Only God Forgives (2013)

While on holiday in South America recently I decided to watch Only God Forgives on my tablet. Late at night while the temperature was still very high, the mosquitoes were enjoying my feet (something I only realised after I finished watching this movie). It turned out to be good atmosphere though for watching this latest movie from director Nicolas Winding Refn.

Set in Thailand, the opening shot is set during a Muai Thai fight with its typical music, a familiar sound which I used to hear all the time when I did the sport myself in my younger years I immediately was captured by what I saw. Dark shots in a sweaty atmosphere with lots of red looked stunning. The story this movie tells wasn’t innovative or new as it’s basically a revenge story about revenge. When Julian’s (Ryan Gosling) brother is killed he has to avenge his death, but the story is more complicated than that. The person who killed his brother had a good reason to do so and Julian then has to find the man who was behind it all.

If there is one thing that is certain about this movie, it is that is a very violent and raw movie. Not an easy watch if you have a hard time looking a blood or wounds, which have all been brought to life in very graphic detail. This movie also isn’t one in which a lot is spoken. In that sense it strongly reminded me of George Clooney’s The American. Not only with its dialogue, but also its imagery. Each and every shot in this movie looks stunning through its use of framing and color. It captivated me from beginning to end and lingered in my mind for a couple of days after seeing it.

17 thoughts on “Only God Forgives (2013)

  1. I’m definitely one of those that enjoyed this. I was engrossed in the minimalist approach and the visual style. I could care less if the film had little dialogue. It said something and I was really into the performance of Vithaya Pansringarm who really stood out.

  2. So many mixed reviews on this one! Some people love it, like you, and others can’t seem to feel anything for it, meanwhile the rest hate it. I need to see it regardless, I think. Soon.

  3. so many polarizing opinion about this one, i’m glad you enjoyed the movie as well!
    like you said there are so little dialogue in the film and i personally think it becomes one of the strength as the story is told mostly through visual instead 🙂

  4. Great to hear you’re a fan of this one Nostra. I enjoyed it quite a bit myself. I think the backlash it has been receiving is a tad harsh. Refn operates on a completely symbolic and metaphorical level.

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