Back in 2011, Nicholas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling gave the world "Drive," a stylish psychological thriller that captivated fans and critics alike. The duo's second offering "Only God Forgives" is the polar opposite. Where "Drive" was exhilarating, "Only God Forgives" is dull. Where the former was filled with humanity, the latter showcases actors playing automatons.
According to Refn's own admissions, the film depicts a battle between a man and god. The film attempts to tell the story of Julian (Gosling), a man who must get revenge for the death of his rapist/murderer brother. The problem is that Julian lacks the initiative. Enter his mother Crystal (Kristin Scott Thomas), who arrives to goad her son into battle. With her son becoming ever-frustrating, she sends out a bunch of her own cronies to get the job done, upsetting police officer Chang (Vithaya Pansringarm) who seems to be the stand-in for God.
The film seems to set up the dichotomy between the active character and the inactive one. Julian is the embodiment of impotence. His hands are tied up while he watches his attractive prostitute/ girlfriend Mai (Yayaying Rhatha Phongam) masturbate. He dreams of touching her, but simply relegates himself to observing her on a number of instances. His mother verbally abuses and embarrasses him in one scene (she also calls Mai a "cum dumpster") and he just sits and watches; Mai calls him out in an ensuing scene for not doing anything about it. He constantly looks at his hands and dreams of seeing them sliced off. When he faces off against Chang, he fails to land a single punch. Gosling delivers arguably his worst performance ever, with on screen work little more than a repetitively inexpressive stare with the usual mumbled line thrown in from time to time.
On the other side of the spectrum is Chang. Pansringarm delivers an equally robotic performance, but he gets more to do here. He is the "active" character, but his repertoire of actions is limited to an exercise in defiling other characters. He slices heads off, rips ears off and thrusts his katana into other people's throats. When all the work is done he celebrates about it by singing to a crowd of fellow police officers in an attempt at vulgar humor.
Thomas manages to inject some momentary dynamism into this frigid film with an aggressive delivery of most her dialogue. She shouts insults at a hotel attendant before comparing the sizes of her children's genitals. Unfortunately, she starts getting repetitive after a while and falls into the same trap as her fellow co-stars. Same goes for Phongam who does little else outside providing the occasional eye-candy.
Thematically, Refn hints at an Oedipus Complex and a fear of castration, but these themes are never fully realized, nor do they even matter in the grand scheme of things. Despite terrific shot compositions, high key lighting and a unique score, the film stands out for all the wrong reasons.
The pace is plodding, with stares between characters taking up the majority of its run-time. The violence is unwatchable, and at many times tasteless. In the most unmemorable moment of the film, Chang gauges a character's eye out; the action is framed in a tight close-up that is impossible to ignore and will likely make a number of viewers' stomachs churn. It is grotesque filth that makes one wonder how it earned an R rating.
A number of critics have already called out the MPAA on its lack of logics or morals regarding the film. This critic will not miss the opportunity to do the same. How is it possible that this kind of violence deserves the same rating as the 2011 film "The King's Speech?" Obviously, "The King's Speech" was undeserving of its rating, but so is "Only God Forgives." This reflects a greater problem at large. How is the kind of graphic violence on display in Refn's film equivalent with a woman's breast being exposed? (Note: All films with one image of breasts are automatically given an R rating)
In any case, those hoping for a solid psychological thriller in the vein of "Drive" should look elsewhere. Those who have a fetish for outrageous blood and gore have come to the right place. "Only God Forgives" is virtually unwatchable throughout its merciful 90 minute running time.