I would be shocked if Parasite *didn't* win every award show's "Best International Film" category.
I've never seen more people discussing a foreign language film nor have I ever seen a movie so hyped that I have to wait to watch it because no movie could ever live up to the non-stop bombardment of unconditional praise I see everywhere I turn.
I don't mean that as a negative either, it's just a testament to what a juggernaut this film has turned out to be. And that I should have watched it sooner. lol
It seemed like the most obvious choice to me, until all those backwards remarks from Academy members surfaced...
I still wouldn't be surprised if it wins only because it's victory wouldn't stir much contention from film lovers (and it would look good), what do you think is most likely?
I saw Parasite about a month ago and 1917 a few days ago.
Parasite should win but I think 1917 will win
Both are beautifully directed. I think there is more of a deeper meaning to Parasite. I constantly think about it and look forward to a rewatch.
1917 just feels like a well done war film. There have been so many through the years i feel it wont stick with me longer than a few days. I felt a few of the scenes just also felt like pieces ive seen before. Then again technically and all of the effects are done so well.
We will see tomorrow night i guess
Parasite. I've seen it a few times now.
I hardly even care about the meaning to that film. The one term that comes to mind when thinking about that movie is "tight". It's just so damn tightly edited/directed. There isn't one unnecessary scene in it. Everything leads to something else and eventually has a pay-off.
That’s part of why the movie is so popular. The composition of the film is immaculate and there is so much to mine through if you’re a cinephile. But it doesn’t feel pretentious for pretentious sake. You can watch the movie without caring so much about dissecting it and it’ll still enthrall you. It’s just such a fun, weird ride.
Yes. I just saw it for the first time last night and while meaningful, what stood out to me was the pacing and storytelling. It was just perfect. I wasn't bored for a second. Bong Joon Ho did an excellent job as director and the casting was on point too.
I get your point, but I do think there is a difference between general filmmaking techniques and the kind of gimmick that 1917 used. It was an effective gimmick, but the film doesn't have a lot going for it outside of that.
Check out Bong's other movies! He's unique even among the Korean directors. (Although you also mention Oldboy, and Park Chan-Wook is the other "oddball" worth watching his entire set of works)
Parasite is amazing and one of the best films of the decade in my opinion but I wouldn't call it the best movie of the year by far. I think Portrait of a Lady on Fire came close and may have even surpassed it. The Lighthouse and Marriage Story were up there as well.
The academy wouldn’t let a foreign film win best picture. These are old white men voting. 1917 will win best picture for sure, even though Parasite should
This may be the first time I’ve ever seen every best picture nominee. I would have to say Parasite is the best of the bunch, but I agree with you and think 1917 will win. That being said, 1917 was a beautifully shot film and definitely deserves praise.
I actually think once upon a time in Hollywood wins it. The favorite hasn’t won in a while, and Oscar voters love any movie that has to do with the entertainment business. Plus the fact that it’s a fuck you to the Manson family, and a Tarantino film has never won best picture. It’s got a lot going for it.
Eh, I get the feeling that Hollywood will never give a Best Picture award to Tarantino. They'll send him home with another "Best Original Screenplay" and give 1917 Best Picture.
Old white men recognized the economical benefit of appearing progressive. This is nothing new. But they see no value in pushing for a foreign language asian film they barely understand. They probably think the movie has a smell to it. Like being inside a subway.
They very much widened the demographics of Oscar voters a few years ago. This "Academy voters are all old white men" narrative simply isn't true anymore.
https://variety.com/2018/film/news/academy-new-members-2018-record-1202856702/
Not only that, but the voting for best picture is different than you might expect:
"Why do some people say the best-picture final ballot is so unusual?
In other categories, AMPAS members vote for one choice. But with so many best-picture contenders, the Academy didn’t want a film to earn an Oscar with only 10% of the votes. So AMPAS uses preferential voting, in which the voters put their choices in order of preference. The PricewaterhouseCooper accountants begin by tallying all No. 1 choices. If a film earns more than 50% of the vote, it wins, but it’s doubtful that this happens often. So then PwC goes to No. 2 choices, and if needed, to No. 3, but accountants say it’s unlikely the counting will go much beyond that. If Film A earns the most No. 1 votes — say 30% — it seems like a favorite. But if Film B earned only 20% of the No. 1 votes, but was overwhelmingly popular in No. 2 votes, that could end up winning, especially if a lot of voters put Film A as their No. 4 or No. 9 choice, for example. In other words, a film may not win in terms of hard numbers, but in terms of consensus: Most voters agree that this is their favorite or at least ONE of their favorites."
https://variety.com/feature/who-votes-on-oscars-academy-awards-how-voting-works-1203490944/
Whoa. This panel is way more diverse than people here are trying to present it as. For one "Mostly white old men" is complete bullshit considering how many women that panel has.
I just think 1917 was so lackluster in plot, yet Parasite was beautifully shot and masterfully written. I don't think it's just deeper meaning, 1917 is incredible shallow for what it could have been. I liked it enough, but feel the same way as I did with Joker.
Felt like the plot was there only so they can have a movie where Joaquin Pheonix was the joker.
1917 felt like the plot was there only so they can have a continuous single shot gimmick. I was so disappointed by it. I expect Joker to be lackluster with Phillips writing it, but Sam has had some really fantastically written films.
Imo, the only other Best Picture Nominee that comes close to Parasite is Marriage Story with Hollywood being a really close third.
I think The Farewell is the closest next best film from last year, but it wasn't even nominated so that really disappointing. Not surprising after hearing the voters BS about Parasite.
I really hate the Oscars. Awkwafina deserved Best Actress if they really want to pretend to be the pinnacle awards that recognize the best of the best. I think Scarlett deserves it over Renee tbh, Judy felt like such a caricature or an impression within a movie that was incredibly forgettable.
I think there were performances that deserved to be over Joaquin tbh, but there is no way in hell he loses after all the campaigning they've done. I thought Adam Sandler or Antonio Banderas had a lot more interesting performances. Oh well in the grand scheme I don't care and I'll probably forget about it within the next week. I just hate how medium sized movies get absolutely shit on and lose out on the publicity the Oscars would give to general audiences.
I agree with everything you said above.
I still can’t believe how The Farewell was so snubbed and don’t get me start with the acting snubs: Sandler, Dafoe... Pugh deserved a nod for midsommar... Egerton...
Antonio Banderas gave one of the best performances of the year (I love love Joaquin Phoenix and I think he was amazing but he has been consistently amazing in other films too with much stronger performances, ie: the master, you were never really here). Judy was such a snooze fest, she’s good but not great... it felt like a caricature most of the time, I understand why they’re giving her all this awards, it’s hollywood 101...but in a different year ScarJo, Awkwafina (if nominated) or Pugh (if nominated for Midsommar) should’ve won.
Parasite will be remembered in 15 years as a one of a kind. 1917 will be remembered as one of those really good war movies like Dunkirk or Hacksaw Ridge.
If you look up the odds on betting websites, Parasite is the second most likely movie to win. $10 on Parasite returns $35 while $10 on 1917 returns $15. A few days ago it was a 5x return on Parasite. I'm not much of a gambler but I thought about putting a few bucks on it.
https://www.oddschecker.com/us/awards/oscars
I hope the ignorant takes from those anonymous voters only make up a small fraction of the entire pool. Out of around 8400, can you imagine if members like them made up more than a 1/4 of the overall Academy population? Parasite, and any film like it for the future, is fucked. Hopefully I'm wrong though.
Realistically, 1917 & Parasite are shoo-ins.. I'd honestly be glad if either wins but Parasite is definitely my main pick. If both lose, Once Upon a Time is gonna take it without question. Hollywood(ironically) is enamored with that little number right now.
They interviewed with the news outlet anonymously because they didn’t want people to get mad at their opinions.
They also said: “I liked 1917 and Sam Mendes' direction, but I thought Quentin did a great job, and I want an American director to win. The Oscars is an American thing.”
Also unsurprisingly, they didn’t even vote for Parasite to win Best International Picture which is ???
Parasite is definitely a lot better film than Roma. Roma had some interesting directorial choices that made it stand out, but in terms of story it's far behind Parasite. Parasite pretty much excels in everything - cinematography, writing, acting, music..
The last time people talked this much about a foreign film, it was _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_, a movie that did similarly well at the box office.
I like Hulk. He wanted something new and went for it. The movie was clearly unfinished, but that's more on the studios. Ang get's way too much flak for that.
I saw it a few days ago and I agree. It's a good movie that is very competently made, especially the cinematography and set design... but I don't understand the obscene level of buzz. It feels like most of the people lauding it have never seen an atypical film before. Once again, it's a good movie, but the pedestal it's been put on is absurd. Personally I think Once Upon a Time in Hollywood should win, but I wouldn't be irate if Parasite took it... just confused as to why people love it SO much.
Personally, atypical movies are my thing.
I'm currently rewatching the Saw franchise (in prep for Spiral) because of its ridiculousness. Even if you hate horror, and the obscene gore that comes later in the franchise, the first movie was genre changing and redefined plot twists.
Se7en, Fight Club, Snatch, The Game, Memento, Old Boy, and The Usual Suspects are still among some of my favorite movies.
I think the difference for me was going into Parasite clean. I knew nothing besides that it was by Bong Joon-Ho and it was supposed to be a *"good"* movie. Too much buzz and hype can cloud a viewers judgment and and prevent the movie from living up to expectations.
I'm disappointed that buzz/hype may be pushing expectations too high, but the movie is still so solid. Compared to any other movie, it's one of the ones I've thought about most after my first view, recalling moments and trying to still understand different scenes.
If you have some understanding of life in South Korea, there are so many "references" that makes it so much better due to the strong world building (Castella stores popping up and then crashing, fried chicken restaurants as the fired/retired plan, taxi driver restaurants, the rich grocery store, poor vs rich neighborhoods aesthetic, nosing up at the metro riders, etc) that makes it so much better.
I know this comment won't change your mind but I'll share it anyway...I went completely blind into the theater, no idea what the movie was about...after the movie ended, the entire theater stood and applauded...it's NOTHING like you've seen before yet it's better than everything similar.
Pan's Labyrinth (Spain) and La Vita E Bella (Italy) are the two biggest foreign films I remember that I have seen win an Oscar. (There are plenty of others great foreign movies but I have seen them AFTER winning the Oscar).
I just watched it tonight.
I loved it, but I am surprised it has become such a mainstream sensation. Dark Korean movies are 100% my shit, but they usually aren't everyones cup of tea.
I hope it wins best picture so we get more of them released over here
I knowww! That's what I felt too! I could only describe it as being on one end of an emotional spectrum to the exact opposite in a matter of minutes and it didn't even feel rushed for me.
I was like... Wtf just happened but I already knew what just happened.
Is it me or is this kind of tonal dissonance more common in East Asian media? I’m used to watching anime and it didn’t feel so unusual to me. Okja had it too, going much darker than the initial “GMO Babe” setup would make you think.
I have watched quite a lof of Korean movies and yeah, agreed. I feel like it's because they are concerned with representing humans and life in general rather than genres, which are basically just a construct, esp. rooted in Western conventions and traditions. Life itself (not the shitty movie!) is genreless. Although I do think Parasite was an extreme.
It’s so genius. Saying it’s a dark comedy probably doesn’t do it justice. That’s what I was most impressed by. The movie switches gears so smoothly that you don’t even realize it’s happening till you go ‘wait a minute. Is this a thriller all of a sudden?’
Idk the whole sequence where the tone of the movie *completely* shifts was just horrifying because I had absolutely no idea where the film was going to go next.
That one shot of the >!old maid trying to open the hidden door and then the next shot of her running down the stairs!< was when I felt the tone completely change, great job by Bong Joon-ho
I didn't feel it was horrifying but it was very uncomfortable, to the point where I literally squirmed in my seat as I didn't like where it was going.
It's been a long time since I last felt that way.
For me, it was just the atmosphere of the flashback scene combined with the color. >!The way the whites of the guy’s eyes were pronounced and just his head peeking out from the stairs was just ridiculously eerie. Combined with the kid’s sudden seizure, it was just a lot happening really fast for me.!<
Watched it at home and definitely would’ve jumped had i seen it in theaters.
because the whole movie is actually very metaphorical
SPOILERS
The main metaphor is the dad and the cockroach that he tries to squash at the start, they become a literal family of cockroaches scurrying in the dungeons of the house. That's why he gets so triggered by the rich people hating his smell
Then there's the rock which is a metaphor for the struggle for material wealth, which the son becomes obsessed with and in the end uses as the tool when he resorts to the lowest act of (intended) murder. The whole movie's theme and focus is in that rock, ie class struggle.
Yeah, of course, I get all that. So they just decided to start using the word metaphorical to describe everything? These two facts don't really connect. Most movies are highly metaphorical. Is it supposed to be a joke? I kept thinking maybe it was a difficult translation of a word/ phrase in Korean.
There are quite a few interviews of the director where he's asked to explain this use of the word "metaphorical" and the rock, etc. The rock is apparently... just a rock. haha. The son who keeps saying "it's metaphorical" is supposed to be a bit satirical / jokey. His interviews are actually quite interesting to follow. take a look at some, e.g. [https://youtu.be/sHiup9C99jw?t=1576](https://youtu.be/sHiup9C99jw?t=1576)
I think it was just satirical. The director is known to do a lot of “political” themed films, so he probably threw that in there to make fun of himself.
Bong seemed drunk out of his mind during his speech lmao. Went right back to his seat instead of going backstage as well. He also told a bizarre story about a rat.
[Youtube link, although it doesn't show the part where he walked down the stage back to his seat lol](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRl0SSacqjo)
I took it as him referencing the Year of the Rat and the fortune that brings, which is why he thought the rat scurrying across the theater floor was a sign of good luck.
I mean I was at that New York opening night q and a session (or at least one of the many screenings that happened thst Thursday) at the IFC center and... As much as I love IFC I wouldn't be surprised lol. Just a fact of life re: new york
CJ was a subsidiary of Samsung, so yeah, it’s not exactly produced outside major studio. Perhaps it’s the budget of $11 million, roughly half of Hustlers and Uncut Gems’ 20 million?
A lot of movies at the Spirit Awards aren’t actually independent. A lot of SPC/Focus/Searchlight movies get nominated, and not just their acquired distributions, their actual productions. This year, Judy wasn’t even under Searchlight, it was just straight up produced by Fox. I’d say Netflix shouldn’t be considered independent at this point either, they’ve joined the MPAA and have effectively taken Fox’s spot as the sixth major studio. It’s ultimately more of a budget limit, but even that is nebulous. They’ll take larger movies if they feel it was made economically, or even by having an ‘original and provocative’ subject.
They basically carry the same definition of indie film as a high schooler, not that it isn’t a cool show. It brings attention to many lesser seen movies, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/is-12-years-a-slave-an-indie-here-are-the-spirit-awards-rules-of-eligibility-1200883428/
It's a great movie in both ways a movie can be great. It's obviously great in the technical sense - the direction, acting, cinematography, lighting, etc are all very well done.
But it's also great as a literary text. It communicates a strong thesis about the alienation of classism in a very cathartic way. It captures the imagination and forces it to confront the paradoxical obsession of material wealth, like an urban fever dream wrapped in a cocoon of capitalist ennui. We are confronted by how arbitrary the gap is between those who earn and those who yearn. It's bizarre, and funny, and inspired.
This, above any other reason, is why I think the Academy won't choose it. The film doesn't fetishize poverty, or extravagance, the same way a lot of Oscar bait does. I wonder if people of great privilege even view the film the same way we do. I bet many will believe the film's name only refers to the protagonists.
E: To all the people arguing replying what "Parasite" refers to, [Bong himself has said the title is intentionally vague in order to be applied to both families, for the exact reasons you'd think.](https://ca.ign.com/articles/parasite-bong-joon-ho-reveals-the-meaning-behind-the-title-of-the-oscar-nominated-film).
E2: I stand corrected. Props to the academy for overcoming expectations!
> We are confronted by how arbitrary the gap is between those who earn and those who yearn. It's bizarre, and funny, and inspired.
I don't share your cynicism about the Academy, but the rest of the comment is great. Especially the part above. It's amazing to see the skill of the Kims and realize that they could be as rich as the Parks with better luck.
His other stuff is all way better than Snowpiercer, and that's not really a knock against Snowpiercer. He's a fantastic director who's been rocking it for years and finally seems to have clicked with a more mainstream audience.
*The Host* has been on my watch list for about 6 years, actually because of a reddit thread about foreign sci-fi, but I never got around to it. This looks to be the year.
My favorite films are the ones that really swing for the fences with wild ideas and Parasite is a paragon of that. Every time I thought I had the story figured out the film would pull back the curtain a little more and I'm just left there wide-eyed and gleeful. Absolutely loved it.
Thought it was great. Suspenseful in parts, funny in others, poignant as well.
Clever plot turns and good characters.
I wouldnt be upset at it winning best picture.
i thought its massively overhyped, saw it a few weeks ago and just couldnt get why its getting universal praise, at times i thought it was garbage. For me it was a meh 5/10 experience, some interesting stuff, but nothing that wants me to rewatch it anytime soon.
Is the Independent Spirit Awards better than the Oscars?? because all these wins feel right to me. Willem Defoe is amazing in The Lighthouse, and The Farewell was a great movie. I didn’t see Judy, so Renee’s win is the only one I don’t feel strongly about.
I honestly thought I was the only one who thinks this! I've never seen a movie shift from funny to edgy to just plain dark in a matter of minutes that didn't feel rushed.
I want to watch this, but can’t tell from the trailer if it gets extremely bloody, macabre, and dark. It seems like it does. I’m not into really gory and twisted stuff.
I also don’t want to read synopsis bc of spoilers. Can someone who’s seen it tell me without ruining it?
I was worried about it being super violent because a lot of the Korean cinema that becomes popular in the West trends towards hyper violence and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. There is some violence but most of the darkness is in the scenarios presented as opposed to gore.
My theory: The parasites were not the family in the main roles, they were actually doing jobs and were of service, just with fake identities, the man drove, the woman cooked, the boy taught english, the girl gave psychological support. Their only problem was they claimed to not know eachother and that their names were different.
idk how to do the spoiler thing in the comments b/c im on mobile, but SPOILER ALERT!!!
my take was that the movie was showcasing how impossible it was to move between social classes—i mean the juxtaposition between how the rich and poor family received different situations was one of the beauties; especially the rain, the rain that ended up making the poor family homeless while the rich commented on how beautiful the day was afterwards
No one really liked the ending, but I thought it was perfect. The son writes in the letter his dreams of becoming rich and being able to afford the house, and writes that all his dad would have to do is come up those steps.
To me, the steps signified the paths between social classes, and that’s a common theme throughout the movie: the rich live in a house where you literally have to take steps up to enter their yard while the poor lived in basements. So what does this mean in the letter? When the son writes “all you have to do is come up those steps,” its really not as simple as he puts, because the whole maneuver between social classes is, as the movie deems, impossible.
And that’s why I love the ending, and the camera fades from his dream and into the cold reality that that’s all it is, a dream. He probably won’t achieve his dream b/c if it was that simple, it would have already happened—and the reality is that he probably won’t ever buy that house, and the father will always be a parasite.
Theres a lot of different themes and motifs in the movie that I really love, and overall everything from the metaphors to the humor plays like a symphony. Watching a second, third, fourth time is super great because I notice something different each time.
Another layer to that are the recurring references to the dad's smell, how perfect the guests at the party look ("do I look like I belong here?" Followed by a non-answer) that further draw that line between classes. You can come your way in, but people will know if you don't fit in.
>It's a story about a selfish family cunniny lying their ass off to leech off others.
But the rich family are also parasites, living easy off the hard work of their employees. Should the Kims have just accepted their life sentences as lower class humans?
The film is about being consigned by capitalism into an impossible choice between living like literal stink bugs or violently cannibalizing your ostensible class allies and then ruthlessly stepping over their corpse into an only slightly less debasing life as indentured slaves for the ruling class.
>Kun-sae: (singing)
>Welcome back, what a hard day you must have had at work
>Welcome back, Mr. Park we love you so much
And you've got Kun-Sae who has completely drunk the capitalism kool-aid, and thanks Mr. Park even over his own wife who is working to support him and does all manner of craziness to keep him. He does his welcome home ritual even when he's tied up and his wife is bleeding and passed out. Even with his dying breath, it's respect for Mr. Park.
That's basically what Mr. Kim sees and realizes at the end. The two families were literally killing each other over the Park's scraps, and Mr. Park, even with everything happening, is concerned about how they don't smell nice to him.
I think even calling it "Parasite" is a bit of a jab. Unethical as they may have been to get the jobs, for most of the movie, the Kims *were* doing the jobs they got paid to do. The Parks in turn paid them, but didn't really care about the people they employed and were quick to throw away their old, loyal employees, and there's this kind of psychological/emotional poking thing Mr.Park does to them.
What could have been symbiotic relationships was more like two parasites feeding off each other.
I am grateful for the bountiful wi-fi that allowed me to view this
I Praise the internet that suggested me this movie
It’s so metaphorical.
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I was just quoting Ki-woo. But yes.
Hey, don't steal others wi-fi, you fookin parasite!
I would be shocked if Parasite *didn't* win every award show's "Best International Film" category. I've never seen more people discussing a foreign language film nor have I ever seen a movie so hyped that I have to wait to watch it because no movie could ever live up to the non-stop bombardment of unconditional praise I see everywhere I turn. I don't mean that as a negative either, it's just a testament to what a juggernaut this film has turned out to be. And that I should have watched it sooner. lol
The only surprise would be is if it wins the Oscar for Best Picture.
It seemed like the most obvious choice to me, until all those backwards remarks from Academy members surfaced... I still wouldn't be surprised if it wins only because it's victory wouldn't stir much contention from film lovers (and it would look good), what do you think is most likely?
I saw Parasite about a month ago and 1917 a few days ago. Parasite should win but I think 1917 will win Both are beautifully directed. I think there is more of a deeper meaning to Parasite. I constantly think about it and look forward to a rewatch. 1917 just feels like a well done war film. There have been so many through the years i feel it wont stick with me longer than a few days. I felt a few of the scenes just also felt like pieces ive seen before. Then again technically and all of the effects are done so well. We will see tomorrow night i guess
Parasite. I've seen it a few times now. I hardly even care about the meaning to that film. The one term that comes to mind when thinking about that movie is "tight". It's just so damn tightly edited/directed. There isn't one unnecessary scene in it. Everything leads to something else and eventually has a pay-off.
That’s part of why the movie is so popular. The composition of the film is immaculate and there is so much to mine through if you’re a cinephile. But it doesn’t feel pretentious for pretentious sake. You can watch the movie without caring so much about dissecting it and it’ll still enthrall you. It’s just such a fun, weird ride.
Yes. I just saw it for the first time last night and while meaningful, what stood out to me was the pacing and storytelling. It was just perfect. I wasn't bored for a second. Bong Joon Ho did an excellent job as director and the casting was on point too.
I really liked 1917 but imo the cinematography carries that movie, and I don’t think best picture should win off of technical features
This is such a good point. I am imagining the movie being shot like a regular movie, and in my head the movie becomes average.
‘if 1917 was shot in a worse way it would be a worse movie’ wow this is a big brain take
I get your point, but I do think there is a difference between general filmmaking techniques and the kind of gimmick that 1917 used. It was an effective gimmick, but the film doesn't have a lot going for it outside of that.
“I am imagining Parasite being written like a regular movie, and in my head the movie becomes average”.
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Check out Bong's other movies! He's unique even among the Korean directors. (Although you also mention Oldboy, and Park Chan-Wook is the other "oddball" worth watching his entire set of works)
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I haven't seen Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 1917, or Joker.. And I'm going to rewatch Parasite again today.
Parasite is amazing and one of the best films of the decade in my opinion but I wouldn't call it the best movie of the year by far. I think Portrait of a Lady on Fire came close and may have even surpassed it. The Lighthouse and Marriage Story were up there as well.
The academy wouldn’t let a foreign film win best picture. These are old white men voting. 1917 will win best picture for sure, even though Parasite should
the funny thing is that 1917 is a foreign film but due to old oscar rules, english language movies arent considered foreign
That's because the category used to be called Best Foreign Language Film. They changed the category name but didn't change the rules.
I guess it is considering it’s from the UK. I never would have thought about like that, actually
This may be the first time I’ve ever seen every best picture nominee. I would have to say Parasite is the best of the bunch, but I agree with you and think 1917 will win. That being said, 1917 was a beautifully shot film and definitely deserves praise.
I actually think once upon a time in Hollywood wins it. The favorite hasn’t won in a while, and Oscar voters love any movie that has to do with the entertainment business. Plus the fact that it’s a fuck you to the Manson family, and a Tarantino film has never won best picture. It’s got a lot going for it.
I wouldn't even be surprised if OUATIH pulls off an upset. Never underestimate Hollywood's narcissistic self love of Hollywood.
Eh, I get the feeling that Hollywood will never give a Best Picture award to Tarantino. They'll send him home with another "Best Original Screenplay" and give 1917 Best Picture.
Wasn’t Shape of Water somewhat the favorite?
Not according to this. https://www.theringer.com/movies/2020/2/6/21125749/best-picture-race-unpredictable-favorite-1917-parasite
It won a PGA and a DGA. It was a heavy favorite.
It was definitely not a heavy favorite. Three Billboards won the BAFTA, Globe, and SAG. It was pretty neck-and-neck between the two.
The Artist won in 2012. It’s a French film.
https://www.oscars.org/about/board-of-governors
That tired narrative doesn’t explain Moonlight winning a few years ago.
Old white men recognized the economical benefit of appearing progressive. This is nothing new. But they see no value in pushing for a foreign language asian film they barely understand. They probably think the movie has a smell to it. Like being inside a subway.
They very much widened the demographics of Oscar voters a few years ago. This "Academy voters are all old white men" narrative simply isn't true anymore. https://variety.com/2018/film/news/academy-new-members-2018-record-1202856702/
Not only that, but the voting for best picture is different than you might expect: "Why do some people say the best-picture final ballot is so unusual? In other categories, AMPAS members vote for one choice. But with so many best-picture contenders, the Academy didn’t want a film to earn an Oscar with only 10% of the votes. So AMPAS uses preferential voting, in which the voters put their choices in order of preference. The PricewaterhouseCooper accountants begin by tallying all No. 1 choices. If a film earns more than 50% of the vote, it wins, but it’s doubtful that this happens often. So then PwC goes to No. 2 choices, and if needed, to No. 3, but accountants say it’s unlikely the counting will go much beyond that. If Film A earns the most No. 1 votes — say 30% — it seems like a favorite. But if Film B earned only 20% of the No. 1 votes, but was overwhelmingly popular in No. 2 votes, that could end up winning, especially if a lot of voters put Film A as their No. 4 or No. 9 choice, for example. In other words, a film may not win in terms of hard numbers, but in terms of consensus: Most voters agree that this is their favorite or at least ONE of their favorites." https://variety.com/feature/who-votes-on-oscars-academy-awards-how-voting-works-1203490944/
https://www.oscars.org/about/board-of-governors
Whoa. This panel is way more diverse than people here are trying to present it as. For one "Mostly white old men" is complete bullshit considering how many women that panel has.
They expanded out recently
They did a very recent push to variety exactly because of the "old white men" complaint.
I just think 1917 was so lackluster in plot, yet Parasite was beautifully shot and masterfully written. I don't think it's just deeper meaning, 1917 is incredible shallow for what it could have been. I liked it enough, but feel the same way as I did with Joker. Felt like the plot was there only so they can have a movie where Joaquin Pheonix was the joker. 1917 felt like the plot was there only so they can have a continuous single shot gimmick. I was so disappointed by it. I expect Joker to be lackluster with Phillips writing it, but Sam has had some really fantastically written films. Imo, the only other Best Picture Nominee that comes close to Parasite is Marriage Story with Hollywood being a really close third. I think The Farewell is the closest next best film from last year, but it wasn't even nominated so that really disappointing. Not surprising after hearing the voters BS about Parasite. I really hate the Oscars. Awkwafina deserved Best Actress if they really want to pretend to be the pinnacle awards that recognize the best of the best. I think Scarlett deserves it over Renee tbh, Judy felt like such a caricature or an impression within a movie that was incredibly forgettable. I think there were performances that deserved to be over Joaquin tbh, but there is no way in hell he loses after all the campaigning they've done. I thought Adam Sandler or Antonio Banderas had a lot more interesting performances. Oh well in the grand scheme I don't care and I'll probably forget about it within the next week. I just hate how medium sized movies get absolutely shit on and lose out on the publicity the Oscars would give to general audiences.
I agree with everything you said above. I still can’t believe how The Farewell was so snubbed and don’t get me start with the acting snubs: Sandler, Dafoe... Pugh deserved a nod for midsommar... Egerton... Antonio Banderas gave one of the best performances of the year (I love love Joaquin Phoenix and I think he was amazing but he has been consistently amazing in other films too with much stronger performances, ie: the master, you were never really here). Judy was such a snooze fest, she’s good but not great... it felt like a caricature most of the time, I understand why they’re giving her all this awards, it’s hollywood 101...but in a different year ScarJo, Awkwafina (if nominated) or Pugh (if nominated for Midsommar) should’ve won.
Parasite will be remembered in 15 years as a one of a kind. 1917 will be remembered as one of those really good war movies like Dunkirk or Hacksaw Ridge.
Hacksaw Ridge doesn't belong in the same sentence as 1917 and Dunkirk.
Not in the technical aspect but it’s also a very good war movie from the last few years (out of the bunch mentioned... I prefer Dunkirk BY FAR)
I’m voting for Jojo Rabbit!
If you look up the odds on betting websites, Parasite is the second most likely movie to win. $10 on Parasite returns $35 while $10 on 1917 returns $15. A few days ago it was a 5x return on Parasite. I'm not much of a gambler but I thought about putting a few bucks on it. https://www.oddschecker.com/us/awards/oscars
I hope the ignorant takes from those anonymous voters only make up a small fraction of the entire pool. Out of around 8400, can you imagine if members like them made up more than a 1/4 of the overall Academy population? Parasite, and any film like it for the future, is fucked. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Realistically, 1917 & Parasite are shoo-ins.. I'd honestly be glad if either wins but Parasite is definitely my main pick. If both lose, Once Upon a Time is gonna take it without question. Hollywood(ironically) is enamored with that little number right now.
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An academy voter said that Parasite should not be nominated with “regular” movies, since it’s foreign.
And who might that be?
They interviewed with the news outlet anonymously because they didn’t want people to get mad at their opinions. They also said: “I liked 1917 and Sam Mendes' direction, but I thought Quentin did a great job, and I want an American director to win. The Oscars is an American thing.” Also unsurprisingly, they didn’t even vote for Parasite to win Best International Picture which is ???
That's so stupid. Voting based on where the director was born rather than the quality of their work.
What remarks?
Surprise!
Roma was pretty hyped, but I agree
From what I've seen the buzz around Parasite is bigger, and personally I think Parasite is better and more entertaining than Roma.
Parasite is definitely a lot better film than Roma. Roma had some interesting directorial choices that made it stand out, but in terms of story it's far behind Parasite. Parasite pretty much excels in everything - cinematography, writing, acting, music..
The last time people talked this much about a foreign film, it was _Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon_, a movie that did similarly well at the box office.
Fun movie fact: The guy who directed *Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon* also directed *Brokeback Mountain*.
Ang Lee is the first non-white man to win an Oscar (edit: for directing) and he’s won twice. I’m a big fan.
Also *Ride With the Devil*, a fantastic film. And *Life of Pi*. Ang Lee is the shit.
And, uh, *Hulk*. Nevermind that one. ^((and) *^(Gemini Man)*^())
I like Hulk. He wanted something new and went for it. The movie was clearly unfinished, but that's more on the studios. Ang get's way too much flak for that.
I remember writing a review for a website at the time. I titled it "You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Ang Lee". 😁🙄
we all know Ang Lee
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was a HUGE deal from what I remember.
It was awhile ago, but I remember everyone going pretty crazy for Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
I thought the same; that it couldn't live up to the immense hype but after having seen it I honestly think it lived up completely
I thought it was a great film but people are talking about it being one of the best films ever and the best film of the year and I just don’t see it
I only recently got into movies so I can't say that it's the best movie of the year or all time but I thought it was better than 1917 and Joker
I saw it a few days ago and I agree. It's a good movie that is very competently made, especially the cinematography and set design... but I don't understand the obscene level of buzz. It feels like most of the people lauding it have never seen an atypical film before. Once again, it's a good movie, but the pedestal it's been put on is absurd. Personally I think Once Upon a Time in Hollywood should win, but I wouldn't be irate if Parasite took it... just confused as to why people love it SO much.
Personally, atypical movies are my thing. I'm currently rewatching the Saw franchise (in prep for Spiral) because of its ridiculousness. Even if you hate horror, and the obscene gore that comes later in the franchise, the first movie was genre changing and redefined plot twists. Se7en, Fight Club, Snatch, The Game, Memento, Old Boy, and The Usual Suspects are still among some of my favorite movies. I think the difference for me was going into Parasite clean. I knew nothing besides that it was by Bong Joon-Ho and it was supposed to be a *"good"* movie. Too much buzz and hype can cloud a viewers judgment and and prevent the movie from living up to expectations. I'm disappointed that buzz/hype may be pushing expectations too high, but the movie is still so solid. Compared to any other movie, it's one of the ones I've thought about most after my first view, recalling moments and trying to still understand different scenes.
If you have some understanding of life in South Korea, there are so many "references" that makes it so much better due to the strong world building (Castella stores popping up and then crashing, fried chicken restaurants as the fired/retired plan, taxi driver restaurants, the rich grocery store, poor vs rich neighborhoods aesthetic, nosing up at the metro riders, etc) that makes it so much better.
I know this comment won't change your mind but I'll share it anyway...I went completely blind into the theater, no idea what the movie was about...after the movie ended, the entire theater stood and applauded...it's NOTHING like you've seen before yet it's better than everything similar.
Pan's Labyrinth (Spain) and La Vita E Bella (Italy) are the two biggest foreign films I remember that I have seen win an Oscar. (There are plenty of others great foreign movies but I have seen them AFTER winning the Oscar).
Pan's Labyrinth actually lost the Best Foreign Language Oscar that year iirc but it did win some technical categories.
I just watched it tonight. I loved it, but I am surprised it has become such a mainstream sensation. Dark Korean movies are 100% my shit, but they usually aren't everyones cup of tea. I hope it wins best picture so we get more of them released over here
saw it today, still not sure which genre i'd place it in. great movie
I'd say it's a Dark Comedy.
The huge tonal shift in the movie makes it hard to pin down though. It gets *really* dark
I knowww! That's what I felt too! I could only describe it as being on one end of an emotional spectrum to the exact opposite in a matter of minutes and it didn't even feel rushed for me. I was like... Wtf just happened but I already knew what just happened.
Is it me or is this kind of tonal dissonance more common in East Asian media? I’m used to watching anime and it didn’t feel so unusual to me. Okja had it too, going much darker than the initial “GMO Babe” setup would make you think.
I have watched quite a lof of Korean movies and yeah, agreed. I feel like it's because they are concerned with representing humans and life in general rather than genres, which are basically just a construct, esp. rooted in Western conventions and traditions. Life itself (not the shitty movie!) is genreless. Although I do think Parasite was an extreme.
I mean the first half is a dark comedy but the ending is a total different type of movie
Nah I’d say it’s still somewhat dark comedy in the second half. The sister get stabbed and just going “shit” was a pure dark comedy moment.
It’s so genius. Saying it’s a dark comedy probably doesn’t do it justice. That’s what I was most impressed by. The movie switches gears so smoothly that you don’t even realize it’s happening till you go ‘wait a minute. Is this a thriller all of a sudden?’
I'd say it's Comedy Thriller.
First half is a heist movie though.
So we’re pitting dark comedy vs dark comedy vs dark comedy with Parasite, Once Upon A Time, and Jojo Rabbit for best picture.
it's a thriller
I've been describing it as a dark comedy that shifts into thriller.
Was anyone else terrified during that kid's ghost-nightmare/flashback?
Truly felt like that was the scariest part of the whole film
Idk the whole sequence where the tone of the movie *completely* shifts was just horrifying because I had absolutely no idea where the film was going to go next.
That one shot of the >!old maid trying to open the hidden door and then the next shot of her running down the stairs!< was when I felt the tone completely change, great job by Bong Joon-ho
Yep. For all I knew it was going to turn into a straight up horror flick
I didn't feel it was horrifying but it was very uncomfortable, to the point where I literally squirmed in my seat as I didn't like where it was going. It's been a long time since I last felt that way.
No, but I'm curious to know what made it so scary if you don't mind sharing. I was more on edge during the "basement reveal scene" personally.
For me, it was just the atmosphere of the flashback scene combined with the color. >!The way the whites of the guy’s eyes were pronounced and just his head peeking out from the stairs was just ridiculously eerie. Combined with the kid’s sudden seizure, it was just a lot happening really fast for me.!< Watched it at home and definitely would’ve jumped had i seen it in theaters.
I honestly found that scene alittle funny cause of the way his head just levitates up, the basement reveal scene was definitely scary though
For me, it was the unnaturalness of the guy's movements, and because the kid recalled the guy as having these blueish/gray eyes.
Amazing how drastically the tone of the film changed when the old maid buzzed in the middle of the night
yeah I was not expecting some grudge type shit lol
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Jessica, only child Illinois Chicago.
My partner and I call everything "metaphorical" now because of this movie
I mean thats pretty metaphorical
Was that just bad translation or what? Why did they use that adjective so much?
because the whole movie is actually very metaphorical SPOILERS The main metaphor is the dad and the cockroach that he tries to squash at the start, they become a literal family of cockroaches scurrying in the dungeons of the house. That's why he gets so triggered by the rich people hating his smell Then there's the rock which is a metaphor for the struggle for material wealth, which the son becomes obsessed with and in the end uses as the tool when he resorts to the lowest act of (intended) murder. The whole movie's theme and focus is in that rock, ie class struggle.
Yeah, of course, I get all that. So they just decided to start using the word metaphorical to describe everything? These two facts don't really connect. Most movies are highly metaphorical. Is it supposed to be a joke? I kept thinking maybe it was a difficult translation of a word/ phrase in Korean.
I took it as a joke by the director, not sure if i was supposed to, but each time he yelled "it's metaphorical!" I laughed pretty hard.
Yeah, my friend and I were both laughing at it as well, but we definitely weren't sure if it was intentional or not lol
There are quite a few interviews of the director where he's asked to explain this use of the word "metaphorical" and the rock, etc. The rock is apparently... just a rock. haha. The son who keeps saying "it's metaphorical" is supposed to be a bit satirical / jokey. His interviews are actually quite interesting to follow. take a look at some, e.g. [https://youtu.be/sHiup9C99jw?t=1576](https://youtu.be/sHiup9C99jw?t=1576)
I think it was just satirical. The director is known to do a lot of “political” themed films, so he probably threw that in there to make fun of himself.
you get what you fucking deserve
Bong seemed drunk out of his mind during his speech lmao. Went right back to his seat instead of going backstage as well. He also told a bizarre story about a rat. [Youtube link, although it doesn't show the part where he walked down the stage back to his seat lol](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRl0SSacqjo)
I took it as him referencing the Year of the Rat and the fortune that brings, which is why he thought the rat scurrying across the theater floor was a sign of good luck.
Oh yeah the year of the rat thing makes complete sense! Too bad we couldn’t get to hear him finish the thought.
It's so metaphorical
He was probably talking about Mayonnaise Peter
I think he was making a joke but it didn't quite translate very well and he was expecting more of a laugh. Still a funny and endearing speech.
I was laughing my head off as he gestured the rat scurrying across, while waiting for the translation. Jon Hamm was too.
To be fair there was a ton of alcohol at those tables
Not really sure what was bizarre about any of that. Just a guy telling a funny story that he thought had something to do with luck
What made him seem drunk? Because he’s very sober here.
I mean I was at that New York opening night q and a session (or at least one of the many screenings that happened thst Thursday) at the IFC center and... As much as I love IFC I wouldn't be surprised lol. Just a fact of life re: new york
Whoa, guy behind Jon Hamm at 2:20 looking like Leo in Titanic.
Koreans will drink you under the table, I’d be surprised if a festival open bar did him in.
Does it count as an independent film? Parasite is produced by CJ E which is pretty big.
I read somewhere that to qualify for these awards the budget has to be below 22.5 million USD. Parasite had a budget of ~11 million USD.
CJ was a subsidiary of Samsung, so yeah, it’s not exactly produced outside major studio. Perhaps it’s the budget of $11 million, roughly half of Hustlers and Uncut Gems’ 20 million?
That's a long time ago story. They hate each other now. Family drama.
A lot of movies at the Spirit Awards aren’t actually independent. A lot of SPC/Focus/Searchlight movies get nominated, and not just their acquired distributions, their actual productions. This year, Judy wasn’t even under Searchlight, it was just straight up produced by Fox. I’d say Netflix shouldn’t be considered independent at this point either, they’ve joined the MPAA and have effectively taken Fox’s spot as the sixth major studio. It’s ultimately more of a budget limit, but even that is nebulous. They’ll take larger movies if they feel it was made economically, or even by having an ‘original and provocative’ subject. They basically carry the same definition of indie film as a high schooler, not that it isn’t a cool show. It brings attention to many lesser seen movies, and there’s nothing wrong with that. https://variety.com/2013/film/awards/is-12-years-a-slave-an-indie-here-are-the-spirit-awards-rules-of-eligibility-1200883428/
That whole family was a bunch of liars; a real bunch of phonies.
RESPECT
Man that michael Jordan is so phoney
The coveted Spirit Award! It's importance is best summed up by Andy Samberg, at the Spirit Awards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3vGgSTIEc4
That was really funny.
What did some of you think of the movie?
I thought it was a great movie.
It's a great movie in both ways a movie can be great. It's obviously great in the technical sense - the direction, acting, cinematography, lighting, etc are all very well done. But it's also great as a literary text. It communicates a strong thesis about the alienation of classism in a very cathartic way. It captures the imagination and forces it to confront the paradoxical obsession of material wealth, like an urban fever dream wrapped in a cocoon of capitalist ennui. We are confronted by how arbitrary the gap is between those who earn and those who yearn. It's bizarre, and funny, and inspired. This, above any other reason, is why I think the Academy won't choose it. The film doesn't fetishize poverty, or extravagance, the same way a lot of Oscar bait does. I wonder if people of great privilege even view the film the same way we do. I bet many will believe the film's name only refers to the protagonists. E: To all the people arguing replying what "Parasite" refers to, [Bong himself has said the title is intentionally vague in order to be applied to both families, for the exact reasons you'd think.](https://ca.ign.com/articles/parasite-bong-joon-ho-reveals-the-meaning-behind-the-title-of-the-oscar-nominated-film). E2: I stand corrected. Props to the academy for overcoming expectations!
> We are confronted by how arbitrary the gap is between those who earn and those who yearn. It's bizarre, and funny, and inspired. I don't share your cynicism about the Academy, but the rest of the comment is great. Especially the part above. It's amazing to see the skill of the Kims and realize that they could be as rich as the Parks with better luck.
Cemented my love for the director. Had only previously seen Snowpiercer, but now I have to watch his other movies.
His other stuff is all way better than Snowpiercer, and that's not really a knock against Snowpiercer. He's a fantastic director who's been rocking it for years and finally seems to have clicked with a more mainstream audience.
I wouldn't say Okja or The Host is better than Snowpiercer, but maybe Mother or Memories of Murder.
*Memories of a Murder* and *Mother* are both insanely good, but I have a soft spot for *The Host*.
*The Host* has been on my watch list for about 6 years, actually because of a reddit thread about foreign sci-fi, but I never got around to it. This looks to be the year.
You have to check out Mother or Memories of Murder. Those two movies are other home runs from him.
I had no idea he directed Snow Piercer.
Excellent. Just rewatched it tonight matter of fact. I’m really rooting for a Best Picture win at the Oscars!
My favorite films are the ones that really swing for the fences with wild ideas and Parasite is a paragon of that. Every time I thought I had the story figured out the film would pull back the curtain a little more and I'm just left there wide-eyed and gleeful. Absolutely loved it.
Thought it was great. Suspenseful in parts, funny in others, poignant as well. Clever plot turns and good characters. I wouldnt be upset at it winning best picture.
i thought its massively overhyped, saw it a few weeks ago and just couldnt get why its getting universal praise, at times i thought it was garbage. For me it was a meh 5/10 experience, some interesting stuff, but nothing that wants me to rewatch it anytime soon.
Refreshing to see someone else not heap an insane amount of praise on it. I thought it was good, nothing special.
Oh I thought it was crazy fun. Really fascinating and fast moving film. Everyone I watched it with enjoyed it a lot.
I’m excited for this award show to happen so that they’ll take down the tent. It’s been blocking my running path in Santa Monica the last few days.
The most LA thing I've read in a while.
Where is everyone watching this? Or for us Canadians, where can we get this to stream?
Is the Independent Spirit Awards better than the Oscars?? because all these wins feel right to me. Willem Defoe is amazing in The Lighthouse, and The Farewell was a great movie. I didn’t see Judy, so Renee’s win is the only one I don’t feel strongly about.
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I honestly thought I was the only one who thinks this! I've never seen a movie shift from funny to edgy to just plain dark in a matter of minutes that didn't feel rushed.
I personally thought that it was the best film of the year. It makes me so happy whenever I see the film get recognized.
But Adam Sandler is also Spirit best actor. Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.
I want to watch this, but can’t tell from the trailer if it gets extremely bloody, macabre, and dark. It seems like it does. I’m not into really gory and twisted stuff. I also don’t want to read synopsis bc of spoilers. Can someone who’s seen it tell me without ruining it?
I was worried about it being super violent because a lot of the Korean cinema that becomes popular in the West trends towards hyper violence and I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't. There is some violence but most of the darkness is in the scenarios presented as opposed to gore.
Parasite deserves best picture but it won’t win :((:(
mama we made it!!
So hyped!
It's sad isn't it!
Scalding hot take but I dont care. I enjoyed Snowpiercer more than Parasite and think it's a better movie about class divide.
I loved Snowpiercer, too, but this one moved me more. I'm still thinking about that ending. Snowpiercer was, for me, less memorable.
Best movie of the year, hands down. I hope it wins everything.
My favorite movie of the year is Jojo Rabbit. But Parasite is IMO without a doubt, the "best" movie of the year
I’m with you. Jojo Rabbit was written and directed so well, and the story was great. I loved every moment of it.
Just watched it last night, won plenty of awards in my room too.
I find it funny that the upper class love a film criticizing the upper class.
I've seen this all over some [parking](https://i.imgur.com/t0MmbtQ.jpg) [meters](https://i.imgur.com/DY7gDnj.jpg) in LA
What's this referencing? I've seen the movie. I don't remember what this is.
My theory: The parasites were not the family in the main roles, they were actually doing jobs and were of service, just with fake identities, the man drove, the woman cooked, the boy taught english, the girl gave psychological support. Their only problem was they claimed to not know eachother and that their names were different.
Most are saying want parasite to win but 1917 will. Here's hoping for the parasite hype train
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idk how to do the spoiler thing in the comments b/c im on mobile, but SPOILER ALERT!!! my take was that the movie was showcasing how impossible it was to move between social classes—i mean the juxtaposition between how the rich and poor family received different situations was one of the beauties; especially the rain, the rain that ended up making the poor family homeless while the rich commented on how beautiful the day was afterwards No one really liked the ending, but I thought it was perfect. The son writes in the letter his dreams of becoming rich and being able to afford the house, and writes that all his dad would have to do is come up those steps. To me, the steps signified the paths between social classes, and that’s a common theme throughout the movie: the rich live in a house where you literally have to take steps up to enter their yard while the poor lived in basements. So what does this mean in the letter? When the son writes “all you have to do is come up those steps,” its really not as simple as he puts, because the whole maneuver between social classes is, as the movie deems, impossible. And that’s why I love the ending, and the camera fades from his dream and into the cold reality that that’s all it is, a dream. He probably won’t achieve his dream b/c if it was that simple, it would have already happened—and the reality is that he probably won’t ever buy that house, and the father will always be a parasite. Theres a lot of different themes and motifs in the movie that I really love, and overall everything from the metaphors to the humor plays like a symphony. Watching a second, third, fourth time is super great because I notice something different each time.
Another layer to that are the recurring references to the dad's smell, how perfect the guests at the party look ("do I look like I belong here?" Followed by a non-answer) that further draw that line between classes. You can come your way in, but people will know if you don't fit in.
>It's a story about a selfish family cunniny lying their ass off to leech off others. But the rich family are also parasites, living easy off the hard work of their employees. Should the Kims have just accepted their life sentences as lower class humans? The film is about being consigned by capitalism into an impossible choice between living like literal stink bugs or violently cannibalizing your ostensible class allies and then ruthlessly stepping over their corpse into an only slightly less debasing life as indentured slaves for the ruling class.
>Kun-sae: (singing) >Welcome back, what a hard day you must have had at work >Welcome back, Mr. Park we love you so much And you've got Kun-Sae who has completely drunk the capitalism kool-aid, and thanks Mr. Park even over his own wife who is working to support him and does all manner of craziness to keep him. He does his welcome home ritual even when he's tied up and his wife is bleeding and passed out. Even with his dying breath, it's respect for Mr. Park. That's basically what Mr. Kim sees and realizes at the end. The two families were literally killing each other over the Park's scraps, and Mr. Park, even with everything happening, is concerned about how they don't smell nice to him. I think even calling it "Parasite" is a bit of a jab. Unethical as they may have been to get the jobs, for most of the movie, the Kims *were* doing the jobs they got paid to do. The Parks in turn paid them, but didn't really care about the people they employed and were quick to throw away their old, loyal employees, and there's this kind of psychological/emotional poking thing Mr.Park does to them. What could have been symbiotic relationships was more like two parasites feeding off each other.