Tag Archives: Athlete

American Underdog (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A standard underdog story – and that is all

Posted on June 7, 2022 by kaist455

“American Underdog” is a standard underdog story which neither overachieves nor underachieves. While I appreciate its earnest handling of story and characters to some degree, the movie does not have enough life or personality to distinguish itself from those countless … Continue reading →

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The Novice (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Driven to compete all the way

Posted on December 20, 2021 by kaist455

“The Novice” is a little but undeniably intense character drama which will make you wince more than once for good reasons. As palpably and disturbingly conveying to us its very competitive heroine’s physical and psychological journey, the movie makes us … Continue reading →

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Rising Phoenix (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): They are indeed superheroes

Posted on August 30, 2020 by kaist455

Netflix documentary film “Rising Phoenix” is an uplifting examination of the Paralympic Games and a number of various participants. Rather than merely living with their disabilities, these and many other disabled athletes push themselves really hard at the Paralympic Games … Continue reading →

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Athlete A (2020) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A shocking sexual abuse case behind USA Gymnastics

Posted on June 26, 2020 by kaist455

It is often difficult to process what is told in Netflix documentary film “Athlete A”, which was released on this Wednesday. Like many other recent documentary films on sexual abuses, the documentary gives us a series of devastating testimonies on … Continue reading →

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Waves (2019) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): From implosion to healing

Posted on February 2, 2020 by kaist455

Trey Edwards Shultz’s new film “Waves” grips us hard during its overwhelmingly stylish first half and then moves us a lot during its surprisingly sensitive second half. I must confess that I was quite annoyed and baffled at first, but … Continue reading →

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Overman (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A genuine feel-good coming-of-age drama with books

Posted on May 14, 2016 by kaist455

South Korean film “Overman” is a rare type which I and other South Korean audiences do not come across often in these gloomy days: a genuine feel-good coming-of-age drama. Sure, there are several gray moments as its two adolescent characters … Continue reading →

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The Program (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : Cycling on a big lie

Posted on November 1, 2015 by kaist455

The rise and fall of Lance Armstrong has a big irony we cannot help but notice at this point. He survived the illness which could have killed him, and he was determined to rise from his bottom by any means … Continue reading →

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Unbroken (2014) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4) : An old-fashioned biopic for Oscar season

Posted on January 9, 2015 by kaist455

  It goes without saying that Louis Zamperini, the hero of “Unbroken”, had an interesting life worthwhile to be told. While he initially drew lots of attention as a young promising Olympic distant runner through his athletic talent, he served … Continue reading →

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