Tag Archives: Real-life story

Spy Nation (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): A persistent journalistic record against injustices

Because I heard numerous news reports about its subject, there are not many things to surprise or enlighten me in South Korean documentary “Spy Nation”, but I could not help but be angry about a number of infuriating cases presented … Continue reading

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The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): The Beatles during its finest moments

As a tribute to one of the iconic pop bands during the late 20th century, Ron Howard’s documentary film “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week” may provide nothing particularly revealing even to the audiences with vague knowledge on the Beatles, … 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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The Lovers and the Despot (2016) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Kidnapped by their North Korean fan

I and most South Korean people are familiar with a bizarre real-life story presented in documentary film “The Lovers and the Despot”. It was one of the most infamous things committed by the North Korean dictatorship during last 66 years, … Continue reading

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A Tale of Love and Darkness (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Looking at her from the distance

Israeli film “A Tale of Love and Darkness” is frequently frustrating in its distant attitude toward its sad, depressing human tale. Here is a woman who has probably been quite unhappy throughout her gray, melancholic life which has not given … Continue reading

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Florence Foster Jenkins (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): No one can say that she didn’t sing…

Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) was quite an interesting woman for not only her sheer lack of talent but also her incredible obliviousness to that awful truth. It seemed she really believed she was a good singer, but it is apparent … Continue reading

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Miles Ahead (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): Miles before moving ahead

Shortly after the screening of “Miles Ahead” during this Saturday afternoon, I happened to have a brief conversation with one of the audiences. He pointed out how the movie was not so different from another recent jazz musician biography film … Continue reading

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Marguerite (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): By George, she can’t sing well…

It is always funny when a character seems so oblivious to how funny he (or she) is, and French comedy film “Marguerite” gets plenty of laughs from such a premise like that. Here is a lady who is so blindingly … Continue reading

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Freeheld (2015) ☆☆(2/4): A mediocre drama based on one real-life love story

If “Freeheld” had been made around 20 years ago, it would have looked a bit better and bolder as a movie willing to tell a story about sexual minority people and their equal rights. While its story is based one … Continue reading

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Born to Be Blue (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): Improvised from Chet Baker’s bluesy bottom

As a music drama loosely inspired by Chet Baker’s life, “Born to be Blue” tries a little different thing. While mainly focusing on a melancholic late period of this legendary American jazz musician’s life, it freely mixes reality and fiction … Continue reading

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