Author Archives: kaist455

Judy (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Her last hurrah

Posted on December 13, 2019 by kaist455

As many of you know, Judy Garland was a tragically messy and damaged person throughout her life and career. While she quickly rose as a new talented child performer in Hollywood thanks to the enormous success of “The Wizard of … Continue reading →

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Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Here we go again

Posted on December 12, 2019 by kaist455

“Jumanji: The Next Level”, which is a sequel to “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” (2017), tries to entertain us as much as its predecessor, and it accomplishes its mission a little better than I thought. Although its setting is not … Continue reading →

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Them That Follow (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Trapped in her isolated religious community

Posted on December 11, 2019 by kaist455

As a small but intense drama set in an isolated religious community, “Them That Follows” delivers several strong moments to remember. Although it is relentlessly gloomy and moody from the beginning to the end, the movie manages to avoid becoming … Continue reading →

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Little Joe (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Little flower of paranoia

Posted on December 11, 2019 by kaist455

Jessica Hausner’s new film “Little Joe” is a dry, detached psychological thriller which tantalizes us with its intriguing premise in the beginning and then only leaves us in a little too much of ambiguity in the end. While it is … Continue reading →

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The Good Liar (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): It didn’t deceive me much…

Posted on December 8, 2019 by kaist455

“The Good Liar” did not deceive me much. Although it is a pleasure to see two of the best British performers in our time interacting well with each other on the screen, the movie is rather predictable and unsurprising for … Continue reading →

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The Farewell (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A bittersweet Chinese family story

Posted on December 6, 2019 by kaist455

As an Asian audience, I knowingly smiled as watching the heroine of “The Farewell” coming inside her dear grandmother’s residence full of their family members. When I was young, I and my family routinely visited the house of my mother’s … Continue reading →

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The Report (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A long, frustrating struggle for one important report

Posted on December 6, 2019 by kaist455

“The Report” is angry and outraged behind its dry, methodical façade. Following one plain American government official’s long, frustrating struggle to finish and then publish a damning official report on the systemic tortures committed by CIA in the name of … Continue reading →

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Ford v Ferrari (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A visceral racing car drama

Posted on December 5, 2019 by kaist455

There are a number of electrifying moments in “Ford v Ferrari”, a well-crafted feature film which is about two real-life figures heading an American team of racing car engineers and designers who worked hard together for defeating their Italian opponent … Continue reading →

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Knives Out (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A deliciously entertaining whodunnit

Posted on December 5, 2019 by kaist455

Rian Johnson’s latest film “Knives Out” is a deliciously entertaining whodunnit which will delight any devoted fan of mystery novels like me. While I could see through its wily, dexterous handling of plot elements at time, I was really caught … Continue reading →

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The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Adventures of the Peanut Butter Falcon

Posted on December 3, 2019 by kaist455

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” entertained me in more than one way. While it is a typical Southern story clearly influenced by Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, it palpably vibrates with authentic local atmosphere as well as sweet personality, and … Continue reading →

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