Category Archives: Movies

Hold the Dark (2018) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): A cold, brutal genre exercise in Alaska

I feel ambivalent about “Hold the Dark”, a cold, brutal genre exercise which is admirable in technical aspects but too distant to engage me on the emotional level. While I was entertained by its atmosphere and performance to some degrees, … Continue reading →

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Christopher Robin (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Robin meets his old toy animal friends again

“Christopher Robin”, a live-action film inspired by Walt Disney’s beloved animation film franchise which is based on A. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh”, frequently clashes with my fond memories of Winnie the Pooh, who has been known … Continue reading →

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A Prayer Before Dawn (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A brutal prison drama to strike you hard

“A Prayer Before Dawn”, which is currently available on Netflix, is a brutal prison drama packed with grim but striking moments you cannot easily forget. This is surely a tough stuff, but the movie is compelling and electrifying thanks to … Continue reading →

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Quincy (2018) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): He’s still keeping on

Netflix documentary film “Quincy” broadly looks around Quincy Jones’ numerous achievements, and it is hard not to be impressed by how much this legendary musician achieved during last six decades. As shown at the end of the documentary, he produced … Continue reading →

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Final Portrait (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An erratic artist and his frustrated model

“Final Portrait” reminds me that some of great artists are difficult people to hang around with. Focusing on a long, problematic artistic process between an artist of undeniable genius and a man who admires him but becomes increasingly frustrated with … Continue reading →

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Nappily Ever After (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): Being herself with her natural hair

“Nappily Ever After”, which is currently available on Netflix, is a funny and delightful comedy movie about hairdo and self-image. As an Asian guy who has seldom cared about hairdo (I usually prefer crewcut, by the way), I initially observed … Continue reading →

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The Land of Steady Habits (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): It’s still a messy life for him

“The Land of Steady Habits”, which was recently released on Netflix, is a typical suburban comedy drama about one middle-aged guy’s bumpy attempt toward a new beginning for his unhappy life. Although there have already been many similar films out … Continue reading →

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After My Death (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Whose fault was it?

I winced at times while watching South Korean film “After My Death”, a stark, melancholic drama about the anger, frustration, and grievance revolving around one devastating incident. Although this is not a pleasant experience at all, the movie is alternatively … Continue reading →

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Crime + Punishment (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Against a systemic injustice

Documentary film “Crime + Punishment”, which is currently available on Hulu, exposes and examines a serious injustice in the system which is supposed to protect and serve people. Mainly via a group of brave people determined to fight against this … Continue reading →

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Foxtrot (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An absurd war drama dancing around pathos and humor

Right after the end of the first act of Israeli film “Foxtrot”, I completely caught off guard by a sudden shift in its mood and narrative. I will not go into details here for avoiding spoilers, but I can tell … Continue reading →

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