Snowpiercer (2014)
Running Time: 126 minutes
Directed by: Bong Joon Ho
Starring: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Song Kang-ho
Snowpiercer is a sci-fi action film based on the French graphic novel, Le Transperceneige. It takes place in a train which holds the last remnants of humanity after a failed attempt to stop global warming, causing a new ice age. Curtis (Evans) is a member of the lower-class section of the train leads the other passengers to fight back and plans to take them all the way to the front section of the train, the engine. Under the guidance of Gilliam (Hurt), Curtis set out on a life or death revolt against Wilford (Harris), the owner and creator of the train.
Snowpiercer is a gripping, action film set in a world that is not too far-fetched from reality. From the first scene till the last, it holds your attention as you root for Curtis and his friends in a battle against the upper class, and the eventual result of that revolution. The action sequences were filmed beautifully, interspersed with haunting moments of silence when the characters realized what they truly had gotten themselves into. Evans gave one of his best performances reminding us that he’s more than just a charming, action hero/rom-com leading man. The cast of this film is simply a delight – Tilda Swinton, Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Song Kang-ho, John Hurt, Ed Harris, Ko Ah-sung, Alison Pill, and Vlad Ivanov – who each brought their A-game to the table in bringing each character to life. Furthermore, the cinematography was sleek and provided a realistic feel to the fight scenes, while highlighting the emotions the characters with close-ups and slow-motions on the actor’s face and/or eyes.
I genuinely fell in love with the storyline. Of course there are plot holes in it, but I thought the writers did a fine job in creating the world and its individual sections, reminding me of Karl Marx’s theory on society, how the upper and working class functions together. The movie does leave you wondering even days later the various underlying meaning you can extract from it and the symbolism of the ending. And a shoutout to the costume department for creating such interesting and contrasting costumes for the passengers on the train.
All in all, Snowpiercer is a masterpiece in its own right with a great cast, storyline, action sequences and directing. Highly recommended to anyone who’s looking for an action film that’s still grounded in a believable world, filled with various heightened emotional scenes.
Rating: 8 out of 10
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