Tag Archives: Crime

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024) ☆☆☆(3/4): Eddie Murphy still has it

Netflix film “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F”, which was released in last week, shows that Eddie Murphy still has it, and I am glad about that. As the belated third sequel to “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), the movie feels redundant … Continue reading

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Kill Room (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A killing art business

I still remember when I looked around the Contemporary Art section of the Art Institute of Chicago in April 2010. Many of those artworks in that section looked pretty valuable as far as I could see, but I often wondered … Continue reading

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Hit Man (2023) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The story of a fake hit man

Richard Linklater’s latest film “Hit Man”, which was released on Netflix in last week, is a delightful black comedy packed with lots of wit, humor, and personality to be appreciated. What we get here is often typical to the core, … Continue reading

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Drive-Away Dolls (2024) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A whimsical crime comedy from Ethan Coen

In my inconsequential opinion, Joel and Ethan Coen have often swung back and forth between two extreme ends during last several decades. On one end, they can give us extremely wacky comedy films such as “Raising Arizona” (1987), “The Hudsucker … Continue reading

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Silent Night (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A mute revenge action flick by John Woo

“Silent Night” tries to put an unconventional spin on its very familiar genre elements. While this is your average revenge drama action flick, the movie has itself driven mostly by actions instead of words from the beginning to the end, … Continue reading

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The Shawshank Redemption (1994) ☆☆☆☆(4/4): More than a prison break

It has been nearly 30 years since I watched Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” for the first time. As far as I remember, I watched it at least three times, and I saw it again a local movie theater yesterday … Continue reading

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Wicked Little Letters (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little problem in their town

“Wicked Little Letters” is a lightweight comedy film coupled with a bit of mystery. While it is not that difficult for us to guess the answer to the mystery inside the story even before its half point, the movie remains … Continue reading

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Blood for Dust (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): Descent of a salesman

“Blood for Dust” is a moody but tense noir film which follows the descent of one ordinary salesman who lets himself driven more into crime and corruption by his growing despair and frustration. While this is not a pleasant sight … Continue reading

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Laroy, Texas (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little comic noir set in Texas

“Laroy, Texas” is a little comic noir which reminds us again of that old genre lesson: the world always wins no matter how much you try to win by any means necessary. Clearly reminiscent of its senior noir films such … Continue reading

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Jeong-sun (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): After she is exposed

South Korean film “Jeong-sun”, which was belatedly released in South Korea in this week (It was premiered at the Jeonju International Film Festival in May 2022, where it received the Grand Prize award), is a dry but intense character drama … Continue reading

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