Tag Archives: Crime

The Merciless (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): It’s merciless indeed…

South Korean film “The Merciless” is another South Korean gangster film which is as brutal and violent as you can expect. While it is not entirely without sense of humor and there is some interesting subtext glimpsed from its two … Continue reading

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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

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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

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13th (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): From Slavery to Mass Incarceration

At the beginning, Netflix documentary film “13th” presents an alarming piece of statistical data. While the population of US is merely 5% of the entire human population in the world, 20% of the prisoners in the world are incarcerated in … Continue reading

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Victoria (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A crime thriller presented via a single continuous take

Although I do not think German film “Victoria” intends to be a cautionary moral tale, it can be said that there is a familiar moral to be learned from its heroine’s unfortunate plight during a few hours: Be discreet about … Continue reading

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Almost Holy (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): A gritty, tough shepherd in Ukraine

Documentary film “Almost Holy”, currently available on Netflix, gives us a darkly complex portrayal of a man of the cloth determined to fight against evil in his own unorthodox way. As the documentary shows more of the gritty, uncomfortable sides … Continue reading

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Hell or High Water (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A familiar Texan genre exercise

A few weeks ago, I had an interesting online chat with one of my acquaintances. He told me that it is not easy for him to enjoy movies because he is always aware of their inherent artificial sides shown from … Continue reading

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The Infiltrator (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Follow the money

A real-life story which inspired “The Infiltrator” is an interesting tale worthwhile to be told. Using that inexorable connection between crime and money, American federal agents attempted to infiltrate into the money laundering network of Pablo Escobar’s infamous Columbian drug … Continue reading

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Keanu (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Isn’t it cute?

If you have followed my inconsequential twitter account, you probably know that I have considerable affection toward cats. While I also like dogs to some degrees, I cannot help but look closer at cat whenever I happen to spot it … Continue reading

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Creepy (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A possibility of unspeakable evil on the next door

Japanese film “Creepy” works best when it plays with its insidious atmosphere. As it slowly delves into one disturbing mystery step by step along with a number of creepy insinuating moments, a possibility of unspeakable evil on the next door … Continue reading

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