★★★★★ 

Watched 27 Feb, 2020

Watching English movies is overrated. This movie will inevitably draw two comparisons. One to Zodiac and one to Parasite. Zodiac because of how similar the storyline and the subject matter is and Parasite because this was made by the same director as that. Memories of Murder does pretty much everything right. It keeps you engaged, it doesn’t drag on, it ends beautifully and poignantly, it’s a great murder mystery, it’s a great social commentary, it’s an excellent satire on the police, it’s beautiful in so many ways. Bong Joon-Ho is insanely good at what he does and that is in full showcase in one of his earliest films. The writing is so rich and the attention to detail is phenomenal. Each character is so fleshed out and all get extremely satisfying character arcs and storylines. Kang-Ho Song (from Parasite) is exceptional in this movie playing a detective that goes from a dirty sleazebag who doesn’t believe in reasoning and method to a careful and calculated mastermind. Kim Sang-Kyung is also simply phenomenal as he goes from a Holmesesque detective to an obsessed perfectionist looking for answers in any way possible. The way Bong sets his characters against each other and shoots scenes without cutting is unlike anything else I have seen in film. The authenticity of Korean culture should also be underlined with its references to the ‘K-Pop’ of the time and the aesthetics of the period. Subtitles are a small barrier that’s keeping us from a wide array of masterpieces. Memories of Murder is a flawless film in my eyes and it’s already one of my favourites ever. It is nothing short of brilliant. Watch this one, you will not regret it. Bong Joon-Ho is a genius.