Minari

[Steve Williams]

saw this film yesterday as it has been receiving a lot of buzz

It received 98% on Rotten tomatoes

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Just under 2 hours

I found this a very slow moving story about this Korean family trying to establish a home in Arkansas. A very nice story but in. the end it had no where to go

We enjoyed it but not to the point of Academy Award level

 

[jeff1225]

It seems like you are not into these introspective indy films (like Nomad) that were made during the pandemic.

 

[Folsom]

I was hoping this would be good... maybe I'd still like it?

 

[jeff1225]

I was hoping this would be good... maybe I'd still like it?

88 met score. It is widely praised by critics if that means anything.

 

[Folsom]

88 met score. It is widely praised by critics if that means anything.

I wish. They tend to praise films for political reasons, and judge films under ludicrous terms that aren't in their wheelhouse so-to-speak.

For example they'll rate pure action films like they're expecting Gone With The Wind...

 

[jeff1225]

I wish. They tend to praise films for political reasons, and judge films under ludicrous terms that aren't in their wheelhouse so-to-speak.

For example they'll rate pure action films like they're expecting Gone With The Wind...

I agree that several critics from random websites are political. But I do believe that an 88 is a consensus. I like Kenneth Turan for the LA Times, there are no politics. Here's his review from Sundance:

TURAN: The big news in the U.S. dramatic competition is that Lee Isaac Chung’s “Minari” pulled off the rare feat of taking both the grand jury prize and the audience award for its autobiographical story of a what happens to a young Korean American boy when he and his family move to Arkansas from California. “Minari” combined heartfelt storytelling with a restrained style to become one of the festival’s most popular films across the board, the kind of film Sundance was founded to showcase in the first place.

 

[Steve Williams]

It seems like you are not into these introspective indy films (like Nomad) that were made during the pandemic.

I found Minari on a similar level of Nomadland which will likely win but I couldn’t stand save for cinematography and Francis McDormand

 

[Steve Williams]

FWIW so far Trial of Chicago 7 is our favorite

 

[Steve Williams]

I found Minari on a similar level of Nomadland which will likely win but I couldn’t stand save for cinematography and Francis McDormand

All of the films were made during the pandemic

 

[Steve Williams]

Today we are watching Promising Young Woman and Mank

 

[marty]

I found Minari on a similar level of Nomadland which will likely win but I couldn’t stand save for cinematography and Francis McDormand

Agree. It must be me. I thought Minari was a mediocre film at best and at the end, I wanted to throw tomatoes at the screen. I resented that I had to pay $20 to rent it (especially when it will be free eventually). It was a respectable art house film that just didn't do it for me. The grandmother deserved her Oscar nod for supporting actress but Glenn Close should win handily.

Same for Nomadland. Totally mediocre film. I looked at my watch 3 times wondering when it would be over. Painful to watch. Seemed to me to be a "trendy' self-serving film made by Hollywood elite to show it "truly cares" for the little people. McDormand's acting was quite good but it doesn't compare to Andra Day in US vs Billie Holiday who should win the best actress Oscar. A brilliant and gutsy performance by a first time actress.

So far, have only seen 4 out of 8 best picture nominees and agree w Steve that Chicago 7 is the best so far. Just not looking forward to Aaron Sorkin's pontifications if it wins best picture.

Again, good evidence it must be me since I would never own, or even stream any of this year's Pop Grammy winners. Based on what I saw from Cardi B and Meghan Stallion on YouTube, I was so disgusted I almost puked. Hardly a triumph for the American music scene, IMHO.