MPAA Rating: TV-MA/ Genre: Action Adventure/Stars: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal, Byun Hee-bong, Steven Yeun, Giancarlo Esposito, Lily Collins, Yoon Je-moon, Shirley Henderson, Daniel Henshall, Devon Bostick, Choi Woo-shik, Lee Jung-eun, Lee Bong-ryun/Runtime: 120 minutes
Is it just me dear reader or does wide-release cinema seem to not be as open to working with truly original movie makers like they used to? Perhaps this is why here lately a lot of the more distinct auteurs out there like David Lynch to name but one noteworthy example are making the choice to relocate to either one of the streaming sites or a channel in the vein of HBO instead of being mauled by the majority of the studios. The reason I bring this up dear reader is because iconic film helmer Bong Joon-ho is one guy who learned this lesson in the worst way possible with his iconic 2013 slice of cinema Snowpiercer. That’s because as great as that film is, it was distributed here in the States by The Weinstein Company who wanted to take 20 minutes off the film. Yet, in an intriguing move, critics would wind up saving the film by giving such a positive reception to it that it resulted in the Weinsteins retracting from that goal. Nevertheless, I guess it isn’t that astonishing to see that for the slice of cinema I am reviewing for you today, 2017’s Okja, that Bong decided to transition over to Netflix knowing that they wouldn’t even think about tampering or altering his take on this material. A pretty fortunate thing for this film because the exterior might suggest that what you are getting here is a simple yet touching story about a girl and her pig, but trust me when I say that Bong is very much the kind of film helmer who is skilled at subtly putting in nuance into his movies. As a result, what we get instead is a film in the vein of Linklater’s 2006 slice of cinema Fast Food Nation if Linklater had been shoved out of the director’s chair by Terry Gilliam and his first act as director was to get the song Meat is Murder to be an official part of the film soundtrack. Suffice it to say is Okja a perfect slice of cinema? Not even close. At the same time though, make no mistake when I say that the world of movie magic is certainly better off with this film being a part of its tapestry. Indeed, if you are looking for a movie that is very much run of the mill then I’m sorry, but this isn’t one for you. However, if you are looking for a brilliant on both sides of the camera film that will astonish, rivet, humor, and even in some points nauseate you whilst also being the exact opposite of the usual “studio fare” then this is definitely the kind of film for you.
The plot is as follows: Taking place in an alternate reality version of our world, we see that this slice of cinema’s narrative gets underway in the year 2007 at a press conference being held in a rundown building that belongs to a noteworthy organization known as Mirando where we witness as the newly put in power CEO, one Lucy Mirando, is engaging in a wee bit of show and tell with the press in order to try and get the business back into prominence once more. To that end, we see that what Mirando has in mind for the “Hail Mary” to save her company takes the form of the discovery of a new so-called “super-pig” in the country of Chile that could be vital in fixing the global food crisis with as tiny of a dent made on the environment as possible. Suffice it to say that, following the company breeding these pigs on their grounds, Mirando aims to put 26 of these super pigs with farmers across the planet with the proverbial “best of the best” being showcased at a special pageant of sorts 10 years later. From there, our story moves ahead to “present day 2017” and to a gorgeous set of woods in the locale of South Korea where we see a precocious young girl by the name of Mija has been raising one of these super-pigs, whom she has named Okja, alongside her devoted grandfather. To say that the child and this super-pig have a close relationship is a wee bit of an understatement. In point of fact, this is one duo that is, for all intents and purposes, the very dictionary definition of tight-knit. As beautiful as the bond between this pair is, we soon see that it tragically comes to a screeching halt when a noteworthy animal show host, and current PR spokesperson for Mirando, by the name of Dr. Johnny Wilcox comes a’calling to see how the super-pig is faring. It should come as no surprise too dear reader to learn that Okja manages to completely astonish Wilcox and have him make the determination that Okja is the “best of the best” of the super-pigs bred. Tragically though, this also results in Okja being snatched by Mija so the pig can head not only to New York, but also the long-promised pageant and afterwards….well I’m sure you can put two and five together. To that end, we see that Mija decides to take matters into her own hands and, with the aid of a group known as the ALF that includes an honorable and moral leader in the form of a young man by the name of Jay and an enigmatic Korean-American translator regarded as (get this) K, sets out on a mission to not only rescue her dear piggy friend, but to also bring him home so the two can go back to living their lives in relative peace and harmony.
So, before I go any further, I definitely think I should make one thing as clear as crystal: Okja is a genuinely great slice of cinema that manages to be such an incredible mix of novel, comedic, touching, and potent that don’t be surprised if you find yourself stuck with a twinge of guilt, however small and/or fleeting, the next time you see bacon. Indeed, there is a tempo and graceful restraint to this slice of cinema that doesn’t just ensure that what it is trying to convey is consistently pertinent or for that matter that the thematic concepts on display are examined with care, but that you are never left thinking this slice of cinema is simply spinning its wheels in regard to its narrative or its purpose. Along with that, praise must be given to this slice of cinema for not cutting corners on either pathos or in fleshing out its characters. As a result, this helps to ensure that you either care about or at least comprehend the motivations for everyone in this right down to its antagonists who, besides being surprisingly three-dimensional, also give off the vibe of being the result of the capitalist mentality being elevated to a scale factor of about 7. Along with that, it should be noted that another arena where this slice of cinema is really able to soar is in the work done by their immensely skilled visual effects department for being able right off the bat to have the titular creature be slightly otherworldly yet riveting and quite endearing in equal measure. As a result, we see that this goes a long way toward making the genuinely lovely bond between this “super pig” and the character of Mija one that will most assuredly tug at the heartstrings in a way that feels genuine and not forced in any way. With that in mind though, it also impressive how co-scribe/helmer Bong Joon-ho is able to keep raising the stakes in manners that are both novel and creative all whilst reinforcing the fairly simplistic narrative with the heartbreaking theme of cruelty to nature in a manner that is equally comedic, potent, and yet also quite inquiring. Most crucial of all though is the fact that this slice of cinema’s helmer doesn’t choose to restrain himself which, by being both wonderful as well as unyielding, aids in pulling you into the world of the film better. This is definitely the case incidentally when it comes to this slice of cinema’s vicious conclusion that isn’t watered down and instead showcased as starkly and genuinely as it possibly can be. Ultimately though, it is the bond between the titular character and the human Mija that will really make you love and appreciate what this slice of cinema has to offer especially after seeing how heartfelt and relentless Mija is in saving this animal that she has claimed in her heart as her own. Thus, by the time this film wraps up, it might leave you feeling drained like you’ve just been on a long odyssey, but I promise it will be an odyssey that you will want to take more than once.
Of course, the other big component that this slice of cinema has going for it would undoubtedly be the fantastic cast that has been assembled in front of the camera. This starts with the main actress, one Ahn Seo-hyun, and honestly, she is phenomenal as the beating heart operating at the center of this slice of cinema. Indeed she might not say that much, but Seo-hyun manages to bring a conviction and soul to her role of Mija that it won’t surprise you, like some of the other characters in this, to find that you are both touched and even inspired as you watch this truly special child embark on this quest to reunite with the animal that she loves more than anything else in the world. Suffice it to say that it is a truly fantastic performance and one that I hope leads to a long and storied career for Ahn Seo-hyun. Along with her, we also get a trinity of terrific performances from Paul Dano who, in the role of ALF leader Jay, brings a quiet yet passionate dignity, Steven Yeun who is wonderfully enigmatic in a role that thankfully does NOT see him fighting the undead, and Lily Collins who brings a wonderful passion to the role of ALF activist Red. Of course, I would also be amiss if I didn’t point out the terrifically dependable work done here by the always delightful Giancarlo Esposito in the role of Mirando executive Frank Dawson. It should also be noted here that, in the dual role of both Lucy as well as her slightly more diabolical sister Nancy, this slice of cinema manages to get yet another winning performance out of the always terrific Tilda Swinton. Indeed, not only is Swinton genuinely funny here, but she also manages to give a truly three-dimensional performance that might be monstrous at points but is also surprisingly well-meaning and humane as well. Suffice it to say that Swinton has always been a terrific screen presence whenever she appears in something and here is most assuredly no different. Now I know that there are a lot of people who might find Jake Gyllenhaal’s performance as Dr. Johnny Willcox in this more than just a wee bit divisive due in no small part to how outlandish and over the top he chooses to go with his screentime in this. In the eyes of this critic however, I have only seen Gyllenhaal give only one “bad performance” and that was in the slice of cinema known as Bubble Boy from the year 2001. A slice of cinema incidentally that, even with a goofy performance from Gyllenhaal, was bad right from the word go. In this one however, I must say that I found Gyllenhaal’s looniness downright inspiring. Sure, he’s playing a mix of Jack Hanna, Lou Bloom from Nightcrawler, and one of the goofier villains in Batman’s rogue gallery, but Gyllenhaal plays Willcox with such gusto and passion that you can’t help but be taken in by it all the same. Suffice it to say that the cast in this, no matter how big or small their role in the grand scheme of things may be, all do a wonderful job of bringing their collective A-game to this and the film suffice it to say is all the better for it.
All in all and at the end of the day, the long and quite storied pantheon of relationships shared by downright adorable and heartfelt critters and their human counterparts in the movies definitely need to carve out a wonderfully large space for Okja the super pig and the bond it shares with its devoted human Mija. I say that because the slice of cinema that is 2017’s Okja is without a doubt a genuine top-flight slice of cinema in every sense of the word. Indeed, here is a movie that manages to be, far and away, the highly skilled Korean film helmer Bong Joon Ho’s most comprehensible slice of cinema to date. Not just because the majority of the time the language being spoken by the characters is English and not just because it is just a sneakily fun adventure. Rather, it is also because the bond between girl and super pig is one that is familiar to not only ones seen in such slices of cinema as The Never-Ending Story and E.T., but (I can truly hope) to bonds that you may have had when you were growing up yourself. To that end, Okja is a beautifully brought to life slice of cinema that, on both sides of the camera, is full of both heart and insightfulness in equal measure. More than that though, this is a vibrant, lively, and just chaotically delightful slice of cinema that will give you something to ponder, something to make you cry into more than a few tissues, something to make you laugh and smile, and maybe something that might (key word being might) make you pause when you look at a menu in a restaurant and see the word “bacon” written anywhere (and yes that does include when it comes to ordering a Bloody Mary that is rocking the food). Suffice it to say that this is one slice of cinema that acts as a wonderful reminder of the magic of the movies and yet I wouldn’t have it any other way. Make of that dear reader what thou will. On a scale of 1-5 I give Okja “2017” a solid 4 out of 5.
