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10

Brent_MarchantFeb 21, 2021

This is the movie that should win the Oscar for best picture, flat out, hands down, no questions asked. Director Lee Isaac Chung's heartfelt domestic drama about a South Korean immigrant family seeking a fresh start and a better tomorrow inThis is the movie that should win the Oscar for best picture, flat out, hands down, no questions asked. Director Lee Isaac Chung's heartfelt domestic drama about a South Korean immigrant family seeking a fresh start and a better tomorrow in 1980s rural Arkansas is just the kind of movie that we need right now, much as "Moonlight" was the film we needed in 2016. The picture's exquisite cinematography, nuanced script and narrative, and superb ensemble cast make for a moving cinematic experience that leaves viewers with a warm glow that lasts long after the movie's final frame. Richly deserving of the many accolades and award nominations it has received thus far, "Minari" truly stands out among this year's field of contenders, masterfully and lovingly handled in virtually every respect. I can't speak highly enough about the quality of this film and its power to help heal an ailing nation.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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8

MattBrady99Jan 28, 2021

“A broken ding-dong”

‘Minari’ is one of those "slice of life" movies set in 1980’s Arkansas, where a Korean family try to start a farm and make ends meet. This is the type of movie that even though the story is about a Korean immigrant“A broken ding-dong”

‘Minari’ is one of those "slice of life" movies set in 1980’s Arkansas, where a Korean family try to start a farm and make ends meet. This is the type of movie that even though the story is about a Korean immigrant family, you can still draw a deep emotional connection to it.

While the subject matter can have its dramatic elements, but it’s not to say the movie doesn’t have a sense of humor. It’s funny and incredibly endearing to watch. The movie does a great job of making you care about this family and you wish everything would work out for them. All thanks to the amazing script that helps flesh out the characters and made them all complex.

The performances from Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, and Youn Yuh-jung were all fantastic. Even from the child actors, Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho, gave great performances, especially during the more dramatic parts of the movie. Just goes to show there are great child actors out there.

The score, composed by Emile Mosseri, was superb and mixed Western and eastern styles to create a uniquely rich score. The movie itself looks so warm and sunny. The bright sun made all the mixture of different colors like green and blue look so luminous, it felt peaceful.

I can tell a story like this came from a personal place from director Lee Isaac Chung. You see, he came from a Korean family and he spend his childhood in Arkansas. The story was told from the heart and it was beautiful to watch.

Overall rating: A touching and heartfelt movie that deserves all the praise it’s getting. If you get the chance, check this one out.… Expand

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9

DSENJan 5, 2021

Beautiful Film. So glad I was able to see it at Sundance in 2020. Hopefully everyone can see it in a theater in 2021.

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9

FantasticMrMe04Jan 6, 2021

Minari is an emotionally engaging and beautiful film. I had just learned this film existed a few weeks ago but since this film was getting such high praise I went into this with pretty high expectations. This is such a gentle yet emotionallyMinari is an emotionally engaging and beautiful film. I had just learned this film existed a few weeks ago but since this film was getting such high praise I went into this with pretty high expectations. This is such a gentle yet emotionally straining film, it’s truly a special experience to watch. The plot is great it’s an entertaining and deeply engaging story. It starts off as a story that has been told before but becomes much much more. The pacing is great from the first scene until the credits role it’s well paced. The acting is great Steven Yeun and Yeri Han give great performances. Yuh-Jung Youn gives a fantastic supporting performance, she is easily one of the best parts of this film. Alan S. Kim and Noel Cho give great child performances as well.

The direction is fantastic from Lee Isaac Chung, his direction is incredibly impressive and you can tell he was very passionate about making this. The script is great it’s a memorable and very well written script. The cinematography is fantastic, this film is full of shots that are so beautiful it’ll make your jaw drop. There is a certain shot where Jacob and Monica are watching the kids playing in the hospital waiting room and the camera focuses back and forth on the two faces. That one shot perfectly captures the story of the characters in less than a minute. The editing is great and the score is great as well.

The comedy is very subtle but when there is comedy it’s wholesomely funny. In terms of the Oscars there’s a strong possibility that this will sadly be overlooked/snubbed. If this did get it’s deserved attention from the academy I feel this would probably get nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Supporting Actress: Yuh-Jung Youn. The ending scenes of the film are very emotional and the last shot is just brilliant. Overall Minari is wonderfully wholesome and emotionally engaging film that is truly a special movie. 94% A… Expand

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9

UncleWillardFeb 26, 2021

This is a beautiful film. Steven Yuen and Will Paxton are real standouts in a great cast. I love the tapestry of culture, generations, and faith and how seemlessly they are interwoven. While this is a very Korean story, it's also a veryThis is a beautiful film. Steven Yuen and Will Paxton are real standouts in a great cast. I love the tapestry of culture, generations, and faith and how seemlessly they are interwoven. While this is a very Korean story, it's also a very American story reflecting three wonderfully subtle takes on the immigrant narrative.… Expand

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7

HerickDienerJan 4, 2021

"Minari" tem muito a agradecer ás atuações de Alan Kim e Youn Yuh-jung, peças fundamentais para que ele fosse um bom filme. Youn Yuh-jung em particular, minha atriz coadjuvante favorita da temporada de premiações até o momento. Não posso"Minari" tem muito a agradecer ás atuações de Alan Kim e Youn Yuh-jung, peças fundamentais para que ele fosse um bom filme. Youn Yuh-jung em particular, minha atriz coadjuvante favorita da temporada de premiações até o momento. Não posso deixar passar, também, o ótimo trabalho de fotografia feito por Lachlan Milne. Tive problemas com o ritmo do filme, mas garanto que você não irá dormir enquanto Youn Yuh-jung estiver em cena.… Expand

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9

KempFeb 28, 2021

A great family film, and one of the better American dream stories I’ve seen in some time. This is a beautiful, funny film with a big heart.

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9

dfelixfJan 6, 2021

A24 no decepciona con 'Minari', una historia de superación personal y unión familiar, acompañada de buenas actuaciones, buena dirección y fotografía.

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8

AJ_13Jan 23, 2021

Minari reflects perfectly what being a family means. Emotional and sad but with a great message.

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10

Monim467Jan 13, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie teachs you a great meaning 'if u work hard, you will succeed and not lose faith even you lost everything, You can start again from zero'… Expand

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8

bertobellamyFeb 17, 2021

A tender and heartwarming take on immigration. Although the whole family delivers great and funny moments, the bond between the kid and the grandmother is the best part of the film. By recovering some of his childhood memories, director LeeA tender and heartwarming take on immigration. Although the whole family delivers great and funny moments, the bond between the kid and the grandmother is the best part of the film. By recovering some of his childhood memories, director Lee Isaac Chung gives the American dream its old meaning back.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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10

matthewmirlianiMar 5, 2021

Overflowing with love, passion, and truth, Minari is the must-see film of the season. Featuring impressive cinematography, strong writing, and an incredible ensemble, the film tells a powerfully relatable story about family, sacrifice,Overflowing with love, passion, and truth, Minari is the must-see film of the season. Featuring impressive cinematography, strong writing, and an incredible ensemble, the film tells a powerfully relatable story about family, sacrifice, resilience, and the beauty of small and unexpected victories. Steven Yeun, Han Ye-ri, Alan Kim, and Youn Yuh-jung all deserve Oscar recognition for their performances, Lee Isaac Chung deserves Best Director, and the film itself deserves the highest prize.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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8

mohammadhoseinjMar 4, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Such a beautiful, meaningful, and profound film. Lee Isaac Chung has made cinema centered on human emotions to tell us that life is good and can be better. Sometimes when the wind is devastating, we need to be like Minari; Trying our best to grow as much as we can, No matter the circumstances. Sometimes we just need to say Thank You and, at the same time, fight for making a better life. And Sometimes, when the world makes us give it a stick so it can beat us, We just need to find the thinnest and finest one. Then the pain won't be that much, and We will move on.
I really enjoyed this film; I liked it.… Expand

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7

moviemitch96Feb 11, 2021

This is a tender and touching film about an immigrant Korean family that moves to 1980s Arkansas in order to start a farm and search for the American dream. It's a rather straightforward premise told in a simple yet intimate way, withThis is a tender and touching film about an immigrant Korean family that moves to 1980s Arkansas in order to start a farm and search for the American dream. It's a rather straightforward premise told in a simple yet intimate way, with beautiful cinematography throughout, along with heartwarming performances from all involved, most notably Steven Yeun as the father of the family, newcomer Alan Kim as his adorable young son, and Yuh-Jung Youn as the salty yet endearing grandmother of the family. While the film does feel rather pedestrian in its execution for the most part, the performances, camera-work, and message of hope are what help to maintain the film's charm and tenderness. Overall, it's a family drama that is likely to touch your soul, but admittedly is heavy with emotion too, which may make it feel a little rough at times. Still though, it's undoubtedly a great depiction of family and human spirit and resilience.… Expand

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8

MurphyBrandonFeb 9, 2021

Minari won both of the drama awards (The grand jury and the audience agreed.) at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and rightfully so!

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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9

1stReviewsMar 9, 2021

Minari is one of the most inspirational family films I have watched in years. This exceptional cast pushes the limits of their family dynamic, as well as our hearts, as we see them struggle with everyday life problems. Jacob, played by StevenMinari is one of the most inspirational family films I have watched in years. This exceptional cast pushes the limits of their family dynamic, as well as our hearts, as we see them struggle with everyday life problems. Jacob, played by Steven Yeun, moves from California to a Farmland in Arkansas with his family. The goal is to build a sustainable farm and live the American dream while dealing with many real-life issues that test the resilience of the household. He and his wife, Monica, played by Han Ye-ri, are recent immigrants from Korea in search of a better life for their kids. Jacob's dream of owning a farm brings the family to Arkansas with the purchase of a large farm and a house made out of an eighteen-wheeler. Monica is not fully happy with this plan for many reasons but goes along with the move to keep the family together. Director Lee Isaac Chung wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film in 2018, ironically around a time he was considering retiring from directing. Though not a factual documentary, Chung included many memories into the film based on his childhood home in Arkansas. The fact that the film is based on many important moments in Chung's life is the driving force of the film. Early memories help to define who we are and Chung uses Jacob's son, David, as our guide through the film, allowing the audience to witness all these beautiful moments in his life unfold before their eyes. Moments of discovery, moments of understanding, and moments that teach him life lessons. Every member of David's family teaches him something important about life at some point in the film and these moments will define him for the rest of his life. Many of these important life lessons come from his relationship with his grandmother Soonja, who he spends all day with while his parents are at work. The two often travel down to the creek where they have started a small garden of their own with a plant from Korea called Minari, echoing the much larger garden of American vegetables that Jacob has grown.

Their kids Anne (Noel Cho) and David (Alan Kim) are at a very delicate age in their lives and Monica knows that their new environment will be a major change for them. One of her fears is the loss of their Korean culture because there are only a few Koreans in the new town they live in. Monica's mother moving in to help out with the kids is one of the ways they try and keep the Korean traditions thriving in the house. David also has some unexplained medical issues early on and living in the middle of nowhere poses an issue in the case that a hospital is needed for him. All of these issues are just some of the things that the family deals with which are easy to sympathize with. The family is also struggling with their faith in the film. Having moved to a new town, working new jobs, and balancing new priorities, Monica worries that the kids are not going to practice their faith as often due to the town not having a Korean Church, but they choose to attend the towns Sunday mass in order to provide their children with an outlet to continue practicing their faith as well as interact with other local kids. Ironically, as everyone struggles with their issues, the one character that seems to be the happiest is also the most faithful in the film; Jacob's farm helper, Paul, is an extremely dedicated Christian who carries a cross around town each Sunday. To the Yi family, he comes off as a nut but he is often the voice of reason and offers his opinion in many situations, even though he is often discredited. As the head of the household, Jacob often has to deal with very difficult decisions that sometimes put the family at risk, and he often makes these decisions without even discussing them with Monica. Jacob's desire to succeed sometimes clouds his judgment and puts his family in harm's way but that he lives with his choices and continues to fight tomorrow. Regardless of how big or small; any choice you make in life has a repercussion and many of the choices made by the characters, seem to come full circle in the film. They often present themselves as new problems or make situations worse, however, it is the family's determination to learn and grow through these decisions that is most important. I really connected with this film and the Yi family, so much so that each member taught me something about myself in one way or another. Minari is now available on all Video on Demand platforms.… Expand

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10

winterfireFeb 19, 2021

o melhor da award season ,tão lindo e tão tocante minari trata de um assunto que as vezes passa despercebi mas ele é necessario.

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2

Lordro1234567May 5, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This movie sucks. It is way too slow, the grandmother is a **** character. The movie is just a sequence of catastrophes. Trivial and boring. I was hungry at the end. I would have preferred beating my nuts instead watch this movie.… Expand

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1

norteincMar 20, 2021

Boring. Just boring.
A story about a farmer. nothing more. the storylines are not revealed, they have not heard about the motivation of the characters at all. it would be better to have seen half of the Justice League during this time.Boring. Just boring.
A story about a farmer. nothing more. the storylines are not revealed, they have not heard about the motivation of the characters at all. it would be better to have seen half of the Justice League during this time. what an Oscar nomination for?… Expand

4 of 6 users found this helpful42

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10

ibbsteFeb 26, 2021

A gorgeous, achingly personal yet universally relatable tale of the immigrant American experience with expert performances all around.

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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0

hyunwestMay 5, 2021

bad movie. so boring. yawned many times, yoon yeojung was good at acting but she was even better in 계춘할망 and numerous other korean movies. if people think this is the peak of her acting n she deserves an oscar for it, she deserves 100x oscarsbad movie. so boring. yawned many times, yoon yeojung was good at acting but she was even better in 계춘할망 and numerous other korean movies. if people think this is the peak of her acting n she deserves an oscar for it, she deserves 100x oscars for all the other work she did that were way more amazing in my opinion. and as a korean american, i did not relate to minari in one bit, which is strange. maybe director lee isaac had a very niche experience. o well. idk why people could relate so well to this movie. did not see anything i see in my own immigrant experience in the US or relationships in my family. oh well _ (shrug shoulder)… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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7

PanchogulApr 22, 2021

Minari transmite alegría, paz, esperanza y empatía, todos y cada uno de los integrantes de la familia son lo suficientemente simpáticos como para sentir cariño por ellos pese a que el desarrollo de los mismos sea escaso, el problema es queMinari transmite alegría, paz, esperanza y empatía, todos y cada uno de los integrantes de la familia son lo suficientemente simpáticos como para sentir cariño por ellos pese a que el desarrollo de los mismos sea escaso, el problema es que para los temas que aborda se siente demasiado larga y su ritmo es muy plano careciendo además de un desenlace que haga sentir satisfecho al espectador, lo que sí fue excelente en su totalidad es su banda sonora, es bellísima.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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9

alejandro970Sep 17, 2022

The search for the American dream and a better future, this time from the perspective of a Korean family. The approach has an almost documentary flavor due to its realistic style, which is a counterweight in favor, which compensates for itsThe search for the American dream and a better future, this time from the perspective of a Korean family. The approach has an almost documentary flavor due to its realistic style, which is a counterweight in favor, which compensates for its calm pace.… Expand

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5

Js2021Feb 20, 2021

Heartfelt amazing movie with wonderful acting- especially from Steven Yeun and the funny Grandmother!

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9

sergiopalma02Nov 16, 2021

Nominated for 6 academy awards and deserved to win every single one of them.

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6

TVJerryFeb 16, 2021

Steven Yeun (The Walking Dead) plays the father of a young Korean immigrant family who moves from California to Arkansas, where he plans to start a farm. Considering this was the 80s, there was surprisingly no racial pushback from this smallSteven Yeun (The Walking Dead) plays the father of a young Korean immigrant family who moves from California to Arkansas, where he plans to start a farm. Considering this was the 80s, there was surprisingly no racial pushback from this small Southern town. Instead, they deal with growing his crops and family challenges (including the grandmother who arrives from Korea). The cast, along with director Lee Isaac Chung, has created characters that are real and quietly involving. It runs longer than needed and never gets especially involving, but it is a low-key, modest human drama. (Mostly in Korean with subtitles)… Expand