Review of Bangkok Love Story (2007) by Jake S — 11 Sep 2010

What's a "Bangkok Love Story?" Well, it's an assassin who saves his male victim and they promptly fall in love but suffer ever after. There's no joy in their romance, they have to deal with HIV/AIDS, poverty, class, betrayal, death, and violence. Though the movie doesn't bother to dwell on this fact, there's a psychological bond between a victim and kidnapper. You have to wonder how much of Stone's attraction to Cloud is mere circumstance. The movie offers little insight into the characters but piles on melodrama.

Chaiwat Tongsaeng as Stone is handsome and looks like a model. Rattanaballang Tohssawat as Cloud underplays his role and you can't warm to the character either since the actor is aloof. Wiradit Srimalali as the younger brother, Fog, gives the best performance here in a minor role. The cinematography is film noir, i.e. dark, wet and menacing, the only splashes of color is when guns go off. Director Poj Arnon keeps the drama moving and has an eye for erotica. The best scene is the lovemaking on the rooftop with the train zooming by. He tries but doesn't recreate this scene when the lovers embrace in the alleyway in the rain--there's too much going on.

In the end a "Bangkok Love Story" is a Romeo-and-Juliet tragedy since the lovers are doomed from the start. The movie has strong production values with the art direction and cinematography but could have been more engaging for viewers with a focused point of view.