Category Archives: Movies

On the Basis of Sex (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A lawyer who changed the world

Posted on April 7, 2019 by kaist455

“On the Basis of Sex” focuses on the early career period of US Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a legendary American figure who is still actively keeping on in the US Supreme Court for civil equality and liberties even at this … Continue reading →

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Asako I & II (2018) ☆☆(2/4): Between two same but different men

Posted on April 7, 2019 by kaist455

Japanese film “Asako I & II” rubbed me in a wrong way. While I observed its first two acts with mild interest, I was quite baffled and annoyed by its contrived third act which takes a sudden plot turn without … Continue reading →

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Unicorn Store (2017) ☆☆(2/4): A whimsical mess

Posted on April 6, 2019 by kaist455

“Unicorn Store”, which was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in late 2017 but only got released on Netflix yesterday, is a whimsical mess which is incoherent and confusing in terms of what is about as well as how … Continue reading →

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Shazam! (2019) ☆☆☆(3/4): A goofy lightweight superhero movie

Posted on April 4, 2019 by kaist455

“Shazam!”, the latest installment from the DC Extended Universe (DCEU), is a lightweight superhero movie as funny and goofy as expected from its silly promise, and that is surely a nice fresh change compared to the grim ponderousness of “Batman … Continue reading →

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Birthday (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Remembering their son

Posted on April 4, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Birthday” is an earnest melodrama about the personal grief and sadness surrounding the sinking of MV Sewol on April 16th, 2014. While it is certainly well-intentioned and tactfully handles its subject with some restraint and respect, there … Continue reading →

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Peterloo (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A well-intentioned misfire by Mike Leigh

Posted on April 1, 2019 by kaist455

Mike Leigh’s latest film “Peterloo” attempts to give us a close look into the Peterloo Massacre of 1819, which has been regarded as a significant incident in the British history of civil reform. On August 16th of that year, around … Continue reading →

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Hotel by the River (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): One day of an aging poet guy

Posted on March 31, 2019 by kaist455

South Korean film “Hotel by the River”, the latest work from Hong Sang-soo, relatively feels more melancholic and reflective than Hong’s previous works. While there are several amusing moments of low-key humor as you can expect from his film, the … Continue reading →

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Loro 2 (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): The Great Banality

Posted on March 31, 2019 by kaist455

Italian film “Loro 2”, the second half of the latest work from Paolo Sorrentino, is not as tepid as the first half preceding it. While it still throws at us lots of debauchery and decadence as expected and that is … Continue reading →

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Loro 1 (2018) ☆☆(2/4): The Bonfire of the Banalities

Posted on March 31, 2019 by kaist455

I often found myself numb and displeased as watching Italian film “Loro 1”, the first half of another ambitious work from Paolo Sorrentino. As relentlessly pushing us into many gaudy moments of hedonistic debauchery, the movie attempts to present vividly … Continue reading →

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Us (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Another creepy work from Jordan Peele

Posted on March 29, 2019 by kaist455

“Us”, the second feature film from Jordan Peele, is a wry and creepy horror tale packed with striking moments you will not easily forget. While it often tests our suspension of disbelief as going further and further with its decidedly … Continue reading →

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