rolex922 Reviews

Parasite (2019)

Superb Commentary on Class and Inequality

[9/10 · 26 April 2021]

The smell of being poor is hard to scrub off. Mr Kim and his resourceful and conniving family are working on it, but its engrained right in there. They come up with a plan to infiltrate a wealthy household and live vicariously through them. First, his son, then his daughter, then his wife and, finally, him end up working for the upper-class Park family. Their plan is simple: recommend each other to the nervous mistress of the household, while spreading mistrust about the existing staff. It's a plan which works perfectly.

Bong Joon Jo's narrative, humour, incredibly beautiful and thoughtful direction is deserving of every plaudit it's received. The film just oozes intelligence, conscience and is masterclass in filmmaking. But equally as important is the casting-there isn't a passenger in this film. So-dam Park as Ki Jung, the daughter, Woo-ski Choi as Ki Woo, the son, and Lee Jeong-eun, the mother, are stand out, for me.

The social commentary about class in this film is worth taking the time to watch it, even if it wasn't so thoughtfully entertaining. If this is the quality of Korean cinema, then keep them coming.

The Bloodhound (2020)

A Masterclass in Tension.

[7/10 · 8 April 2021]

If you've been exposed to the original Gothic text by Poe, then this film will make more sense than if you haven't. And while this isn't exactly 'The Fall of the House of Usher', it is mimetic in tone and spirit. The film has all the Gothic elements which give it a sense of the uncanny.

The actors are good at maintaining a sense of uneasiness, the script is sparse and the direction is very good-the director obviously understands the source material. Notably, the house itself is an Uber-stylish panopticon which compliments the atmosphere perfectly. One niggle, here, though, is that the house isn't quite as strong a character as perhaps it could have been. But, saying that, this was probably a deliberate directorial decision-given that the director is well versed with the source material. However, it is the music and sound design that keeps the tension high throughout. Both have the effect of being unsettling without being over the top.

If you like Poe, or you love the Gothic-style, then this is a good film-and it certainly doesn't outstay its welcome at under 2 hours.

Crimes of Passion (1984)

A Film about Masks.

[6/10 · 2 April 2021]

The prostitute China Blue is the mask that professional designer, Joanna Crane wears by night. Crane hides behind her alter-ego to live in a grimy and seedy fantasy world to escape her reality. Pastor Shayne is Peter Shayne's view into the world of China Blue and her co-workers. The relationship between China and the Pastor is the focus of this bizarre neon-lit fable of salvation, and deciding who is the one in need of saving is complicated. In-between this twisted relationship, in steps Bobby Grady. Grady is hired to follow Crane to see if she's selling her employers secrets to the competition - Grady finds out that Crane's double life is way more complicated than selling secrets...she's collecting them. Grady, whose stale, lifeless suburban marriage is failing, falls for his mark. This evolves into a bizarre ménage a trois with China chasing a fantasy, Shayne and Grady chasing China. What ensues is Crane becoming unmasked and realising that the life she's chosen is not so easy when you have nothing to hide behind.

If all this sounds complicated, or even messy, it's because it is. Russell's visual-audio fantasy is turned up to eleven as Turner and Perkins act out their character's fantasies. And the casting of both really does fit Russell's style, with Perkins undeniably commanding your attention during his scenes. There's a depth in his portrayal of this tortured faux-preacher that keeps your gaze locked on him throughout. However, Turner is as alluring and committed as usual and doesn't suffer from Perkins' chewing the scenery...actually, she chews as much of it as he does. But they never cancel each other out, merely powerfully co-exist. Then there's John Laughlin as Grady, and Annie Potts as his estranged wife. They both do what's needed, with both coming across as naive, when compared to the experienced deviant characters of Blue and Shayne. Grady's man-child naivety helps remove China's mask from Joanna.

The film, however, has obviously been chopped by the powers that be. Russell's narrative is splintered, a little too much at times. And although the 'masks we wear' message is effective, some of the plot points to highlight them are a little disjointed. Saying that, though, Perkins and Turner are mesmerising and they really keep the film entertaining.