Let's Fight

The only words that Ryan Gosling spoke in Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives' trailer was 'Wanna fight?'. I say, let's do it. Only God Forgives landed on VOD and iTunes this week and I got the chance to watch it! It's the second Refn/Gosling collaboration after the instant classic-although some might say overrated-Drive in the year 2011 or some might call 2011 AG (Anno Goslingi, the year of Gosling). Adding to collaboration is Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Gosling's character's mother. The film is set in Bangkok and by the looks from the trailers, prepare to be blinded by neon lights.

The story is about this (once-again) verbally inactive character called Julian who resided in Bangkok and ran a front for drug business. His brother was killed brutally and their mother wanted revenge. However, things are not that simple as it involved some Bangkok powerful cop, Lt. Chang who loved using swords to instate justice.

That's basically the plot, add that with Refn's usual brilliance for visuals, Ryan Gosling staring at blank space, over-the-top violence, crazy great cinematography, and the super dreamy, electric score by Cliff Martinez. And you will get Only God Forgives. Yes, that's my first impression after watching this. Shouting loudly in my mind, 'what the fuck just happened?' But then again you review the whole film, read trivia on imdb and you can understand more about the film while not wholly understand the film's stupendous brilliance right away. That would need two or three more viewings. First things first, don't think this film as a reality-based film. Think of it as a fairy tale about a man who seeks redemption from the higher power for something he did in the past. Ryan Gosling is as usual cool in his role. Kristin Scott Thomas is AMAZING, so speechless. And the guy who played the God cop, Vithaya P (sorry I cannot write your last name), is equally disturbing and menacing while keeping a straight face all the time. Some sequences just won over me like the torture scene (which serves like the hammer scene for Drive) and the climactic fight scene. That fight scene was incredible because it's so nicely shot and the music is eargasmic. The world definitely needs Nicolas Winding Refn to top that scene. My only complaint about this film is that it plays too slow with people just staring at blank spaces. However, I need to watch it again to make my final judgment on whether I loved this film, or I liked this film or just hate it. As a whole, I liked Drive more than Only God Forgives but this film has that something special that Drive didn't have. For now, Only God Forgives: rated 3/4. 

Next week's The Lone Ranger review might include something else! clue: McConaughey.