Category Archives: Movies

Emilia Pérez (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): A mixed musical film by Jacques Audiard

Jacques Audiard’s new film “Emilia Pérez”, which was recently selected as the French submission to Best International Film Oscar, is a mixed musical which sometimes works with striking emotional intensity. Although it does not wholly work as well as intended, … Continue reading

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Look Back (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Two young collaborators

Japanese animation film “Look Back”, which has been enjoying a considerable success in South Korean theaters since it was released two months ago, is a small but poignant coming-of-age drama about the friendship between two young and talented collaborators. Although … Continue reading

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Gladiator II (2024) ☆☆(2/4): A ponderous sequel without much fun

Ridley Scott’s latest film “Gladiator II”, a sequel to his Oscar-winning film “Gladiator” (2000), is a ponderous sequel which does not provide anything fun and new to enjoy. Sure, “Gladiator” is not exactly a great film, so it seems easy … Continue reading

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Work to Do (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): What he has to do

South Korean independent film “Work to Do” is about the moral dilemma of a young man tasked with one unenviable job to do. Phlegmatically observing how he and his colleagues do their rather unpleasant job step by step, the movie … Continue reading

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Heavy Snow (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Between Two Girls

South Korean film “Heavy Snow” depends a lot on the presence of its two lead actresses. Whenever they are together on the screen, they click well with each other all the time in addition to ably filling their rather under-developed … Continue reading

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Lucky, Apartment (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): That smell of fear and anxiety in their apartment

South Korean independent film “Lucky, Apartment” is a quiet but tense drama about one lesbian couple who happen to be under a lot of pressure and conflict. All they simply want is a stable living environment where they can happily … Continue reading

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Close Your Eyes (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Victor Erice returns

Victor Erice’s “Close Your Eyes”, which is incidentally his comeback work after “Dream of the Light” (1992), takes quite a time as slowly revealing what and how it is about. This surely requires some patience from you, but the movie … Continue reading

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Music by John Williams (2024) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The title itself is already enough for us, you know

Documentary film “Music by John Williams”, which is currently available on Disney+, looks over the long, illustrated career of one of the best film composers of our time. Since he rose to prominence around the late 1960s, John Williams has … Continue reading

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Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): As he tours with his colleagues

Documentary film “Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band”, which is currently available on Disney+ in South Korea, follows how Bruce Springsteen and his longtime colleagues prepared his world tour during 2023 ~ 2024. Although there is not … Continue reading

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Faye (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Faye on Dunaway

HBO documentary film “Faye” looks into the life and career of Faye Dunaway, a legendary Hollywood actress who has had a fair share of fame and notoriety during last six decades. While she was indeed quite difficult to work with … Continue reading

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