Author Archives: kaist455

Death of a Unicorn (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): They have an accident… with a unicorn

Posted on January 28, 2026 by kaist455

“Death of a Unicorn” begins with an utterly outrageous story premise which will instantly draw your attention: what if a certain mythical creature actually exist? I was a bit disappointed to see that the overall result is rather uneven and … Continue reading →

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Castle in the Sky (1986) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The first official Ghibli work from Miyazaki

Posted on January 28, 2026 by kaist455

Hayao Miyazaki’s 1986 animation feature film “Castle in the Sky” (1986), which was re-released in South Korean theaters in last week, still soars high even after 40 years. When I walked into the screening room on last evening, I did … Continue reading →

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Videodrome (1983) ☆☆☆(3/4): A grotesquely prophetic nightmare from Cronenberg

Posted on January 27, 2026 by kaist455

David Cronenberg’s 1983 film “Videodrome” is a grotesquely prophetic nightmare I still observe from the distance. There are a number of striking visual moments which have lingered on somewhere in my mind for more than 30 years, and they chillingly … Continue reading →

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The Secret Agent (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A look into that dangerous period in Brazil

Posted on January 26, 2026 by kaist455

 Kleber Mendonça Filho’s latest film “The Secret Agent”, which won the Best Director Award at the Cannes Films Festival early in last year and then garnered 4 Oscar nominations including the ones for Best Picture and Best International Film, is … Continue reading →

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Sentimental Value (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Can she work with her filmmaker dad?

Posted on January 25, 2026 by kaist455

Joachim Trier’s new film “Sentimental Value”, which won the Grand Prix award at the Cannes Film Festival early in last year and then recently received no less than 8 Oscar nominations including the ones for Best Picture, Best Director, and … Continue reading →

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The Alabama Solution (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The systemic failures of Alabama prisons

Posted on January 21, 2026 by kaist455

HBO documentary film “The Alabama Solution” is often sobering as presenting the alarming failures of the prison system of the state of Alabama in US. It may not surprise you much if you have ever heard about how problematic the … Continue reading →

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2000 Meters to Andriivka (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): In the middle of a battle over one Ukrainian village

Posted on January 20, 2026 by kaist455

Ukrainian documentary filmmaker Mstyslav Chernov’ latest documentary film “2000 Meters to Andriivka”, which won the Directing Award when it was premiered at the World Cinema Documentary section of the Sundance Film Festival early in last year, is a pretty grim … Continue reading →

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Cover-up (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A journalist still fighting for truth and transparency

Posted on January 19, 2026 by kaist455

Laura Poitras and Mark Obenhaus’ Netflix documentary film “Cover-up”, which was released around the end of the last year, gives an overview on the career of Seymore Hersh, a Pulitzer-winning American investigative journalist who deserves to be known more in … Continue reading →

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The Straight Story (1999) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Lynch at his most sincerely heartfelt

Posted on January 19, 2026 by kaist455

David Lynch’s 1999 film “The Straight Story”, which happened to be shown in selected South Korean theaters along with his several other works in last week, shows Lynch at his most sincerely heartfelt. While many of his works are filled … Continue reading →

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Inland Empire (2006) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An actress under Lynchian influence

Posted on January 18, 2026 by kaist455

David Lynch’s 2006 film “Inland Empire”, which is being shown along with his several works at selected South Korean theaters, is still capable of alternatively baffling and dazzling me. Although I already watched it a couple of times, I am … Continue reading →

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