Review of Only God Forgives (2013) by Spangle — 12 Feb 2016

There is more good than bad here in director Nicolas Winding Refn's bloody follow-up to Drive. Personally, I prefer this one to Drive (though I need to watch it again). What holds this one back is the hyper violence.

It is just honestly too much. That being said, there are not many films as beautiful as this one and as artistic as this one. Sporting such Russian concepts as the "Kuleshov effect" and montage, Only God Forgives is a highly artistic exercise in the hands of the ever talented Refn.

The acting is pretty non-descript, namely thanks to the lack of dialogue for the most part. That being said, what acting there is, is solid. It is wooden, but that is purposeful, so the actors did a good job capturing that.

The cinematography and lighting are both truly breathtaking and what stand as the main reason I largely did enjoy this one. Though it is not for everyone, Only God Forgives is a beautifully crafted film that may seem aimless and meaningless to some, but if you are willing to indulge it, you should enjoy it, but only if you do not mind such brutal violence.