Author Archives: kaist455

MaXXXine (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Maxine goes to Hollywood…

Posted on September 9, 2024 by kaist455

Ti West’s latest film “MaXXXine”, the third installment of West’s X film series after “X” (2022) and “Pearl” (2022), is willing to go further from what was modestly but impressively achieved in its two predecessors. It surely has a lot … Continue reading →

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The Bikeriders (2023) ☆☆(2/4): They simply ride and ride…

Posted on September 9, 2024 by kaist455

Jeff Nichols’ new film “The Bikeriders” could provide a fascinating anthropological presentation of one particular social group in the American society during the 1960-70s. While it attempts a fresh perspective via its sole substantial female character, many of its main … Continue reading →

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Kinds of Kindness (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Kinds of Self-indulgence

Posted on September 8, 2024 by kaist455

I sometimes found Yorgos Lanthimos’ early films such as “Dogtooth” (2009) a bit too dry and vicious for me, and his latest film “Kinds of Kindness”, which is currently available on Disney+ in South Korea, shows him back in his … Continue reading →

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Eileen (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): That unnerving attraction between them

Posted on September 8, 2024 by kaist455

William Oldroyd’s second feature film “Eileen” is a rather uneven mix of noir thriller and coming-of-age drama. The movie is fairly compelling during its first two acts thanks to its good mood and storytelling as well as the two talented … Continue reading →

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Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Still zany and rambunctious

Posted on September 5, 2024 by kaist455

Tim Burton’s new film “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” is as quintessential as you can expect from Burton. The story itself is more or less than a mere ground for many odd, quirky, and grotesque stuffs to be presented here and there, but … Continue reading →

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Mother’s Kingdom (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their kingdom to collapse

Posted on September 4, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean independent film “Mother’s Kingdom” is a somber but unnerving family drama about those tricky questions of belief and doubt. How much are you willing to go along with what is supposed to be a truth? And what are … Continue reading →

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Fly Me to the Moon (2024) ☆☆(2/4): An uneven hodgepodge of comedy and drama

Posted on September 3, 2024 by kaist455

“Fly Me to the Moon” tries to be a lot of things at once, but it fails to work as any of them on the whole. While it busily swings back and forth between comedy and drama as intended, both … Continue reading →

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Moongyeong: More than Roads (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her Journey with a monk

Posted on September 2, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Moongyeong: More than Roads” follows a little journey of healing between two different women who happen to accompany each other by coincidence. Although it will require some patience from you as your average slow movie, it will … Continue reading →

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Divertimento (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): To become a conductor

Posted on September 2, 2024 by kaist455

French film “Divertimento” is a competent feel-good drama film inspired by one remarkable real-life story. While there are some expected conventional moments, the movie casually flows along with its ambitious young heroine as she struggles to find her own personality … Continue reading →

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Love According to Dalva (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The observation of a troubled young girl

Posted on August 31, 2024 by kaist455

“Love According to Dalva” closely observes the emotional turmoil of a troubled young girl who feels quite hurt and confused for understandable reasons. While it is sometime difficult to watch during a number of emotionally intense scenes, the movie depicts … Continue reading →

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