“Freaky Tales”
(Action/Comedy/Crime: 1 hour, 47 minutes)
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Jay Ellis and Ben Mendelsohn
Directors: Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck
Rated: R (Strong bloody violence, strong language including slurs, sexual content and drug use.)
Movie Review:
In May 1987, in Oakland, California, four interconnected stories merge into an engaging absurdist comedy filled with action scenes reminiscent of violence in anime. “Freaky Tales” has a 1980s vibe, including the captions or subtitles displayed. This movie is told in four chapters, loosely based on actual events. Each chapter provides insight into a larger story about life and crime in the Bay Area.
Tina (Ji-young Yoo) and Lucid (Jack Champion) are part of the Bay Area punk scene. They find love while helping others of their underground punk club at 924 Gilman Street fight against Skinhead Nazis led by Troy (Dan Marotte). Barbie (Dominique Thorne) and Entice (Normani) are a female rap duo trying to make a name for themselves. Their encounter with a rude and sexist customer, a crooked police detective (Mendelsohn), does help their confidence when they perform on a stage later. Clint (Pascal) is a mob debt collector who just wants to survive the day after a tragic family mishap. An NBA star Eric “Sleepy” Floyd (Ellis) goes on a mission to avenge those he loves using an ancient form of mysticism and martial arts.
As each story occurs, audiences see how unconnected characters become connected through a series of interactions. The characters are all fascinating, the good and the bad. Smoothly narrated by Todd “Too $hort” Shaw, who plays as a detective in a scene, “Freaky Tales” offers plenty, including one the last roles for talented young actor Angus Cloud. The actor died in 2023 at 25.
Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck are the directors and writers of this keenly done independent film. They provide an anthology of weird tales that entertain. Absurdist movies do not always make sense because they apply unusually unlikely or impossible facets, such as someone using their fist to punch a hole in a man’s chest. Boden and Fleck offer just enough far-out material without going overboard.
If one suspends any attempt to rationalize what is seen, “Freaky Tales” is one of the better forms of entertainment. Additionally, some surprising cameos exist. Tom Hanks delivers one of the best characters. For an indie film, this one amuses tremendously, even when concepts are stretched.
Grade: B (These tales are freaky and fun.)

“The Luckiest Man in America”
(Drama/Thriller: 1 hour, 31 minutes)
Starring: Paul Walter Hauser, Walton Goggins, Shamier Anderson and David Strathairn
Director: Samir Oliveros
Rated: R (Strong language)
Movie Review:
“The Luckiest Man in America” follows the exploits of Michael Larson, played by Paul Walter Hauser in this movie based on events that happened on the game show Press Your Luck. This movie provides a unique glance into a small bit of history of which most people are probably unaware.
Michael Larson (Hauser of television’s “Cobra Kai”) is an uncharismatic but brilliant man. He is an AC repairman and ice cream truck driver from Lebanon, Ohio. He auditions under pretenses for the game show Press Your Luck. Despite Larson’s deception, the show’s director, Bill Carruthers (Strathairn), finds Larson an interesting person and selects him for a seat on the show. Larson presses his luck and manages to win the largest single-day monetary amount.
This movie becomes a thriller because the show’s producers move from thinking Larson is lucky to believing the contestant is cheating. Audiences, too, must determine what is happening. How did Larson achieve the largest winnings by any contestant in one day on any game show in history, $110,237 in 1984? Is he that lucky.
Meanwhile, Paul Walter Hauser plays an elusive Larson well. Walton Goggins, Shamier Anderson, Maisie Williams and the impeccable David Strathairn are also engaging.
Aptly directed by Samir Oliveros (“Bad Lucky Goat,” 2017), it is a fascinating tale of a man who did the unthinkable. Even more, Larson manages something easy in retrospect. “Luckiest Man” offers good, energetic drama. It also offers just enough of a mystery to keep audiences invested.
Grade: B (Lucky is being in this movie’s audience.)

“Bob Travino Likes It”
(Drama: 1 hour, 41 minutes)
Starring: Barbie Ferreira, John Leguizamo and French Stewart
Director: Tracie Layman
Rated: PG-13 (Strong language and thematic elements)
Movie Review:
“Bob Travino Likes It” takes its inspiration from a surprising real-life friendship that starts on the Internet and grows into an endearing relationship. The cast plays a group of relatable characters. Their story is a welcoming tale that is easy to appreciate.
Lilly Trevino (Ferreira) is a young adult. She has not had the best relationship with her father, Bob Trevino (Stewart). While looking for her father on Facebook, she encounters another Bob Trevino (Legizamo). The new Bob and Lily form a genuine friendship, where Lily finds the new Bob to be more of a father figure than her biological one.
This story is about a young woman, played exceptionally by Barbie Ferreira (“Euphoria,” 2019–2022). She does not have a luxury job. She is not a Barbie-doll thin model, and she is not worried about how many likes she acquires on Facebook. She only wants one person to respond to her posts, her biological father. It is nice to see a character that feels like someone you know, a tangible person, with personality and appearance. Ferreira is a beautiful person, and she plays this role well. The actress makes one care about her character’s life.
John Leguizamo plays the friendly Bob. He adds to Lily’s story. Leguizamo is especially affecting. His scenes with Lily are engaging without being overly sentimental. French Stewart, Lauren “Lolo” Spencer, and Rachel Bay Jones, better known as the overbearing mother on “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” join them to complete a good cast.
“Bob Trevino Likes It” is a humane screenplay directed by Tracie Laymon. She creates a photoplay about relationships. You will want to have one with this movie. It offers a genuine, humane slice of a young woman’s life as she strives for belonging through a father figure she has long desired.
Grade: B (We like it too.)