Only God Forgives Review

Only God Forgives, directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, was a film that absolutely split the movie community (critics and mainstream audiences alike) straight down the middle. The naysayers repeatedly used the word "dogshit" to describe the film, pointing out how it had little character, excessive violence, and no story. The champions of the movie named it one of the best films of the year and superior to Drive, the director's previous film that was universally acclaimed. I find the story behind the film's reception fascinating, as it just goes to show the power of cinema and how different people have different opinions and feelings even though they witness the exact same images. For me personally, I fall in the camp that really liked this movie. I am hovering on the cusp of absolutely loved, but that will require repeat viewings. Right from the get go, one notices the absolute beauty of this film. I'm floored that this did not get nominated for Best Cinematography or Best Production Design. Every shot in this film was gorgeous to look at. It really enhanced the world of the film and kept me interested, even when the characters were starting to get on my nerves. What is important to note about this film is that it is filmed and crafted to be an experience. There is so much to unpack in this movie and it will most certainly reward repeat viewings. The story in the film is very simple. Julian, played by Ryan Gosling, runs a boxing club as a front for his family's drug operation. His brother goes off the rails one night and winds up dead. Julian reluctantly seeks revenge, spurred on by his mother. This sets Julian and his mother at odds with an otherworldly police chief who holds quite the reputation in the underground world of Bangkok. To say anymore would just ruin the movie. Right away, one can see how this is a film packed to the brim with metaphors. There are many scenes of surreal imagery and characters most definitely represent ideas rather than themselves. What is important to note is that one should not go into this film expecting Drive or an action movie. That is a certain way to be disappointed. There is violence in this movie, but not necessarily in the form of thrilling car chases or elaborate gun fights. The film definitely uses the slow burn, almost like a Western, with scenes punctuated with violent occurrences. I appreciated the slow burn, as it gave me time as a viewer to ponder the look of the movie and the surreal aspects, trying to note how they all meshed together. Alonso Duralde of The Wrap noted in his review for What The Flick?!? that people who hadn't seen art house films or Lost Highway by David Lynch would watch this movie and think it is "the shit." Duralde, who didn't like the film, is being a little unfair there, I think. His comparison comes from the surreal nature of this film, which is the style that David Lynch specializes in. Having seen parts of Lost Highway (frankly, I don't know why Duralde used this film as a comparison, considering how Lost Highway isn't as fully realized or as well put together as Lynch's masterful Mulholland Dr.), I can still say that I think Only God Forgives is a fantastic experience of a film. I think many people who have seen art films have also really liked this movie and can stand behind it as an example of art cinema. Is it a perfect film? Most likely not. Only time will tell. However, I really get the feeling that this film, much like Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey, will stand the test of time and be re-evaluated. Some may then call it a masterpiece, but I can't say that in confidence after only one viewing. I have chosen not to comment much on the characters or other elements of the movie, as I feel it is best to go into this one with little to no knowledge of its proceedings or any preconceived notions. This is definitely one of the most interesting films to come out in the past couple years or so, and if you want a break from the typical blockbuster fare or just want to watch a movie that you can interpret for yourself, this is definitely worth at least one watch. With a run time of 90 minutes, it really isn't all that much of a commitment either. It's a beautiful movie with great surreal elements. If you end up enjoying those aspects, I highly recommend watching Mulholland Dr. My overall rating of Only God Forgives is 8.5/10.