Review of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) by Kevinf. — 02 Sep 2005
This film never bogs down or relents for a moment, maintaining a crystalline economy of black humor, wit, moral mutability and extraordinary visual adeptness. The grisly scenes are never gratuitous, but enrich the film with a clarity and competence so rare that they appear to be an almost completely new language of violence.
The highly praised 'Oldboy' is less coherent and falls into a more conventional mode of favoring one character as 'good' and the other as 'bad' - whereas in this film there is no such easy parceling and channeling of audience sympathy.
This film also employs Park's masterful flatness of affect to maximum effect, much like Kitano at the height of his powers. This lean, funny, cruel and beautiful film is among the best of the new millenium.
This review of Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) was written by Kevinf. on 02 Sep 2005.
Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance has generally received positive reviews.
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