Monthly Archives: April 2019

To My River (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): The daily life of a poet

Posted on April 14, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “To My River” grows on me more as I reflect on it more. As a dry but sensitive character drama about life and poetry, it requires some patience from time to time, but it gradually comes … Continue reading →

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Another Child (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Two mothers, Two daughters

Posted on April 12, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Another Child” surprised me. Although it begins with a rather soapy promise, the movie engaged and interested me more than expected as showing considerable humor, sensitivity, and thoughtfulness in its deft handling of story and characters, and … Continue reading →

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The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Blood fraud

Posted on April 11, 2019 by kaist455

Not long before watching HBO documentary “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley”, I happened to have a small conversation with some of colleagues in a biotechnology company where I have worked during last two years. The subject of … Continue reading →

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Dragged Across Concrete (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A gritty and vicious crime thriller

Posted on April 9, 2019 by kaist455

S. Criag Zahler’s latest work “Dragged Across Concrete” is a gritty and vicious crime thriller film testing our patience and tolerance in many different ways. Mainly revolving around two undeniably racist cop characters, the movie often unnerves us with their … Continue reading →

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On the Basis of Sex (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lawyer who changed the world

Posted on April 7, 2019 by kaist455

“On the Basis of Sex” focuses on the early career period of US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a legendary American figure who is still actively keeping on in the US Supreme Court for civil equality and liberties even at this … Continue reading →

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Asako I & II (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Between two same but different men

Posted on April 7, 2019 by kaist455

Japanese film “Asako I & II” rubbed me in a wrong way. While I observed its first two acts with mild interest, I was quite baffled and annoyed by its contrived third act which takes a sudden plot turn without … Continue reading →

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Unicorn Store (2017) ☆☆(2/4): A whimsical mess

Posted on April 6, 2019 by kaist455

“Unicorn Store”, which was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in late 2017 but only got released on Netflix yesterday, is a whimsical mess which is incoherent and confusing in terms of what is about as well as how … Continue reading →

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Shazam! (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A goofy lightweight superhero movie

Posted on April 4, 2019 by kaist455

“Shazam!”, the latest installment from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), is a lightweight superhero movie as funny and goofy as expected from its silly promise, and that is surely a nice fresh change compared to the grim ponderousness of “Batman … Continue reading →

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Birthday (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Remembering their son

Posted on April 4, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Birthday” is an earnest melodrama about the personal grief and sadness surrounding the sinking of MV Sewol on April 16th, 2014. While it is certainly well-intentioned and tactfully handles its subject with some restraint and respect, there … Continue reading →

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Peterloo (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A well-intentioned misfire by Mike Leigh

Posted on April 1, 2019 by kaist455

Mike Leigh’s latest film “Peterloo” attempts to give us a close look into the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, which has been regarded as a significant incident in the British history of civil reform. On August 16th of that year, around … Continue reading →

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