Monthly Archives: May 2018

Burning (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A slow-burning thriller from Lee Chang Dong

Posted on May 19, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Burning”, which was recently shown at the Cannes Film Festival and is also currently being shown here in South Korea, is a slow but steady thriller drama which constantly baffles us throughout its 148-minute running time. Although … Continue reading →

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Deadpool 2 (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Cynical, irreverent, and tiresome as before

Posted on May 17, 2018 by kaist455

Whether you will like “Deadpool 2” or not depends on how much fun you had with “Deadpool” (2016). Unlike many others, I did not enjoy “Deadpool” much while also quite annoyed by its increasingly obnoxious self-conscious attitude, so I became … Continue reading →

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The Wound (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A queer drama film from South Africa

Posted on May 14, 2018 by kaist455

South African film “The Wound”, which was selected as South Africa’s entry for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in last year, is exceptional in many aspects. While intriguing us a lot with its vivid anthropological observation of a tribal … Continue reading →

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Lean on Pete (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A boy and the horse

Posted on May 13, 2018 by kaist455

“Lean on Pete” surprised me with its considerable sensitivity and thoughtfulness. Here is a simple but heartfelt character drama which simply goes its own way as wisely avoiding clichés and conventions, and I was both entertained and touched by how … Continue reading →

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The Rider (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): The tale of a young rodeo cowboy

Posted on May 13, 2018 by kaist455

“The Rider”, a small independent film which was recently shown at the Jeonju International Film Festival, is a quiet but mesmerizing work of haunting beauty and aching poetry. Calmly and closely looking into a plain young hero and how he … Continue reading →

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Stronger (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stumbling and struggling toward recovery

Posted on May 10, 2018 by kaist455

Based on an inspiring real-life story, “Stronger” wants to engage you and then touch you, and it did its job mostly well although it sometimes stumbles as much as its ordinary hero. While some parts in the movie feel artificial … Continue reading →

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God’s Own Country (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An unadorned gay romance in countryside

Posted on May 9, 2018 by kaist455

As watching “God’s Own Country”, I thought about how much we have been accustomed to queer movies since “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) came out. After the considerable critical and financial success of that haunting gay romance drama, there came many other … Continue reading →

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Lucky (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): So long, Mr. Stanton

Posted on May 7, 2018 by kaist455

Harry Dean Stanton, who died at the age of 91 in last September, was always interesting to watch throughout his long, illustrious acting career spanning six decades. Since I came to notice this veteran character actor for the first time … Continue reading →

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Detroit (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Visceral but unfocused

Posted on May 6, 2018 by kaist455

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film “Detroit” is a visceral but unfocused work which made me feel rather ambivalent about it after my viewing. While it is as vivid and tense as required during many of its key moments, it does not … Continue reading →

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A Skin So Soft (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Of muscle and masculinity

Posted on May 6, 2018 by kaist455

Going to the Jeonju International Film Festival has been a sort of ritual for me. After I watched Ramin Bahrani’s “Goodbye Solo” (2008) there, I have made a regular visit to the festival during last 8 years, and I was … Continue reading →

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