No Other Choice - BFI London Film Festival

 

What would you be pushed to do if you felt you had no other choice? The latest from Park Chan-wook poses this question and quite literally answers it, at least in the case of the main character in No Other Choice. Unemployment can be soul destroying. Being without a means to earn an income prevents you from functioning, how society sees it, normally. With unemployment being discussed every day, with jobs being scarce and having to deal with companies ignoring applicants, it is a subject that will trigger many. No Other Choice, Based on the novel, The Ax by Donald Westlake, delves into this deep well of desperation mixed with one of the darkest comedies in recent years.

After working in the paper industry for 15 years, Yoo Man-soo finds himself unemployed. After trying and failing to find a job after a several months, desperate to provide for his family, he places an advert for a fake job. Examining the applicants, Man-soo decides to kill those who are more qualified than he is in order secure a job opening, that he will also create for himself.

Known for his dark comedies and violent revenge filled plots, No Other Choice does, at times, feel lighter than his previous film. Though the subject is dark and the solution even worse, the snippets of charm and tenderness feel quite natural when embedded within the story. This satirical approach at the state of current situations that many face is above all, bleak. Throughout, you are meant to be hoping that Man-soo succeeds in his plan to murder people because it means he will secure a job and will be able to fix all the myriad of problems that have happened because he lost his job. But as we learn a little bit about his intended victims, there is absolutely no way to justify these crimes, yet we still hope he succeeds. Its difficult to suspend your morals for the 2 hours 30 minutes as after each murder there is a sense of dread, not that he may get caught but that he has maybe got away with it.

Aside from these internal dilemmas that you may experience throughout, the dark comedic tone does off set most of the issues that the story brings. Man-soo and his family’s other problems that need solving; the cellist genius daughter who won’t play for her family, the son who contemplates stealing, Mi-ri (his wife) taking a job working for an attractive younger dentist. Man-soo’s previous issues are also brought to the surface, his previous drinking problem most prominent, something that could destroy him completely, if unemployment doesn’t first. There are comedic moments to be found throughout but these unfortunately don’t out-weigh the sickening violence planned and executed.

Lee Byung-hun as Man-soo gives a fantastic eclectic and emotional performance, balancing the comedic and menacing side of the character. However, as a whole, No Other Choice, feels like some other choices could have been made but discomfort and shock were more favourable.

The Substance

 

There is so much to absolutely love and admire about The Substance, as well get frustrated over and grumble about. The general consensus with the film seems to be that is it gloriously bloody, disgusting for sure yet the narrative is questionable. But the praise for the performances for both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley is consistent, they are superb. Having won the Best Screenplay at Cannes 2024 and the intriguing teaser making the rounds, there was a buzz around the film and expectation on how this body horror would shape up. 

When Elizabeth Sparkle, award winning actress and decades long host of an aerobics show, is fired on her 50th birthday, she makes a drastic desperate decision. She is offered a black-market drug, the Substance, which produces a younger, more attractive version of herself, thus giving her another shot at holding the spotlight. But after her alternative self takes advantage of the strict rules, resulting in devastating non changeable effects to her original body, things go from bad to monstrous. 

Going by director Coralie Fargeat’s first feature, Revenge, you are right to expect enough blood spilt that the entire set will be painted red. Where Revenge was literally what it said on the poster, The Substance is more up for debate and there are far more questions to be answered throughout the film, as well as not all of them being answered. This strange bizarre satirical body horror (with some science fiction thrown in) boasts a fascinating concept but with a 2-hour 20-minute run time, there is far too much indulgence gore and crotch shots with less focus on the narrative. 

Shooting from disorientating angles, making use of the long corridor at the studio and the choice of close ups to really express the most disgusting moments, made for an intriguing film. All coupled with the concept of the drug and the complicated rules. A stand out scene in the film is most avidly the birthing of Sue, Elizabeth’s younger version. The ripping of skin and extracting of fluids, the film became a visceral treat for the eyes even before any large amounts of blood was spilled. With a large focus on the characters’ bodies, their stark pale skin against the white titled floors was especially pleasing, design wise, to view on screen. As the film progresses though, so does the body gore, particularly the end section. But all this blood and disturbing images hold a purpose, the themes at the heart of the film, image and beauty. Though Elizabeth Sparkle is still beautiful, her image is outdated and considered too old to even be considered for a revamp of the show. Enter Sue, young, beautiful, wears that pink one piece with ease and is able to pelvic thrust throughout the show without batting an eye. Though we get to see, quite obviously its about beauty standards and how women are treated but at the core of the film is Elizabeth and how she views herself. At one point, after the effects of the drug have take its toll on her, she stops referring to Sue as someone else as she has throughout the story. She finally admits out loud that she hates herself, which may explain her finally grotesque form. There could have been a deeper dive into her psyche but there is only a strange acceptance of herself, eventually, but one that is met with a reaction you see coming a mile off. 

Both Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley do give fantastic performances, the former especially during her French cooking phase in the film. Fargeat’s idea is in danger of being better than the execution, but there is more merit the film than there is to be disgusted by.

Fool's Paradise

 

We’re no stranger to the darker vapid self-serving side of Hollywood being portrayed on screen so any new film that aims to have a fresh new take will pique interest. Charlie Day’s directorial debut wants to be said new fresh take, and although delightfully satirical, it doesn’t quite hit the heights you want it to. However, it is immensely entertaining, jarring, uncomfortable and feels all too near reality, plus the blend of darker jokes and basic slapstick actually works well. 

An adult John Doe, with the mental capacity of a 5-year-old is abandoned in downtown LA. He is spotted by a Hollywood producer as he happens to resemble a notoriously difficult method actor. From this moment, Latte Pronto, is born. Dragged through from one ordeal to the next, one minute the talk of the town the next a disgrace. And all the while accompanied by his struggling publicist, Lenny, who seems just as clueless as him.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Bad Hair

Set in 1989, Anna is trying to catch a break in the fast-paced world of television. Having worked 4 years as an assistant at a television station featuring African-American music artists, she almost gets her chance to shine when she impresses the new head of programming, Zora. But Zora wants to change the image that the channel projects gently enforcing that Anna get a weave, hiding her natural hair. At first Anna’s new hair makes an impact in her work and life until her hair starts drinking blood and taking over her body. But she’s not the only one experiencing these terrifying changes.

 

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Sorry to Bother You - London Film Festival

Satirical comedic gem about the oppressed lives of those living in the USA. Trust me on this one, its funny as well as through provoking and disturbing, well at least the last bit is.

 The full review can be read over at Vulturehound HERE.