Author Archives: kaist455

Bottoms (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Figthting Girls

Posted on December 6, 2023 by kaist455

Emma Seligman’s second feature film “Bottoms” is decidedly outrageous for laughs, and I enjoyed that. As a high school comedy movie, it is often blatantly artificial in terms of mood and details, but it literally does not pull any punch … Continue reading →

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20 Days in Mariupol (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A close look into one Ukrainian city under siege

Posted on December 6, 2023 by kaist455

Ukrainian documentary “20 Days in Mariupol”, which received the Audience Award at the World Cinema Documentary Competition of the Sundance Film Festival early in this year, is a vivid and disturbing presentation of the first 20 days of one Ukrainian … Continue reading →

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How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A bunch of radical environmentalists

Posted on December 5, 2023 by kaist455

“How to Blow Up a Pipeline” is as disturbing and alarming as its very title suggests. Here are a group of young radicals willing to go a lot further for their common sociopolitical belief, and the movie is alternatively compelling … Continue reading →

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May December (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A tricky character study

Posted on December 5, 2023 by kaist455

Todd Haynes’ latest film “May December” is elusive but fascinating in its tricky psychological drama between a famous actress and a notorious woman she is supposed to play. While mostly cold and dispassionate in terms of mood and storytelling, the … Continue reading →

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Earth Mama (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Desperate Motherhood

Posted on December 4, 2023 by kaist455

I admire good movies which can function as the window of empathy and understanding to people a lot different from me or you, and “Earth Mama” is a prime example of that. As following the daily struggles of one young … Continue reading →

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Passages (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): You will be sorry for them – but not him

Posted on December 4, 2023 by kaist455

Ira Sachs’ latest film “Passages” will definitely make you wince a lot for its utterly unlikable hero – and how much the two other main characters around him struggle with his toxic influence in one way or another. Although you … Continue reading →

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Single in Seoul (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Publishing and Romancing

Posted on December 3, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Single in Seoul” is a romantic comedy which turns out to be more distinctive and intelligent than expected. Right from when its Meet Cute moment, you can clearly see through where it is going along with its … Continue reading →

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R.M.N. (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): Their Town

Posted on December 3, 2023 by kaist455

Romanian filmmaker Christian Mungiu has impressed us with his dry but undeniably intense drama films such as “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” (2007) and “Beyond the Hill” (2012). Although it is less focused in comparison as attempting to … Continue reading →

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American Symphony (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A slice of his art and life

Posted on December 2, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “American Symphony”, which came out a few days ago, simply presents a slice of life and art from John Batiste, who has been one of the most prominent American musicians during last several years. Although the documentary … Continue reading →

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Stamped from the Beginning (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A searing essay on American racism

Posted on December 2, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Stamped from the Beginning”, which was released on Netflix a few weeks ago, is utterly direct and forthright about the long and troubling history of American racism. If you are familiar with its main subject, you may … Continue reading →

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