It isn’t just one of the smartest films ever made; it’s also one of the most mind-blowing and entertaining.
I think, at this point, the world knows this film is fantastic. It is the first international film to win best picture at the Oscars; it has an unprecedented 8.6/10 on IMDB and critics have been giving it 5/5’s left and right. What more can I say?
Well… It’s incredible. I’ve seen it four times now, and it may honestly be one of my all-time favourites. I urge all of you to watch it as soon as possible and support it by going to see it at the cinema. Don’t watch anything for this film in advance, as well, because going in blind is the best thing you could do. My review will not spoil anything, and I will try my hardest not to give anything away, but I promise you, it will blow your mind.
Okay, now that I’m a bit calmer, let me tell you about why this film is an absolute masterpiece.
Parasite focuses on both a rich and poor family that intertwine with each other, uncovering mysteries and bringing information to light. Each family has a distinct perspective, and they clash in unexpected ways. It is an absolute riot of a story, twisting and turning unexpectedly. The two families are engaging and brilliantly conceived; the actors gave exceptional performances to embody the script. Everyone is utilised to their fullest to realise Bong Joon-Ho’s cinematic vision.
In the film, there are tons of ideas and metaphorical sequences that interrogate moral values and societal beliefs. It can be overwhelming at first, but there is so much to take from the first viewing, and it only gets more abundant when you watch again.
The film has layers, and absolutely everything is purposeful. Not one scene or conversation is throwaway, and there is so much genius permeating throughout. Easily one of the most interesting socio-political films in recent years and a comprehensive examination of the rich and the poor.
What everyone will be talking about, however, is the presentation. God bless Bong Joon-Ho. This film is an experience. For such a straightforward drama, I felt so many varying emotions. The film can make you laugh one moment and make you curl up in a ball the next. The editing is ecstatic, hypnotic and creative – consistently putting you on the edge of your seat and capturing your attention.
The film is visually stunning at times, utilising different colour tones and locations expertly, and utilising exceptional cinematography to capture every inch of those locations and moods. The production design is just brilliant and so integral to the film and its ideas; the fact that most of it was done on a set is kind of mind-blowing when you watch it. The script has so many memorable lines and situational conversations that had me either raising my eyebrow, grinning from ear-to-ear, or tearing up. It is simply one of the most well put together films I’ve seen in years.
Frankly, I can go on and on, but the main thing is this: this film is thoughtful and does discuss some serious issues, and has a lot of seriousness in it, but, above all, it is so damn entertaining.
It is incredibly accessible, and I think I could recommend it to everyone and they could go into it and take a lot from it.
So, do yourself a favour and do what the rest of the world is doing – go and watch this incredible film.
★★★★★
