Comments on Nick's Flick Picks: The Blog: CIFF 09: OscarWatch (Updated)

Count me among the 'Mother' fans. I like to be sur...

2009-10-17T07:36:12.605-05:00

Count me among the 'Mother' fans. I like to be surprised at the movies these days, so I crave erratic tones and I practically seek them out. But perhaps too many erratic movies have skewed my perspective because I found 'Mother' pretty fluid and coherent. It didn't grab me straight away, but it became more absorbing as it went along and the conclusion was both heartbreaking and thought-provoking, which is another rarity that I cherish in contemporary cinema. Kim's performance was the right mix of downtrodden, committed and unhinged.

And much as I was moved and thrilled by "Mother", I was downright astonished by "About Elly" - largely for the reasons Nick mentioned - though I don't see the film as an Oscar nominee (which is by no means a strike against it). I'm surprised it hasn't got a bit more buzz behind it since Berlinale. But then, I guess journalists these days only go to Berlin to bitch about the mediocrities rather than hyping up any gems (and there were several this year, like every other -e.g. the layered rape-revenge rural noir "Katalin Varga" and the genuinely unique Golden Bear winner "Milk of Sorrow"). In any case of the 40 or so 2009 premieres I've caught so far, I'm ranking About Elly third only behind the sublime White Ribbon and the unbelievable (literally - you don't believe your eyes) Dogtooth. "Mother" presently stands around 6th on that list.

Alas, my most anticipated film of the year that is not directed by Almodovar, Audiard, or the Coens - "Police, Adj." - has yet to make it to these shores.

I agree with Tim about erratic tones and how good ...

2009-10-17T07:30:59.621-05:00

I agree with Tim about erratic tones and how good they sometimes can be. I thought "Julia" was an amazing film, however hard to watch it was, and same with "The Hurt Locker" and "Tokyo Sonata." But "Mother," I think, had a problem because it went off on a comic hit-and-run route (which was sort of funny in a Joon-Hoian way but not necessary) and then shifted back on track too late, without having really developed the plot. If they had cut this out and perhaps started with the murder, the tonal issues could have been solved. I sympathize with this film, since I agree Oscar will pass it by, and it may not get the same reception from audiences that a winner or nominee would, but it's no "Gomorrah" and I think a snub wouldn't be too big of a deal.

A day late & a dollar short, but I just thought I'...

2009-10-17T00:33:20.237-05:00

A day late & a dollar short, but I just thought I'd pitch in: I was quite smitten by Mother, but "erratic tone" is just as often something that's going to appeal to me as turn me off, and the film certainly is erratic. And I think that Kim was absolutely fantastic and mesmerizing.

But the Oscars? Hell no. Spring, Summer.. had a much better shot than pretty much any other Korean film this decade, and if that couldn't make it, then this has no prayer.

I agree about the tone, which was a tad erratic at...

2009-10-15T16:44:24.898-05:00

I agree about the tone, which was a tad erratic at times, but I kind of felt that Kim Hye-Ja didn't help that. I liked her but I don't think she's capable of giving the film what Kidman gave To Die For, for example.

Mother was too long, and tried to raise up a plot ...

2009-10-15T15:07:52.706-05:00

Mother was too long, and tried to raise up a plot from a not very big event. Plus, Bong Joon-Ho couldn't find the right tone here, whereas in "The Host" he played the lines right, and was able to elicit laughs, worries, and thoughts all in the same block. Kim Hye-Ja was overbearing, but the part called for that, so she delivered. A very good performance, but at times a little much while your watching it.

Personally, I think Kim Hye-ja might stand a bette...

2009-10-15T10:12:55.967-05:00

Personally, I think Kim Hye-ja might stand a better chance of getting nominated than MOTHER itself.

I saw Mother and liked it. Jet black comedy going ...

2009-10-15T08:15:47.694-05:00

I saw Mother and liked it. Jet black comedy going on there, which makes me think that Oscar will maybe pass.