Author Archives: kaist455

Leaving Las Vegas (1995) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A harrowing alcoholic love story in Las Vegas

Posted on January 14, 2026 by kaist455

Mike Figgis’ 1995 film “Leaving Las Vegas”, which was recently released in selected South Korean theaters, is still superlative for many good reasons. At first, its two lead characters seem to be more or less than familiar archetypes, but the … Continue reading →

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Stranger Than Paradise (1984) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The early breakthrough work in Jim Jarmusch’s career

Posted on January 12, 2026 by kaist455

Jim Jarmusch’s 1984 film “Stranger Than Paradise”, which happens to be shown in selected South Korean theaters along with several other works of his as his latest film “Father Mother Sister Brother” (2025) arrives here, is quite dry to say … Continue reading →

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Baka’s Identity (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): Three lads struggling in a criminal underworld

Posted on January 12, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese film “Baka’s Identity” is a grim but engaging crime drama about three different lads struggling in their criminal underworld in one way or another. As smoothly moving from one perspective from another one along its non-linear narrative, the movie … Continue reading →

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Breathless (1960) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Still bold and spirited

Posted on January 10, 2026 by kaist455

For many years, watching Jean-Luc Godard’s ground-breaking film “Breathless” has felt like homework for me. To be frank with you, I usually prefer François Truffaut’s movies to Godard’s, and I usually find many of Godard’s films rather cold, haughty, and … Continue reading →

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My Sunshine (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A coming-of-age drama on ice 

Posted on January 9, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Hiroshi Okuyama’s latest film “My Sunshine” is a modest but engaging coming-of-age drama to be appreciated for several good reasons. While the story and characters are quite familiar to say the least, the movie patiently builds up its … Continue reading →

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Poppoya (1999) ☆☆☆(3/4): The life of a station master

Posted on January 9, 2026 by kaist455

Japanese filmmaker Yasuo Furuhata’s 1999 film “Poppoya” is the story of one dedicated railway station master. While he has simply devoted himself to his menial occupation for more than 20 years without much complaint at all, he has also kept … Continue reading →

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Good Fortune (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The trouble with an angel

Posted on January 7, 2026 by kaist455

Aziz Ansari’s first feature film “Good Fortune” is a mildly amusing comedy which could push its comic promise further before arriving at its predictable ending. Thanks to the game efforts from Ansari and several other main cast members in the … Continue reading →

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Super Happy Forever (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Not much beyond his self-pity

Posted on January 5, 2026 by kaist455

Self-pity can be one of the most tedious things to observe. As watching the first half of “Super Happy Forever”, I kept wondering why I should pay attention to the drab and superficial presentation of its rather uninteresting hero’s self-pity, … Continue reading →

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Father Mother Sister Brother (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A trio of sublime family dramas from Jim Jarmusch

Posted on January 3, 2026 by kaist455

Jim Jarmusch’s latest film “Father Mother Sister Brother”, which won the Golden Lion award at the Venice International Film Festival in last year, is as dry, humorous, and touching as you can expect from him. As doling out its three … Continue reading →

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The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) ☆☆☆(3/4): Michael Caine as Scrooge – with the Muppets

Posted on December 25, 2025 by kaist455

There is a good reason why Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol” has been a classic work to be remembered and cherished by many of us. Above all, this is a striking ghost story with chilly and spooky qualities … Continue reading →

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