Tag Archives: Writer

The Wife (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): Beside her famous husband

Posted on November 27, 2018 by kaist455

The heroine of “The Wife” is usually quiet and reserved, but her seemingly detached façade speaks volume as we get to know more about her and her marital relationship. While she continues to occupy her small place besides her famous … Continue reading →

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Final Portrait (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): An erratic artist and his frustrated model

Posted on September 30, 2018 by kaist455

“Final Portrait” reminds me that some of great artists are difficult people to hang around with. Focusing on a long, problematic artistic process between an artist of undeniable genius and a man who admires him but becomes increasingly frustrated with … Continue reading →

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Butterfly Sleep (2017) ☆☆☆(3/4): A romance before she is faded away

Posted on September 8, 2018 by kaist455

To be frank with you, I could not help but envy the heroine of South Korean-Japanese film “Butterfly Sleep”. As watching her cozy modern house filled with various books, I became curious about those books even though they are written … Continue reading →

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Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017) ☆☆☆1/2 (3.5/4): Meet Joan Didion

Posted on October 28, 2017 by kaist455

I value good documentary films presenting interesting subjects unfamiliar to me, and Netflix documentary film “Joan Didion: The Centre Will Not Hold” is one of such documentaries. Here is a smart, intelligent woman who has been leading a long, fascinating … Continue reading →

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I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Steady creepiness

Posted on August 5, 2017 by kaist455

“I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House” is a steady exercise in creepiness. After establishing its small, sparse setting, the movie patiently dials up the level of tension bit by bit as its ill-fated heroine is slowly … Continue reading →

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I Am Not Your Negro (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): Baldwin Remembers

Posted on May 20, 2017 by kaist455

First, let me confess that I am not that familiar with James Baldwin, a renowned African American writer who was one of the notable figures in the Civil Rights Movement in US during the 1960s. Although I came to know … Continue reading →

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The Long Excuse (2016) ☆☆☆1/2(3.5/4): As he ‘mourns’…

Posted on February 18, 2017 by kaist455

As an intimate story about loss and grief, Japanese film “The Long Excuse” is sometimes surprisingly amusing with small precious moments of wry humor and keen observation. While never overlooking the dark, melancholic elements of its story, the movie deftly … Continue reading →

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Nocturnal Animals (2016) ☆☆☆(3/4): Deliberate nastiness

Posted on January 14, 2017 by kaist455

“Nocturnal Animals” makes it very clear from the beginning that it will not be a pleasant experience at all. As reflected by the bold, striking opening sequence which shows an intentionally tasteless art exhibition featuring naked overweight women, this is … Continue reading →

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Knight of Cups (2015) ☆☆1/2(2.5/4): A Terrence Malick film floated in fragments

Posted on March 11, 2016 by kaist455

Terrence Malick’s new film “Knight of Cups” is visually stunning and profoundly disorienting. We get lots of beautiful, mesmerizing moments as it is floated here and there along its visual stream-of-consciousness. We get fragmented glimpses into its detached, disillusioned hero … Continue reading →

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Goosebumps (2015) ☆☆☆(3/4): You know what is going to scare you…

Posted on January 23, 2016 by kaist455

Around this Monday, I finished reading “Joyland”, one of Stephen King’s recent novels. While its story revolves around a dark murder mystery involved with one plain but special amusement park in North Carolina, I enjoyed its vivid, affectionate description of … Continue reading →

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