Tag Archives: Music

Leto (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A biographical rock drama set in Leningrad during the 1980s

Posted on January 5, 2019 by kaist455

Russian film “Leto” tries to give us a glimpse into the Russian rock music culture during the early 1980s, and I admire its attempt to some degree. Although my mind frequently went somewhere when I watched it early in this … Continue reading →

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Cold War (2018) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Scenes from a Cold War romance

Posted on November 18, 2018 by kaist455

“Cold War”, which was recently selected as the Polish entry for Best Foreign Language Film Oscar at the 2019 Academy Awards, is a somber but mesmerizing film about two different people pushing and pulling each other in their sporadic but … Continue reading →

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Hearts Beat Loud (2018) ☆☆1/2 (2.5/4): Father and daughter’s band

Posted on October 21, 2018 by kaist455

“Hearts Beat Loud” is a mildly charming music drama movie which plays familiar notes while not bringing anything particularly new to its genre territory. Although it is often middling as being hampered by its predictable storytelling and thin characterization, its … Continue reading →

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Sunset in My Hometown (2018) ☆☆☆(3/4): A rapper coming back to his hometown

Posted on July 6, 2018 by kaist455

South Korean film “Sunset in My Hometown” is a mixed bag whose weak elements are covered by its strong elements to some degree. Although it is too corny and predictable at times and I am not sure about whether its … Continue reading →

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Morris from America (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): African American father and son in Germany

Posted on July 1, 2018 by kaist455

“Morris from America”, which received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award when it was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in early 2016, is plainer than I expected. As phlegmatically observing the bumpy struggle of its young hero in his new … Continue reading →

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Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): On his talent and inspiration

Posted on June 16, 2018 by kaist455

Documentary film “Ryuichi Sakamoto: Coda” was a rather curious experience for me. Although I am not a big fan of Ryuichi Sakamoto and I actually winced during some of his several musical experiment scenes in the documentary, I came to … Continue reading →

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Coco (2017) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): A lovely Mexican fantasy tale from Pixar

Posted on January 13, 2018 by kaist455

Alternatively enchanting and moving, “Coco” is another lovely work from Pixar Animation Studios. Right from its very first scene, I was instantly charmed by its colorful style and vibrant spirit, and that was just the beginning of more things to … Continue reading →

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Song to Song (2017) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Moment to Moment

Posted on July 24, 2017 by kaist455

Terrence Malick’s latest work “Song to Song” will surely confound many of you for good reasons. Like any other films by Malick, it reaches for something sublime and transcendent as gliding along a series of beautiful stream-of-consciousness moments, but it … Continue reading →

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Justin Timberlake + the Tennessee Kids (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): The final tour evening

Posted on November 24, 2016 by kaist455

Let me get this straight to you first. While I have heard about Justin Timberlake or NSYNC a few times since his first solo album “Justified” was released in 2002, I have been rather more familiar with his acting career … Continue reading →

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La famille Bélier (2014) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Her family cannot hear her singing…

Posted on August 27, 2015 by kaist455

French film “La famille Bélier”, also known as “The Bélier Family”, is a mild crowd-pleaser which will give you as much as you can guess from its synopsis. Here, we have a young adolescent girl who happens to discover her … Continue reading →

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