Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives

Update: July 22, 2013

Critics Review of ONLY GOD FORGIVES

Rotten Tomatoes: 34% Approval Rating (35 out of 102 critics like it)

Consensus: Director Refn remains as visually stylish as ever, but Only God Forgives fails to add enough narrative smarts or relatable characters to ground its beautifully filmed depravity.



Rolling Stone - 2/4
Any movie that gets booed at the Cannes Film Festival has to have some kind of mojo going for it. What really pisses off audiences about Only God Forgives are its arty pretensions. Refn, who directed Gosling to spectacular effect in 2011's Drive, refuses to send out his films with a decoder. He believes cinema is made up of images and sounds that mesh and collide in ways that speak to the individual viewer. RThe film never coheres the way Drive did. There's motion but no momentum. Gosling, meant to be a blank page for us to write on, often looks merely blank. Where Drive shrewdly mystifies, Only God Forgives stupefies.

New York Times - 1/5
Here is what Refn says in a director's note: "The original concept for the film was to make a movie about a man who wants to fight God." All right. Whatever. Unable to give his automaton any suggestion of an inner life, Mr. Gosling moves through Only God Forgives as if in a slow-motion trance. He starred in Mr. Refn's last film, Drive, and will survive this catastrophe. But whether Mr. Refn can recover is open to question. The movie is so devoid of emotion that its ritualized gore acts as a narcotic. Filmed in shades of red, with a minimal screenplay, Only God Forgives looks like a ghoulish fashion shoot in hell. Three words should suffice: pretentious macho nonsense.

Entertainment Weekly - C-
Only God Forgives, which reteams Ryan Gosling with director Nicolas Winding Refn, isn't a quasi-real-world thriller like Drive (2011), their first collaboration. It's a solemnly preposterous piece of designer revenge pulp, with actors who stand around bathed in red and blue light like David Lynch mannequins in between scenes of torture and murder. The seedy, neon-lit Bangkok streets are depicted as a place of depravity and no mercy but also martinet control. What this means is lots of overripe maiming and execution, all accompanied by satanic synth-pop. Only God Forgives is really just a lurid horror film dressed up in nonsensical swank.

Los Angeles Times - 1/5
God only knows what Nicolas Winding Refn had in mind when he made "Only God Forgives." The Danish filmmaker's latest theater of the macabre is brutal, bloody, saturated with revenge, sex and death, yet stunningly devoid of meaning, purpose, emotion or decent lighting. Seriously. Artful shadows can certainly set a mood; too many and it merely looks like someone is trying too hard. That sense of overreach haunts "Only God Forgives." The film comes as a disappointment after the provocative intrigue of the brutal bad guys Refn diced so deliciously, if not delicately, in his brilliant 2011 neo-noir "Drive."
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Update: May 22, 2013

ONLY GOD FORGIVES Booed at Cannes; First Critics' Reactions



Ryan Gosling has become The Man Who Wasn't There at the Cannes Film Festival, both physically and in the ultra-violent character he plays in Nicolas Winding Refn's controversial new movie. The star of Only God Forgives, a slow-motion bloodbath with disturbing Oedipal overtones that was booed at its Wednesday morning press preview, begged off a festival appearance to walk the red carpet at the evening world premiere.

It's possible that Gosling feared facing a firing squad of disappointed journalists, since his reteaming with Danish director Refn is proving to be the biggest dud so far at Cannes 2013. Hopes were high because their first movie together, the wheel-squealing Drive, rocked the Croisette in 2011 and won Refn that year's Best Director prize.

The Hollywood Reporter reported a "ton of walkouts a number of boos" while New York Magazine and other members of the press were debating whether they heard a lot of boos or just "a smattering." That and according to Hollywood.com's Matt Patches, apparently Ryan Gosling only has 17 lines of dialogue. And now that the critics present at the screening have had time to write up their thoughts and post their reviews online, it appears that the majority opinion is less than flattering.

"Movies really don't get much worse than Nicholas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives," wrote Hollywood Elsewhere's Jeffrey Wells. "It's a shit macho fantasy "hyperviolent, ethically repulsive, sad, nonsensical, deathly dull, snail-paced, idiotic, possibly woman-hating, visually suffocating, pretentious. I realize I sound like Rex Reed on one of his rants, but trust me, please - this is a defecation by an over-praised, over-indulged director who thinks anything he craps out is worthy of your time. I felt violated, shat upon, sedated, narcotized, appalled and bored stiff."

Awards Daily critic Sasha Stone wasn't as appalled by the film as Wells, but also made note of the gratuitous violence. "Nicolas Winding Refn's follow-up to Drive takes him farther away from traditional narrative and deeper into abstract expressionism. His painter's eye makes Only God Forgives something beautiful to behold, awash in deep reds and geometric, carefully thought out shot compositions. But what it amounts to, in the end, is the careful work of a serial killer - not literally out there killing women but indulging in one bloody killing after another, practically licking the knife afterwards."

And Jessica Kiang, writing for IndieWire, sums up, "On paper, Only God Forgives is exactly the movie we might have wanted - a re-visitation to the dark, fetishistically violent world of Drive, with added local color and occasional, acid dialogue. Onscreen it's that too: just that and no more."

Cannes 2013: Ryan Gosling a No-Show, Booed at Festival for Debut of Only God Forgives

Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives Booed at Cannes, Early Reviews Less Than Flattering

 

Update: April 28, 2013

3 New Clips from Nicolas Winding Refn's ONLY GOD FORGIVES



Director Nicolas Winding Refn's follow-up to his fantastic 2011 film Drive is set to make its debut at the Cannes Film Festival next month, but three whole clips from Only God Forgives have graciously made their way online a tad early. The film's red-band trailer promised another intense and gorgeous collaboration between Refn and star Ryan Gosling, and these three clips don't disappoint.

While fans are eager to see what the always-reliable Gosling has in store for us this time around, it's Kristin Scott Thomas who is the highlight of these clips as she plays the mother of Gosling's character, a woman who urges her son to seek violent revenge for the death of his brother in Thailand. Only God Forgives also stars Vithaya Pansringarm and will open in theaters on July 19th.








3 New Clips Nicolas Winding Refn's from ONLY GOD FORGIVES
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Update: April 18, 2013

Two International Trailers for ONLY GOD FORGIVES Released



Two new international trailers for Drive director Nicolas Winding Refn's new film Only God Forgives have made their way online. These trailers delve deeper into the pic's plot than the fantastic domestic trailer that was a released a couple of weeks ago, but they still highlight what looks to be one hell of a ride.

We see more of Thomas' character in these new trailers, and Gosling appears to turn in yet another subdued, affecting performance. Stylish, brutal, weird, Only God Forgives promises to be everything we could possibly want from the second collaboration between Refn and Gosling. The film will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month and opens in theaters on July 19th.





Two International Trailers for Nicolas Winding Refn's 'Only God Forgives'

 

Update: May 6, 2013

ONLY GOD FORGIVES Clip Shows Ryan Gosling Training for Role



Ryan Gosling hopes his next movie will be a knockout. The 33-year-old actor bared his muscular chest and donned some yellow boxing gloves to train for a fight scene in the upcoming movie Only God Forgives. A behind-the-scenes clip shows Gosling preparing for his role, hustling in the ring and getting fighting tips from experts.
In the film, Gosling plays an American exile who manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drug smuggling operation.

Danish director Nicolas Winding Refn, who worked with Gosling on the film Drive, is known for his use of stylized gore, has plenty of advice for Gosling in the video. "Violence is like sex," Refn explains, as Gosling smiles into the camera. "It's all about the build-up." On set, Refn echoes his lesson. "Now make it dirty, unique, interesting, never-seen-before violence," he instructs Gosling.




ONLY GOD FORGIVES Clip Shows Ryan Gosling Training for the Role
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Update: May 6, 2013

Full Track List for ONLY GOD FORGIVES Soundtrack Revealed



If you’re all done listening to one of Hans Zimmer’s tracks for Man of Steel, but you want some good old-fashioned fightin’ music, you might want to check out the recently-released soundtrack list for Nicolas Winding Refn’s Only God Forgives. Featuring original compositions from Drive’s Cliff Martinez, the soundtrack will also include the song You Are My Dream by the Thai band PROUD, which was heard in the film’s trailer.

The soundtrack will be released on May 20, 2013 in France, where Only God Forgives will premiere at Cannes. In the U.S., the soundtrack will be released closer to the film’s domestic release date of July 19th. Only God Forgives stars Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas and Vithaya Pansringarm. Here’s the album track list (via Film Music Reporter):

1. Only God Forgives – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
2. Ask Him Why He Killed My Brother – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
3. Chang and Sword – Cliff Martinez
4. Chang Vision – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
5. Do As Thou Will – Cliff Martinez
6. Can’t Forget – Cliff Martinez Feat. Mac Quayle and Vithaya Pansringarm
7. Crystal Checking In – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
8. More Hands – Cliff Martinez
9. Sister Part 1 – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
10. Take It Off – Cliff Martinez Feat. Mac Quayle
11. Leave My Son In Peace – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi and Mac Quayle
12. Falling In Love – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi and Ratha Phongam
13. Crystal and the Bodybuilders – Cliff Martinez
14. Ladies Close Your Eyes – Cliff Martinez Feat. Gregory Tripi
15. Bride of Chang – Cliff Martinez Feat. Mac Quayle
16. Wanna Fight – Cliff Martinez
17. You Are My Dream – Proud


Full Track List for ONLY GOD FORGIVES Soundtrack Revealed

 

Update: April 3, 2013

First Trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn's ONLY GOD FORGIVES



The first red-band trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives is now available. Star Ryan Gosling is positively seeing red in this color-saturated and atmospheric look at Refn's new revenge thriller. A little bit of Thai karaoke plays the overture for a few brutal scenes which force you to infer what this particular tale is about. Gosling sums it up nicely with a simple question at the end of the trailer. Also Kristin Scott Thomas and Vithaya Pansringarm, Only God Forgives is expected to open on May 23rd and play at the Cannes Film Festival.

Synopsis: Julian (Gosling) lives in exile in Bangkok where he runs a Thai boxing club as a front for the family's drugs smuggling operation. When Julian's brother Billy is killed their mother, Jenna (Kristen Scott Thomas), arrives in the city. She wants revenge and forces Julian to find the killer. Julian's contacts in the criminal underworld lead him directly to The Angel of Vengeance, a retired police officer who knows everything and who is both Judge and Punisher. Jenna demands that Julian kill The Angel of Vengeance, an act that will cost him dearly.



First Red-Band Trailer for Nicolas Winding Refn’s ONLY GOD FORGIVES
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Update: January 6, 2013

First Teaser for Nicolas Winding Refn's ONLY GOD FORGIVES



One of the films that many are looking forward to in the coming year is director Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive follow-up Only God Forgives. The filmmaker blew quite a few minds with the genre-bending Drive, and the Thailand-set Only God Forgives reunites him with his Drive star Ryan Gosling. Though the film's release is a ways away, we now have a slightly better idea of what to expect from the pic by way of a very short teaser trailer.

Gosling stars a man who's been living in exile in Bangkok for the past ten years after killing a cop. He manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drugs operation and finds himself in hot water after his brother is killed for murdering a prostitute. The boys' mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) arrives in Bangkok to collect her son's body and instructs Gosling to take revenge and "raise hell."

This footage is incredibly brief, but it's clear that Bangkok itself is a heavy influence on the film's visual style. Only God Forgives reportedly opens on May 23rd, and is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.



First Teaser for Nicolas Winding Refn's for ONLY GOD FORGIVES

 

Update: November 19, 2012

Promo Poster for ONLY GOD FORGIVES Shows Battered Ryan Gosling

A new promo poster for Nicolas Winding Refn's Only God Forgives is now online. Ryan Gosling stars as a man who's been living in exile in Bangkok for the past ten years after killing a cop. He manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drugs operation and finds himself in hot water after his brother is killed for murdering a prostitute. The boys' mother (Kristin Scott Thomas) arrives in Bangkok to collect her son's body and instructs Gosling to take revenge and "raise hell." The Film Stage reports that the M83 song "Sister" was played as part of a promo trailer, and that the movie is on track for a 2013 release.





Promo Poster for ONLY GOD FORGIVES Shows Battered Ryan Gosling
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Update: March 30, 2012

Nicolas Winding Refn Gives an Update on ONLY GOD FORGIVES



Nicolas Winding Refn recently spoke a bit about the making of his next film, Only God Forgives, which reunites him with Drive leading man, Ryan Gosling. Speaking at length with the French outlet Liberation, Refn addressed the casting change that occurred when Luke Evans dropped out of the lead role and elaborated on the tone he's set for the pic:

"From the beginning, I had the idea of a thriller produced as a western, all in the Far East, and with a modern cowboy hero. I was lucky, Ryan Gosling has accepted the role when Luke Evans withdrew. He preferred to star in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. Luke Evans' agent has probably done him a great service."

"I hate the idea that the film is over before we started shooting. I spent whole nights finding places in Bangkok. Especially in Chinatown, where most of the film unfolds. We saw dozens of nightclubs, each more kitsch than each other, the walls covered with carved paneling, thick velvet, with flowers in colored plastic gueulardes, erotic statues or classic gold... they give me ideas for scenes."

Nicolas Winding Refn Gives an Update on ONLY GOD FORGIVES

 

Update: November 2, 2011

Official Synopsis for Nicolas Winding Refn's ONLY GOD FORGIVES



Synopsis (spoiler-ish):
Ten years ago in Bangkok Julian killed a cop and went on the run. Now he manages a Thai boxing club as a front for a drugs operation. Respected in the criminal underworld, deep inside, he feels empty.

When Julian's brother kills a prostitute, the police reaches out to retired cop Chang, known as the Angel of Vengeance. Chang allows the father to kill his daughters murderer, then restores order by chopping off the man's right hand.

Julian's mother, Crystal, the head of a powerful criminal organization, arrives in Bangkok to collect her son's body. She orders Julian to find his killers and raise hell.

Increasingly obsessed with the Angel of Vengeance, Julian challenges him to a boxing match, hoping that by defeating him he might find spiritual release but Chang triumphs. A furious Crystal plots revenge and the stage is set for a bloody journey through betrayal and vengeance towards a final confrontation and the possibility of redemption.
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Update: June 23, 2011

Ryan Gosling Reunites With Nicolas Winding Refn for ONLY GOD FORGIVES



Ryan Gosling seems to be attached to a plethora of projects these days and he is already making of habit of working with Derek Cianfrance (Blue Valentine). Now he is in talks to reteam with Nicolas Winding Refn, the director of Gosling's upcoming film Drive. Considering critics went bananas for Drive at the Los Angeles Film Festival, the two teaming up again is a good sign.

Their new film is titled Only God Forgives and will also star Kristin Scott Thomas with a planned fall start date. However, Refn and Gosling aren't stopping there. They are also headlining Warner Bros' remake of Logan's Run.

While Twitch had early word that Refn and Gosling would be working on Only God Forgives together, it was Variety that confirmed that Gosling was in negotiations to star. Luke Evans was originally set to star, but had to back out because of his role in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit.

Ryan Gosling to Reunite With Nicolas Winding Refn for ONLY GOD FORGIVES

 

I've been following this movie's progress since last year and I'm even more stoked now than before after seeing the teaser. People will be blown away by Kristen Scott Thomas' performance in here.

Give me a few minutes and I'll transfer all the major news I have on the movie from the MNN thread.

 

Shame only a few people are excited about this movie.

I should just put "Michael Bay" in the thread title to get their attention. :icon_chee