Category Archives: Movies

Marshall (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Young Mr. Marshall

When I watched the trailer of “Marshall” several months ago, I was caught off guard because it looked like the movie did not intend to be your average biographical drama film. Looking quite bold and confident, the movie seemed to … Continue reading

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Faces Places (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Agnès Varda and JR on the road

To be frank with you, Agnès Varda was not a familiar name to me even when I watched tons of movies during the 2000s. Although I managed to watch her second feature film “Cléo from 5 to 7” (1962), her … Continue reading

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Black Panther (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Here comes Black Panther…

“Black Panther”, the latest superhero movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) franchise, is quite different from those usual blockbuster products from the MCU franchise. Not only just entertaining but also very distinctive in many aspects, the movie distinguishes itself … Continue reading

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A Fantastic Woman (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A fantastic transgender melodrama

Chilean film “A Fantastic Woman” is as fantastic as it can be as a melodrama which goes all the way along with its transgender heroine. While there are lots of painful moments as she struggles with many difficulties besides her … Continue reading

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Phantom Thread (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Elegant disruption

Precisely elegant and subtly intense, Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film “Phantom Thread” is a mesmerizing period chamber drama which draws our attention with its delicate and sumptuous moments at first and then unnerves us with dark psychological undercurrents beneath them. … Continue reading

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A Prophet (2009) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A criminal education in prison

It is always fascinating to see a smart character rising up from the bottom step by step, and French film “A Prophet” is one of such cases. Here is a plain young man thrown into a grim, violent closed world … Continue reading

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Paddington 2 (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A cuddlier sequel with more charm and warmth

“Paddington 2” is so genuinely cute, sincere, and charming that it is virtually impossible for me to say anything negative about it. This may sound like a complaint to you, but, folks, I am not complaining at all, and I … Continue reading

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78/52 (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Anatomy of that infamous shower scene

Among many notable works by Alfred Hitchcock, “Psycho” (1960) is one of his greatest works for many good reasons. While he was already regarded as the master of suspense at that time, he wanted to do something different for shocking … Continue reading

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A United Kingdom (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Respectful but conventional

“A United Kingdom” is a respectful but conventional film about one extraordinary real-life interracial couple. While it surely shows us how courageous and resilient they were as standing together against lots of social/political pressure inflicted upon them, the movie unfortunately … Continue reading

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All the Money in the World (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): All he cares about is money

What a piece of work J. Paul Getty is. While being the richest man in the world, he was also probably the cheapest guy in the world, and Ridley Scott’s new film “All the Money in the World” is compelling … Continue reading

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