Behind The Curtain

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

Recent Reviews

Still of Winston Duke in ‘Nine Days’ (2021)

Nine Days (2020)

What will you learn about yourself as you witness these souls being evaluated for mortality?

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Still of Song Kang-ho, Lee Young-ae, and Lee Byung-hun in ‘Joint Security Area’ (2000)

Joint Security Area (2000)

A Korean tale of tragedy that illuminates how much the citizens of these two nations have in common

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Still of Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei in ‘My Cousin Vinny’ (1992)

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

In this comedic caper featuring Joe Pesci and Marissa Tomei, the verdict is the annoyances outweigh the laughs

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

Leila’s Brothers (2022)

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

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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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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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Recent Quick Takes

Ca$h (2010)

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The only thing remotely entertaining is seeing slimy Sean Bean get what he deserves

Okay Madam (2020)

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Uhm Jung-hwa and Park Sung-woong score a near miss in this comedy whose silliness overwhelms the fun

The 33 (2015)

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Antonio Banderas gives it his all in this real-life tale of trapped Chilean miners beating the odds

Secretly Greatly (2012)

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Uncommonly ridiculous tale of North Korean spies whose mission in the South is to act like idiots and then die

The Devil’s Deal (2021)

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A twisty tale of corrupt politicians, the gangsters behind them, and the innocents caught in the crossfire

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

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In this not terribly inventive sword and sorcery caper, Chris Pine has enough snappy dialog to keep you chuckling.

The Man Standing Next (2020)

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Despite fine turns by Lee Byung-hun and Lee Sung-min, this languid, somber historical drama is hard to stick with

Run All Night (2015)

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More output from the Liam Neeson action assembly line, with a chilling supporting turn by Ed Harris

The Mother (2023)

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Jennifer Lopez brings the intensity, but the plot is outrageously overblown at every turn

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