SPARKOS

Director Christopher Nolan repeated the same mistakes he made when directing TENET, and extended it to three full hours of boredom. The loud and tiring soundtrack and diegetic sounds drown out any important dialogue; the pacing is messy; the theme is lackluster; overall, aside from two or three significant scenes, everything else about the film makes it a typical, shallow, prolific actor-filled attempt at something meaningful. Nolan does not have the insight or tools to make a historical film of this scale. His film adds nothing to the legacy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This film is suspenseful, touching, thrilling, and at one point, it is so sad that I highly recommend you have a box of tissues prepared. However, there are three major flaws that even director Jang Joon-hwan would not be able to deny: supporting character arcs are painfully boring; reusing the same actors in all South Korean films based on the 80s coup is confusing and ineffective; and the movie feels too much like political propaganda. I prefer historical films that allow the audience to understand both or all perspectives, rather than force them to support one side. Yes, South Korea had a decade of terror under martial law, but this film portrays and victimizes far too many citizens inaccurately, unlike 'A Taxi Driver'. I cannot blame South Koreans for having so much political conflict over this movie. Watch '1987: When the Day Comes' with a box of tissues and a grain of salt.

This film is a brilliant historical lesson that utilized Song Kang-ho's emotional acting remarkably. Many have criticized the film for being propaganda in South Korea, but it is so close to non-fiction, that South Koreans should replace some textbooks with 'A Taxi Driver'. Some parts of the film could definitely explain the excessive tension between the protagonists, but overall, this will always be a exciting, spine-chilling, funny and heart-wrenching two hours for anyone from anywhere.