Synopsis: Julian (Ryan Gosling) runs a drugs business in the seedy underworld of Bangkok and when his psycho brother is killed for brutally murdering a prostitute his psycho-bitch mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) flies in demanding revenge.
Stan's thoughts: This is a painfully beautiful and atmospheric film, every frame is like a carefully composed photo and for that it has to be admired. But with a weak narrative and character development it skates dangerously close to arty farty - all style and little substance.
I just feel a bit over the whole pairing of director Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling and the brooding, long pauses and not saying much direction/character they seem to favour. Scott Thomas, however, lights up the screen adding much needed personality and was a joy to watch. Also fabulous to see Tom Burke playing against type as the nutter brother.
The extreme violence was a bit much to take at times, feeling a little gratuitous (my nails were well examined by the end).
If Refn put as much effort into character development as he did the look of the film then this would be cracking and while I don't think the narrative is as fragmented as some people have commented it felt like like it was only scratching the surface of the interesting relationships and back story.
Glad I've seen it and on the big screen but not a film I'll want to watch again unless someone does a compilation of KST clips.
Something different from this duo now please or rather they should head off in different directions.
Ratings- Stan's: 51%
- IMDB: 61%
- Metascore: 37%
- Rotten Tomatoes: 40%
- RT audience rating: 47%
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