Parasite - Bong Joon-ho
Drama & Thriller - R - 2019
"You know what kind of plan never fails? No plan at all. No plan. You know why? If you make a plan, life never works out that way."
Let me just preface this by saying: Parasite is one of the most impressive films I have seen in years. It's the first and only film I have given a perfect score. I first delved into Korean cinema a few years back with the acclaimed Oldboy -- followed by I Saw the Devil and Train to Busan -- and have really developed a love for their filmmaking culture (as these are some of my favorite movies).
Bong Joon-ho's Parasite is a masterfully crafted tale that examines the dichotomy of social classes in modern South Korea. It explores the broad chasm between the rich and poor; with the destitute Kim family doing everything in their grasp to get a taste of the Park family's opulent lifestyle. Whether by chance or fate -- a symbiotic relationship forms between the two families -- with the Kim's providing necessary services and the Park's unknowingly funding their entire household. The film takes a shocking turn when this newfound relationship is threatened. The destination is uncertain, but the message is clear. This is a film that will make you laugh, think, and shudder at its distorted narrative. It simply refuses to be pigeonholed to a specific category and defies expectations as it bounces from one genre to the next. The film's direction and visual language exemplify that of a nearly-perfect film.
Personally, I love foreign language films because reading the subtitles forces me to thoroughly pay attention. Parasite draws you in so much so that you barely notice they are speaking a different language. The acting, delivery, and emotional responses are top-notch.
One of the last movies I saw this year, Parasite is an excellent way to close out 2019.
It really is one of the most appropriately titled movies I've ever seen.
