Tag Archives: Mother and Son

Flora and Son (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): As she learns music

John Carney’s new musical film “Flora and Son” tries to do two different things together, and the result is rather uneven in my inconsequential opinion. On one hand, we have an engaging drama about one accidental online relationship between two … Continue reading

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God’s Creatures (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): After her son returns

It took some time for me to get accustomed to what “God’s Creatures” attempts to achieve. Subtly shrouded in moody disturbance, this little Irish psychological drama slowly and gradually unnerves us as its ordinary heroine comes to realize something horrible … Continue reading

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Beau Is Afraid (2023) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Who is afraid?

Ari Aster’s new film “Beau Is Afraid” often frustrated me even when I appreciated its artistic ambition to some degree. It is deliberately obtuse and baffling as its unstable (and unreliable) hero bounces from one kind of nightmarish setting to … Continue reading

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World’s Best (2023) ☆☆☆(3/4): A little but likable Disney rap musical

“World’s Best”, which is released on Disney+ in last week, is a little but likable Disney rap musical about a smart middle school kid who boldly takes a chance with rap music. Although its story and characters are actually pretty … Continue reading

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Riceboy Sleeps (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A Korean immigrant mother and her son

“Riceboy Sleeps”, which won the Rogers Best Canadian Film Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in last year, is a simple but sensitive drama about a Korean immigrant mother and her son. Calmly and thoughtfully following their little personal … Continue reading

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The Inspection (2022) ☆☆☆(3/4): A gay marine trainee’s story

“The Inspection” is a fascinating coming-of-age drama which often swings back and forth between conventional and unconventional elements. As a queer film mainly set in the US Marine boot camp, the movie surely distinguishes itself to some degree in terms … Continue reading

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Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): An intimate female drama by Martin Scorsese (No kidding)

“Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” occupies a curiously odd spot in Martin Scorsese’s legendary filmmaking career. While sandwiched right between “Mean Streets” (1973) and “Taxi Driver” (1976), this little film is quite different from either of his two gritty urban … Continue reading

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Fragrance of the First Flower (2021) ☆☆☆(3/4): Still attracted to each other

Taiwanese film “Fragrance of the First Flower” is a familiar but engaging melodrama about two women who still cannot help but attracted to each other despite several years of separation between them. As alternating between their past and present, the … Continue reading

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The Fabelmans (2022) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): So he goes for filmmaking…

Steven Spielberg’s latest film “The Fabelmans” is a gentle and intimate drama which is incidentally inspired by the early years of his life. While you may wonder how much the movie is overlapped with Spielberg’s childhood and adolescent years, the … Continue reading

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Till (2022) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The harrowing story of Emmett Till’s mother

“Till” is a very harrowing experience to say the least. As attempting to present one of the most atrocious cases of American racism during the late 20th century, this modest but undeniably powerful film does not look away from the … Continue reading

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