Sunday, December 23, 2012

Headshot (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)
Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Pen-Ek Ratanaruang
Starring: Nopachai Chaiyanam, Sirin Horwang, Chanokporn Sayoungkul, Apisit Opasaimlikit
Language: Thai
Duration: 105 min.
Rating: 6.6
Summary:
A former straight laced cop turned assassin gets permanent upside-down vision after surviving a bullet to the head.
Headshot is a film written and directed by Thai filmmaker Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, based on a novel by fellow countryman Win Lyovarin. It premiered last September at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, and was selected this September by the National Federation of Thai Film Associations, as Thailand's official entry to the 85th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film.

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Ratanaruang's ninth feature film is a neo-noir that blends together a moody art-house character study with a genre action thriller. It stars Nopachai Chaiyanam as Tul, a former good cop in a corrupt city, who through a series of unfortunate events becomes an assassin working for a mysterious organization whose goal is to eliminate evil gangsters and politicians. While getting away from his latest successful hit, he gets shot in the back of the head by one of his target's bodyguards. He survives, but wakes from a coma several months later with a permanent case of upside-down vision.

The story relies on a lot of noir cliches: an ill-luck hero; beautiful women who hide dangerous secrets; and it's even narrated from a jail cell over a typewriter. However, Ratanaruang does his best to keep things interesting. Chopping up and jumping back and forth through the timeline, and unfolding the mystery with just the right amount of plot twists and visual trickery to keep the audience engaged.

Cinematography by regular Chankit Chamnivikaipong, is solid. Not exactly awe inspiring, but it is the film's strongest attribute. Capturing the action with a fluid grace that compliments the overall dark atmosphere and elegant pacing of the screenplay very well.

Ultimately, its a gripping enough tale to make it worth viewing, and you probably won't be disappointed if you are a Pen-Ek Ratanaruang fan, but there's nothing really remarkable or memorable about it either. No surprise that it failed to make the shortlist.
Bonjour Tristesse
Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

Headshot • ฝนตกขึ้นฟ้า (2011)

5 comments:

d_4 said...

It just seems a little original with the upside down vision thing. I bet a lot more could be done with that if someone tried. I'll catch it if I see it around, I guess. It looks like an alright view.

blahblahblahtoby said...

Not sure I can state that I like the director but Last Life is one of my favourite films of all time and I really should see more of his work. Naturally I dig the noir scenario but 6.6 is a pretty low rating, perhaps it might make it to Australian DVD one day.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I think he's managed to stay on the fine line between cool concept and annoying gimmick, but the film as a whole doesn't offer anything too memorable.

Bonjour Tristesse said...

I'd say it's nowhere near as visually sublime as Last Life, but I can see you maybe getting more out of the story than I did.

blahblahblahtoby said...

It's the lack of Christopher Doyle I'd imagine.

Post a Comment