Saturday 25 January 2020

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2019: Song Kang-ho & Choi Woo-shik in Parasite

Song Kang-ho and Choi Woo-shik did not receive Oscar nominations for portraying Kim Ki-taek and Kim Ki-woo respectively in Parasite.

Parasite is the perfect cinematic sendoff for the decade by director Bong Joon-ho, a film that I loved upon first viewing and has only grown in my estimation on each subsequent viewing, following a poor family who attempts to infiltrate a rich family by taking all their service jobs. This is a film, where if you have not seen it, I would just say read no further, and just see it already. Though as much as I've loved it every time I've watched, one should never forgo the great experience of discovering this film for the first time.

Regardless of what aspect of the film one examines, Parasite is great, a trademark of a masterpiece I'd say, one of the aspects that carries this greatness is the cast. Everyone fills their parts out so well, making it perhaps the most deserving SAG ensemble winner, ever. Two of the essential performances come in the men I've chosen to focus on here, though as Song Kang-ho plays the father and Choi-Woo-shik plays the son of the poor family. The poor family we first meet as they seem like they can only go up, living in the basement of a building where they struggle to find wi-fi support, and are "treated" to bug spray and a serial unrinator as regular sights. The family, which also includes the mother Chung-sook (Chang Hyae-jin) and the daughter Kim Ki-jeong (Park So-dam), eking out a more than meager living as pizza box makers. So in this sense we get the family in sort of their purest form, which is essential in creating really the state of each character established so well in the performances. With Choi Woo-shik, similar to his not particularly loyal corporate truck driver in Bong's previous film Okja, brings a sort of foolish energy of sorts. This in there is an inherent haplessness in his manner. Choi portraying a lack of certainty with really every interaction in the basement, suggesting the young man unable to build up even the slightest hint of success in his life, having failed university exams multiple times. Bong's frequent collaborator Song Kang-ho, of course is right at home in the director's style, but also makes this important portrayal of the dad's state in the home. This as he brings a sort of goofy enthusiasm of just a typical dad, who actually may be a little too content in his surrounding scenery, this as even though we don't know how the family got here, Song gives a good idea how. This as when the basement is sprayed for bugs, while the other shudder, Song takes in almost a cleansing embrace of what his life is.

Their chance in a turn around comes as the son is offered a chance at a tutoring gig with a wealthy family by his friend, largely because his friend thinks he'll be less romantic competition for the daughter in the rich family. Choi's great in this scene of hearing of the prospects by in a way being everything his friend is not, portraying a certain fear almost at the prospect, and this consistent physical approach that accentuates the son's apparent lack of potential on the surface. He finds himself invited though into the home of the rich family and the particularly gullible rich mother (Cho Yeo-jeong). Choi's performance creates the sort of operation that defines the first act of the film. This as he sees just how quickly she accepts his ideas, we see an immediate change in his manner, and Choi loses his more unassuming demeanor to create a more striking manner, closer to his visiting friend who recommended him for the job. It isn't though as the man is showing a great confidence as himself, but rather it is essential in the way Choi portrays this as a placed in facade over the apparent sort of fearful young man otherwise. This is most evident within his first tutoring session, where Choi portrays this sort of breakout that is as a performance as some great thinker, where he is just really putting on an act. This act that gets his sister a job as an art tutor for the rich family's son, and eventually his father to replace the rich father's driver. Song is terrific as he continues showing the way the poor father is by far the most at home in the basement, with his proud goofy demeanor. This as we see him take on the job for the father, he is by far the "worst" actor of the bunch. Song's brilliant though in his comic way of bringing to life Song's methods as a proper seasoned driver, who really isn't that great. This with an over eagerness he brings to every word, and a far too casual ease with the rich father, that frequently pushes boundaries. We see more of this as the three attempt to get their mother a job replacing the rich family's housekeeper. Song's terrific in the scenes of preparing for the "performance" in his over the top delivery as he practices it, showing very much the effort the poor father must put into every ounce of the scheme, compared to his children who are a little more prepared. I do though also love the brief moments of pride that Song expresses with such an affectionate grin as he speaks of his children's success with the scheme as though they had all gotten successful jobs without subterfuge, and grants the sense of it being almost a dream beyond any expectation.

The family pushes their success though by using the family's home when they're out for a trip. This is an essential scene though for both Choi and Song. Choi in reverting to more meekness though with this quiet hope as he speaks of his belief that he'll be able to marry the daughter and get the riches for himself. Choi speaking with this earnest delivery, and this way of looking towards some future in the moment, that is an essential seed. Speaking of essential seeds though, when the poor mother, speaks of the father's likely cowardice in the face of the rich family potentially discovering them, he lashes out. Song portraying the moment with a real intensity of a deeper anger, though that he quickly laughs off as though it was all a joke. This release though being an important seed as Song uses that moment to suggest a bit more within the father's certain state of being poor. What happens next though is a sequence of insanity as the family discovers the first housekeeper was storing her deeply in-debt husband into a dark basement, just before the rich family unexpectedly returns home from a flood, which gives the rich house a rather serene appearance. The ensuing chaos is really tour de force for every actor within the cast in terms of portraying the different moments of the scene, and adding so much to the craziness and comedy of each moment. They highlight each instance brilliantly and makes the whole sequence all the more compelling. I have particular affection though for Song's reaction as he witnesses his wife purposefully push the old housekeeper, though accidentally cause great injury, as it instantly evokes the terror of the change in severity of the situation. Eventually the situation leads much of the poor family to hide for some time under the rich's family's table, whilethe rich couple watch their son camp out in the rain. This as the rich father (Lee Sun-kyun) comments on the poor father's smell. Song's silent reaction to just taking this in, and just a moment of quiet sadness and anger, is fantastic bit of acting essential to the story, as we'll see.

The family escapes though only to find that their basement home is flooded, leaving them to take refuge. Although Choi is very good in his reactions to these scenes, Song's work is remarkable in showing the loss of that sort of contentment and pride of the father. There taking hold more of an exasperation within him that in Song's expression creates the sense of a penetrating loss. This creates a terrific contrast though between Song and Choi, this as Choi speaks still with some optimism of a plan to handle all their problems with this youthful wish again, against Song who speaks each word so bluntly that plans are basically without purpose, as they always go wrong. All of this comes to a head as the poor family is called in by the rich family for their son's birthday party, oblivious to their lost home from the flooding. Choi has a marvelous bit of physical comedy actually as we see him exploring the hidden basement in some foolish attempt to resolve the situation with a rock of his, and his fumbling around expertly realizes his plan going the opposite of fruition. This is against Song who is first needed to slowly prepare the party by driving around the wife, before being made by the rich father to pretend to be a bad native for a birthday celebration. Song's face says it all as just this simmering silent bitterness and hate. This not a man wounded so by his experience, and his reactions that show a very real pain that seems as defined by the lack of empathy from those he is looking at as it is his own suffering. All of course does not go to plan in the party as the husband from the basement goes on the attack first, delivering a near fatal blow to the poor son's head, via his own rock, before stabbing the poor daughter. Everything Song does in this scene is downright amazing, but also realizing quite the challenge in what he needs to do. It's effortless though and powerful. This in his portrayal first of sheer horror at seeing his daughter stabbed, and disbelief at the violent chaos. This though as the rich father stepping once too far himself, by not only showing no concern whatsoever over the bleeding Ki-jeong, but also his revulsion at the basement dwelling husband's smell as he picks up the car keys tossed by the poor father. There's a break in Song's eyes as he moves almost in this detached state as he outright murders the rich father. This is such a brilliant moment as we see the spark of anger and intensity, seeded before, but portrayed as this almost instinctual release of pent up rage by Song in the killing. This that he makes as this temporary insanity as his stare the moment afterwards is this incredible realization of what he has done, one of both fear of the consequences but a despair of that he went through with such an act.

The film's epilogue is one of the greatest endings of a film that I've seen in sometime, and two of the reasons for this are the performances of Choi and Song. We see Choi as he recovers from his brain injuries, though with initially a broken laugh, that is so well realized in Choi's nearly vacant expression of a man whose mind just isn't quite fully together yet. This as he finds he and his mother just barely avoiding jail time and falling right back into their basement home once again. This compared to against where we see the father who managed to avoid arrest by retreating into the hidden basement. Song is outstanding once again as we see the immediate desperation after the act, and the moment of realization expanded to a true shame for the act. This now portraying that man without any contentment just now living within a fear of a life lower than the one he had seemingly come to accept in the opening of the story. The son learns of this through Morse code from a light operated by the father, leaving the son to plan an escape for his father. The escape scene that we first see depicted as the son appears rich, and now earnestly confident as himself. This with one particularly brilliant glimpse from Choi as he's just about to enter the house, of a quiet eagerness and almost disbelief at the prospect. Then we witness the father apparently come from his layer, with his son and wife ready to greet him, where Song wears such a haunting expression of years of a form of captivity as he moves to embrace his loved ones once again. This before we cut back to still just the son stuck in his basement thinking of that plan, with Choi's expression being this so poignant combination of that optimistic wistfulness but also an underlining hopelessness as well. Both actors great such emotional detail, largely in silence, and help to create the unforgettable ending it is as this cruel dream that is likely to never exist. Both actors deliver great performances in Choi's portrait of a youth attempting to find the plan that will save his family, and Song's tragic realization of a poor man somehow slowly descending down a path he cannot return from.

60 comments:

Mitchell Murray said...

Another film I still haven't seen but really want to, so I'll heed your advice, Louis....

In the mean time, I'll offer my full best actor ranking for this year having just watched "Pain and Glory".

1) Driver (5)
2) DiCaprio (5)
3) Phoenix (5) - STILL NEED TO RE-WATCH THE FILM, so bare with this placement for now...
4) Banderas (4.5)
5) Pryce (4.5)

Jack Narrator said...

I also believe that Phoenix can go up and earn 5 stars (Daniel Day-Lewis), as well as Al Pacino who for me is superior to Joe Pesci and maybe even wins the lineup.

Mitchell Murray said...

Jack: Don't count on it - I think Louis has made his thoughts on "Joker" very clear. As for myself, I'll decisively say that I still prefer Driver and DiCaprio as is, regardless of what rating I eventually give Phoenix.

Anonymous said...

Two of the greatest supporting performances of the decade for me.

Louis: Your top 15 acting moments for Song Kang-ho

Anonymous said...

Louis what would be your top ten for costume design for 2019?

Robert MacFarlane said...

I actually just got done watching The Two Popes (mostly fine, though the direction kind of sucked). So of the nominees, I’d rank them:

1. Banderas (seriously, am I really the only one here who thought he was a 5?)
2. DiCaprio
3. Driver
4. Pryce
5. Phoenix

Matt Mustin said...

Jack Narrator: Did you actually read his review of Phoenix? Because if you did, there's no way you could think he'd go up to a five.

Mitchell Murray said...

Robert: I'll say this...For me, Phoenix has a chance of being downgraded, but Banderas could only be upgraded, if he doesn't already stay at his strong 4.5.

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

1. Memories - Memories of Murder
2. Birthday gone wrong - Parasite
3. A different kind of song - A Taxi Driver
4. Walking out - Parasite
5. Ending - Age of Shadows
6. Alone in the basement - Parasite
7. Tripping - The Good the Bad The Weird
8. The massacre - A Taxi Driver
9. Nature of plans - Parasite
10. The Bar - Age of Shadows
11. Preparing to "act" - Parasite
12. Listening in - Parasite
13. The Tunnel - Memories of Murder
14. Returning home - A Taxi Driver
15. The duel - The Good the Bad The Weird

Robert:

I'd say Emi Grant's got your back on that one.

Anonymous:

My Nominees unranked:

The Aeronauts
Jojo Rabbit
The King
Little Women
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Rest of the Top Ten:

6. Motherless Brooklyn
7. Dolemite Is My Name
8. Rocketman
9. The Lighthouse
10. 1917

Michael McCarthy said...

What ratings did you end up with for the rest of the Parasite cast?

Louis Morgan said...

Michael:

Park So-dam & Cho - 5
Chang, Lee Sun-kyun & Lee Jung-eun - 4.5
Park Myung-hoon - 4

Kevin said...

Hey Louis, brilliant write-up of 2 absolutely masterful performances. Can I have your extended thoughts on the rest of the cast? (If you haven't already given them somewhere)

Mitchell Murray said...

Louis: What would you say are your 10 favourite film ensembles of all time? Surely "Alien" has to be one that list somewhere...

Also, you may have answered this question before, but what are your favourite "Canadian" actors? As a humbly proud Cannuck myself, mine would definitely include the following:

Donald Sutherland
Ryan Gosling
Christopher Plummer
John Candy
Jim Carrey
Michael J Fox (I know he has duel citizenship, but he was born in Edmonton so that counts.)

Tahmeed Chowdhury said...

Louis: Great review, this is so metaphorical.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your rating and thoughts on Park Seo-joon in this film?

Lucas Saavedra said...

Mitchell: he actually answered that question on this post:

http://actoroscar.blogspot.com/2019/11/alternate-best-actor-1999.html?m=1

Emi Grant said...

Robert: Yeah, last I remember I was right on the edge of just going with a 5 for Banderas. Another re-watch could help with that.

Bryan L. said...

Kevin and Anonymous: You can find his extended thoughts on the Parasite cast in his review for Anthony Hopkins in Titus


Mitchell: He gave his Top Ten Ensembles of All-Time in the Silence Supporting review (Neeson, Ogata, Asano, etc.) And yes, he has Alien at #4.

Emi Grant said...

I'll say that given how my introduction to Song Kang-ho was his cheerful turn on A Taxi Driver, I was genuinely horrified at seeing him commit such an act on the big screen. Even if it was just a character.

Louis: Would Parasite be your choice for Best Ensemble of the decade?

Emi Grant said...

Mitchell: I always forget Gosling is Canadian.

Bryan L. said...

Mitchell: Then again, his Top Ten might be different now since he has JFK as his #1 for the 90s and it's not on that list, yet The Thin Red Line is.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Could I have your thoughts on this scene from Friends?

https://youtu.be/-hXCNyLjwws

Calvin Law said...

I’d give a 4.5 to Park as well.

So glad they both got 5’s. Love the choice in photo for Choi, that expression is amazing.

Luke Higham said...

Completely agree with this.

And Mendes won DGA. :)

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Have you decided on your ratings for the cast of Parasite?

Luke Higham said...

Bryan: Same as Louis with the exception of Park So-Dam who's currently a 4.5 and need another watch for her.

Luke Higham said...

And guys, please ignore Jack Narrator, it's all wishful thinking on his part.

Anonymous said...

Luke, in your opinion, what do you think is the greatest film of all-time?

Luke Higham said...

Anonymous: Like the performance question I was asked before, my personal favourite is Amadeus (Not only because it's a complete masterpiece but I'm an absolute sucker for 18th century history).

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Which 2000s roles would Andrew Garfield be a great fit for.

And your 2010s cast for an LA-set The Departed/Infernal Affairs.

Calvin Law said...

My prediction for the top 5 is:
1. Pesci
2. Pacino
3. Song
4. Hanks
5. Choi

And I'll take two shots at that for fun,

2010s version directed by the Safdie brothers,
Leung/DiCaprio equivalent: Steve Yeun
Lau/Damon equivalent: Mike Moh
Tsng/Costello equivalent: Song Kang-Ho
Wong/Sheen equivalent: Gabriel Byrne
Winstone equivalent: Kenneth Choi
To/Rolston equivalent: Lanny Joon
Wahlberg/Baldwin equivalent: Jimmi Simpson/Andrew Dice Clay

2010s version directed by Nicolas Winding Refn,
Leung/DiCaprio equivalent: Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Lau/Damon equivalent: Daniel Kaluuya
Tsng/Costello equivalent: Keith David
Wong/Sheen equivalent: Ron Perlman
Winstone equivalent: Rob Morgan
To/Rolston equivalent: Jermaine Fowler
Wahlberg/Baldwin equivalent: Tim Blake Nelson/Clancy Brown

Luke Higham said...

1. Pesci
2. Pacino
3. Song
4. Hanks
5. Downey
6. Choi

Jack Narrator said...

My dream was to see Louis's lineup like this:

1. Pacino
2. Pesci
3. Song
4. Downey Jr
5. Hanks
6. Choi
7. Brown
8. Rockwell

Mitchell Murray said...

Also I just realized Louis' 2019 best actor line up is pretty much equal to his 2002 best actor line up; Everybody is at least good/very good, and even the weak links (Phoenix in 19', Caine in 02') still have strong elements in their performances to make up for them not being to the same degree as their competition.

Louis Morgan said...

Well deserved win for Mendes for DGA (though I would've loved a Bong surprise, though hoping he gets his win through Original screenplay then) set indeed to be Eastwood when it comes to quality of Oscar wins, and Deakins deservedly won with ASC, and undoubtedly his second Oscar win.

Tahmeed:

Thanks.

Emi Grant:

It would certainly be up there.

Anonymous:

Can't say Friends has ever been my bag.

Luke:

Dr. Maturin
Wladyslaw Szpilman
Frodo

Leung/DiCaprio equivalent: Ben Foster
Lau/Damon equivalent: Ryan Gosling
Tsang/Nicholson equivalent: Don Johnson
Wong/Sheen equivalent: William Hurt
Winstone equivalent: Jeffrey Dean Morgan
To/Rolston equivalent: Garret Dillahunt
Wahlberg equivalent: Sebastian Stan
Baldwin equivalent: Jason Bateman
Lam/Dale equivalent: Joe Cole

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Maybe David Ayer (think End of Watch) as director for that L.A. version then? Or maybe Dan Gilroy?

Bryan L. said...

Or Michael R. Roskam as well?

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

Ayer was on thin ice, then fell right through it, not even a fantasy casting would I give him the job. I'll say Damian Chazelle who knows how to film LA, and has shown ability in multiple genres, so no reason to say he couldn't do crime.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Plus, it is Gosling in the "bad cop" role, so makes sense then.

Anonymous said...

Louis what are your predictions for the Oscar wins?

Louis Morgan said...

Anonymous:

Picture: 1917
Director: 1917
Actress: Renee Zellweger
Actor: Joaquin Phoenix
Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt
Supporting Actress: Laura Dern
Adapted Screenplay: The Irishman (though upset is likely)
Original Screenplay: Parasite
Cinematography: 1917
Costume Design: Little Women
Editing: Parasite
Makeup and Hairstyling: Bombshell
Production Design: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Score: 1917
Sound Editing: 1917
Sound Mixing: 1917
Visual Effects: The Irishman
Animated Feature: Toy Story 4
Documentary Feature: American Factory
International Feature: Parasite
Song: "I'm Gonna Love Me Again" - Rocketman

The only precursors left that would cause me to change any predictions is if BAFTA goes for Joker in Score (though Newman will be robbed so badly, watched 1917 in theaters again on Friday, and man that would be vexing), Tarantino in Original Screenplay, or if Parasite wins picture. I think even if Parasite loses the latter it still has a chance to pull a Spotlight, however, though I'd play it safe with 1917.

Calvin Law said...

If they don’t let the musically gifted secret love child of Tom Cruise and Kyle Chandler strut the stage on the 9th I just don’t know what I’ll do.

Calvin Law said...

Louis: did it hold up just as well on re-watch? I went to see it again in cinemas last week and actually found it just as masterful second time round, which is rare for me with such ‘technical achievement’ films.

Louis Morgan said...

Calvin:

Yes, didn't lose anything on re-watch for me, which was impressive given I now knew the ending as well as the surprise of the immersive techniques but I found the whole thing as gripping and emotional as the first go round.

Calvin Law said...

Bodes well for one of my most anticipated reviews.

Bryan L. said...

Louis: Your reasons for predicting The Irishman to win Best Visual Effects? I keep switching between that and 1917.

Louis Morgan said...

Bryan:

Well in the 10's, if there was a more "prestigious" contender in the running it usually wins. It is often the biggest contender of the nominees overall, (sans Ex Machina however that was a lineup mostly of contenders), using that logic it reduces it down to 1917 and The Irishman. What hurts 1917 is the effects are invisible basically, and The Irishman, it was one of its major talking points.

Luke Higham said...

Louis: Your thoughts on Garfield in those roles and who would you pick to play Jack Aubrey and Samwise Gamgee.

Anonymous said...

Luke: For Wladyslaw, Garfield would be a great fit for that part based on his work in Hacksaw Ridge, as a normal man in a terrible situation (both WWII as well).

I think you could still keep Crowe tbh.

Bryan L. said...

Luke: Garfield has a likeable, determined energy that you need for Frodo.

RatedRStar said...

RIP Kobe Bryant

Bryan L. said...

Oh my god

RIP Kobe Bryant

Calvin Law said...

Fuck. As a lifelong Lakers fan this really hits hard.

Louis Morgan said...

Luke:

Well Bryan and Anonymous covered him well for the first two, though I'd add his ability for internalized anguish from Silence to add on top to The Pianist. For Maturin, I think he brings that right sort of sensible grace needed for the character, though with sort of sly cunning required as well.

For Aubrey, you could argue Crowe, looks more like the description of the character from the books now than he did in 03, and honestly any new version I'd opt for just for the whole crew to return. For alternate though Tom Hardy. For Sam, not an easy casting choice to make but I could see Tyler Labine working strangely enough based on Tucker & Dale, as he captured that essential naive earnestness essential for Sam (that isn't easy to come by).

RatedRStar said...

At first I thought it was a hoax thinking no way, its obviously a joke, and then just seeing Sky News confirm it.

Luke Higham said...

Fucking Hell
RIP Kobe Bryant

Calvin Law said...

I remember seeing him in person over a decade ago. Then watching him win two championships and the MVP. Fucking sucks.

RatedRStar said...

Its just insane when you think, just one year ago everyone on this blog watched him win an Oscar, you never imagine these tragic things happen to anyone.

Anonymous said...

Louis: Your updated Top 10 most overrated directors list?

Also, RIP Kobe Bryant.

Luke Higham said...

No matter how much I like Anchorman, Adam McKay should be on that list.