23.3.09

Monday Movie: A Bittersweet Life


Knowing that the next film Kim Ji-woon made after A Bittersweet Life was called 'The Good The Bad The Weird', it's hard not to see it in a new light. The camera-work, the score, the dry sense of humour, the way the film slowly escalates from carefully paced characterisation to an epic and violent confrontation – a lot about it is definitely Leone-esque, and in the best possible way.

But influences aside, Kim marked himself out as a director to watch with this film, depicting thunderous gun battles with the same evocative and eye-pleasing artistry that he applies to moments of lonely, late-night insomnia.

1 comment:

Michelle said...

I like your reviews. I went and looked this up after reading it. I'm always on the lookout for something other than the usual formulaic crap.