Author Archives: kaist455

Godland (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A priest struggling in malformed land

Posted on March 9, 2024 by kaist455

“Godland”, which was the Icelandic submission to Best International Film Oscar and then included in the shortlist around the end of the last year, is relentlessly cold, rigid, and bleak from the beginning to the end. I often felt distant … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

FAQ (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): The girl who listens to a bottle of rice wine (no kidding)

Posted on March 5, 2024 by kaist455

Dear my little niece who will be one year old in this November I recently watched South Korean independent film “FAQ”, which was released at local movie theaters in last week. To be frank with you, I could not help … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Amiko (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Here is Amiko

Posted on March 5, 2024 by kaist455

Japanese film “Amiko” is a dry but painful coming-of-age tale about one odd and socially awkward young girl who often clashes with the increasingly gloomy reality surrounding her. While it is quite uncomfortable to observe how frequently she struggles to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My Prediction on the 96th Academy Awards

Posted on March 1, 2024 by kaist455

So here comes the end of another Oscar season. As usual, some of the best films of last year received well-deserved nominations while other excellent films were unfortunately ignored, but I and many of you remain interested in which movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Exhuma (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A bad grave

Posted on February 29, 2024 by kaist455

Good horror movies usually need a substantial amount of conviction for making themselves work, and South Korean horror film “Exhuma” has plenty of that. While I do not believe much of what its main characters talk about, the movie did … Continue reading →

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

Dune: Part 2 (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): …and a prophecy is fulfilled

Posted on February 28, 2024 by kaist455

Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part 2” gives us much of what its predecessor promised to us a few years ago. Yes, his previous film “Dune” felt to me like an exercise rather than an entertainment, but I still admired many of … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Poor Things (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The odd adventure of one wild creature

Posted on February 26, 2024 by kaist455

Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest film “Poor Things” is another idiosyncratic fun to be savored. While it is as darkly absurd as his recent films such as “The Lobster” (2015) and “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” (2017), it is also as … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Robot Dreams (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A dog and one robot

Posted on February 25, 2024 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Robot Dreams”, which recently got nominated for Best Animation Film Oscar, is sweet and touching with its charming style and heartfelt storytelling. While drawing your attention for its colorful background at first, the movie simply follows its … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

All of Us Strangers (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A personal ghost story

Posted on February 23, 2024 by kaist455

Andrew Haigh’s latest film “All of Us Strangers” is a gentle and intimate personal ghost story about loss, grief, loneliness, and love. Starting with a supernatural story premise, the movie gradually delves into the troubled state of mind of its … Continue reading →

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

To Kill a Tiger (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Standing by his daughter

Posted on February 22, 2024 by kaist455

Documentary film “To Kill a Tiger”, which recently received a Best Documentary Oscar nomination, is a calm but empathetic as following one Indian country farmer’s long and difficult personal journey for the justice for his young daughter who was brutally … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment