Author Archives: kaist455

BlackBerry (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The Rise and Fall of BlackBerry

Posted on April 26, 2024 by kaist455

You probably remember that there was a very popular smartphone called BlackBerry before iPhone and many other smartphones. To be frank with you, I never used BlackBerry because I stuck to my small cellular phone during that time although I … Continue reading →

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Madu (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A talented boy from Nigeria

Posted on April 25, 2024 by kaist455

Documentary film “Madu”, which is currently available on Disney+, closely follows one talented boy from Nigeria. Although there are a number of small and big obstacles despite one very fortunate opportunity given to him, he keeps trying nonetheless as helped … Continue reading →

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Blood for Dust (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Descent of a salesman

Posted on April 23, 2024 by kaist455

“Blood for Dust” is a moody but tense noir film which follows the descent of one ordinary salesman who lets himself driven more into crime and corruption by his growing despair and frustration. While this is not a pleasant sight … Continue reading →

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Laroy, Texas (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little comic noir set in Texas

Posted on April 23, 2024 by kaist455

“Laroy, Texas” is a little comic noir which reminds us again of that old genre lesson: the world always wins no matter how much you try to win by any means necessary. Clearly reminiscent of its senior noir films such … Continue reading →

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Poetry on Land (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A master landscape architect

Posted on April 21, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean documentary “Poetry on Land” is a soothing experience to be cherished for good reasons. While it is lovely to see all those tranquilly beautiful nature landscapes in the documentary, it is also fascinating to observe an old female … Continue reading →

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Late Night with the Devil (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): When the devil was invited on air

Posted on April 21, 2024 by kaist455

“Late Night with the Devil” brings some fresh satiric spin to its familiar genre territory, and I like that. Yes, this is basically another your average found footage horror film, but it is a skillful genre product packaged with some … Continue reading →

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Jeong-sun (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): After she is exposed

Posted on April 20, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean film “Jeong-sun”, which was belatedly released in South Korea in this week (It was premiered at the Jeonju International Film Festival in May 2022, where it received the Grand Prize award), is a dry but intense character drama … Continue reading →

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Until the Stones Speak (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): The memories of a massacre

Posted on April 20, 2024 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “Until the Stones Speak” is often haunting as simply listening to the sad and bitter testimonies from five old ladies who have coped with each own pain and trauma from one of the most atrocious incidents … Continue reading →

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Shortcomings (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): This one disagreeable Asian American lad

Posted on April 19, 2024 by kaist455

“Shortcomings”, which recently came to Netflix in South Korea, is often amusing for how it tackles the representation of Asian Americans. As a matter of fact, the movie opens with the screening of a popular flick not so different from … Continue reading →

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Moving On (2022) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): Fonda, Tomlin, and a bit more

Posted on April 17, 2024 by kaist455

“Moving On”, which is currently available on Netflix in South Korea, is enjoyable whenever it is driven by the good chemistry between two legendary actresses at the center of the film. They are more than 80 at present, but these … Continue reading →

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