Decision To Leave (Park Chan-wook)

johnny_ultimate

Out today in cinemas and on Mubi in the coming months.

https://youtu.be/Bmoy73lhs-s

Park Chan-wook's first film since The Handmaiden back in 2016. It's one of my favourite films of the year so far, thanks to the extraordinary level of craft and artistry on display. It's no exaggeration to say each scene in this is shot as if it's the most important in the film - Park directs the absolute hell out of it, casually leaping between space and timelines in even the most straightforward dialogue scenes. The stylistic bravado has purpose too - this is a dense mystery film in the vein of Hitchcock, its murder mystery combined with psychological complexity and playfulness. It all coalesces in one of the most striking endings in recent memory.

A particular shoutout to Tang Wei (best known for Lust, Caution), who plays a widow of the murder victim and soon becomes the investigation's prime suspect. One of the most astonishing performances of the year - the mix of charisma and inscrutability is totally engrossing and convincing.

I don't think this will be quite the crossover hit Bong Joon-ho's Parasite was, as it's more tricky and dense. But then Park Chan-wook preceded Bong as South Korea's most successful cinematic export with the likes of Oldboy and The Handmaiden... and this is very much a great director working at the top of their stylistic game.

Sudden Valley

Saw it today. Enjoyed it much more than the Banshee movie. Felt it was a bit long and not sure what to feel about the ending but was really drawn into the story.

Fysh

I missed this at the cinema and am happy to see it has arrived on Mubi today.