Writer(s): Ho and Jin Won Han
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-jeong Jo, and So-dam Park
What could I possibly add to this conversation that the 400+
critics on Rotten Tomatoes (plus hundreds of others outside that network), many
of whom are far more educated than I, haven’t already said?
This is impeccably-crafted, transcendent cinema; that rare
movie that tears down global lines and proves that, at the end of the day, we not
only belong to one world and not just one continent, but that we are all human.
What other foreign movie, perhaps since Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon two decades prior, have forced large quantities of
mainstream American cinemagoers to face the unimaginable torture of having to
read subtitles for two hours? And, even more amazingly, left them wanting to
discuss it with anyone who will listen immediately thereafter?
That alone should tell you everything you need to know about
Parasite. Forget whatever qualms you
have about the director, or subtitles, or foreign cinema in general, or
whatever else is stopping you from watching it, and just go see it. The only
tip I have is to go into it as clueless as possible. You may watch the below trailer,
because it does a good job of piquing interest without revealing any spoilers
(surprisingly), but outside of that, read nothing else; let director Bong Joon Ho be your guide through his twisty, genre-bending mashup.
It doesn’t matter where your movie preferences lean, because
Parasite has a little bit of everything. There’s some suspense, creepiness, and
violence, but all those things play second fiddle to the human aspect; almost
every single character, no matter what “side” their on, feels like a real person that we could get to know. This gives them
a natural likability that is only strengthened by the frequent moments of
(sometimes dark, but often hilarious) humor. It also gives us a wider net to
forgive the more far-fetched ideas that Joon-ho presents, which largely go
unnoticed (or, at the very least, unscrutinized) thanks to the film’s many
strengths; it’s almost as if he somehow programs his scenes to bypass the
“logical” center of our brain, and head straight for the “emotional”
section…and it works.
Seriously, if you consider yourself a fan of movies at
all—whether in a spectator or creator role—just see it. There’s inspiration
here for almost everyone, thanks to a prodigious filmmaker who, we have to
assume, is at the very peak of his craft—and at a level far beyond what many
could ever hope to achieve.
RATING: 10/10
TRAILER
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