Searching (2018)

The innovation in storytelling in Searching is that the entire film is told on screens. I was a little misled; the execution of the episode of Modern Family in which the episode is told entirely on a single computer screen is the high standard. Searching is not just on computers, it is also on TV news, security cameras, CCTV, etc. I was a little bothered by the reliance on news stories to tell the story. I understand that it is a commentary on how modern personal tragedy can easily blow up on the internet and all over the news. But the external attention also detracts from the personal nature of the conflict between father and daughter that most interestingly drives much of the drama. Similarly, I feel like the gimmick of the screens sort of detracts from what is an excellent thriller. Oftentimes, we're watching John Cho talk on the phone through the webcam on his computer. There's no particular reason for this. Many of the shots look forced because of this "screen requirement." John Cho is great, as always. And let's just take a quick moment to acknowledge the Asian American cast with standard American accents acting in non-specifically-Asian roles. That is a quiet revolution right there, though it took an Asian director to do so. More of that!

Columbus (2017)

Slow isn't the right word to describe it. It's deliberate. First-time director Kogonada has such a firm control. His style resembles Yasujiro Ozu. His very still camera and low angles is almost unsettling. Every single shot is beautiful. There are frames within frames, a brilliant use of doorways and mirrors. The acting is impassioned yet quiet. The dialogue is intelligent yet natural, subtle yet brilliant. It is important that the director is Asian, as the subtlety is handled carefully in a way that an American probably could not fathom. The themes are very thoughtful and poignant--what is the role of architecture, how do we process grief, and what do we owe ourselves? The chemistry between John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson is gorgeous. 

John Cho is finally given an role worthy of his ability. He's actually a great actor. He gives Asians a good look.  Kogonada defies stereotypes, and in fact reverses them. The Korean Jin encourages Casey to follow her dreams, a uniquely American value. While American Casey fulfills her familial duty to look after her mother, a more Confucian value that Jin struggles with. Now, I'm not entirely sure what happens in the movie. Even with all the dialogue, there is lots left unsaid. It leaves some ambiguity in which we're left to interpret the silences. At the end of the film, Casey goes off to school. But Jin stays put. Jin's story line doesn't really advance over the course of the movie, and yet his character has developed immensely. I don't quite know what to make of that but I don't think that's written so easily.   

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

It was not as mind-blowing as the two previous installments of the reboot, but this is still a very good effort. JJ Abrams can do no wrong. The writing was excellent. It was quite humorous (thanks to Simon Pegg) and also really complex. Being a student of international relations, I have been taking Theories of International Relations. And the plot of this film is essentially the classical debate between realism and liberalism. Of course, the Federation is an interplanetary institution meant to reduce conflict between planets. They are the liberals. That interplanetary organization (and the intricate leadership structure of each starship) is my favorite part of Star Trek. And Idris Elba is the realist. He believes that power is everything. The Federation doesn't work. What's more realist than that?  Spoiler alert: the liberal galactic order wins.

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013)

Isao Takahata spent many years on this film, allegedly his final film, and it paid off.  Takahata is a master at his craft, proving Studio Ghibli to truly be one of the most prolific studios for bringing the world the works of two legends.  Adapted from an ancient Japanese folktale, The Tale of the Princess Kaguya is a majestic triumph. The artwork is truly stunning.  In an age when most all of the animated films produced are computer animated in the same style, it is refreshing and comforting to see hand-drawn lines, soft edges, and beautiful watercolors.  The scenes with a lot of movement are particularly stunning but the stills allow the viewer to admire the exquisite artwork.  I have never seen a movie that looked quite like this and it is brilliant.