Author Archives: kaist455

Love After Love (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Love after death

Posted on August 19, 2018 by kaist455

“Love After Love” calmly observes how life goes on for its ordinary characters after their sad, painful loss. While it may be a little too dry or somber for you, the movie is engaging on the whole thanks to its … Continue reading →

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No Country for Old Men (2007) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A great thriller from the Coen Brothers

Posted on August 16, 2018 by kaist455

It is always exhilarating to recognize a great film right from when it comes out, and the Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” was my first experience of encountering a new great film to cherish and admire. When I … Continue reading →

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The Spy Gone North (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The Spy Who Came into North Korea

Posted on August 14, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “The Spy Gone North” did not show me anything particularly new. Inspired by the remarkable real-life story of a South Korean secret agent who successfully approached to high-ranking North Korean officials and then even went inside North … Continue reading →

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Jupiter’s Moon (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A boy who can levitate

Posted on August 12, 2018 by kaist455

Sometimes I come across films which are commendable in technical aspects but unsatisfying in terms of story and characters, and Hungarian film “Jupiter’s Moon” is one of such disappointing examples. I was impressed by a number of technically superlative moments … Continue reading →

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The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): One phantasmagoric night

Posted on August 9, 2018 by kaist455

Japanese animation feature film “The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl” is a phantasmagoric fantasy which literally goes wild with its style and imagination. Although I must point out that it could not wholly engage me as I became more … Continue reading →

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Thelma (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her power awakens

Posted on August 8, 2018 by kaist455

“Thelma”, which was chosen as Norway’s official entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar in last year, is a calm but unsettling experience. Firmly sticking to its young heroine’s increasingly agitated state of mind, the movie constantly unnerves us throughout … Continue reading →

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Our Kind of Traitor (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A middling adaptation of John le Carré novel

Posted on August 6, 2018 by kaist455

“Our Kind of Traitor”, which is based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré, engaged me to some degrees but then eventually disappointed me. Although this is a fairly watchable espionage thriller film with some good … Continue reading →

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Maborosi (1995) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The remarkable debut work from Hirokazu Kore-eda

Posted on August 4, 2018 by kaist455

“Maborosi”, the first feature film of Hirokazu Kore-eda, is a haunting work of serene beauty and aching sadness. Phlegmatically observing how its heroine keeps going on with her life which is irreversibly changed by one devastating incident, the movie intimately … Continue reading →

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Disobedience (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A somber drama of love and faith

Posted on July 30, 2018 by kaist455

Good adult drama is something we do not encounter everyday, and I am glad to report to you that “Disobedience”, the latest film of Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, is an engaging adult drama to be appreciated for its mood, storytelling, … Continue reading →

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Shoplifters (2018) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): As they live as a family

Posted on July 28, 2018 by kaist455

Gentle and sensitive in its thoughtful storytelling, Japanese film “Shoplifters” is another masterful work from Hirokazu Kore-eda, one of the most humane filmmakers in our time. Calmly observing its main characters’ shabby but happy daily life, the movie generates numerous … Continue reading →

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