Directed by Bong Joon-Ho
Screenplay by Bong Joon-Ho, story by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin-won
Starring Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun-Kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Lee Jung-eun and Jang Hye-jin
The Oscars sure are an eclectic bunch.[1] Usually when you describe somebody eclectic it refers to their tastes, specifically to mean varied tastes. That they like serious drama as much as they like camp. That they like arty films as much as they like populist films. That they like John Wayne as much as they like the anti-John Wayne.[2] Basically, it’s meant to say a person who likes both sweet and savory.
But when applied to the Oscars, the meaning should be more along the lines of having a lack of taste. Or, rather, a lack of knowing what taste they have. After all, some years the Best Picture goes to an artier film like Moonlight. Other years it’s deadly serious films like Spotlight or 12 Years a Salve. Then in other years still, middle-brow junk masquerading as high art wins the big prize, like Crash and Green Book.[3] It’s all just so…erratic. Continue reading