Category Archives: Movies

A Hidden Life (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A meditative resistance

Posted on December 26, 2020 by kaist455

Terrence Malick’s latest film “A Hidden Life” is a meditative drama film which calmly and austerely explores its religious/spiritual themes via the real life of one ordinary man who chose to stick to his belief despite being aware of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Family, Real-life figure, Real-life story, Religion, War, World War II | 1 Comment

Undine (2020) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): An uneven misfire by Christian Petzold

Posted on December 25, 2020 by kaist455

Christian Petzold’s “Undine” alternatively frustrated and fascinated me when I watched it at a local theater during this afternoon. While I enjoyed its odd mix of romance and fantasy to some degree, I was also distracted by how its rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Diver, Fantasy, Romance | Leave a comment

Summer of 85 (2020) ☆☆(2/4): That tedious summer….

Posted on December 25, 2020 by kaist455

François Ozon’s latest film “Summer of 85” is utterly disappointing to say the least. As a coming-of-age queer drama, it is so bland and lackadaisical that, if you have admired and enjoyed some of Ozon’s works like I have, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Adolescence, Coming-of-age drama, Homosexuality, Romance | Leave a comment

More Than Family (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her matter of pregnancy and paternity

Posted on December 25, 2020 by kaist455

South Korean comedy film “More Than Family” surprised me more than expected. At first, it seems to be merely depending on one absurd comic story premise, but then it comes to show more depth in terms of story and characters, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Comedy, Family, Pregnancy, South Korean Film | 1 Comment

The Painted Bird (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A gruelingly hollow piece of work

Posted on December 25, 2020 by kaist455

“The Painted Bird”, which was selected as the Czech entry for the Best International Feature Film Oscar in last year (It was included in the December shortlist although it was not nominated in the end, by the way), is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged The Holocaust, War, World War II | Leave a comment

The Midnight Sky (2020) ☆☆(2/4): An SF film without much wonder and pizazz

Posted on December 23, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix film “The Midnight Sky”, which was released in theaters in here and US a few weeks ago and then is released on Netflix today, is a disappointment without much wonder and pizazz. While it starts with an interesting story … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Post-apocalyptic world, Scientist, SF, Space, Space Mission | 1 Comment

Rewind (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Rewinding to the abuse in his past

Posted on December 22, 2020 by kaist455

Sasha Joseph Neulinger’s first feature documentary film “Rewind” is often uncomfortable and disturbing to watch for good reasons. Calmly digging into his traumatic childhood past via a series of old home video clips shot around that terrible period, the documentary … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged Documentary, Family, Filmmaker, Real-life figure, Real-life story, sexual abuse | Leave a comment

City Hall (2020) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): Of a city and its government

Posted on December 22, 2020 by kaist455

I must confess that I cannot help but become very, very, very nervous whenever I have to watch and review the latest work from Frederick Wiseman, a great documentary filmmaker who has never stopped in his long, illustrious career although … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged City, City Hall, Civil servant, Documentary, Real-life figure | 1 Comment

I’m Your Woman (2020) ☆☆☆(3/4): She is on her own now – with a baby

Posted on December 21, 2020 by kaist455

“I’m Your Woman”, which was released on Amazon Prime a few weeks ago, is an interesting genre variation to be savored for a number of good reasons. The movie may not surprise you much on the whole as dryly and … Continue reading →