Author Archives: kaist455

The Gorge (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): What lies between them

“The Gorge”, which was released on Apple TV+ a few weeks ago, focuses on its two main characters first before eventually going for your average video game action, and I must confess that I enjoyed this process more than expected. … Continue reading

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The Last Stop in Yuma County (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Stuck in a diner together

“The Last Stop in Yuma County” is a simple but effective genre piece to entertain you. While clearly influenced by the works of Quentin Tarantino and Coen brothers, the movie plays its genre game mostly fair and straight, and the … Continue reading

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The Painter and the Thief (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): One painter and her messy muse

Norwegian documentary film “The Painter and the Thief” observes a complex human relationship between two total strangers who happened to get involved with each other under one extraordinary circumstance. As alternating between their different viewpoints, the documentary makes us reflect … Continue reading

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Paddington in Peru (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Back in Peru

“Paddington in Peru” is as amiable and pleasant as it can be despite being a bit underwhelming at times. Although you may be disappointed to see that it does not reach the sublime comic level of “Paddington 2” (2017), the … Continue reading

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The Love Scam (2025) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Pleasant but no surprise

Italian Netflix film “The Love Scam”, which was released at the beginning of this year, is predictable to the core to say the least. Right from when its two main characters come across each other, you will quickly guess the … Continue reading

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The Sand Castle (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The family stuck in an island

Netflix film “The Sand Castle”, which was released in last month, is an allegorical drama gradually revealing the underlying reality surrounding its main characters. The overall result feels a little too broad and symbolic, and it seems to lose its … Continue reading

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Maria (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Callas during her last days

Pablo Larraín’s latest film “Maria”, which was released on Netflix in US a few months ago, simply walks here and there around its famous real-life female figure. As the last entry in Larraín’s trilogy after “Jackie” (2016) and “Spencer” (2021), … Continue reading

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The Girl with the Needle (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Seamstress’ tale

“The Girl with the Needle”, which was recently Oscar-nominated for Best International Film, is a stark and unnerving period drama about one unfortunate woman who happens to be under a very gloomy circumstance. As she struggles for life in one … Continue reading

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Better Man (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Robbie Williams presented as an ape (no kidding)

“Better Man” is another typical musician biography drama film with one notable difference. While it is surely filled with predictable ups and downs as illustrating the life and career of British musician Robbie Williams, the movie presents Williams as a … Continue reading

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Starring Jerry as Himself (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little family project

Documentary film “Starring Jerry as Himself” works as a sort of sincere public service while also being a little family project for its main human subject. For showing what happened to him a few years ago, the documentary takes a … Continue reading

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