Monthly Archives: February 2021

Minari (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A South Korean immigrant family in the middle of Arkansas

Posted on February 28, 2021 by kaist455

“Minari”, whose title means water dropwort in Korean, is a simple but profoundly intimate piece of work to remember. While it is quite specific in terms of background and characters, it also works as a universal American immigrant family drama … Continue reading →

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Go Back (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): In front of abuse and disregard

Posted on February 27, 2021 by kaist455

South Korean film “Go Back” seems to be a mystery drama on the surface but then turns out to be less about what exactly happened. While we come to have a pretty good idea on that even before its first … Continue reading →

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Nomadland (2020) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A certain American lifestyle

Posted on February 23, 2021 by kaist455

“Nomadland”, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival and then the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in last September, is simply extraordinary in its seemingly plain and simple presentation of a certain … Continue reading →

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Jungleland (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two brothers and a girl on the road

Posted on February 23, 2021 by kaist455

“Jungleland” is a simple but engaging story revolving around the relationship of two very different brothers. Right from its first few minutes, you can easily discern where their story is heading, and the story will not surprise you much, but … Continue reading →

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Black Light (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A truth beyond their reach

Posted on February 21, 2021 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Black Light” is a seemingly plain but undeniably compelling mystery melodrama, which revolves around the truth beyond the reach of everyone involved with a very complicated circumstance in one way or another. As its three different … Continue reading →

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The Father (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): In a state of fading mind

Posted on February 21, 2021 by kaist455

“The Father” is a somber but harrowing chamber drama which calmly and sensitively depicts that confusing and devastating psychological condition of dementia. As its increasingly non-linear narrative is unfolded inside its small background, the movie gives us some acute insight … Continue reading →

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I Care a Lot (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Another deliciously devious turn by Rosamund Pike

Posted on February 21, 2021 by kaist455

The heroine of “I Care a Lot”, which is released in South Korean theaters on this Friday instead of being released on Netflix or Amazon Prime in several other countries including US, is a nasty piece of work. As an … Continue reading →

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The Little Things (2020) ☆☆(2/4): A mediocre police procedural with wasted talents

Posted on February 20, 2021 by kaist455

“The Little Things” is a bland and trite police procedural which disappoints us a lot because of several reasons. While it is mostly slick and competent on the surface, its story is another run-of-the-mill noir drama about flawed detective heroes, … Continue reading →

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Godmothered (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): She comes a bit too late…

Posted on February 20, 2021 by kaist455

“Godmothered”, which was released on Disney+ in last December, is a lightweight fantasy movie which turns out to be a bit better than expected. While it is surely reminiscent of another Disney fantasy film “Enchanted” (2007) in many aspects, the … Continue reading →

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Those Who Remained (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Between two different war survivors

Posted on February 14, 2021 by kaist455

“Those Who Remained”, which was the Hungarian entry for Best International Feature Film Oscar and then made the December shortlist in 2019, is a dry and melancholic character drama unfolded between two different survivors of the World War II. Calmly … Continue reading →

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