Category Archives: Movies

I, Daniel Blake (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Small daily struggles against an unfair system

Ken Roach’s new film “I, Daniel Blake”, which won the Palme d’Or award at the Cannes Film Festival early in this year, is angry about the maddening incompetence of a system which is supposed to help and support people. Watching … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Zero Days (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Welcome to the era of cyber warfare

Documentary film “Zero Days” presents an inconvenient truth to chill and alarm us. While cyber-attack has been a familiar issue during recent years, the documentary shows us that cyber-attack technology has advanced far more than we think, and it is … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Life, Animated (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Reaching out to life through Disney animations

As a guy diagnosed as having Asperger’s syndrome, I am not very good at communicating with others including my family members, but I found a way to reach to others through writing and talking about movies. Although I must admit … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

De Palma (2015) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): From the master of macabre

Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow’s documentary film “De Palma” is as informative and entertaining as you can expect from the illustrious career of Brian De Palma, who surely deserves to be called “the Master of the Macabre” for many of … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Loving (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): On their quiet love and struggle

I admire the simple but profound storytelling of “Loving”. At first, the movie looks conventional on the surface, but then it slowly reveals itself as an intimate and sensitive portrayal of one plain relationship between two ordinary good people who … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Southside with You (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): One day of Barack and Michelle in Chicago

“Southside with You” is a small, humble drama about one day experienced by two people who would become one of the most famous couples in the world. I had no idea on how much the movie is close to what … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

La La Land (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Lively, Colorful, and Sweet

Lively, colorful, and sweet, “La La Land” tries old and new things together to entertain us. While clearly influenced by numerous classic musical films such as “An American in Paris” (1951) and “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952), the movie is … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Indignation (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An elegiac tale of youth and romance

Based on the novel of the same name by Philip Roth, “Indignation” engaged me more than I expected. Haunting and poignant as an elegiac tale of youth and romance, the movie is equipped well with evocative period mood and excellent … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment

O.J.: Made in America (2016) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): See O.J. run and rise – and fall

Documentary film “O.J.: Made in America” is not only impressive for its ambitious scope but also remarkable for its revealing insight. Besides its detailed examination of the dramatic rise and fall of O.J. Simpson, the documentary also provides us an … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Elle (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A twisted mid-life crisis thriller from Verhoeven and Huppert

The opening scene of Paul Verhoeven’s new film “Elle” is so striking and disturbing that you cannot help but admire how firmly and effortlessly he and his lead performer Isabelle Huppert establish the overall tone of their movie without any … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | Leave a comment