By Ruth Ferguson, NDG Editor
Ryan Gosling has been on my radar since he was the likeable Alan Bosley 13 years ago in Denzel Washington’s Remember the Titans. Oh where did that sweet, innocent Ryan go? Who do we have to blame for corrupting him, is it director Nicholas Refn? Only God Forgives reunites the duo from Driver released in 2011. It has been nearly two weeks since I saw the movie, and it still intrigues, but disturbs me.
Gosling stars as Julian a drug dealing, boxing club owner in Bangkok. Now guess who is his ultimate boss ~ his mama. Kristin Scott Thomas plays his mother in what is surely the most unflattering role of her career. The harsh makeup job they do aged her horribly and it still does not match the depth of horror that is Mama Crystal.
She has flown to Bangkok because a vengeful father murdered her beloved older son, Billy. The fact Billy murdered a teenage prostitute does not cause Crystal a moment of shame, nor does she not believe his death is unworthy of avenging. And she expects Julian to handle it. The added twist is the sick relationship between mother and son – most likely sons.
Somehow Gosling manages to engender sympathy for his character with probably saying less than 200 words in the movie. But his eyes says it all, as does his virtual paralysis at times. Your heart just wrenches for him and then sometimes you do get a little bored but you just enjoy looking at his beautiful blue eyes. Speaking of color, throughout the movie color especially red feels almost like another character in the production.
The other performance, which captures your attention, is Chang, described as a retired cop leading a band of others who administer justice as they see fit. Vithaya Pansringarm plays Chang, and he is determined to be the judge and jury for the underworld of drugs and prostitution. Pansringarm is seen walking so deliberately for so long that it drives you to drink. On one hand you really want to like, or at the very least admire what he is doing. However, the ridiculous singing scenes and the “how slow can I walk down the street” really sort of ruins it.
When the movie was shown at the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, the audience booed and some reportedly walked out. Critics around the globe have panned it. I say see it for yourself, which you can do at locally at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas and Plano. Or you can download it via iTunes or VOD. It is available either way on Friday, July 19.
No idea if you will enjoy the Only God Forgives, but you likely will continue to think about it.
