Author Archives: kaist455

Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The Diva of the Century

Posted on July 13, 2019 by kaist455

Documentary film “Maria by Callas: In Her Own Words” attempts to present the glimpses of humanity and personality from Maria Callas, one of the most extraordinary opera singers in the 20th century. Mainly consisting of various archival photographs and footage … Continue reading →

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Midsommar (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Horror Under the Sun

Posted on July 12, 2019 by kaist455

Ari Aster’s second feature film “Midsommar” is one hell of horror film. Alternatively unsettling and spellbinding from the beginning to the end, the movie dexterously lures us into the weird and disturbing circumstance surrounding its main characters, and then it … Continue reading →

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An Elephant Sitting Still (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): One long, hopeless day

Posted on July 11, 2019 by kaist455

Chinese film “An Elephant Sitting Still”, which won the FIPRESCI Award when it was shown at the Berlin International Film Festival early in last year, is filled with the glum sense of despair and hopelessness throughout its nearly 4-hour running … Continue reading →

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Guava Island (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little modest showcase starring Donald Glover

Posted on July 8, 2019 by kaist455

It took some time for me to see how interesting Donald Glover is. I came to notice this African American actor for the first time when he was one of the main cast members in TV sitcom series “Community”, and … Continue reading →

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Stockholm (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): That absurd hostage crisis in Stockholm, 1973

Posted on July 7, 2019 by kaist455

“Stockholm” tries to give us a close look into that absurd real-life incident of bank heist and hostage crisis which inspired that infamous term ‘Stockholm syndrome’, but there is nothing much to surprise us in its fictional presentation. Although it … Continue reading →

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Hale Country This Morning, This Evening (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Hale County, Alabama

Posted on July 5, 2019 by kaist455

Documentary film “Hale Country This Morning, This Evening”, which won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Creative Vision when it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival early in last year and then got nominated for Best Documentary Oscar … Continue reading →

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Bisbee ’17 (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As they straddle past and present

Posted on July 5, 2019 by kaist455

Documentary film “Bisbee ‘17” presents a number of interesting and thought-provoking things via its unconventional approach, and I admire that a lot even though I often found myself struggling a bit to get how it intends to present its historical … Continue reading →

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Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Spider-Man goes to Europe

Posted on July 3, 2019 by kaist455

“Spider-Man: Far From Home”, the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) flick coming out after “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), is mildly disappointing without enough excitement or imagination to engage us. Although it is fairly enjoyable in its mostly lightweight tone just like … Continue reading →

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Leaving Neverland (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A sobering allegation of sexual abuse

Posted on July 2, 2019 by kaist455

HBO documentary film “Leaving Neverland” gave me a number of sobering moments I will easily not forget for a while. As listening to two men who were allegedly abused and molested in sexual ways by Michael Jackson when they were … Continue reading →

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The Mustang (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The Prisoner and a wild horse

Posted on July 1, 2019 by kaist455

The story and characters of “The Mustang” are familiar to the bone. Here is a violent, troubled man who has been struggling with his guilt and anger, and the movie simply observes he gradually goes through a process of rehabilitation … Continue reading →

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