Monday, March 25, 2013

Stoker


I’m going to get the silly stuff out of the way first. The big, pointless question surrounding Chan-wook Park’s domestic thriller, Stoker, is if it is a worthy, American inclusion to the famed Korean’s filmography. Stoker is Park’s first American-made film, and the conversation has mostly focused on whether his trademarked macabre sensibilities will cross over. And take it from me, a great Park admirer, that Stoker fits snuggly in his oeuvre of human depravity. There’s no doubt who you’re watching, and every doubt as to where it will go, which is about as fine a compliment I can bestow a Park film.

Leave it to a Korean director to cast his first American film with two Aussies and a Brit (with supporting work from another Aussie, a Virginian and Harmony Korine… because, why not?), and have it written by a once-famed television star. Basically, Stoker is a random mixing bowl of talent that results in a film tailored to Park’s style, with plentiful dashes of Hitchcock. In short, everyone in front of and behind the camera is on point here.

Shortly into the film, attendees gather at the funeral of Richard Stoker (Dermot Mulroney, who deserves more credit than he’s ever given). Up front sits Richard’s stoic, elitist wife, Eve (Nicole Kidman, who, as she did in The Paperboy, continues to show something new here), and his curious, removed daughter, India (Mia Wasikowska, a 23-year-old powerhouse). Soon into the service, India notices a man standing far off, watching with indifference. This is Richard’s brother, Charles (Matthew Goode, perfect), a man India never knew existed.
Stoker quickly develops into an art house game of cat and mouse, with both beasts living under the same roof. When Even announces to India that Charles will be staying with them in their secluded mansion, India begins a slow investigation into who her uncle is, and if he’s connected to the sudden death of her father. All while battling her personal demons motivated by teenage angst, and a peculiarly hateful mother.

But, this being a Park film, things aren’t nearly as straightforward as I’m making them sound. The narrative is often loopy, with quick cuts of flashbacks or whatever sense memories India can recall at any given time. India’s icy narration adds to the film’s overall creepiness, and things move (for the most part) at a uniformly tedious pace. Come to think of it, I wasn’t certain I liked Stoker while I was watching it. I understood what Park was doing, but I felt his style grew increasingly monotonous. That is until an unexpected scene of sexual discovery managed to launch the film in a new direction, ultimately peaking my interest for the duration.
(I won’t dare reveal the scene, but trust me, it will go down as one of my favorite sequences of 2013. Above all, it shows the true fearlessness of a young actress. Wasikowska is definitely, thankfully here to stay.)

And that is precisely why I’m so drawn to Park’s films. We may think you know where he’s going, but when he throws a complete curveball, we’re surprised, but not really. The new scenario he implements may fool us, but fans of Park know to never forget that, at any moment, he could flip this fucker right on its head. If you’ve seen Park’s Vengeance Trilogy, then you know anything can happen at anytime. It’s a tricky game, juggling with the audiences’ perceptions. But when handled with care, we can be deceived in the best possible way. B+

26 comments:

  1. Great review, I found this a much more worthy English-language debut that Kim Jee-Woon's The Last Stand because it didn't abandon any of the director's style or substance in the script for appeal. While it doesn't quite top Oldboy (imo) I thought it was a really interesting and exciting film and is definitely one of my favorites for this year thus far (just behind Side Effects).

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    1. I honestly don't know what the hell about The Last Stand appealed to Woon, but oh well. Definitely agree that Stoker is better, for the exact reason you mentioned.

      My favorite Park film has got to be Lady Vengeance. That one just floors me. Oldboy is fantastic as well, no doubt. Glad you dug Stoker!

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    2. I'm glad to hear you love Park's work as well, his entire body of work from JSA onwards is pretty stellar (I think) with no misfires yet to be seen.
      While Woon's film was definitely a let down I am holding out that Bong Joon-ho's Snowpiercer will be closer to this than The Last Stand.

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    3. I have yet to see a Park misfire as well. Dude always hits. (Cyborg is... okay, but by no means awful or anything). Pumped for Snowpiercer... I'm a huge Bong Joon-ho fan as well.

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    4. I was strangely taken with the idea of Cyborg and found it slightly more endearing than the seriousness in either Thirst or JSA. It's probably one of my favorite rom-coms(?) of the last couple of years because it genuinely made me laugh out loud at more than a few points and I liked the dynamic between the two leads. But that's just me.

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    5. I should definitely give it a rewatch. The only Park film I've seen once (other than Stoker).

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  2. I saw this yesterday along with How to Survive a Plague and I think this is a wonderful film. I love some of the visual compositions that Park brings in and the performance of Mia Wasikowska. She won me over in Jane Eyre and this one just increases my love for her. I too, am anticipating Snowpiercer.

    Oh, and here's my ranking of Park's films so far:

    1. Oldboy
    2. Thirst
    3. Lady Vengeance
    4. Stoker
    5. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
    6. Three... Extremes-Cut
    7. JSA: Joint Security Area
    8. I'm a Cyborg but That's OK.

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    1. Awesome, really glad you liked this as well, gonna head over and check out your review now.

      Our rankings are very similar. Mine would be:

      1. Lady Vengeance
      2. Oldboy
      3. Stoker
      4. Thirst
      5. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
      6. JSA: Joint Security Area
      7. I'm a Cyborg but That's OK.

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    2. If I had to do a list it'd probably go like this, not a single film I don't like in here:

      1. Oldboy
      2. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance
      3. Stoker
      4. Lady Vengeance
      5. I'm a Cyborg but That's OK
      6. Thirst
      7. JSA: Joint Security Area

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    3. Nice rankings there. Can't deny the power of Oldboy.

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  3. For a minute there, I thought I was reading the lead in to a joke: "An Aussie, a Virginian and Harmony Korine walk into a bar ..."

    Excellent review, and it definitely reflects your trademark style in spades. :) The only thing I've seen by this director is Thirst. If I remember correctly, it wasn't the type of movie I'd expect to be my cup of tea but I ended up liking it. Definitely a unique and interesting film.

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    1. Ha, I know right. It sounds like the lead to a joke, but this is serious business.

      Thirst is a vampire movie for people who don't like vampire movies, you know? Park is a strange, unique, and excellent filmmaker. Highly recommend his other stuff as well!

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  4. Nice review. Will we be seeing Spring Breakers soon?
    -Dan

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    1. Thanks man. The 'Breakers drop today.

      Sprang Breayyyyk.

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  5. I've been anxiously waiting for this for a while now, I can't wait to see it! Saturday, I think I'll do a double feature of The Host and Stoker! Great review Alex, glad to see you liked it, I was a bit worried, I've been reading mixed opinions about it!

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    1. Thanks for reading, D! I was a little nervous to see it as well, but I really enjoyed it. Hope you enjoy your double feature. Fun!

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  6. A nutty film, but a fun one at that. The mystery always had me intrigued, even if the characters didn't. I don't know if that accounts for anything, but at least it worked for me. Good review bud.

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    1. Damn nutty, and damn fun. I agree, my friend. Thanks so much for reading, gonna check out your review now!

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  7. Having read the script, I know the scene you are referring to, I bet with Mansell's score it's very effective.

    I really like the direction Kidman is taking with all those roles of aging beauties going insane, 20 years from now she may be doing stuff like What Ever Happened to Baby Jane.

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    1. Very effective. So damn good. I can't wait to read your thoughts on this movie. I can already envision your gorgeous post for it.

      Kidman would kill in a Baby Jane-type role. Kill.

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  8. Great review! Really looking forward to this. Shamed to say Chan-wook Park is still a major blind spot for me though. I need to fix that.

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    1. Hope this one comes your way! Park's films are so batshit nuts, you'll love 'em or hate 'em. Those Koreans, man, they make some twisted shit. And I dig it.

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  9. There are fucked up films (Natural Born Killers) that I enjoy and there is morbid shit that just disturbs me and it doesn't allow me sleep or work normally. Stoker is the latter. My opinion is that the plot was kind of thin but the direction, the cinematography, the music and the acting were amazing. B+
    Also, the poster fucked with me for so long. Literary I got what she had in her hands (and that the hands are full of blood) just today.

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    1. Couldn't agree more. Decent story, but every technical element (along with the acting) were so on point. I need to give this one a rewatch actually.

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    2. Also, I saw Oldboy the previous day and it was amazing. The film was an A till the twist at the end. That's how much a twist can elevate a movie. I'm intrested in seeing Lady Vengeance asap.

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    3. Lady Vengeance is my favorite Park film, no question.

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