Review of Only God Forgives (2013) by Dave J — 17 Aug 2014

Monday, August 18, 2014.

(2013) Only God Forgives.

CRIME ART HOUSE DRAMA.

Small idea and then turning it into something bigger than it really is. Written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn synonymous for the "Pusher" series, and his second feature with Ryan Gosling after the critically success of "Drive". The set up takes place in some of the worst areas in Bangkok, and apparently there's a Caucasian guy who's throwing his weight around by attacking and killing people at random. One of the people this Caucasian guy killed was a daughter of someone else. And as soon as this Caucasian guy gets killed by the girls father. The police then take him to some secluded area with one of them brandishing a sword on him. As a result of this course of action sparks a series of actions from other characters, such as the mother of the Caucasian guy vowing revenge for the people connected to it. And at the same time forcing others to get involved in this retribution, particularly the Ryan Gosling character, he plays the younger brother of the deceased. The main problem is that many of it's main characters are way too motionless that the audience is incapable to identify to any of their actions. The other problem is since when do the police in Bangkok given the authority to play judge and jury. Obviously inspired by Takeshi Kitano's "Sonatine" and "Fireworks" but on a less than thrilling scale.

2 out of 4 stars.