alain-kapel5
Joined Feb 2013
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alain-kapel5's rating
This is a pretty good example of a serial killer thriller obviously inspired by Korean cinema, but it distinguishes itself by unusual direction and a specific sense of place.
The film is about a real life cannibalistic serial killer who operated in Kazakhstan between 1979 and 1990. The protagonist is Sher Sadikhov, a newbie policeman who gets into hot water immediately after joining the force, having to search for a savage murderer with his more seasoned colleagues. He soon proves he has good instincts for the job, but this case will hit closer to home than he expects...
The narrative is told in a way familiar to anyone who enjoys police procedurals, but there are instances of quirky humor that give it a slightly different feel. Sometimes it resembles Korean thrillers like Memories of Murder, other times it veers closer to social dramas prevalent in Eastern Europe. It works, though, and the compelling story will probably stick with you after watching.
Showcasing director Ruslan Pak's capabilites as a director with a certain sense of style, Three deserves to be seen by a wider audience than it will probably reach. It is well acted, beautifully shot and more intriguing than you'd expect. It is definitely more interesting than the usual streaming fare.
The film is about a real life cannibalistic serial killer who operated in Kazakhstan between 1979 and 1990. The protagonist is Sher Sadikhov, a newbie policeman who gets into hot water immediately after joining the force, having to search for a savage murderer with his more seasoned colleagues. He soon proves he has good instincts for the job, but this case will hit closer to home than he expects...
The narrative is told in a way familiar to anyone who enjoys police procedurals, but there are instances of quirky humor that give it a slightly different feel. Sometimes it resembles Korean thrillers like Memories of Murder, other times it veers closer to social dramas prevalent in Eastern Europe. It works, though, and the compelling story will probably stick with you after watching.
Showcasing director Ruslan Pak's capabilites as a director with a certain sense of style, Three deserves to be seen by a wider audience than it will probably reach. It is well acted, beautifully shot and more intriguing than you'd expect. It is definitely more interesting than the usual streaming fare.
Kiyoshi Kurosawa's latest thriller is an interesting, playful exercise in suspense slightly marred by some questionable directing choices.
The film's more distinct first half introduces us to Ryosuke, a shady reseller who buys goods on the cheap only to multiply their prices on his online selling platform. He lives modestly, sharing his flat with his girlfriend and working in a factory, but dreams of turning the reselling side business into his main thing. Soon he starts receiving mysterious threats, so he's forced to relocate to a different location, but that won't be the end to his woes...
The film's carefully maintained sense of danger in its first hour is the best thing about it. It achieves a sense of dread that will be familiar to Kurosawa's fans, turning the mundane into threatening, and punctuating everyday lives with creepy incidents. The camerawork and sound design are sublime, just like they were in Kurosawa's classics. Later, the film segues into an altogether different thriller mode, but one that, while entertaining, isn't exactly too compelling or surprising. It basically devolves into a lesser film that throws plausibility out the window, although not enough that you would check out entirely.
I personally felt similarly about Creepy, the director's other film that initially showed more promise than it ultimately delivered. However, both films also offer their share of genre pleasures and aren't easily dismissed. There are ideas here that work well and are integrated into the plot with ease. Even so, neither this one nor Creepy are among Kurosawa's best works.
I would recommend this one to the director's many fans, although I'd suggest that they lower their expectations a bit.
The film's more distinct first half introduces us to Ryosuke, a shady reseller who buys goods on the cheap only to multiply their prices on his online selling platform. He lives modestly, sharing his flat with his girlfriend and working in a factory, but dreams of turning the reselling side business into his main thing. Soon he starts receiving mysterious threats, so he's forced to relocate to a different location, but that won't be the end to his woes...
The film's carefully maintained sense of danger in its first hour is the best thing about it. It achieves a sense of dread that will be familiar to Kurosawa's fans, turning the mundane into threatening, and punctuating everyday lives with creepy incidents. The camerawork and sound design are sublime, just like they were in Kurosawa's classics. Later, the film segues into an altogether different thriller mode, but one that, while entertaining, isn't exactly too compelling or surprising. It basically devolves into a lesser film that throws plausibility out the window, although not enough that you would check out entirely.
I personally felt similarly about Creepy, the director's other film that initially showed more promise than it ultimately delivered. However, both films also offer their share of genre pleasures and aren't easily dismissed. There are ideas here that work well and are integrated into the plot with ease. Even so, neither this one nor Creepy are among Kurosawa's best works.
I would recommend this one to the director's many fans, although I'd suggest that they lower their expectations a bit.
Ryoo Seung-wan's sequel to his 2015 action comedy Veteran is a high-octane crime thriller that sees him reunite with Hwang Jung-min and a stellar supporting cast to a predictably satisfying effect.
The film is focused on a team of old-school cops who, more often than not, employ violent techniques during their job. But they get results and they're trusted by their superiors. Hwang replays his role as Do-cheol, arguably the most skilled of all in the group. He's much like Ma Dong-seok's character from The Roundup series, just a simple guy who knows his job and has his own ways of doing it, but isn't afraid to have some fun now and then. The team's abilities are tested once a vigilante serial killer makes himself known to the public, and is, annoyingly, constantly being called upon by some pesky live-streamers.
Ryoo again directs the film with plenty of energy and stylistic verve, definitely stepping his game up after the middling Smugglers. It feels like he's most assured when directing muscular action thrillers like this one, peppering the proceedings with humor but not against darkening the tone if need be. And so it is the case here; I, the Executioner harkens back to The Unjust in the way it questions morality and tests a desperate policeman's sense of judgment. The plot sets up an intriguing examination of vigilantism and how it can be perceived as just in the public eye, but trusts the viewer to know better than that. And we, hopefully, do.
To offset all the murder are previously mentioned instances of humor that are welcome to lighten up the mood, and they fit quite well. Also, much like in The Roundup series, there are plenty of great chases and visceral action scenes, culminating in a climactic sequence of fist pumping satisfaction that feels well earned.
Very much recommended for fans of crime thrillers.
The film is focused on a team of old-school cops who, more often than not, employ violent techniques during their job. But they get results and they're trusted by their superiors. Hwang replays his role as Do-cheol, arguably the most skilled of all in the group. He's much like Ma Dong-seok's character from The Roundup series, just a simple guy who knows his job and has his own ways of doing it, but isn't afraid to have some fun now and then. The team's abilities are tested once a vigilante serial killer makes himself known to the public, and is, annoyingly, constantly being called upon by some pesky live-streamers.
Ryoo again directs the film with plenty of energy and stylistic verve, definitely stepping his game up after the middling Smugglers. It feels like he's most assured when directing muscular action thrillers like this one, peppering the proceedings with humor but not against darkening the tone if need be. And so it is the case here; I, the Executioner harkens back to The Unjust in the way it questions morality and tests a desperate policeman's sense of judgment. The plot sets up an intriguing examination of vigilantism and how it can be perceived as just in the public eye, but trusts the viewer to know better than that. And we, hopefully, do.
To offset all the murder are previously mentioned instances of humor that are welcome to lighten up the mood, and they fit quite well. Also, much like in The Roundup series, there are plenty of great chases and visceral action scenes, culminating in a climactic sequence of fist pumping satisfaction that feels well earned.
Very much recommended for fans of crime thrillers.