Stoker

This was one of my most anticipated movies of 2013.  "Stoker" marks the American debut of one of my favorite directors Park Chan-Wook.  If you don't watch his films, stop reading and do that now (especially "Oldboy").

So how did Korea's greatest living director fair in the U.S.A.?  Exceptionally well!  "Stoker" ended up being everything I could hope for.

Now, it should be said that Park Chan-Wook films are not for the feint hearted.  Park likes to make his audience uncomfortable.  His characters may not be very likable.  But his movies are beautiful and hypnotic.

"Stoker" is a film about a young girl who's father has just died in a horrible car accident.  Her mother allows the dead husband's long estranged brother to come live with them.  But Uncle Charlie is not what he seems.

I have nothing bad to say about this movie, which can make for a pretty dull review.  I do want to put a special emphasis on the three lead actors.  Nicole Kidman is just as impressive as always.  She may take a bit of a back seat to Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode, but her character has the greatest emotional range.  And not a false note is struck.  Wasikowska and Goode finally prove to me that they are great actors.  Goode especially is firing on all cylinders.  Uncle Charlie is so creepy and charming.  Matthew Goode is not a physically imposing man, so all the fear that other characters show toward him needs to be justified by his performance.

Before I finish up, I wanted to put in this warning.  I want everyone to watch "Stoker" but "Stoker" is not for everyone.  The biggest thing to warn potential viewers about is that the movie is very sexual.  That does not mean sex scenes.  "Stoker" deals with awkward teenage sexuality and has an incestuous streak running through it.  Remember, I said Park Chan-Wook movies make you uncomfortable.  If you have the constitution to sit through it, you will be rewarded with what is probably the best film of 2013 thus far.

9 out of 10