Manchester City Left Back Conundrum

Memories of Murder (2003): Another View by Rob Milarvie

Dir: Joon-Ho Bong

A Korean Seven

Yes, I am reviewing 10 years after its release; see it as an anniversary review.

It’s baffling to believe that the masses of popular culture will turn away foreign films such as Memories of Murder on such a simple matter regarding the fact they have to ‘read subtitles’. It’s one minor factor to overcome to then be rewarded by witnessing artistic brilliance. Perhaps, the masses are scheming and anticipating the recreational and dreadful remakes of said films Hollywood frequently appear to exude, very clever if so. Gore Verbenski is the deity of dismantling J-Horror classics, Spike Lee tarnished the name of the disturbing Korean feature Oldboy, this particular piece history does not prevent me from sleeping at night but if Hollywood grant a remake of MoM, I will soon begin to manifest a Tyler Durden of my own.

Anyhow, Joon- Ho Bong is slowly becoming one of my most treasured directors. The Host was an unquestionable masterpiece with political satire rife throughout, plus possessing the social circumstances concerning the state of the Han River. However, this specific instalment was released 3 years previous and is every bit as good, giving the Crime Thriller genre justice. Primarily it contains elements shown through Fincher’s Seven and of course depicting a unique experience in the search of a homicidal serial killer. The beauty of the Korean pastorals was very much admired by Joon-Ho Bong, showing imagery of its grace coupled with a sentimental and elegant piano remedy within the opening and final sequences. While simultaneously showing the reclusive look a rural environment takes hold when covered in the night sky.

The narrative consists of Detective Park Doo-Man (Kang-ho Song) being assigned to the deaths and possible rapes of multiple women in the province of Gyunggi. The film begins after the opening credits with the detective utterly clueless regarding the killings; his desperation moves him and his associate with no apparent prowess regarding interrogation techniques (clearly never watched Criminal Minds) but consistently applying torture and beatings to suspects with no real avail, until finally they resorted to abusing a rather abnormal looking boy, who was named by another to have been near the latest victim, hoping to receive a confession. The Detective Seo Tae-Yoon from Seoul is a third and pivotal character in this trifecta of detectives assigned to the countryside case in the search for this sadistic murderer.

Sao ventured onward to express new thoughts on the case even with its uniqueness; he aided the local detectives and added intellectual integrity which was obsolete initially at the police station prior and up to his arrival. There were moments of slow investigation but that definitely helped mimic the realistic element of a task force with absolutely no idea of who the killer is, with so little evidence. However, when the film picked up, it picked up with brilliantly executed dialogue from frustrated detectives with a climactic sequence to die for.

The enigmatic conclusion is the purest signature of Joon-Ho’s work; with it then repeated in The Host. This Fincher-esc touch within the resolution solidifies the brilliance in J-HB direction but leaves the viewer wanting more, with an empathetic viewpoint upon the whole narrative. A feeling I crave for in cinema, the difference between a good and great film is the desire to want to know more after the credits role. This is consistent in the foreign films I have watched, of course I haven’t watched as much as I’d hope to, I’m still young regarding the quality global cinema has to offer,  but on efforts depicted in this film, Miyakazi’s anime and European thrillers such as Haneke’s Cache and many others certainly shows how the proficiency is head and shoulders above Hollywood.

This for me is Joon-ho Bong’s best work, slightly edging it for me over The Host, I haven’t yet got to see Snowpiercer, but I’m hearing good things, even if it is predominantly an American backed instalment.

The disturbing subject matter, excellent acting and exquisite direction of course challenged my already omnipotent top 10 but certainly, the Korean style of filmmaking has me utterly hooked at this moment in time. Memories of Murder is a film I would strongly recommend to anyone, magnificence in 130 minutes of film, a mixture of Korean culture and the panache of Seven. So if you enjoyed Seven, get ready to have a new fave Crime Thriller because this is the film for you.