Category Archives: Movies

Their Finest (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Making a propaganda film during the World War II

Posted on August 12, 2019 by kaist455

In 2017, no less than three movies associated with the Battle of Dunkirk came out. While Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” (2017) intensely focused on the battle itself, Joe Wright’s “Darkest Hour” (2017) observed the urgent political situation in Britain around that … Continue reading →

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Tower (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): That horrible summer day in Austin, Texas

Posted on August 11, 2019 by kaist455

On August 1st, 1966, a guy named Charles Whitman went up to the top floor of the University of Texas Tower in Austin, Texas, and then he committed one of the most atrocious shooting incidents in the American modern history. … Continue reading →

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Jesus (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A simple but haunting coming-of-age drama

Posted on August 10, 2019 by kaist455

Japanese film “Jesus” is a simple but haunting coming-of-age drama to be admired for not only its sensitive coming-of-age tale but also its thoughtful handling of its religious subjects. While it is often a little playful as observing how its … Continue reading →

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My Name Is KIM Bok-dong (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Her last defiant years

Posted on August 10, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean documentary film “My Name Is KIM Bok-dong” looks into the last defiant years of an old lady who tried hard along with her fellow survivors for getting an official apology from the Japanese government for more than 25 … Continue reading →

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Wild Rose (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): The tale of a Scottish country singer girl

Posted on August 9, 2019 by kaist455

“Wild Rose” is your average music drama which hits many familiar notes, but it distinguishes itself pretty well via its irrepressible spirit and personality. Right from the beginning, we can instantly see where it is heading along with its feisty … Continue reading →

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The Souvenir (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): Scenes from her toxic personal relationship

Posted on August 9, 2019 by kaist455

“The Souvenir” is a somber and detached mix of coming-of-age and romance drama which is occasionally emotionally painful to watch for good reasons. As calmly observing how things alternatively go up and down between its young heroine and a very … Continue reading →

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Ophelia (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Shakespeare story told from her viewpoint

Posted on August 5, 2019 by kaist455

“Ophelia” tries the feministic reinterpretation of one of the most famous works by William Shakespeare. Although its titular heroine may not be the most compelling character in the story from the beginning, the movie is often fascinating to observe the … Continue reading →

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Share (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): After that night

Posted on August 4, 2019 by kaist455

HBO TV movie “Share”, which was bought by HBO shortly after it was shown at Sundance Film Festival early in this year, is a restrained but undeniably harrowing drama about one adolescent girl whose normal life is suddenly turned upside … Continue reading →

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Ray & Liz (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): On his two lousy parents

Posted on August 4, 2019 by kaist455

“Ray & Liz” is a melancholic family drama which observes its human subjects and their squalid living environment with considerable emotional detachment. While this is surely not something you can casually watch on Sunday afternoon, it works to some degree … Continue reading →

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One, Two, Three (1961) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A wild Cold War farce from Wilder and Cagney

Posted on August 4, 2019 by kaist455

Billy Wilder’s “One, Two, Three” is often breathtaking for how relentlessly it drives its plot and characters for a barrage of laughs and chuckles from the beginning to the end. When I watched it for the first time in early … Continue reading →

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