Getting back into the swing of things, upon my friend Catie’s suggestion, we watched Snowpiercer “together.” If you haven’t seen it, I simply recommend you stop reading this, & watch it with as little information about it as possible. Don’t look up reviews, don’t look up a cast list, don’t look up genre, crew or production house. Just go watch it now, or click on something else.
Seriously. I went into it with very little information, only knowing that there was something about a train, global warming, and that Chris Evans was in it. It’s probably why I didn’t see it until now. So this is your last chance, watch it first.
Last warning. Read forward at your own peril.
Aight, so let’s get into it. This was my first experience with actually watching a film by Bong Joon Ho, and holy hell was I not anticipating that ride (pun absolutely intended). His writing is fast paced, relentless and full of surprises and craft. His usage of the word “extinct” across characters at once establishes the world they’re in, the perspective of the characters and the situation they find themselves in, and I don’t think they used it more than three times. The shots are evocative, memorable and precise, but it comes across so naturally that it doesn’t take you out of the moment. The action begins right away, all at once establishing the world we’re in, the tension between opposing forces and the discomfort. There’s no polishing in this world, at least in the first half.
I’ve enjoyed Chris Evans in the past but this movie allowed me to see his actual acting chops for the first time. He’s allowed emotion and engagement that you don’t see in him as Captain America, and his “man of the people” affect that he’s got going on is excellently turned by the end. His monologue near the end is a bit stilted, but I don’t blame that on him: that’s just a strange piece of text to be able to work through, and probably my only moment that was disengaging. Once the door opens, and Ed Harris is on the screen, the world comes back into incredible focus.
Ed Harris turns in a wonderful short role, at once being sympathetic and horrifically evil. John Hurt is, as always, excellent. Tilda Swinton is at once uncomfortable, engrossing and mesmerizing, creating a character which you love to hate. Alison Pill, the teacher, is horrifyingly comical in her brief moments, and really stole the show when on screen. But I’d be remiss to not spend some time discussing Kang-ho Song and Ko Asung. Kang-ho Song is a force to be reckoned with on screen, with an incredible command of his craft. In an English-dominated film, his exclusive use of Korean does not get in his way in his evocative performance. Ko Asung is stunning, playing the dreamer who sees the world a little too well, and her moments near the end are nothing short of fantastic to watch without words. This movie is loaded with fantastic performances from great actors, and I’m certainly surprised I heard so little about it. Then again, I also started this review of mine with a warning to know nothing, so I guess that’s a piece of it.
This film is surprising, challenging, uncomfortable and worth every moment of it. I’m now very excited to watch Parasite, Okja, and other films by Bong Joon-Ho, especially as my friends have now told me that this film by him was their least favorite of his. I’m now sold.
Rating: 5/5
Thoroughly engrossed, will certainly rewatch.
This review is part of the CoronaReviews, a series of quick reviews I’m going to write to stay sane while I wait for the COVID-19 shutdowns to end. I’ve got a long list of films I desperately need to catch up on, but if you have suggestions or commentary, comment below! I’d love to discuss it with you so I don’t lose my mind here by myself.