Okja (2017)

Hello! Long time no review I know, have been watching movies constantly but this is the first time I’ve loved a movie so much that I couldn’t not review it. Quick disclaimer – this will just be a quick review as it’s 1am and I’ve literally just finished watching it but bear with me and I hope you enjoy (and watch the film!!!).

Okja is the second English-language feature (behind the thrillingly bizarre cult phenomenon Snowpiercer) from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho, and has not been without its fair share of controversy. It screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival but, as a product of the streaming giant Netflix, was criticised by the  judges for encouraging the demise of traditional cinema. Sorry to wade into a hotly debated area but to be honest I have to agree with Joon-ho and Netflix on this one, as Joon-ho had complete freedom to create a film about a controversial topic that would only have been diluted by big-budget film corporations, and the film industry needs to adapt to the current technological climate to an extent.

The film centres around Okja, an edible ‘super pig’ designed by the Mirando Corporation for profit, and Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun), the granddaughter of the farmer appointed to raise her. Eventually, the time comes for Okja to be taken to New York and used as an advertising ploy for the company, who are masking a torrent of animal abuse behind the guise of competition, environmental sustainability and charisma, largely through the company’s CEO (played by the ever-wonderful Tilda Swinton) and a desperate, fame-hungry TV zoologist (Jake Gyllenhaal at his wackiest and most brilliant, is he having a bit of a moment currently or am I just that desperate for him to get an Oscar soon?). All is not lost for Okja’s life however, as the Animal Liberation Front (led by the fantastic Paul Dano) intervene in the proceedings.

Okja is a truly wonderful film. It is immensely heartfelt and has a few clear messages about exploitation and the terror of big business (what really goes on behind closed doors?), but places humour directly at its core. The film is visually stunning and well-directed, with the pace never lagging but still having the stability to savour key moments and further our emotional investment. The linguistic blend of South Korean and English was also refreshing to see in a film and could, potentially, pave the way for a greater acceptance of multilingualism in cinema – which can only be a good thing. The acting in this feature is phenomenal, with each actor playing up to a caricature (specifically Swinton as an unhinged heiress and Dano as an over-righteous activist) but the film never descends into pantomime territory, with each actor bringing just enough warmth and heart to humanise their characters. Seo-hyun too is a great source of emotional entanglement and the supporting actors appear to understand the wackiness of Joon-ho’s filmmaking but have enough appreciation for the story at hand to keep the slapstick to a minimum.

Okja is a wholly unique film, with only vague vibes of the Japanese animated classic My Neighbour Totoro, and is an exciting foray into a new generation of filmmaking that takes advantage of new media platforms to explore taboo subjects. I would recommend this film to anybody, for different reasons, and I believe there is something in this film that will enthrall anyone – be it the story, cinematography, acting, peculiarity or various plot twists and turns.

I’m going to give Okja a five out of five popcorns! Apologies if this review was fairly one-sided, I did try to find faults in it but honestly its exactly the kind of bizarre movie I love and I was enchanted from the moment I turned it on. I genuinely had no interest in watching it before it popped up on my Netflix tonight, but I couldn’t turn it off from literally the second it began.

Thank you for reading!

(Photo via JoBlo.com)

Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama

Yesterday I wrote about the films being considered for the Best Motion Picture, Drama award, now let’s meet the male stars considered  for this accolade. The nominees are:

Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything) – English actor Redmayne’s star has been steadily on the rise with roles in such films as The Other Boleyn Girl, My Week with Marilyn and Les Miserables. At thirty-two years of age, and a previous BAFTA nomination under his belt, his highly-praised role as Stephen Hawking is set to define the rest of his career.

Why he could win – taking on the character of such a recognisable and complicated man is a courageous decision, and he seems to have portrayed Hawking with effortlessness and grace. Every single review of this film (that I’ve read) have raved about Redmayne’s magnificent performance, and after watching the trailer I was enthralled.

Redmayne, submerging his fashion-model looks under a performance of remarkable physical and facial contortion, leads winsome charm to a character…

– Ann Hornaday (The Washington Post)

Steve Carell (Foxcatcher) – previously known for his comedic roles in Anchorman, Despicable Me and insanely popular television series The Office (for which he won a Golden Globe). Boasting a long career prior to this film, this fifty-two year old is garnering all sorts of critical praise for his difficult role in Foxcatcher.

Why he could win – despite taking on a variety of dramatic roles in the past, Carell has surprised everyone in this role so far removed from his personal character. Donning prosthetics for this role, his performance gives the film a chilling, nail-biting edge.

Carell, sure to land an Oscar nomination, is first amongst equals in the cast.

– Peter Howell (Toronto Star)

Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game) – known to an array of ‘Cumberbitches’ as Sherlock in the hit British television series, for which he won an Emmy. Cumberbatch has portrayed complex characters prior to his role as Alan Turing in this film, notably his role as Julian Assange in 2013.

Why he could win – his portrayal of Turing is breathtaking, and captivates viewers from the word go. Every fleeting moment has been crafted meticulously, yet Cumberbatch’s performance looks natural and utterly believable. Critics have raved about his performance, and is (hopefully) going to lead to a lengthy career.

The film works as well as it does due to the genius of Benedict Cumberbatch and the way he has inhabited Alan Turing’s persona. Both physically and with that hard-to-describe aura great actors exhibit, Cumberbatch captures Turing’s social awkwardness…

– Bill Zwecker (Chicago Sun-Times)

David Oyelowo (Selma) – Oyelowo has had supporting roles in many large films (Lincoln, Interstellar, The Last King of Scotland and The Butler, just to name a few) but takes centre stage as Martin Luther King Jr. in this film. Oyelowo has acquired an impressive filmography over his sixteen year acting career, and is being heaped with all sorts of praise for this role.

Why he could win – his portrayal of King is being lauded as the best so far, and the messages he shares within this film are relevant to recent current events. Voters will focus on the lead of this beautifully made film, so Oyelowo has a chance of taking this one out.

Oyelowo gives a warm, not fevered performance, and lends King a presence that makes everyone from LBJ to Selma’s most devout parishioner (Oprah Winfrey) feel the power of his argument, the singe of his soul.

– Richard Corliss (TIME)

Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) – an actor who’s career began at the ripe old age of ten, Gyllenhaal has cemented his Hollywood A-List status with roles in Brokeback Mountain, Prisoners and Love and Other Drugs. Gyllenhaal, an Academy Award nominated actor, has certainly taken on his most jarring and affecting character in Nightcrawler.

Why he could win – Gyllenhaal has accumulated a lot of nominations across his career, and surely deserves a win. This film is heavily centred around Lou Bloom (Gyllenhaal), and his acting skills are showcased wonderfully in this film.

At the film’s core is Gyllenhaal’s mesmerising performance. How such a good looking man can look this bad is only the start of many marvels as he disappears into his troubling character.

– Colin Fraser (FILMINK)

MY PREDICTED WINNER: Eddie Redmayne

MY PREDICTED RUNNER-UP: Benedict Cumberbatch

Thank you for reading, I’ll be back with the women tomorrow!