Monthly Archives: January 2019

Vice (2018) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): The scattershot portrayal of Dick Cheney’s life and career

Posted on January 17, 2019 by kaist455

“Vice”, which is intends to give us a funny, scathing look into Dick Cheney’s life and career, turns out to be middling at best and plodding at worst. While it is at least anchored by one of the most committed … Continue reading →

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Rust Creek (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A fatal detour in the Kentucky woods

Posted on January 13, 2019 by kaist455

Right from the beginning, “Rust Creek” signifies that something bad is going to happen. While everything looks fine and normal for its heroine at first, we can already see that she is heading to a big trouble, and we surely … Continue reading →

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Lizzie (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): What if she did it with her housemaid

Posted on January 12, 2019 by kaist455

Around two years ago, I happened to come across a magazine article on Lizzie Borden and that infamous real-life murder case involved with her. Because I vaguely knew about her notoriety, I read that article with considerable fascination, and I … Continue reading →

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Wildlife (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A commendable directorial debut by Paul Dano

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kaist455

As a little period drama film about American middle-class suburbia during the 1960s, “Wildlife” is more distinctive and engaging than expected. While its specific sociocultural subject is not a particularly new territory considering many other previous films such as “Revolutionary … Continue reading →

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Beautiful Boy (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A father and his addict son

Posted on January 11, 2019 by kaist455

“Beautiful Boy” is not so successful despite some harrowing and painful moments it is required to deliver as a serious drama about addiction. Although its mostly non-linear narrative structure initially seems effective at first as its two main characters respectively … Continue reading →

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Monsters and Men (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Three different viewpoints on a social injustice

Posted on January 10, 2019 by kaist455

“Monsters and Men” is a modest but engaging drama calmly examining its relevant social issues via three different viewpoints. Although it is not entirely successful due to its some weak spots, there are a number of powerful moments to remember … Continue reading →

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The Wild Pear Tree (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A young writer returns to his hometown

Posted on January 9, 2019 by kaist455

Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s latest film “The Wild Pear Tree” is a long, reflective emotional journey which has a number of memorable moments to be appreciated for their interesting mix of ideas, mood, and drama. Although you may frequently feel impatient … Continue reading →

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MAL-MO-E: the Secret Mission (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Saving Korean language

Posted on January 7, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “MAL-MO-E: The Secret Mission” bored and depressed me. Although I was a little interested at first due to its important historical subject, I was quite disappointed as watching its trite and blatant attempt to squeeze laughs and … Continue reading →

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Everybody Knows (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): An engaging letdown by Asghar Farhadi

Posted on January 6, 2019 by kaist455

The opening scene of Asghar Farhadi’s new film “Everybody Knows”, which opened the Cannes Film Festival early in last year, summarizes well what I felt during my viewing. In the inner space of a church clock tower, the camera looks … Continue reading →

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Leto (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A biographical rock drama set in Leningrad during the 1980s

Posted on January 5, 2019 by kaist455

Russian film “Leto” tries to give us a glimpse into the Russian rock music culture during the early 1980s, and I admire its attempt to some degree. Although my mind frequently went somewhere when I watched it early in this … Continue reading →

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