Author Archives: kaist455

Ferrari (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Calm and detached just like its hero

Michael Mann’s new film “Ferrari” is calm and detached just like its hero, who builds a wall around whatever he feels and thinks inside as he says at one point in the story. As a sort of antithesis to James … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Priscilla (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Lost in Graceland

Since her first two feature films “The Virgin Suicides” (1999) and “Lost in Translation” (2003), Sofia Coppola has consistently adhered on her artistic territory. Her subsequent notable works such as “Marie Antoinette” (2006), “Somewhere” (2010), and “The Beguiled” (2017) are … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Color Purple (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lighter song and dance version

“The Color Purple”, based on an acclaimed Broadway musical which was developed from Alice Walker’s Pulitzer-winning novel of the same name, cannot help but get itself compared with its predecessor. Although it is not totally without flaws, Steve Spielberg’s “The … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Citizen of a Kind (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Ra Mi-ran rules again

It seems to me that South Korean actress Ra Mi-ran is one of the rare performers who can sell almost anything to audiences. Although I did not like her recent comedy film “Honest Candidate” (2020) and its following 2022 sequel … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Sayonara, Girls. (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Before their graduation

Japanese film “Sayonara, Girls”, which is released as “Girls Don’t Graduate” in South Korea as it was in Japan a few months ago, is so gentle and vanilla that I quickly lost my patience during my viewing. Probably because I … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Between Two Worlds (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An observer with no stake at all

What French film “Between Two Worlds” is about is important and relevant to say the least, but I also found it problematic for how it is about. Mainly driven via a privileged observer with no stake at all, the movie … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Picnic (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Returning to the hometown with her best friend

South Korean film “Picnic” is an unabashedly sappy character drama which actually earns some poignancy in the end. While it sometimes feels quite blatant in the attempts to pull our heartstrings, the movie is thankfully anchored well by two strong … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Plan 75 (2022) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): No Country for Old People

Japanese film “Plan 75”, which was selected as the Japanese entry for Best International Film Oscar in 2022, is calm and dispassionate about its gloomy dystopian subject. While its main subject is certainly thought-provoking to say the least, the movie … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Orion and the Dark (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): His friend, Dark

Netflix animation film “Orion and the Dark”, which was released in last week, is a simple but engaging children’s story decorated with interesting ideas and visuals. While its narrative structure may be a bit confusing to its main target audiences … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Of an Age (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Of a Romance

Australian film “Of an Age” works best whenever its two main characters dance around their mutual attraction. While both of them become more aware of their developing feelings along the story, they hesitate to step forward for each own reason, … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment