Author Archives: kaist455

God’s Own Country (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An unadorned gay romance in countryside

Posted on May 9, 2018 by kaist455

As watching “God’s Own Country”, I thought about how much we have been accustomed to queer movies since “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) came out. After the considerable critical and financial success of that haunting gay romance drama, there came many other … Continue reading →

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Lucky (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): So long, Mr. Stanton

Posted on May 7, 2018 by kaist455

Harry Dean Stanton, who died at the age of 91 in last September, was always interesting to watch throughout his long, illustrious acting career spanning six decades. Since I came to notice this veteran character actor for the first time … Continue reading →

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Detroit (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Visceral but unfocused

Posted on May 6, 2018 by kaist455

Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film “Detroit” is a visceral but unfocused work which made me feel rather ambivalent about it after my viewing. While it is as vivid and tense as required during many of its key moments, it does not … Continue reading →

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A Skin So Soft (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Of muscle and masculinity

Posted on May 6, 2018 by kaist455

Going to the Jeonju International Film Festival has been a sort of ritual for me. After I watched Ramin Bahrani’s “Goodbye Solo” (2008) there, I have made a regular visit to the festival during last 8 years, and I was … Continue reading →

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Dangal (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Two wrestler girls pushed by their father

Posted on May 2, 2018 by kaist455

Indian film “Dangal”, which is belatedly released here in South Korea during last weekend, is a conventional sports drama which turns out to be better than I thought. Although there are numerous clichéd moments here and there in the film, … Continue reading →

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Human Flow (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A wide, intimate look into global refugee crisis

Posted on May 1, 2018 by kaist455

As a wide, intimate look into the ongoing refugee crisis around our world, Ai Weiwei’s documentary film “Human Flow” is sometimes difficult to watch. Moving around here and there around the world, the documentary frequently shows us vivid, harrowing moments … Continue reading →

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Wonderstruck (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Not wondrous enough

Posted on May 1, 2018 by kaist455

Todd Haynes’ latest film “Wonderstruck” is not as wondrous as its very title suggests. Although there are a number of nice moments of charm and innocence, the movie is unfortunately hampered by its rather flat, contrived storytelling, and I must … Continue reading →

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Avengers: Infinity War (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An ambitious but mixed cliffhanger

Posted on April 26, 2018 by kaist455

“Avengers: Infinity War”, the 19th feature film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), attempts to be a big, ambitious cliffhanger for whatever will come in the next year, but it does not entirely work well as trying to juggle too … Continue reading →

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Happy End (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The clinical examination of a loveless family

Posted on April 23, 2018 by kaist455

As shown from many of his notable works, Michael Haneke has always been fascinated with the dark, uncomfortable aspects of human nature, and his latest film “Happy End”, which was the Austrian entry for the Best Foreign Language Oscar in … Continue reading →

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Duck Town (2017) ☆☆(2/4): Whimsical and suicidal

Posted on April 22, 2018 by kaist455

“Duck Town” rubbed me in a wrong way, and I did not like that. Although I was amused by its several whimsical moments to some degrees, I was annoyed and offended by a number of broad, superficial moments associated with … Continue reading →

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