The Films of Bong Jong-ho: Conclusion and Re-Ranking

I’m glad I revisited the films of Bong Joon-ho in anticipation of his Palme D’or winning Parasite. It allowed me to fill in a couple of blind spots in his filmography, and revisit what is really a strong filmography over the past two decades. I don’t really think that there was a real discovery here – the films were pretty much as I remembered – although a couple of films flipped in my ranking, I don’t really think I changed my mind much on his work. Still, it was a reminder of just how great his filmography is – particularly those three middle films (from Memories of Murder to Mother) made in Korea. I am happy that he returned to a strictly Korean film after two larger budget, international films with Parasite. He truly is one of the best directors working today.

 

And now, a re-ranking.

 

9. Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000) – Bong’s debut film is his weakest. The best parts of the film are around the edges here, and you can tell that there is a lot of talent here, although overall, I’m not sure it all comes together. Still, a fine film – just not in relation to what else he has done.

 

8. Influenza (2004) – Bong’s 2004 short film is basically him experimenting with how to make a film entirely through CCTV cameras. Bong finds many ways to tell the story of one man’s downfall, and looks impressive. Still, it’s mainly an experiment – an interesting one, but an experiment just the same.

 

7. Tokyo: Shaking Tokyo (2008) – Bong’s segment in a triptych of stories from outsiders about Tokyo is the best of the three films – a film about a lonely man, who has withdrawn from society, and slowly is drawn back in. It’s a sad film in many ways, but wonderfully realized.

 

6. Snowpiercer (2013) – The film is absolutely brilliantly directed – an action masterwork in many ways, with brilliant cinematography and art direction. I wish the film was a little deeper on many other levels, but as a directing exercise, the film is still brilliant.

 

5. Okja (2017) – The film is massively ambitious, and perhaps a little overstuffed and messy, but that’s all by design, and brilliantly realized by Bong. The emotional core of the story is so strong that it allows him to fire off in many directions, and still have a great core.

 

4. The Host (2006) – This really was Bong’s international breakthrough, and the film still works. In terms of giant monster movies, it’s as good as anything ever made, with great special effects on a budget, an emotional core of a family story, some wonderfully strange slapstick moments, and some moments that are truly scary. This deserved the attention it got.

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3. Mother (2009) – Mother starts out like a movie you’ve seen before – a mother trying to prove her son’s innocence when accused of a murder. And then the film gets deeper, darker and stranger throughout. There are a lot of great performances in Bong’s films – none more so than Kim Hye-ja, who delivered a performance that puts most Oscar winners to shame.

 

2. Memories of Murder (2003) – Bong’s first masterpiece, is still his best film. Before there was David Fincher’s Zodiac, there was Bong’s Memories of Murder – a police procedural that grows deeper and darker, as we move further and further away from the any real answers. A deep, dark, brilliant film that is on one level a serial killer thriller – and one many other levels, so much more. One of the best films of the century so far.

 

1.Parasite (2019) – Bong’s latest film really is his best – a perfect distillation of everything he has done before, making you think you’re watching an escapist film, when really, you’re watching the farthest thing from it. Parasite builds slowly, but is never less than enthralling and entertaining – and then going bonkers in a brilliant way in the second half. Sometimes the buzz is right – Parasite is such a example.