If you’re a fan of foreign cinema, Bong Joon-Ho is not a man who needs introduction. Between his (somewhat) breakout monster film The Host and his other more southern Korea-centric works, he’s proven himself a film-maker who can tackle a wide range of genres and styles. With Snowpiercer, he’s now attempted to make a Western-stylized dystopian picture, complete with a predominantly English speaking cast for the first time in his career. Based on a French graphic novel, Snowpiercer tells a story of a dark future with the human race confined to a train which is constantly making its way around the world; a world ravaged by an unending Winter. Its an ambitious project, and to stand amongst the best in dystopic fiction, it needs to
be both visually stimulating and have a compelling narrative. Joon-Ho gets the former right, but could perhaps have given more time to the latter.
Opening on our protagonist Curtis Everett (Chris Evans, Captain America), the set design and overall feel of Snowpiercer is on point right from the get-go. The class system which contains the enormous divide between rich and poor on the train is evident from the beginning and before we even see the fearless leaders, we hate them, and for good reason. Crowded, cluttered train cars show people who’ve been living in a particular kind of hell for the last 17 years, being punished for not being rich. Unkempt and unwashed, there’s a broiling distaste for the fearless leaders (represented stunningly by Tilda Swinton) and a want for things to change that’s immediately infectious from the performances as a ‘feeding time’ demonstrates what happens when someone steps out of line. Everett is the man to make that change a reality as John Hurt’s Gilliam tells him he is the proverbial ‘one’ and, along with his sidekick Edgar (Jamie Bell, Jumper), sets forth on a rebellion that will bring down the hierarchy they’ve served under for so long.
And for the first hour, that’s exactly what happens, and incredibly beautifully as well. Once the pace upheaval starts, its all go all the time. The dialogue is quick and thought-out, the action very well-choreographed, specially considering the close proximity and the special effects being relegated to outdoor shots gives a wholesomeness to the whole package that feels warm and engaging. This all climaxes at the top of the first hour with one of the best action scenes in recent times, in terms of both timing and execution. It was one of the few times I’ve ever been truly scared to watch what was about to unfold on-screen, and it sure wasn’t pretty. But unfortunately, this all-star first half is derailed for a second half that just loses its way as it draws closer to an end.
While the imagery and tone remain on point, the narrative loses its way during the second half, descending into cliché and poorly thought-out character development. Curtis’ character demonstrates skills that are incredibly specialist for someone who, until that point has been a ‘normal guy’ who just so happens to be a leader and it feels less like the calculated design of the first half and more of a settling on whatever works to get through the narrative. Which is a shame, as one particular scene involving a primary school-style cart is like the distorted baby of Bioshock and Terry Gilliam’s Brazil and is just one example of how well the cinematography of the feature does compliment the story-telling, despite the story not being told all that well.
All in all, Snowpiercer is a perfect example of a good film that really could have been great, had more thought been put into the narrative along with the aesthetic. The performances remain strong through-out, the story still retains a high level of depth, especially if you take your time to examine each train-car and every strange sequence that occurs. A mixed cast does a good job of demonstrating the remainder of the human race at a time when we are literally all we have left, and the dramatic tension, despite the failures, is still held right through to the startling conclusion. [blockquote]If you enjoy your dystopian science fiction, this isn’t quite in the top tier, but it’s a very solid watch nonetheless. 7/10[/blockquote]
