Behind The Curtain

Concise Reviews for Movie Addicts Who Don't Have Time to Waste

Take a Peek Behind the Curtain

Occasional reviews, reflections, and rants about movies good, bad, and ugly

Recent Reviews

Still of Seo Yea-ji and Park Hae-soo in ‘By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture’ (2019)

By Quantum Physics: A Nightlife Venture (2019)

Can smooth-talking Park Hae-soo stay one step ahead of the bad guys, or will physics catch up with him?

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Full Review
Still of Cho Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon in ‘An Ethics Lesson’ (2013)

An Ethics Lesson (2013)

You may feel guilty watching this whacky dark comedy, which is a tad bloody and perverse; but also oddly fun

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Full Review

Featured Posts

Still of Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Judy Garland, and Jack Haley in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (1939)

Off to See the Wizard – Again, and Again and …

Why did a childhood enchantment became an adult obsession?

A Reflection
Still of George Peppard in ‘How the West Was Won’

The Moment I Fell in Love with Movies

‘How the West Was Won’ sparked a life-long obsession

A Reflection

More Reviews

Still of Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, and Song Kang-ho in ‘The Good, the Bad, the Weird’ (2008)

The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008)

Director Kim Jee-won’s ‘Kimchi Western’ tour-de-force that you can follow even without subtitles

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Full Review
Still of Aiden Quinn and Tom Berenger in ‘At Play in the Fields of the Lord’ (1991)

At Play in the Fields of the Lord (1991)

Tom Berenger and Aidan Quinn in a heart-wrenching tale that again shows good intentions are not enough

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Full Review
Still of John Savage and David Morse in ‘Inside Moves’ (1980)

Inside Moves (1980)

John Savage and David Morse in a buddy movie that skirts the line between sentimentality and melodrama

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Full Review
Still of Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson in ‘Persona’ (1960)

Persona (1966)

Despite enthralling performances by Liv Ullmann and Bibi Andersson, this classic is only for cinema aficionados

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Full Review
Still of Navid Mohammadzadeh and Taraneh Alidoosti in Leila’s Brothers (2022)

Leila’s Brothers (2022)

In this searing look at a modern-day Iranian family in crisis, victims are many and answers are few

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Full Review
Still of Renato Salvatori and Alain Delon in ‘Rocco and His Brothers’ (1960)

Rocco and His Brothers (1960)

This hard-to-watch drama illuminates the harsh choices facing poor families in post-war Italy

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Full Review
Still Of Gladiator Ii 2024

Gladiator II (2024)

Laughable CGI undercuts the impact, but Denzel Washington saves Gladiator II (though not Rome)

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Full Review
Still of Joaquin Phoenix and Russell Crowe in ‘Gladiator’ (2000)

Gladiator (2000)

Russel Crowe and Joaquin Phoenix make this tale of betrayal and revenge a memorable spectacle

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Full Review
Still of Jade Quon and Ben Kingsley in ‘Jules’ (2023)

Jules (2023)

This quirky tale of three elders helping an endearing alien has something to say about life’s regrets and growing older

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Full Review
Still of Brittany Murphy and Holly Hunter in ‘Little Black Book’ (2004)

Little Black Book (2004)

Brittany Murphy and Holly Hunter may be the stars, but it’s Julianne Nicholson who breaks your heart

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Full Review
Still of Kim Kang-woo and Seo Ye-ji in ‘Recalled’ (2021)

Recalled (2021)

Can you figure out Seo Ye-ji’s terrifying premonitions before she can?

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Still of Peter Dinklage, Glenn Close, and Josh Brolin in ‘Brothers’ (2024)

Brothers (2024)

If you can believe Peter Dinklage and Josh Brolin are twins, maybe you’ll believe this movie is funny

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Full Review
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