Lost in the hubbub of Quentin Tarantino's recent Jason Biggs veneration was that Tarantino's list of the greatest recent movies included two by Korean director Bong Joon-Ho: Memories of Murder and The Host. Everyone loved The Host, right? Well, yes, which made my not loving it all the more alien. Now, Bong's got a new movie out, and Magnolia's announced distribution. Can the trailer woo even my Bong-skeptical heart?
The new film, Mother, is a thriller about a mother dedicated to proving that her mentally challenged son isn't guilty of the murder he's accused of. It's Hitchock-y! (Though hopefully not in a The Wrong Man way.) The performances are allegedly great! Korea's submitting it as their Oscar hopeful, and not the high-profile Thirst (which is way too violent for the Academy anyway)!
Still, I'm just a little bit skeptical. I thought The Host was an awkward, unsubtle mashup, and I haven't forgiven anyone associated with the film for the terrible mugging they permitted the actors to engage in (yes, even the catering guy is on my shit list). I know I'm in the minority on that one. I hope to be in the majority on this one.
VERDICT: Fingers crossed.