That movie really reminded me of "Patterson" with its contemplative shots and slow-burn rhythm. I love the fact it changed a bit the way I approach architecture.

Sometimes I watch bad movies because I find them funny for being so terrible. This movie was soooo slow and boring that it didn't even fill that criteria. There is no deep meaning to this movie. All of the characters are unbearable. I felt like I was being dragged through broken glass while watching this. I normally would not give such a poor rating, but a 96% is truly not representative of what this movie deserves. More like negative 96. its insane they used the backdrop of such an amazing place, which i never knew of and would LOVE to visit, but the script is just AWFUL. Like, AWFUL. everything is great except for the movie. its not like the 'deeper' meaning even went over my head. just how everyone talks is ust how some movie nerd loser thinks people talk. AND THEY DONT. cuz they never leave the house. and whats with the cigarettes? like why is this guy trying to make it a french film by being boring and deep and cigaretted but to like an extreme level. it feels like a parody. is this review a social experiment? because honestly who the hell gave in 96. like even if they wrote it WELL and performed it WELL (i feel like the actors were struggling, im sure theyre very talented, despite these limiting constraints) it still isnt even a 96 percent level concept. like? yall r losers. get a life. amen. merry christmas.

Slow burn mumblecore movie about finding inspiration through the creativity of others. The vocation of choice in this one is architecture, which is filmed beautifully. The constructions are therapeutic in that they give space, light, and transparency for the characters to reflect on important choices in their lives. One character put their love into architecture to the point of neglecting an important relationship, but the remaining characters learn from that mistake and provide understanding and validation for each other so they can all move in more authentic directions.

An emotionally powerful piece of art. Makes you cry all the time. Visually stunning set pieces and scenery. Smart screenplay with originality. Outstanding performances. Beautiful cinematography and editing. Flawless. A must-see for anyone in need of understanding.

A meditative vibe and understated narrative, I'm left a little bit wondering what the point of telling this story was. The script sometimes jumps forward in time more than one might expect, making it a little difficult to know exactly where the thread is in the last third. I think if I try to pull some purpose from the film, it's trying to show what it looks like to grow and move on from your past and current relationship with or toward your parents, and into a new healthier exploration of that dynamic. On a stylistic level, there are some very cool camera shots, building on the architecture motif/through-line in the movie. And Haley Lu Richardson is really great in it, such a natural.

Great shots and acting. Slow-medium movie

It pulls you out of the haze of life, and warmly reminds you of what it feels like to make a new connection. Columbus isn't for everyone, but if you enjoy deeply raw personalities that have something to say and a stark emotion to express, this is for you. It's not overdone, it doesn't force anything, rather Kogonada somehow is able to capture those conversations and confessions we dream about having with our friends, parents, and crushes. It doesn't have suspenseful cliffhangers or plot twists, but it's very much a movie that will help you feel joy and melancholy, to the ends of feeling like your waking up.

Watched for quite a while (1.+ hrs.) waiting for this 80% viewer rated film of unclear dialog & visual of mostly smoking and lots of square architecture to become fruitful as a movie. So I gave up trying to extract a reason for the high ratings! Maybe it's for those more coultred than myself?? As for architecture and beauty give me Port Townsend/Kalaloch respectively, also a waste of beauty in the stinker! AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, less Kalaloch as it wasn't in that film, it's just beautifull.

If you loves Past Lives, you'll love this movie. A truly beautiful movie about the human spirit against the backdrop of Columbus' archite

Yawn, I have watched a cockroach 🪳 walking on the wall much more interesting

An architectural and cinematic beauty, the first twenty minutes or so feel as though the characters are moving though shots of stunning mid-century buildings. Slow in comparison to some more mainstream films but of the ‘slow cinema' I've watched this one doesn't require any patience. What plot there is moves forwards at a steady enough pace.

A wonderfully assured debut from Kogonada. Not only is the movie filled with humor and insight but its also awash with fantastic shots.

My favorite movie. I've seen it like 5 times but everytime it moves me in a new way. Masterpiece. Incredible. I love.

I've never written a review for anything, ever, but I watched this movie a few nights ago and I feel utterly compelled to share my experience. I won't give you a synopsis, you can find plenty of those elsewhere. What I will share is how deeply this film moved me. It's hard to explain how In love with this film I am, the more I have sat with the feeling the more I have come to appreciate it. There is something in here for everyone. Relationships with parents are incredibly complicated, and at it's forefront, this movie does an incredible job touching on various relationship dynamics and the corresponding hardships that many children face. But delving deeper, I am fascinated by the ways in which this film brings to light the unique emotional attachment we as humans often form with physical spaces. I still remember the bench I asked my first love to be my girlfriend on, I remember the park we spent all night in together, and I still like to visit my old schools. Physical structures are more than just that, and this film does a beautiful job at conveying that. Not to mention the dialogue. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for 'talking' movies, one's where characters just talk and not too much 'happens'. But I felt especially moved by how relatable these characters were during their conversations. I think any movie that makes us feel seen, feel understood, feel human, is a good one, and Columbus has it in spades. In short, I love this movie with my whole heart, I think everybody should watch it, It is one of the most magnificent pieces of art I have ever had the pleasure of consuming. Cheers :)

A beautiful film in the mold of Jim Jarmusch's "Paterson."

An intimate, delicate direction and acting. Simply beautiful. I appreciate the fact that this features modernist architecture in Columbus, which I wish to visit. Those are generally regarded as bold and cold, but this is nothing but more humane.

South Korean-born American filmmaker Kogonada ("After Yang", "Pachinko") brings a profound story about connection to the screen in his 2017 directorial debut. The film packs complex themes into a 104-minute runtime and showcases sensational turns from its leads, John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson. Sprinkled with influence from Yasujirô Ozu and his 1953 film "Tokyo Story", "Columbus" is a grounded affair that tells the story of a unique bond between two individuals, as they bond over the modernist architecture of Midwestern America and their difficult parental relationships. Casey (Haley Lu Richardson) is a young woman from Columbus, Indiana who spends her days working at the local library and taking care of her mother, a recovering drug addict. One day, Casey meets Jin, (John Cho) who is in town after his estranged father is taken ill and falls into a coma. The unique duo quickly build a rapport, discussing Columbus' sprawling collection of modernist architecture and their difficult personal lives. As ugly truths come to light, the pair find themselves in two vastly different places in their lives, Casey deciding not to pursue her dreams to stay and care for her mother, and Jin having to face the resentment he feels towards his ailing father. But will this unique bond push them onto a path where they move on with their lives and follow their dreams, or will they stay stuck, both physically and emotionally? The eye-catching architecture located throughout Columbus, Illinois (also known as the Mecca of modernist architecture) adds to the beauty of Elisha Christian's ("The Voyeurs", "The Girl from Plainville") cinematography. The modernist architecture showcased throughout makes the film a visual spectacle and is enough to keep viewers engaged throughout the film. The sparsity between lines of dialogue allows the details and intricacy of these aging buildings to be fully appreciated and explored. But when we do get dialogue, Kogonada graces the audience with complex conversations between these two characters that ask big questions, delve into difficult themes and force characters to confront the things they run from. "Columbus" is led by sensational performances from both leads. John Cho ("Searching") does a remarkable job portraying the frustration and resentment Jin feels towards his father, but then brilliantly switches when he's around Casey, into a more inquisitive and invested individual. Opposite Cho, stars Haley Lu Richardson ("The Edge of Seventeen", "Five Feet Apart"), and her performance as Casey is sensational, and stands out as one of her best. The pair share incredibly deep platonic chemistry, so much so that you can't draw yourself away from their profound conversations as they not only bond over their affinity for the architecture of Columbus, but their vastly different parental relationships as well. Kogonada's triple shift as director, writer, and editor of the film deservedly pays off. What comes as a result is a spectacular piece of filmmaking, made even more astonishing by the fact that "Columbus" is his directorial debut. The film isn't afraid to dive into challenging themes, bringing grief, the side effects of addiction, and strained parental relationships together, weaving them into a charming narrative that doesn't let go of you until the credits roll. Small town America and it's association with substance abuse is something else "Columbus" chooses to touch on, with Casey (Richardson) even uttering the words "Meth and modernism are really big here". "Columbus" is one of the many hidden gems of 2017, bringing a reflective, grounded story to audiences. Kogonada hits it out of the ballpark with his captivating directorial debut, a film that despite the heavy subject matter, oozes a sense of calm and serenity, emphasised by Hammock's wonderful score. "Columbus" is a film that should be seen by everyone, blending together alluring visuals, powerful performances and sensational directing set against the mesmerising backdrop of smalltown America

Love when I turn on subtitles during a movie with bits of foreign-language dialogue and it just pops up with something like '(SPEAKING KOREAN)'. Thanks, movie. Always nice to see an actor that cut their teeth in comedies or guilty pleasure films make their way into serious movies with time; in Columbus, John Cho sheds the baggage from some of his earlier work and effectively demonstrates that he's got what it takes for nuanced, character driven film. Likewise Kogonada, in his directorial debut, uses both Cho and co-star Haley Lu Richardson to tell a story that takes place in a domestic environment but still feels profound, with a discussion that goes from casual, to romantic, to profound. It's a search for personal growth and self-fulfilment in an environment where taking risks is not easy. They're two people who each have this innate intelligence (an appreciation for the Modernist architecture that others treat as everyday) but all the self-awareness and fear that comes with it; they see the big picture of their individual lives and it's frightening. The 'romance' isn't your conventional puzzle piece affection, it's more of a close friendship that arises spontaneously over shared types of experiences and an unsatisfied longing. Capped by beautiful cinematography and a thematically relevant use of visuals in the many distinctive buildings of Columbus, Kogonada delivers a powerful drama that moves itself along through candid dialogue rather than big plot shifts. For a long segment during one of the many long conversations between our protagonists, the sound fell away. I assumed it was Kogonada being clever, and it made me think about emotional honesty and connections going deeper than the spoken word. Then I figured out the streaming service was just being inconsistent and I had to reload the video. (4/5)

South Korean-born American filmmaker Kogonada ("After Yang", "Pachinko") brings a profound story about connection to the screen in his 2017 directorial debut. The film packs complex themes into a 104-minute runtime and showcases sensational turns from its leads, John Cho and Haley Lu Richardson. Sprinkled with influence from Yasujirô Ozu and his 1953 film "Tokyo Story", "Columbus" is a grounded affair that tells the story of a unique bond between two individuals, as they bond over the modernist architecture of Midwestern America and their difficult parental relationships. Casey (Haley Lu Richardson) is a young woman from Columbus, Indiana who spends her days working at the local library and taking care of her mother, a recovering drug addict. One day, Casey meets Jin, (John Cho) who is in town after his estranged father is taken ill and falls into a coma. The unique duo quickly build a rapport, discussing Columbus' sprawling collection of modernist architecture and their difficult personal lives. As ugly truths come to light, the pair find themselves in two vastly different places in their lives, Casey deciding not to pursue her dreams to stay and care for her mother, and Jin having to face the resentment he feels towards his ailing father. But will this unique bond push them onto a path where they move on with their lives and follow their dreams, or will they stay stuck, both physically and emotionally? The eye-catching architecture located throughout Columbus, Illinois (also known as the Mecca of modernist architecture) adds to the beauty of Elisha Christian's ("The Voyeurs", "The Girl from Plainville") cinematography. The modernist architecture showcased throughout makes the film a visual spectacle and is enough to keep viewers engaged throughout the film. The sparsity between lines of dialogue allows the details and intricacy of these aging buildings to be fully appreciated and explored. But when we do get dialogue, Kogonada graces the audience with complex conversations between these two characters that ask big questions, delve into difficult themes and force characters to confront the things they run from. "Columbus" is led by sensational performances from both leads. John Cho ("Searching") does a remarkable job portraying the frustration and resentment Jin feels towards his father, but then brilliantly switches when he's around Casey, into a more inquisitive and invested individual. Opposite Cho, stars Haley Lu Richardson ("The Edge of Seventeen", "Five Feet Apart"), and her performance as Casey is sensational, and stands out as one of her best. The pair share incredibly deep platonic chemistry, so much so that you can't draw yourself away from their profound conversations as they not only bond over their affinity for the architecture of Columbus, but their vastly different parental relationships as well. Kogonada's triple shift as director, writer, and editor of the film deservedly pays off. What comes as a result is a spectacular piece of filmmaking, made even more astonishing by the fact that "Columbus" is his directorial debut. The film isn't afraid to dive into challenging themes, bringing grief, the side effects of addiction, and strained parental relationships together, weaving them into a charming narrative that doesn't let go of you until the credits roll. Small town America and it's association with substance abuse is something else "Columbus" chooses to touch on, with Casey (Richardson) even uttering the words "Meth and modernism are really big here". "Columbus" is one of the many hidden gems of 2017, bringing a reflective, grounded story to audiences. Kogonada hits it out of the ballpark with his captivating directorial debut, a film that despite the heavy subject matter, oozes a sense of calm and serenity, emphasised by Hammock's wonderful score. "Columbus" is a film that should be seen by everyone, blending together alluring visuals, powerful performances and sensational directing set against the mesmerising backdrop of smalltown America

This is a rather poignant and contemplative type watch, with a philosophical type feel to the musical score - somewhat 'floaty'/ethereal/space type music is played in the background at times. I liked the cinematography used - there are some nice shots of the various buildings and outdoor areas scenes take place in - there was a real sense of symmetry present, I felt. The film is about two characters who bump into each other and slowly start opening up about things, about their family, culture, death, career hopes and other such things. It is somewhat thoughtful and while its a reasonably slow film, plot wise, it has a nice laid back sense to it which I enjoyed, even though it is somewhat serious at points. Yes I'd recommend this film...perhaps its a little indulgent and certainly it won't appeal to people wanting constant action or 'full blown entertainment' as such but its a good film never the less - it certainly has an aesthetic appeal to it, which is a little hard to fully put my finger on. It has quite an arty sense to it too, I should say.