Tag Archives: Crime

The Old Man and the Gun (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): An old man living through bank robbery

Posted on December 29, 2018 by kaist455

“The Old Man and the Gun” is a little offbeat film which leisurely takes its time along with its aging criminal hero for its laid-back fun. Mainly working as a quirky and amusing character study, the movie gives us a … Continue reading →

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The Guilty (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A taut, suspenseful thriller on the phone

Posted on December 24, 2018 by kaist455

“The Guilty”, which was selected as the Danish entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 2019 Academy awards and was recently included in the category short-list early in this month, is a taut, suspenseful thriller which is quite … Continue reading →

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The Drug King (2018) ☆☆(2/4): The trite rise and fall of a drug lord

Posted on December 20, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean crime drama “The Drug King” bored me without much interest or excitement. While there is nothing particularly new or fresh here in terms of story, characters, and other genre aspects, the movie does not even have enough distinctive … Continue reading →

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Dogman (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A grim and gritty tale of a criminal underdog

Posted on November 18, 2018 by kaist455

The hero of “Dogman”, which was recently selected as the Italian entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2019 Academy Awards, is probably one of the most pathetic criminal underdogs I have ever seen from movies. Petite, timid … Continue reading →

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Galveston (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A familiar crime drama better than expected

Posted on November 12, 2018 by kaist455

“Galveston” is a crime drama which is quite familiar but turns out to be better than expected. While being bleak and seedy as demanded, the movie generates some genuinely poignant moments as rolling its two main characters along its leisurely … Continue reading →

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In the Fade (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): After her terrible loss

Posted on October 21, 2018 by kaist455

The first two acts of German film “In the Fade”, which won the Golden Globe award for Best Foreign Language Film early in this year but did not get nominated for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar despite being included in … Continue reading →

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Hold the Dark (2018) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): A cold, brutal genre exercise in Alaska

Posted on October 6, 2018 by kaist455

I feel ambivalent about “Hold the Dark”, a cold, brutal genre exercise which is admirable in technical aspects but too distant to engage me on the emotional level. While I was entertained by its atmosphere and performance to some degrees, … Continue reading →

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No Country for Old Men (2007) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): A great thriller from the Coen Brothers

Posted on August 16, 2018 by kaist455

It is always exhilarating to recognize a great film right from when it comes out, and the Coen Brothers’ “No Country for Old Men” was my first experience of encountering a new great film to cherish and admire. When I … Continue reading →

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Our Kind of Traitor (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A middling adaptation of John le Carré novel

Posted on August 6, 2018 by kaist455

“Our Kind of Traitor”, which is based on the novel of the same name by John le Carré, engaged me to some degrees but then eventually disappointed me. Although this is a fairly watchable espionage thriller film with some good … Continue reading →

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Shoplifters (2018) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): As they live as a family

Posted on July 28, 2018 by kaist455

Gentle and sensitive in its thoughtful storytelling, Japanese film “Shoplifters” is another masterful work from Hirokazu Kore-eda, one of the most humane filmmakers in our time. Calmly observing its main characters’ shabby but happy daily life, the movie generates numerous … Continue reading →

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