There has been a lot of talk and controversy about this movie since it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. Maybe that word of mouth has helped the film reach a wider audience, or the fact that "Drive" was so well received, that people are keen to see the next film from the same team who worked on it. Which ever way you look at it, "Only God Forgives" is a rather unique film experience.
There seems to be very little middle ground with regard to opinion of the film, looking at many of reviews, and reading what Joe Public has said, this is one of those films that you either love or hate. Ranging from 5 stars in "Empire" to a lowly 1 star in "Time Out", which illustrates the variance of regard to this movie.
Some have said it is another masterpiece from Director Refn, others have referred to it as one, if not the worst film they have ever seen, as happened last night during my second viewing of the film. For me the second viewing was beneficial, and to a degree I can see why some would find the film boring and dull on just one viewing. Yet even if the story was dull for some, the combination of the cinematography and score would have been compensating for this viewer.
Julian runs a boxing club in Thailand, the club however is merely a front for his main business which is drug dealing. He comes across as a quiet, contemplative man, someone of few words. Also involved in the business is his older brother Billy, a particularly unpleasant man, who enjoys sex with under-age girls, and is happy to bestow a huge amount of violence upon them. During one such encounter, he rapes and murders a 16 year old, and it is this event that creates the films ever escalating story of revenge and violence.
Ryan Gosling, as Julian, almost takes a back seat in the acting, having very little dialogue, and almost seeming to do very little. But like a few good actors, he can achieve a lot by being minimal.
Pretty much taking the lead is Vithaya Pansringarm, as 'Chang', a rather mysterious character who is called to the initial crime scene. He allows the father of the dead girl to exact a suitable revenge. But it is 'Chang' who seems to have created the most amount of debate. Is he just an everyday local Police Official? Or is he something more? An avenging Angel, who delivers his unique brand of justice. I would say it is left to the viewer to decide upon that one.
Kristen Scott Thomas really plays against type, as the mother of the two boys. She has a wonderful entrance, when she arrives at her hotel. From that first encounter, you know that this is a woman that you do not want to trifle with. It is interesting to see the relationship that she has with her two boys, loving them very differently, maybe explaining why Julian is so emotionally distant, I found myself wondering whether maybe she abused him when younger, there is a hint of a sexual nature between the two, possibly incestuous.
All of these elements do come together to make a film that one will most certainly be talking for some time after leaving the cinema.
Yes there are some similarities to the 2011 masterpiece, equally there are some huge differences. The photography as ever is beautiful, whether it be the use of neon, dimly lit streets, shadows obscuring the films characters, or just lengthy shots of the same characters with no dialogue, it is so pleasing to see a master at work behind the camera.
Composer Cliff Martinez, who did such a phenomenal job on the music for "Drive" is back on scoring duty, and again delivers a score that just blows one away, and one that I will again be purchasing.
Even though I have only seen three of the films directed by Refn, for me he is clearly a visionary Director, and one whose career I will continue to follow with great interest. And I also believe it will only be a matter of time before he is working with Mr. Gosling again.
A film that divides, but one that will not be forgotten........7 out of 10.
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