Anamaria

I can tell that this objectively is a good and well made movie, but maybe I have a heart of stone or something because I didn’t feel a single thing watching it. It was cute with good beats and good moments, endlessly stylized because it’s Wes Anderson. But nothing about it really struck home for me. Also cringed so hard at the little kids French kissing.

A genuinely scary movie, and it’s mostly because Jack Nicholson plays a very convincing and terrifying abusive man.

A really incredible film about the way that the working class is set at each others throats to earn the favor of a few elites that view them as disposable anyway. The kind of soul destroying shit that one will do to hold on to their status symbols rather then accept being lower middle class. Truly beautifully and thoughtfully done. The final image of Man-su walking through a warehouse of AI servers, and accepting how far he’s fallen since defending his coworkers and friends, and haunting. However, this 5 star level film is getting 4 1/2 for one reason: a really weird moment in the last third where Man-su’s wife (and her dental office) dresses as ‘Pocahontas’ and other Native American caricatures. It was super uncomfortable and strange, especially in a movie where every other thought was deeply intentional and motivated. It seemed disconnected from the rest of the movie, unnecessary, and harmful. If they wanted to make some sort of commentary with it, it wasn’t clear. I believe that it was simply negligence— I’m not sure what is common knowledge in Korea about Native American history, I’ll grant that, but that doesn’t change that this was a harmful moment, that undermined some of the movie for me. The film was still fantastic, but that moment felt deeply irresponsible.

“I want to portray a slightly different relationship, one where the two mutually inspire each other to live - if I’m able to, then perhaps I’ll be closer to portraying a true expression of love.” — Hayao Miyazaki (maybe, the internet isn’t sure) I haven’t seen too many stories that capture the way that being love can change your life, and bring out the beauty in the world around you. Change you from the inside out. This movie is actually what all the quotes about the healing and changing power of love is about. Watching this guy fall in love with someone, and at the same time falling in love with life again, is really beautiful. Came for the love story, was not expecting the hard hitting look at class struggle, isolation, familial obligation, and love of home.