Gustavo Crema The film is beautifully shot. Throughout a lot of the scenes it felt like i was looking at photographs. As far as the storyline goes, i'd say a mildly good one. It brings the viewer little introspective thinking about walks of life here and there throughout the movie, but nothing enlightning or emotional. Solid acting from Haley Lu Richardson.

rjrag Since the beggining of this film, writer/director Kogonada (making is directorial debut) shows the audience that symmetry and antisymmetry will play an important role throughout the flick. That being said, the cinematography by Elisha Christian is outstanding. Every frame is carefully planned, making this one of the most beautifully looking films of the year. Columbus also relies on great performances by John Cho (playing Jin) and Haley Lu Richardson (Casey), since they share a big amount of screen time. The first scene they share is an example of the greatness of this film. The way they are getting closer and closer as they meet each other is very well executed, making that simple scene one of my favourite ones. In spite that this movie is not as much about their connection as it is about each one's relationship with the respective parent. Though the fact that de slow pace of the film may make it a hard watch for some viewers, I really reccomend it for everyone, specially those who like this kind of film.

Brettmcreynolds 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.

Movie_Muse_Reviews The quiet indie drama "Columbus" won't win over many mainstream moviegoers, but cinema academic-turned-filmmaker Kogonada has crafted a visually immaculate feature debut that can be compared to little else.As artistically distinctive as the film may be, the story will feel familiar: A man named Jin (John Cho) ends up in the rural town of Columbus, Indiana when his father goes into a coma and meets a young woman named Casey (Haley Lu Richardson) unable to uproot herself from this modern architecture mecca. Their collision of perspectives as they tour her favorite buildings and learn about each other's challenges and hopes makes up the reflective heart of the narrative.Yet there's a third obvious character in this story and that's Columbus. Not its people or culture, but its structures. Kogonada makes the presence of this setting palpable in most every shot. As we follow Jin and Casey from location to location, even the ones not designed by skilled architects, we're given time to absorb their surroundings, which may make us feel something that influences our perspective on the story. As the characters take in these thoughtfully designed structures, so do we. Imagine watching a play in an art museum - that's the best way to describe the dual artistic nature of "Columbus."The choices Kogonada and cinematographer Elisha Christian make with the camera and lighting prove to be everything in this film. The calculation, symmetry and blocking show a meticulous amount of thought, detail and planning. Every shot is its own portrait, as though the film is a 100-minute contemporary art exhibition. Some portraits will move you more than others. Plus, there's the additional layer of how that portrait influences not just the viewer's perception, but the story unfolding. Kogonada doesn't care much for plot specifics, and to a degree that fences us off from these characters because we can only invest so deeply in their personal conflicts, but the portraits of Jin and especially Casey are extensive enough that we have plenty to observe and react to in the film. Richardson's performance stands out the most in the way she continues to wrestle with her guarded nature and self-prescribed future and begins to lose a grip on her emotional control.Foremost, "Columbus" is a reflective viewing experience. With almost no film score, we're not meant to get enthralled by the film so much as bring our attention to it and experience it in this visual, contemplative way. It requires an appreciation for the craft of creating a frame to be sure, but it's good enough that it might make some new film appreciation "students" out of more casual indie film fans.~Steven CThanks for reading! Visit Movie Muse Reviews for more