Snowpiercer 2013
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Screenplay: Bong Joon-ho and Kelly Masterson
Cast: Chris Evans, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Sang Kang-ho, Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Go Ah-sung
First post for 2015. It’s very very late. Checked my stats on the WordPress dashboard and the last post was in August of last year. Never stopped watching movies, but took a long break from sharing my thoughts about them.
For a long time I wanted to do a review of Snowpiercer and never got around to it…till now. It was one of those movies that I was afraid to touch only because at first glance, it had all the makings of a potential disaster of a ‘natural’ disaster movie. But after some more research and reading up, decided to take a chance and must say, it’s been one of the better movies I’ve seen in a while.
First off, it feels little ‘offbeat’ to other mainstream Hollywood films and perhaps due to the fact the director is a Korean who has also co-written the screenplay – Bong Joon-ho. Incredible cast line-up too in this film, Ed Harris, Tilda Swinton, Octavia Spencer, Chris Evans, John Hurt, to name a few. Another aspect that struck me about the film were the ways in which humour, dark humour, was incorporated into this very bleak setting for a film – the scene that comes most vividly to mind is the middle of the machete-wielding, knife-hacking, blood-spraying showdown between Chris Evans side and those that follow Ed Harris. In this scene, for some inexplicable reason all fighting stops so that everyone can wish each other ‘Happy New Year’ and Jamie Bell’s character says in exasperation, I hate getting older. I actually chuckled out loud or c.o.l.
By now, there might be some confusion as to what the plot of this whole movie is about. Short introduction – a failed experiment to bring down global temperatures causes the world to experience a catastrophic ‘ice age’ instead. The only salvation is a train which circumvents the globe continuously i.e. once the train starts, it cannot be stopped, which has been designed by Wilson (Ed Harris) . A terrible hierarchical system falls into place with the higher classes occupying the front of the train with a wide array of privileges and the rest of the train’s occupants shoved to the back with nothing. An authoriatrian and totalitarian adminstration ensures that the lines are never crossed until Curtis (Chris Evans) begins to set into motion plans for a rebellion to take over the front carriages of the train, mentored by Gilliam (John Hurt) and supported by his second-in-command, Edgar (Jamie Bell). And that is as much as I want to tell.
I was surprised to see Chris Evans name for the role of Curtis because the whole time I was watching him, my brain could not seem to comprehend that that was Chris Evans. He played it that good. Curtis is a tormented soul and seems to be on a mission for some form of redemption by ensuring the success of this rebellion. John Hurt, as always, gives so much depth to Gilliam and this in turn seems to play off and feed off or feed the character of Curtis. That is why the relationship between Gilliam and Curtis is probably the foundation of the film and for the characters to build on. I did feel a little disappointed due to the very little screen time that Ed Harris as Wilson gets, though in all fairness his character is meant to be elusive and practically deified. Tilda Swinton plays the character of Mason so well that you really do detest her character. Jamie Bell as Edgar was also refreshing and so happy to see him in this film…couldn’t help reminisce about his debut in Billy Elliot. Love Octavia Spencer as Tanya, a woman whose sheer will and determination seem to give her strength and ability.
The movie is obviously a commentary on society with the old saying, ‘the rich get richer and the poor get poorer’ and just every imaginable injustice, inequality and cruelty being put into practice even on a train carrying the last remnants of mankind and ‘humanity’. And the distorted reality of the upper classes at the front of the train really disturbed me and I actually had a hard time comprehending how it was possible, it actually created a real jolt and disjointed feeling in me while I was watching. Thumbs up.
This is one of those gems of a movie that for some reason didn’t get a lot of publicity. I’m 50/50 on whether it’s a movie you can watch over and over again but it is definitely a movie you should watch and have in your collection. The visuals are so effective from the grim and dreary back of the train to the vibrant popping colours and decadence of the front carriages which is contrasted with the bleak and barren world outside.
Do give this movie a chance. Would be interested to see what you have to say. So do comment.
Thank you.
If you’re intersted, here’s the trailer.
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