder, Ben's son) and Elizabeth Olsen (as the photographer's nurse/assistant, Zoe Kern) were the standouts.

Bruce Greenwood and Wendy Crewson (as the photographer's younger brother and brother's wife) added to this film's warmth and drama. I found the soundtrack accompanying the "on the road" and dramatic moments a little heavy-handed, but the acting kept me interested.

While I did figure out what was on that undeveloped film, even before the road trip, it did not ruin the film for me. It sounds cliched to say, but the journey and the arc of the photographer and his son is the important part of this film.

Both Sudeikis and Harris make for a far more dramatic turn in their acting than the discovery of what was on that film. Stay for the closing credits, the many stills shown were shot on 35mm Kodak film.