Well, wow, and wow again. ONLY GOD FORGIVES is something else. I don't usually go for ultra violence or torture porn, but sometimes a film is so stylish and flash that it all becomes like a cartoon. If you liked KILL BILL or DRIVE or EASTERN PROMISES, then you will love this. Every shot is dazzling, with camera sets up and colours you want to look at (it looks as enticing as IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE). 
DRIVE was one of the best films of the millennium, hands
down. This Thailand-set revenge saga feels like a natural extension of that
masterpiece, albeit with maybe boring and pretentious moments. One could say the brutality on show here is pointless and nasty as when Julian's brother murders an
underage prostitute, the police call on retired cop Chang - the Angel of
Vengeance, who dispenses his own summary justice .... 
However, the neon-lit
cinematography is simply stunning and quite often disguises the senselessness
of what is actually going on, whilst the ballsy performance from Kristen Scott
Thomas as Gosling's reprehensible white-trash mother is a terrific display of
her versatility. Its a jaw-dropping performance - her vile, foul-mouth mother is a total contrast to her roles in French movies like DANS LE
MAISON (IN THE HOUSE) or LEAVING. Gosling has maybe 20 lines,but this and THE THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES confirm now mesmerising he is on screen, though that one did not work for me.
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