Neon Demon (2016)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers: Nicolas Winding Refn, Polly Stenham, Mary Laws
DOP: Natasha Braier
Cast: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, Abbey Lee, Keanu Reeves
Language: English

When aspiring model Jesse moves to LA, her youth and vitality are devoured by a group of beauty-obsessed women who will take any means necessary to get what she has.

As per Nicolas Winding Refn, who describes himself as a pornographer, Neon Demon came out of his desire to make an horror film about beauty and obsession. There is nothing better than fashion industry to set such a story in. We are used to many such films and what I've back in mind is not Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Fashion', with which I had the misfortune of having to watch thirty minutes of it. I am mostly talking about films like Black Swan and The Starry Eyes. But it is not to say they are similar because the approach is entirely different.  When he describes himself as a pornographer, what he means is that he likes to film what he wants to see and the objective is to get a reaction. All his recent English films have scenes that are supposed to shock you towards the latter half and become news. Compared to Drive and Only God Forgives, he goes even more extreme this time round and you've to see it for yourself. As far as narrative and dialogue is concerned, it is much more simpler till the last act where it goes ape-shit and all symbolically literal.

It is a good watch but you're left with the feeling that you're not seeing something deep or new. That is also kind of apt as that is how the fashion world is. It is purely down to your preferences though. It is gorgeous to look at like all his films with stunning soundtrack from Cliff Martinez. The performances are all good and it may go on to become a cult classic. It got a very divisive response from Cannes and Refn was delighted with it.

If I were to rank his films the order would be:

1. Only God Forgives
2. Drive
3. Valhalla Rising
4. Pusher 1
5. Neon Demon
6. Bronson

Rating: 3/5

Valhalla Rising (2009)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writer:   Roy Jacobsen, Matthew Read, Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast:      Mads Mikkelsen, Alexander Morton, Stewart Porter

The film is set in 1000s AD, where One Eye, a silent warrior of great strength escapes from his captor along with a boy who was feeding him. A journey follows where they meet up with Christian vikings who are in search of Holy Land. They end up presumably in America and encounters Red Indians.

The subtext is left to the viewer to interpret and I guess it is about faith, religion and mythology. Refn had described it as something like a tale of Christianity Vs Mythology. Like in his last two films, Drive and Only God Forgives, a character plays a God like figure of extreme strength. Thing with these kind of films is that even if you don't get a complete or even vague ideas about what the director is trying to convey, whatever little you get is very rewarding. Just like solving a fucked up mental exercise. Essential viewing for a Refn fan and for others it is better to start with his other films before venturing into Valhalla Rising.

Rating: 3.5/5

Only God Forgives (2013)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writer:   Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast:      Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm

Julian, a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok's seedy underworld, is compelled by his mother to avenge the death of his brother.

If you though the film is about a Thai kick-boxer from the trailer, the joke is on you. It is difficult to interpret, but guess it is about Oedipus complex and the guilt that Julian is experiencing. Vithaya's character-could be a figment of Julian's imagination or not. Every shot is a visual treat and the violence is just poetic. Film was widely panned by the critics, but fuck them. It is an amazing watch even though nothing is certain about the plot. Several laugh out loud moments are there. Watch it in the right mood.

Rating: 5/5

Pusher (1996)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers:  Jens Dahl, Nicolas Winding Refn
Cast:      Kim Bodnia, Zlatko Buric, Laura Drasbaek, Mads Mikkelsen
Language: Danish

A drug pusher grows increasingly desperate after a botched deal leaves him with a large debt to a ruthless drug lord.

It is Nicolas Winding Refn's debut feature and even though the plot sounds cliched, the way it is shot and the realistic nature of it makes it unique. While most films involving drug dealing involves with either top level guys or street level guys, this film is about a mid level pusher. The story is set over a week's time and the film really ends well making us wonder what his next step gonna be. It could have been made even more ambiguous by not showing what other characters are up to. That is the only shot in the film which does not involve Frank played by Kim Bodnia.

Didn't realize till late into the film that the skinhead character Tonny is played by the wonderful actor Mads Mikkelsen.

Rating: 4/5

Bronson (2008)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers:  Brock Norman Brock, Nicolas WInding Refn
Cast:      Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Luing Andrews, Matt King
A young man who was sentenced to 7 years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending 30 years in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality supplanted by his alter ego, Charles Bronson.

Its filmed very stylishly and well acted. But apart from there is nothing much else. Disappointing. Nice to see Super Hans from Peep Show though.

Rating:2/5

Drive (2011)

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writers:  Hossein Amini, James Sallis (Book)
Cast:      Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston
A Hollywood stunt performer moonlights as a wheelman discovers that a contract has been put on him after a heist gone wrong.

The film has a very simple story but it stands out by the way of its characters and their moods. Performances are great and the soundtrack is magnificent.

Rating: 3.5/5