Author Archives: kaist455

Fair Play (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A risky office relationship

Posted on October 9, 2023 by kaist455

Netflix film “Fair Play”, which was released on last Friday, is a tense and disturbing thriller drama about one supposedly cool office relationship deteriorated by toxic office environment. Alternatively chilling and harrowing, the movie often feels like watching the slow-motion … Continue reading →

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8 1/2 (1963) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A filmmaker in chaotic crisis

Posted on October 8, 2023 by kaist455

Federico Fellini’s “8 1/2” is your average navel-gazing piece of work, but it is surely one of the best ones of its kind in addition to being the groundbreaking one. While having been emulated so much by numerous subsequent films … Continue reading →

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La Dolce Vita (1960) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): The ups and downs of his chic but hollow lifestyle

Posted on October 8, 2023 by kaist455

It has been 20 years since I watched Federico Fellini’s “La Dolce Vita”, and I could not help but become a bit reflective about its timeless qualities when I revisited it at a local movie theater today. While it can … Continue reading →

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Totally Killer (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Scream mixed with Back to the Future

Posted on October 8, 2023 by kaist455

“Totally Killer”, which was released on Amazon Prime a few days ago, is another familiar genre mix which thankfully has enough entertaining moments to hold our attention to the end. As slyly recognized in the film, this is basically a … Continue reading →

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Hopeless (2023) ☆☆(2/4): Hopelessly grim and tepid

Posted on October 8, 2023 by kaist455

South Korean film “Hopeless” is a grim crime noir drama which tediously pushes the story and characters into more violence and misery without much substance or interest. Besides being unlikable or pathetic, most of the main characters in the film … Continue reading →

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The Saint of Second Chances (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): An Owner’s Son

Posted on October 3, 2023 by kaist455

Mike Veeck is an interesting guy who also has had a pretty curious life and career, and Netflix documentary film “The Said of Second of Chances”, which was released a few weeks ago, could not possibly be less entertaining at … Continue reading →

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Love Reset (2023) ☆☆(2/4): Love after divorce – and amnesia

Posted on October 3, 2023 by kaist455

I am not an ideal audience for South Korean film “Love Reset”. To be frank with you, I do not like comedies simply resorting to cheap gags and apparent jokes instead of being driven by genuine personalities and absurdities, and … Continue reading →

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The Eternal Memory (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): If we knew them more…

Posted on October 1, 2023 by kaist455

Chilean documentary film “The Eternal Memory”, which won the Grand Jury Prize when it was premiered at the World Cinema Dramatic Competition of Sundance Film Festival early in this year, simply observes the small and big struggles of an Alzheimer’s … Continue reading →

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Scrapper (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): And then her dad comes…

Posted on October 1, 2023 by kaist455

“Scrapper” is a modest but endearing character drama film revolving around the strained human relationship between two very different characters. Right from when they meet each other for the first time, you will know where the story is heading, but … Continue reading →

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Kim’s Video (2023) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): Searching for Kim’s Video

Posted on October 1, 2023 by kaist455

The main subject of documentary film “Kim’s Video” is certainly something which will draw any serious movie fan’s attention. As a guy who spent a lot of time in a number of local video rental stores in my hometown when … Continue reading →

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