Category Archives: Movies

Familiar Touch (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As her mind declines

Posted on December 9, 2025 by kaist455

“Familial Touch” is a gracefully elegiac drama film which follows the gradual mental decline of its aging heroine. She knows well her mind is fading away, but then there inevitably comes the point where she is often not totally aware … Continue reading →

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Universal Language (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A singular cinematic mix

Posted on December 8, 2025 by kaist455

Matthew Rankin’s “Universal Language”, which was selected as the Canadian submission to Best International Film Oscar in last year, is a singular cinematic mix to behold. While clearly influenced by the works of Guy Maddin, Wes Anderson, and Roy Andersson, … Continue reading →

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Nouvelle Vague (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lightweight reenactment of the Nouvelle Vague era

Posted on December 8, 2025 by kaist455

Richard Linklater’s “Nouvelle Vague”, which was released on Netflix in US several weeks ago, is a lightweight reenactment of how Jean-Luc Godard made one of the greatest films in the cinema history during a few weeks of 1959. While it … Continue reading →

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If I Had Legs I’d Kick You (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The raw and intense portrayal of a troubled motherhood

Posted on December 7, 2025 by kaist455

Mary Bronstein’s second feature film “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” is probably one of the most intensely uncomfortable movie experiences I have ever had during this year. Closely and vividly sticking to the increasingly unstable mindset of one … Continue reading →

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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The middle of an ambitious trilogy

Posted on December 7, 2025 by kaist455

Peter Jackson’s 2002 film “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers”, which is currently being shown in selected South Korean theaters, is an effective middle chapter of its ambitious trilogy. While you will surely need to watch “The Lord … Continue reading →

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Jay Kelly (2025) ☆☆☆(3/4): A star in middle-life crisis

Posted on December 6, 2025 by kaist455

Noah Baumbach’s latest film “Jay Kelly”, which was briefly shown in theaters before it is released on Netflix in this week, is a humorous story about the middle-life crisis of one big movie star. While it is quite typical in … Continue reading →

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Sirāt (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): In the middle of a stark existential wasteland 

Posted on December 5, 2025 by kaist455

“Sirāt”, which was recently selected as the Spanish submission to Best International Film Oscar, impresses me a lot with its stark existential wasteland. As its few main characters are merely heading to somewhere across that vast and remote wasteland, the … Continue reading →

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Sorry, Baby (2025) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Before and after what happened to her

Posted on December 2, 2025 by kaist455

During the first 20 minutes of Eva Victor’s first feature film “Sorry, Baby”, I observed that its heroine is living a wonderful academic life which would have been envied by my late mentor/friend Roger Ebert, who could have taught literature … Continue reading →

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Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): An enduring Thanksgiving Day classic

Posted on December 1, 2025 by kaist455

As a South Korean who has seldom left his country during last 42 years, I have never experienced Thanksgiving Day for my whole life, but I could not help but amused and touched by John Hughes’ 1987 film “Planes, Trains … Continue reading →

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The Color of Pomegranates (1969) ☆☆☆(3/4): The life of an Armenian poet

Posted on December 1, 2025 by kaist455

In my humble opinion, a good movie can reach to your heart and mind, no matter how vague and elusive it is in what and how it is about. In case of Sergei Parajanov’s 1969 film “The Color of Pomegranates”, … Continue reading →

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