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REVIEW: "Parasite"

Genre: Comedy; Thriller
Directed by: Bong Joon-ho
Written by: Bong Joon-ho & Han Jin-won
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik and Park So-dam
In theaters: 21 May 2019 (Cannes); 30 May 2019 (South Korea)
Forget whatever you heard about Parasite besides "it is great!". This movie starts building a plot that makes you believe it will go one way, but then you understand it is going elsewhere. No plot twists - it's a very fluid narrative thanks to Bong Joon-ho's assured direction and the movie succeeds because of his ability to tell you a story with style while engaging the audience. 
First of all, it's a smart movie and a movie we needed! It is a movie about people who only want a better life and Bong Joon-ho first introduces the characters as extremely empathetic people despite some flaws - you know they are humble and they dream of being able to afford a more confortable house, but that's the least of their problems. It all starts with ambition with the try of ascending the social ladder somehow: those evil schemes and plots and lies... Suddenly, you get the Kims are parasites who are willing to suck everything from their hosts, the Parks. High praise for Song Kang-ho and Choi Woo-shik in particular: these actors totally embrace their characters' nuances and flaws and they deliver the strongest acting work in the movie, also because the script benefits them by large. Cho Yeo-jeong also shines as a neurotic wife who lives to look good and be great for her husband so nothing LOOKS less than "perfect". 
Besides the direction, the script and the acting, Parasite has another strong points who might not be expecting to see this polished in a regular non-Hollywood production: a brilliant editing work that keeps everything in motion and never gets you tired; and a great production design work that's used (brilliantly) to show the audiences how different the Kims and the Parks are (but it's impossible not to be astonished with the Parks mansion!). 
To be honest, I would love to be able to tell you more about Parasite, but it would be impossible to do without spoiling this movie. It's one of the greatest movies of the year for sure! Thrilling, sometimes funny and with a lot of social commentary, Parasite is an unexpected masterpiece that managed to surprise me (and I had high hopes around this movie because of the reactions and reviews I've read!).
Thanks Bong Joon-ho, it was delightful to watch and it will be impossible to forget a movie like this!


 RATING: 5 / 5
Oscar potential categories:
  • Best Picture
  • Best International Picture - SOUTH KOREA
  • Best Director (Bong Joon-ho)
  • Best Original Screenplay
  • Best Editing
  • Best Production Design

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