Tag Archives: Coming-of-age drama

Turning Red (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Her big red secret

Posted on March 13, 2022 by kaist455

Animation feature film “Turning Red”, the latest work from Pixar Animation Studios which unfortunately goes straight to Disney+ instead of being released in theaters, is a delightful female coming-of-age tale peppered with distinctive cultural touches to be appreciated. Like several … Continue reading →

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Licorice Pizza (2021) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A charming coming-of-age tale a la Paul Thomas Anderson

Posted on February 13, 2022 by kaist455

Paul Thomas Anderson’s new film “Licorice Pizza”, which recently received 3 Oscar nominations including the one for Best Picture, is his sweetest work since “Punch-Drunk Love” (2002). At first, the movie seems to be just another familiar mix of coming-of-age … Continue reading →

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The Tender Bar (2021) ☆☆(2/4): So he grew up to be a writer…

Posted on January 16, 2022 by kaist455

George Clooney’s new film “The Tender Bar”, which was released on Amazon Prime early in this month, often bored me without leaving much impression on the whole. It is supposed to be a warm, tender, and intimate coming-of-age drama, but … Continue reading →

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That Day, on the Beach (1983) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Edward Yang’s first feature film

Posted on January 9, 2022 by kaist455

During last several years, I and South Korean audiences were lucky to watch several works of Taiwanese filmmaker Edward Yang including “A Brighter Summer Day” (1991), which I belatedly watched in December 2017. Although I initially braced myself for the … Continue reading →

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Beats (2019) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A music drama of familiar beats

Posted on January 3, 2022 by kaist455

Netflix film “Beats”, which should not be confused with the acclaimed 2019 British music drama film of the same name, is a conventional hip-hop drama film consisting of beats familiar to the core. While it has some good music worthwhile … Continue reading →

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Mixtape (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): A predictable but enjoyable mix

Posted on December 20, 2021 by kaist455

Netflix film “Mixtape”, which was released early in this month, is a predictable but enjoyable coming-of-age drama accompanied with a number of fairly good songs to listen. Right from the beginning, you will know what you will get, but the … Continue reading →

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Dumplin’ (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): This Is Her

Posted on December 18, 2021 by kaist455

Netflix movie “Dumplin’” is your average feel-good comedy drama flick which actually handles its genre clichés and conventions better than you may think. Sure, this is another familiar story of an adolescent heroine going all the way for more self-esteem … Continue reading →

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Belfast (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): Branagh’s little personal work set in Belfast, 1969

Posted on December 6, 2021 by kaist455

Kenneth Branagh’s new film “Belfast” is a little likable coming-of-age drama which looks into its hero’s small world with considerable affection and a bit of bittersweet nostalgia. While often recognizing the alarming social tumult surrounding him and many others in … Continue reading →

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The Hand of God (2021) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Naples, Family, Maradona…. and Movie

Posted on December 2, 2021 by kaist455

I often felt impatient during my viewing of Paolo Sorrentino’s new film “The Hand of God”, which was released in South Korean yesterday before being available on Netflix two weeks later. While it is Sorrentino’s another distinctive work which also … Continue reading →

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Take Care of My Cat (2001) ☆☆☆(3/4): Five different young women – and a little cat

Posted on October 16, 2021 by kaist455

“Take Care of My Cat”, which is recently re-released in South Korean theaters for its 20th anniversary, is a modest but charming coming-of-age drama going around five different young women and a little cat in Inchon. Although it is 20 … Continue reading →

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