Skin-deep knee-scratcher about “global b-boying,” once known as breakdancing, “Planet B-Boy” is a niche documentary for a specific audience, who may find the familiar narrative structure and content reassuring. Building to a 2005 “Battle of the Year” with competitors from eighteen countries, director Benson Lee does one good thing: he respects the energy of his performers through framing them properly, rather than in chewed-up little bits like too much music-related nonfiction product. A German promoter is featured, as well as four crews from the U.S., Japan, France and South Korea, seen moving toward the competition. The invocation of “Flashdance” as a lodestar of inspiration is gratifying. 98m. (Ray Pride)
Related Stories
Heart: A Review of Soul The real world is soulful, too, in Pixar's bountiful life of the mind.
Seeing The Elephant: A Review Of Babylon The boisterous, brawling yet melancholy "Babylon," is a variation on film history, but more drawing for drama. It's gaudy and mean, celebratory and sorrowful.
Uncanny Ally: A Review Of M3GAN "M3GAN" sells itself in its first handful of seconds in how it introduces the handiwork of roboticist Gemma (Allison Williams, "Get Out") and her present product, PurrPetual Petz from Funki.
