Korean "artsploitation"?

One of the most blogged and debated reviews Manohla Dargis has written since the New York Times won her over from the Los Angeles Times is surely her review of Oldboy. Not one to shy from such virtual tempests, Dargis rephrases her argument today: "There is so much talent on display in Park Chanwook's Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, it is a drag that the film never rises to the level of its director's obvious ability." By way of a relatively lengthy quote from Mark Russell's interview with Park in the Hollywood Reporter, she presents his case for the defense, hears him out, but decides nonetheless that the problem with Sympathy is that "the violence carries no meaning beyond the creator's ego."

Steve Erickson calls it "artsploitation." In his review of Sympathy for Gay City News, he cites Takashi Miike's Audition and Catherine Breillat's Fat Girl as examples and notes, "If artsploitation films have one thing in common, it's restoring pain to screen violence."

At indieWIRE, Brad Westcott opens Reverse Shot's trio of reviews. He's enthusiastic; Karen Wilson is mixed; and Nick Pinkerton: "Is it roundly competent? Yes. At times borderline emotionally involving? Sure. Will I ever find the occasion to think about, much less watch it, again? Oh, God, no."

Update: Aaron Hillis responds to the film's critics. While admitting that Sympathy "is far from perfect and definitely not suitable for those who can't stomach an old-fashioned tendon slashing," he also argues that "to cheaply bury the film as meaningless exploitation is an unacceptably surface-deep reading from a crew [he calls them out by URL] who should know the difference between Park and less humanist pop-stylists like Takashi 'I just made three more films while you read this' Miike and Quentin 'You can thank me for hearing The 5.6.7.8's every other commercial break' Tarantino."

Meanwhile, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (US theatrical release: February 3), along with Welcome to Dongmakgoi and The Big Scene, are all doing quite well in Korea, raising hopes that three hits in four weeks signals an upturn for the industry. Chosun: "That three films in completely different genres should be enjoying such a harvest in as many weeks is seen by the movie world as a good omen for Chungmu-ro, Korea's Hollywood."

Tom Giammarco describes the unique Mokdugi Video at Koreanfilm.org: "When you get the chance, snap up this DVD, enjoy it right to its hair-raising conclusion as it draws you into believing the impossible. Then consider how these same techniques are used on us every day in everything from media to religion and from advertising to politics, in a far more frightening way."

And, as always now, X has more Korean film news at Twitch.

Posted by dwhudson at August 19, 2005 7:32 AM