Powerful

Instant Favorite.

Expected more

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

This was the worst movie I have seen by far. Boring, pointless, inane conversation between boring people with generous periods of absolute deafening silence. This is one of those movies directed to intellectuals that refer to "movies" as "films" and like to use expressions like "paradigm shift" whilst rubbing their chin. I would have given this a "0" if it was allowed ... what a mess.

This film, obviously shot with architecture in mind, has a story that could be told in about 20 seconds. In effect, the film never actually starts. If you have trouble sleeping, and have about three spare sessions, or days, then watch this film, you will be cured, rest assured. The music alone sends one into a hypnotic spiral of wine induced sleepiness. This said, i did watch the whole darn thing, i did rate it more than one star, and there are actually worse movies out there. I would say, go into this one with your eyes open, but that might not last very long.

A perfectly brilliant yet understated film about the emotional purgatory before loss. Masterfully shot in a modernist architecture's real-life dreamscape- Columbus, Indiana- this film is the true standout of the year. Following two characters whose lives intertwine around their relationships (or lack thereof) with their parents, the script and story stays on point with a realism not often found in films that attempt tales like these.What you are left with is a genuine journey that finds beauty in the all-to-familiar and the foreign, and a glimmer of love between strangers during life's most difficult situations filmed with a delicate eye. A remarkable achievement in film.

Columbus is something very unique given that it is filmed by a director that is clearly more comfortable as a still photographer. New director Kogonada has created a story about a Korean-American man played by John Cho who comes to Columbus, Indiana to see his ailing father. His father was an architect residing in a town famous for it's architecture history. The structure is the star, with every shot focusing on the buildings around the city. Jin (John Cho) meets an architecture fan named Casey who begins to connect with him, but not through the buildings so much as through their mutual human conflict. Jin is back to see his father, who he hasn't seen in at least a year, and with whom he has no bond. Casey struggles with her mom, a former and supposedly recovering meth addict. Both are forced to be with their parent, and it puts a hold on their lives. This brings them together and allows them to confide in each other. This is where the movie thrives, using incredible dialogue scenes between the two leads. Besides this, the cinematography is incredible. Every frame looks like an award winning photograph, taking great advantage of symmetry and lighting to create something that is above all else, a beautiful piece of artwork. It also pushes a few boundaries, showing a rare occasion of an asian lead that avoids stereotypes, and shows him in a strong and emotional light. John Cho is fantastic as Jin, giving his most honest performance. He breaks away from his comedic background, and follows a bit more in step to his Star Trek experience, and gives us a look at a man who is hurting that his father is dying, but more from the fact that he has no relationship with him. Rivaling his performance, Haley Lu Richardson gives her best performance to date, and showing she has real potential to lead in the future. Columbus is a rare film that slipped through the notice of the public, but is certainly something anyone should see, especially those interested in the art of architecture.