Minari (2021) Review

This film has been gaining large acclaim with 6 Oscar Nominations and it has now become available in The UK and today I watched Minari and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees A Korean family more to Arkansas and attempt to start a new life. 

Main Character

Steven Yeun became a big deal for his role as Glen on The Walking Dead but since leaving that role he has had a few roles but nothing breakout until Minari. He is fantastic in this film, he delivers such a strong performance that hits many different emotions and Yeun does a great job in making this an interesting character and he totally deserves his Oscar Nomination. 

Supporting Characters

Yeri Han plays his wife in this film and she is also fantastic. They have such a great dynamic together, her character plays an important role in the film and the love but also conflict between the two characters is really effective in making them an interesting couple. Experienced actor Will Patton plays the family friend and he is good, I mean his character is crazy but it works well and makes him feel really different to the other characters but also shows how these completely different people can become friends. You know this film is really well acted because the two young children are also really good and especially the young boy play a crucial part of the plot and they do it really well. But for me the star of the film was the Grandmother played by Yuh-Jung Youn, she also got an Oscar nomination and it is well deserved. She is so funny in this film and provides some much needed laughs and comic relief but there is plenty of heart to her role and her relationship with her grandson is possibly the most effective part of the film for me. 

Story 

The story is effective, it works well in showing how these outsiders to the community learns to adapt to their new environment and how it can affect a family from the grandmother to the young children. The personal relationships between the characters is really well acted and really well realised in this really well written and well acted film. But, this film is just lacking a bit of punch and speed about it. This film has an issue with its pacing and it does affect the story, it just feels like the film takes its time which works for certain aspects but I just need a bit more to keep me more interested in the film I am watching. 

Script

This script is brilliant, the balance of humour and drama is here in abundance and it is really well handled. I though Parasite did this really well this year and with this being a Korean film too it seems like these directors, screenwriters and actors know how to deliver on a great script. 

Style 

The film looks fantastic, the backdrops of the film are great with Arkansas looking really good and shot really well. But as I mentioned above this film has a pacing issue, it just feels way longer then it is and this holds it back a bit as despite things being well done, it just finds it a bit difficult to always keep your attention. 

Overall

Overall, Minari is a great film. This film is really well acted and looks great, it is slower paced but is effective with its storytelling and I would recommend giving this is a shot especially if you are okay with subtitles. 

Rating - 8/10