Monthly Archives: February 2025

My Prediction on the 97th Academy Awards

I have often grumbled a bit about how the Oscar season has been predictable during the last two decades. Especially after the season got shorter and tighter around 20 years ago, it has been much easier to detect whether there … Continue reading

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Mickey 17 (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): More than one Pattinson presented by Bong Joon-ho

Bong Joo-ho’s films always have his own offbeat sensibility to be cherished. Even his phenomenal Oscar-winning film “Parasite” (2019), which is incidentally the most mainstream work in his career, shows that odd and interesting quality at times behind its almost … Continue reading

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Nickel Boys (2024) ☆☆☆1/2: A singular African American film to admire

My late mentor/friend Roger Ebert said that the movies are like a machine that generates empathy, and that is quite true in case of RaMell Ross’ latest work “Nickel Boys”, which was recently Oscar-nominated for Best Picture. Quite closely sticking … Continue reading

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Lucca’s World (2025) ☆☆(2/4): She’s simply trying her best for her son…

Netflix film “Lucca’s World”, which was released in last month, is unabashedly sincere and sentimental without much honesty or human depth for becoming something more than “the disability of the week” movie. The movie is certainly pleasant and appealing to … Continue reading

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The Gorge (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): What lies between them

“The Gorge”, which was released on Apple TV+ a few weeks ago, focuses on its two main characters first before eventually going for your average video game action, and I must confess that I enjoyed this process more than expected. … Continue reading

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The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stuck in a diner together

“The Last Stop in Yuma County” is a simple but effective genre piece to entertain you. While clearly influenced by the works of Quentin Tarantino and Coen brothers, the movie plays its genre game mostly fair and straight, and the … Continue reading

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The Painter and the Thief (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): One painter and her messy muse

Norwegian documentary film “The Painter and the Thief” observes a complex human relationship between two total strangers who happened to get involved with each other under one extraordinary circumstance. As alternating between their different viewpoints, the documentary makes us reflect … Continue reading

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Paddington in Peru (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Back in Peru

“Paddington in Peru” is as amiable and pleasant as it can be despite being a bit underwhelming at times. Although you may be disappointed to see that it does not reach the sublime comic level of “Paddington 2” (2017), the … Continue reading

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The Love Scam (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Pleasant but no surprise

Italian Netflix film “The Love Scam”, which was released at the beginning of this year, is predictable to the core to say the least. Right from when its two main characters come across each other, you will quickly guess the … Continue reading

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The Sand Castle (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The family stuck in an island

Netflix film “The Sand Castle”, which was released in last month, is an allegorical drama gradually revealing the underlying reality surrounding its main characters. The overall result feels a little too broad and symbolic, and it seems to lose its … Continue reading

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