Author Archives: kaist455

Juliet, Naked (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): With her boyfriend’s idol

“Juliet, Naked” is too mild for me. While there are some good elements to be appreciated, these moments do not click well together without much comic synergy, and I was left with empty feeling even though I was amused to … Continue reading →

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Stella’s Last Weekend (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two Brothers and a Girl

“Stella’s Last Weekend” is a modest but enjoyable mix between family comedy and romance drama. While sometimes predictable and contrived, the movie is funny and engaging mainly thanks to the unaffected chemistry among its main cast members, and I had … Continue reading →

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McQueen (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): On his bold, striking artistry

Documentary film “McQueen” gives us some striking moments to remember as looking around the life and career of Alexander McQueen, who was one of the most renowned fashion designers during recent years. I must confess that I do not know … Continue reading →

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Galveston (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A familiar crime drama better than expected

“Galveston” is a crime drama which is quite familiar but turns out to be better than expected. While being bleak and seedy as demanded, the movie generates some genuinely poignant moments as rolling its two main characters along its leisurely … Continue reading →

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Madeline’s Madeline (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Seriously committed and disturbed

Watching “Madeline’s Madeline” was quite annoying and frustrating for me. Attempting to present a disturbing drama of mental illness and artistic exploitation, the movie is deliberately disorienting and jarring from the beginning to the end, and I sort of understand … Continue reading →

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A Long Farewell (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Farewell to one old apartment complex area

Apartment complexes were an important part of my childhood life during the 1980-90s. As I and my family often moved from one apartment complex to another one, I always looked at those big buildings with wonder and curiosity, and I … Continue reading →

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Ode to the Goose (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Ode to Gunsan

The works of Zhang Lü, who drew my attention for the first time with “Dooman River” (2011), always have a palpable sense of people and locations. While “Dooman River” immersed us into the realistic daily life of Korean Chinese characters … Continue reading →

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Call Me Lucky (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Meet Barry Crimmins

Documentary film “Call Me Lucky” presents a talented and passionate comedian who was also a complex and compelling human being. While it is engaging to observe the considerable talent and spirit of this rather obscure comedian, the documentary also powerfully … Continue reading →

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Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Here they sing and dance again

“Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” is better than I expected, and that is a little surprise for me. Yes, this is your typical jukebox musical movie just like its predecessor, but it is somehow less tiresome in comparison as … Continue reading →

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Halloween (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): He’s back – but she’s quite ready this time

As I sat for watching David Gordon Green’s new film “Halloween”, I was ready to be scared and thrilled, but I only found myself disappointed in the end. Although the movie is certainly well-made with some interesting elements to notice, … Continue reading →

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