Author Archives: kaist455

On the Sand House (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Now she is stuck with her family business…

Posted on April 16, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “On the Sand House” is a modest but sensitive character drama about one deeply frustrated young woman. It is clear that she has yearned to get out of her world for restarting her life as soon … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Archaeology of Love (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Recovering from a toxic relationship

Posted on April 16, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Archaeology of Love” is a haunting character drama revolving around one toxic relationship and its aftermath. As dryly but sensitively observing its ordinary heroine’s emotional struggle along the story, the movie lets us understand and empathize … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Water (2023) ☆1/2(1.5/4): In Blur (or Bullsh*t, perhaps)

Posted on April 15, 2023 by kaist455

When my late mentor/friend Roger Ebert was going to review Ingmar Bergman’s great film “Persona” (1966) not long after he became the film critic of Chicago Sun-Times, he did not know what to write first, but then he simply began … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I Leave Home (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An unexpected journey of two different losers

Posted on April 9, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “I Leave Home” is about an unexpected journey of two different losers who are utterly pathetic in each own way. They are not exactly interesting enough to draw our attention, and the movie also occasionally suffers … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Talent Show (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Performing for their lost children

Posted on April 9, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “The Talent Show” follows the story of several mothers who happen to try a bit on acting as a part of their personal process of dealing with immense loss and heartbreak. While that shocking tragedy involved … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Rebound (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Rebounding from the bottom

Posted on April 9, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Rebound” follows its conventional genre playbook fairly well while making some unexpected moves at times. As your average underdog sports drama incidentally inspired by a dramatic real-life story, it will not surprise you that much if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

John Wick: Chapter 4 (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): John Wick Vs. the World (Continued)

Posted on April 8, 2023 by kaist455

“John Wick: Chapter 4” aims for being bigger, faster, and louder with more style, vision, and excitement than its predecessors, and I appreciate and enjoy that a lot. Sure, the movie is mostly all about style and entertainment without much … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Air (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Betting all on Michael Jordan

Posted on April 6, 2023 by kaist455

Ben Affleck’s new film “Air” jumps high from one spot to another for our amusement and entertainment, and I am happy to report to you here that it succeeds magnificently. Inspired by a real-life story about how one notable sportswear … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

I Still Miss You, Roger

Posted on April 4, 2023 by kaist455

Dear Roger Hello, Roger. I cannot believe it has been no less than 10 years since you passed on April 4th, 2013, and I am rather amazed by that. I thought I might stop writing about films around the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Ebertfest, Movies, Personal | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Conversation (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A series of conversations

Posted on April 4, 2023 by kaist455

My mind struggled to follow the rather confusing narrative flow of South Korean independent film “The Conversation”. Mainly because my condition happened to be not that good during the first viewing, I did not feel like understanding everything in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment