Every revolution has a cost and the cost is high in Bong Joon-ho’s sci-fi action flick “Snowpiercer”. This is the Korean filmmaker’s first feature since “Mother” from 2009. “Mother” was my first exposure to Bong Joon-ho and my christening of sorts into the art of Korean cinema. “Snowpiercer” is a much different film yet it doesn’t stray too far away from the style and approach which lies at the heart of this auteur.
Despite the efforts of blowhard extraordinaire Harvey Weinstein, “Snowpiercer” has finally made its way to the United States. Weinstein acquired the North American rights for the film with a wide release planned. But the pompous film mogul demanded that 20 minutes of footage be cut and when Joon-ho rightly refused, Weinstein sabotaged the movie by delaying it for almost a year and severely restricting its release. But word of mouth and positive reviews eventually earned it a broader release although nothing like what was originally planned.
The story is taken from a 1982 French graphic novel and as with any good science fiction, the premise is everything. To stonewall the effects of global warming mankind injects the atmosphere with an experimental agent that instead brings on a second ice age. Humanity’s last inhabitants live within the Snowpiercer, an enormous train in constant motion powered by the “eternal engine”. Onboard the train a social order has been created. The affluent upperclass live in the lavish head section while the poor and needy inhabit the tail. Now at first the movie appeared to be a climate change and class warfare lecture, but once we begin to meet the blend of interesting and eccentric characters, we realize there is more under the hood.
After several failed attempts the tail section puts together another revolt against the privileged and the armed soldiers who defend them. Curtis (Chris Evans) is quickly established as the strongest link and the man many look to for leadership. His mentor Gilliam (John Hurt) is grooming him to be the leader once they are able to take over the train. Curtis is a complex character. He often shows heart particularly in his dealings with his fellow tail-sectioners. Evans continues to grow as an actor. He’s mostly been known for playing goofballs or superheroes but I love seeing him open himself up as an actor. He once again flexes his action star muscle, but it’s nice to see him digging deeper into a character and doing it well.
Evans is helped out by an incredible supporting cast. Jamie Bell is good as a character who starts out as a standard sidekick but evolves into something more. Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer plays a mother determined to get her son back after he is taken by the upperclass authority. A Joon-ho favorite Song Kang-ho plays the drug addicted designer of the train’s many doors separating the cars. The fabulously quirky Alison Pill is great as a character simply titled Teacher, and the always exceptional Ed Harris pops up in a significant role. But the true scene stealer has to be Tilda Swinton. She plays Minister Mason, an overseer of sorts who is really a glorified lacky. Swinton has a ball playing such a wacky and neurotic character. Everything from her appearance to her ways of expressing herself works to inject a bit of humor while never derailing the movie’s more prominent tone.
All of these characters work to energize Joon-ho’s engaging story. To be honest it’s hard to deny the absurdity of it all, and a surface reading would make this sound like a pretty standard action romp. But when the story is this well told and it moves at such a fluid and dynamic pace, it’s so easy to get completely caught up in it. I had a blast with its central conceit and the stylized storytelling. The careful mix of action and character development is well done and the setting is superb. It ranges from beautiful and colorful to dark and dirty while always maintaining a sense of claustrophobia. And as with almost every other sci-fi film, we get plenty of commentary here. Joon-ho paints a parallel portrait of the modern societal standard which is sometimes effective and other times ham-fisted. His climate change theme was the most compelling showing an awareness while also showing the dangers of overreacting. His class warfare approach is a little more uneven. But other themes such as drug abuse, political power, and revolutions are laced throughout the story in intriguing ways.
“Snowpiercer” also looks amazing from its wide assortment of environments within the train to its ice-ravaged world outside. The variety of action we get is also a treat. It may be intense close quarters shootouts or hand-to-hand combat in precarious situations. Some of it dances close to the edge of brutality, but so often Joon-ho pulls back his camera just as the violence is happening sparing the audience from the gore while keeping the sheer intensity of the scene. It’s a mark of the creative Korean style and it gives the movie a particular look that I absolutely loved. It’s a visual delight.
Thanks to Weinstein “Snowpiercer” hasn’t gotten the release it deserves but word of mouth is spreading. Let me happily add to its positive press. This is a fantastic science fiction picture that sounds similar to many other films yet feels completely unique and fresh. It’s a film with many strengths and as a lover of good sci-fi, I had an absolute blast with it!
Keith & the Movies 
Great review for a film on my short list, Keith. Man, i really want to see this. Hope to get to a screening this weekend.
Thanks a lot! Very, very good movie that’s well worth your time. I had an absolute blast with it. It really caught me by surprise. I pretty much loved it.
Glad you enjoyed it too Keith, it’s one of my favorites so far this year. I hope more people will get to see it soon.
Loved it Ted. Can’t wait to see it again. Weinstein hurt the film but hopefully word of mouth continues to reach people. It definitely deserves an audience.
I’ll echo le0pard. This is a movie I absolutely must see. I cannot wait. The concept sounds intriguing . . .well, actually the setting is more intriguing — the concept itself sounds rather stock and predictable but every review I’ve read so far has made a point to clarify that just because it sounds sort of generic, it’s not. Snowpiercer sounds like an original film that I must get to!
Absolutely Tom. It’s fun. It’s quirky. It’s stylish. There are also some really strong performances from a great cast. Hope you get to see it soon. I would live to read your thoughts on it.
It’s the type of movie that has a strange premise, but does whatever it can with it, in the most exciting, interesting ways possible. Although, I have to say, it still works when getting down to the nitty gritty of these characters. Good review Keith.
Thanks man. It really is a rather absurd concept, but when the characters are this engaging and the story is so well told you just don’t care. I had a blast with it.
Love Joon Ho Bong’s resume and Snowpiercer is a worthy addition, even though the director isn’t at the top of his game. A concrete review for a solid action film. Kang Ho Song steals the show once again!
Song is fabulous isn’t he? I haven’t seen all of Joon’s films. In fact I saw “Mother” in the theater and I haven’t seen anything else of his. I’m really anxious to fill in the holes.
Excellent review Keith! I am a big fan of this film, I thought it was fantastic! There was so much going on and it was visually stunning and carried by a great cast. Pity to hear there has been so much hassle in terms of release, but it makes me wonder if the controversy surrounding it will just mean that more people will want to see what that was all about? I hope so. It is well worth the watch.
I so hope you’re right Zoe! I would love for this movie to take off and do really well despite blowhard Weinstein and his antics. It really is a treat and its one of those movies that was nowhere on my radar at the start of the year. I love being surprised like this!
I think that would be the best thing ever! So was I. When I saw it I was like hmmm, then I wondered how it was going to work (it was SUCH a closed environment), and next thing I knew it just pulled me in. I liked it. Definitely something different. I am glad to see that it is being enjoyed all over.
Everywhere I look I see good reviews for this one, hell I even so opinions Tilda is even better here than in Michael Clayton – one of my all time favorite movies/performances – so I’m definitely going to check it out soon.
Oh I would love to hear your thoughts on it. Swinton is insanely good. It’s one of the weirdest characters you’ll ever experience but she fits so well.
I’m not even sure if this has a UK release date yet! Can’t wait to check it out, heard some really good things about it. Great write up mate.
Thanks. You must see it when you can. It is a smart and thrilling sci-fi action flick. Really surprised me.
I am really hoping this is going to get to the UK soon. It looks amazing.
Harvey Weinstein really screwed up the film’s release all because of his ego. Surely it will make it there soon. I’d love for some of my UK friends to see it. Great flick.
Great review Keith! I was very impressed w/ this one and the cast did a tremendous job. Tilda Swinton is always the scene stealer in practically everything she’s in but yeah, Evans did a wonderful job didn’t he? Glad to see him mature as an actor. I hope he seeks out roles like this that shows his dramatic chops more.
Thanks Ruth! We definitely agree on this one. I really went with this one and had a ton of fun with it. Swinton was fabulous. She isn’t an actress who always catches my attention by my gosh she is good here. A total scene stealer.
Great review, Keith. I’m still bitter about its short theatrical run, but hopefully its VOD release gets people to seek it out. Right now it’s on my shortlist of favorites this year, and I expect it will remain as such come year end.
Very worthy of best of the year consideration. Weinstein really screwed this film over and that is indeed infuriating. I love that the movie is getting such high praise despite his self-centered efforts.
Brilliant write up, it was a very unusual film, but I had such a blast watching it. I loved the inner themes and that the main female protagonist was Octavia Spencer.
My favourite scene was the bit with Alison Pill haha.
Pill was fantastic, was it she? I love that whole classroom sequence. It really is an unusual movie and quite preposterous to be honest. But as you said, it is so much fun.
Great review, Keith. Of a great film. Stands a good chance of being my favorite from 2014, actually.
Thanks so much my friend! I’m with you. Such a good movie and a really big surprise for me. Anxious to see it again.
This was fantastic. It started off with a pretty unique concept, then somehow got even more creative as it went on. I had a blast. Great review.
Thanks a bunch. This one sort of came out of the blue and I had a blast with it. Good, fun sci-fi.
That’s an awesome review, Keith. I came to the same conclusion that you did, it’s very underrated. Chris Evans does a great job here. Well done.
Thanks a lot. Really appreciate it. Evans has really impressed me lately. I think he’s grown as an actor and he is a legitimate presense. I just hope the rumors of his retirement are premature.
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