his name is lee chun jae. It is power packed Two and half hour movie with equal amounts of action and emotion. When a third woman is found dead in the same "modus-operandi", the detectives find leads of the assassin. ...while the subject matter can be grim, Bong still finds a way to assert a keen but dyspeptic sense of humour... Memories of Murder, with its razor-sharp editing and tightly wound plot, already shows the hallmarks of a capable, confident filmmaker. and the Terms and Policies, on. Sidney Poitier’s 7 Most Memorable Performances, All Harry Potter Movies Ranked Worst to Best by Tomatometer, Golden Tomato Awards: Best Movies & TV of 2020. big one. ), and the music (haunting) are welcome bonuses. I'll leave it at that in terms of plot as it the film beautifully pulls you in until it's frustratingly simple conclusion. Memories of Murder isn't a fast-paced film, by any means, but this time the slow pace made this movie about an investigation of serial killings so much better than 95% of its American counterparts. This movie by a then upcoming South Korean director, that lived up to this promise, is a cult movie in South Korea, and paints a realistic, if sorry picture of a state of one, in fact the largest ever, South Korean 80s police investigation. I enjoyed "Outlaws" the other night, which has a 7 rating, so when I saw that this film has over 8, I was thrilled. CINEMA REVIEW: MEMORIES OF MURDER (2003) Directed by: Bong Joon-ho Produced by: Cha Seung-jae Written by: Bong Joon-ho, Shim Sung-bo Based on: Memories of Murder (play) by Kim Kwang-rim Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roi-ha, Park Hae-il, Byun Hee-bong etc. Being a movie buff and a director in the making, I watched this film (with English subtitles, Korean not being my mother tongue), I was completely blown away by this piece of cinematic excellence. It's a great murder mystery thriller by Bong Joon-ho and it's just thrilling and keeps you on edge throughout the entire film. Get the freshest reviews, news, and more delivered right to your inbox! Copyright © Fandango. By. Music by: Tarō Iwashiro Cinematography: Kim Hyung-koo ***MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*** In this current COVID … "Memories of Murder" is certainly a more believable and realistic movie than other Bong Joon Ho films like "Parasite" or "Snowpiercer," but the characters in it are not as interesting as the ones in "Parasite.". There is not a single thing about this film that I can think of in a negative connotation. All I would like to say is that this is a film not to be missed. After two women are found dead in a rural community, a detective arrives from the big city to help out. Memories of Murder, only his second feature film, is an instant classic. Two weeks ago I happened to watch David Fincher's "Zodiac", then (thanks to IMDb) I found out about "Salinui chueok". Memories of Murder is one of my favorite movies, and in my mind, genuinely one of the best movies ever made.Bong Joon-Ho, the mind behind Snowpiercer and The Host, has a style and driving philosophy that synchs up perfectly with how I feel about film.Each of his movies has some genre that it tackles, be it a monster movie, a post-apocalyptic survival thriller, or in this case, a police procedural. I wouldn't want to give away anything about this masterpiece. The Police can't catch the killer so an agent comes from Seoul to give a hand in the investigation. Memories of Murder isn’t the slick, schlocky, torture-porn type of true crime thriller so popular at the moment; it’s a devastatingly sad look at a country gasping to stay afloat. Things quickly mushroom with the discovery of more bodies, more suspects and no end in sight. The tempo, the thrill, the development of characters, everything it has been well worked.The direction is good yet without emphatic resources, there are just two moments with a little much use of slow motion but it doesn't arrive to be an abuse of it. Please enter your email address and we will email you a new password. They’re flailing against the unknown, trying as hard as they can to close a case that’s getting out of control. There is an "everything including the kitchen sink" quality to a lot of S. Korean films. 3rd rewatch and it's still fresh af. Undoubtedly, MEMORIES OF MURDER is the best and a masterpiece of its genre. There are many others I can't remember by name, but you get the point. “Memories of Murder” is an irreverent and unconventional detective film that is original in nearly every way. | Metacritic Reviews. Memories of Murder is now showing in select UK cinemas and streaming on Curzon Home Cinema. Full Review | Original Score: 9/10 A devastatingly powerful film that takes so many chances in pushing its story sideways. they might think it could suppress commiees or anti-Gov gruop action. Admiral: Roaring Currents is a good example, as is Outlaws, and there are several epic drug or detective dramas and serial killer thrillers like "I Saw the Devil"--- absolute masterpieces, or at the least, excitingly different takes on modern thrillers. But like most films reaching for greatness, this is most admirable for its striking details. With the exception of, perhaps, SE7EN, serial-killer movie has never been this good. Viewers may be surprised by such a dramatic alteration, but it doesn’t detract from the general experience one iota. Memories of Murder is a ghastly chord that, once struck, echoes forever. The story (about real-life killings of 10 women in Korea during the 1986-1991) is compelling enough, but the actors (Song Kang-ho cuts you deep even when he's silent, and his big-city partner offers emotional jolts at the end), the director (effectively plays some scenes in docu-style approach), the cinematography (a shadow creeps out in the paddy field will give you, well, creeps. Memories of Murder was released in 2003 and has generally received very positive reviews. Fascinatingly, the details of the case described in the film are almost identical to those of the real-life murders. The suspense revolves around a familiar 'whodunit' investigation, but there the similarity to conventional crime thrillers ends as Bong upends expectations with masterful ease. A police procedural, the film's first act flows along conventional lines. He's a hotshot cop, hardworking and determined, who thinks he can spot a criminal simply by "looking into their eyes". This is probably the best crime thriller I've seen since "Insomnia," and contains the most haunting climax of any serial killer flick since "Seven." I'm one of those people who tend to think that South Korean movies are perhaps a bit too slow-paced for my taste. Photo: Palm Pictures. Having seen a lot of good films this year, I picked this up after watching Thirst and wanting to see more of Song Kang Ho, remembering him being great in the Host. after the siren, nobody is allowed walking outside. Memories of Murder movie review (2020) Ashleigh Durden October 19, 2020. By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy Preying upon women in a remote rural community the killer was both vicious and meticulous, strangling his victims with their own undergarments and leaving nothing of any use to the police investigating the crimes. Joon-ho Bong directs "Memories of Murder". This early film can be compared to David Fincher's ZODIAC (2007), although this one is a blend of murder mystery, crime thriller, black comedy, and political commentary. face, wishing you wouldn't spend two hours of your life on something that dull and shallow. "Memories of Murder (Salinui chueok)" is an involving, cross-cultural take on the "L.A. South Korea has gone a long way since the 1980s, and the serial killer mystery on which this move was based has since been eventually solved some 30 odd years later. I love Asian cinema, and good movies of many genres from across the world. User Ratings Park is out of his depth from start, as he fails to establish a crime scene, falsifies evidence, and trusts his intuition to spot the perpetrator. Here a murder takes place and detective Park Doo-Man is assigned to the case. What a good movie.What a great work of casting. While not perfect, the quality of the film brings the smallest niggles to light and while there are only a few, this film does not get the recognition it deserves in the west, yet at the same time, it's like a little secret that is appreciated by those who are lucky enough to find it. Memories of Murder is a minor masterpiece, a film that moved Bong immediately onto Korea's A-list of directing talent. FAQ You would've never seen a film like this. But after watching it for the second time, and reading some analysis about it, I dare say this movie is better than Seven. I'm really not a fan of this genre which is popular in various "detective" TV series but this film was something exceptional. It's not just its quirkiness that makes it stand out, though - it's well-written, performed and filmed. Review: Memories of Murder. Originally released in 2003, this film tells a story that’s loosely based on actual events. External Reviews Greetings again from the darkness. The story captivates you from the start, and it maintains momentum throughout. As with any murder and mystery, you'll be looking for clues, even on multiple viewings but at best you'll be grasping at straws and jumping to conclusions until the frustratingly simple ending. Memories of Murder Korean theatrical release poster Hangul살인의 추억 Hanja殺人의 追憶 Revised RomanizationSarinui Chueok McCune–ReischauerSarinŭi Ch'uǒk Directed byBong Joon-ho Produced byCha Seung-jae Written byBong Joon-ho Shim Sung-bo Based onMemories of Murder by Kim Kwang-rim StarringSong Kang-ho Kim Sang-kyung Kim Roi-ha Park Hae-il Byun Hee-bong Music byTarō Iwashiro CinematographyKim Hyung-koo Edited byKim Sun-min Production companies CJ Entertainment Sidus P… Since a synopsis would be redundant here, I'll confine myself to praise alone. Don't miss it. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our ... found his DNA on one of his victims underwear, and he also kill his sister inlaw, and 5 others after the setting of Memories of murder movie. The Detective Seo Tae-Yoon (Sang-kyung Kim) from Seul comes to the country to help the investigations and is convinced that a serial-killer is killing the women. Memories of Murder ’s new transfer is irrefutably a much darker contrast to the look the film once had, but the change enables a more rigid atmosphere that stabilizes the narrative tenor, emphatically shifting the ambience as a result. The story takes place in the 80s, where political unrest is there in South Korea and the investigators are yet to get involved in any major crime, especially in the countryside. For a stunning mystery that presents violent crimes in a manner aided by quality filmmaking, Memories of Murder easily sits alongside the best of the genre. and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. Soon he'll find that local police's methods are rather brutal, and that they're most interested on finding a scapegoat, someone to blame in order to ease the in tranquility of the population, than on catching the real killer (according to the real facts, they never catched the author of those crimes). I think i haven't ever seen before a Korean movie and if there are much of them like this one i shall become Korean movie fan. This one should have won the Oscar best picture. For a stunning mystery that presents violent crimes in a manner aided by quality filmmaking, Memories of Murder easily sits alongside the best of the genre. He believes a good detective possesses the inherent power to suss out criminals. Awards | Do you remember the siren which sounded when the killing is happen? As the murders continue they find themselves powerless to use whatever clues they have to find the murderer. Between 1986 and 1991, 10 women were raped and brutally murdered in the province of Gyeong-gi outside Seoul. I rarely watch films twice and never watched a film again without getting bored. that siren was controlled by military government. So Memories of Murder is a far cry from a conventional murder-mystery. Park (long-time Bong collaborator Song Kang-ho) is called to the scene where two young women have been raped and murdered. Memories of Murder. Published. Bong elevates every scene with his unbelievably assured filmmaking. Don't have an account? 16 years ago. From the start, Memories of Murder proves itself to be a very different detective story than most (American) audiences are used to. One wishes it strayed even further from the land of the Hannibal Lecter, then we’d really have something. Memories of Murder is precisely what you'd expect from Bong. I simply cannot find the words to describe how great this film is. Although it tackles a grisly topic, “Memories of Murder” is actually full of quirky humor and laughs. I have then decided that no other crime/detective movie can be as goo as this South Korean masterpiece. It just sucked me in and didn't let away until the ending credits appeared. Film Review: Memories of Murder The eccentric humor of writer-director Bong Joon-ho's "Barking Dogs Never Bite" is anchored to a more substantial framework in his sophomore feature, "Memories … A not-entirely-dissimilar pall of societal decay hangs over the ostensible "true crime" genre thrills of Bong Joon Ho's 2003 Memories of Murder... Tracing a long, frustrating, and at times darkly funny investigation into the crimes of a rural South Korean serial killer, Memories of Murder is a thrilling and stomach-churning ride. Bong Joon-Ho’s weighty yet accessible 2003 film Memories of Murder, seamlessly fuses tv show comedy with the dark tale of Korea’s first serial killer. I read a review about this movie and am aware what business it made in Korea, but nothing (I mean NOTHING) prepares me for this great work. AS you've seen the siren had become the perfect chance for murder. Memories of Murder may just be one of the finest showcases of camera work, I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching in a film. Like Parasite, it's one of those stories that sucks you right in, then proceeds to surprise you on a regular basis. American thrillers should learn from Korean ones, A Gritty Murder Mystery with Political and Social Overtones, One of the best films i've ever seen and is almost perfect in every respect. MEMORIES OF MURDER is sheer perfection from start to finish. Not only does Joon-ho incorporate some well executed camera angles, he also adds a unique flavor that can be seen in many of Scorsese’s films that turn bland and boring things in the film into something enticing and entertaining. Jason Clark. A perfectly made detective film based on a real shocking murder case in S.Korea in 80's. On repeated viewings, you begin to appreciate the little scenes the director has put in and i didn't pick up one of the running gags until the third time though, they add little to the plot but are enjoyable and fascinating as the director chooses to move at his own pace. There are only a handful of serial killer films that actually work, and with the Korean-based "Memories of Murder," it's evident that director Joon-ho Bong has done his homework. Memories of Murder is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1:85:1, in a new 4K digital restoration supervised by cinematographer Kim Hyunh Ku, and approved by Bong Joon-ho himself. Park looks deeply into each man's eyes, but before he gives his answer, the director cuts to black. Real serial killer was caught after 32 years'ago. Early in the film, for example, Park's commander points at two men at the far side of a room and asks Park to pick out the criminal. Powerful, unrelenting, and with excellent performances - especially from Song Kang-ho who is never less than outstanding - Memories of Murder is unforgettable and justifiably described as a masterpiece. Memories of Murder is an absolute must-see, whether you’re a fan of Bong Joon-ho’s more recent filmography, or even if you’re just a fan of murder mystery tales. The story about a detective in a small countryside town who finds a serial killer yet it's the incompetencies of the police force in general and human error which leads more and more murders. Don't believe all those reviews that say "the last scene will haunt you for ages", it might as well not. However, I was blown away by the fact that I never found this film earlier and while Song is excellent in it, the film and nearly everything about it is flawless in execution. 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