Steven Yeun is proving to be quite the leading man. Since he left "The Walking Dead" in 2016 he has developed into one of the most interesting and versatile leading men in Hollywood, including a sublime turn in 2018's Korean psychological thriller "Burning." Now, he delivers his most nuanced performance yet in Lee Isaac Chung's "Minari."
The movie follows South Korean immigrants Jacob Yi (Yeun) and his family trying to make it in rural Arkansas in the 1980s.
Don't be distracted by the nonsense ruling by the Golden Globes and subsequent controversy, "Minari" is a distinctly American, flawless movie.
Why you should care: 'Minari' may have been shut out at the Globes, but it's destined for Oscars glory
"Minari" is an American movie. It has an American director, a largely American cast, American production companies (A24 and Plan B), and it explores very American themes. But because the movie, set in Arkansas, is spoken 70% in Korean, the Golden Globes classed the film as a foreign language movie — meaning it was ineligible for the top prizes and was only nominated for best foreign language movie.
"The Farewell" director Lulu Wang is one of many filmmakers who have spoken out against the Globes' decision, writing that she has "not seen a more American film than 'Minari' this year."
—Lulu Wang (@thumbelulu) December 23, 2020
The confusion and annoyance saturating this topic is understandable. Jacob and his family are essentially on a quest to fulfil their own American dream. Watch this movie and it'll be clear how American it really is.
Thankfully, "Minari" is still getting a lot of awards attention including three bids from SAG, 10 from the Critics Choice Awards, and a whole lot of potential for plenty of Oscar nominations. It deserves all of them and more.
What's hot: It's a beautifully written and shot movie with a stunning cast
Lee Isaac Chung's clever script is sharp and detailed, but is often sparse on dialogue. That means there are a lot of scenes where actors have to use their facial expressions to convey what might have otherwise been a monologue in other similar movies. "Minari" is far more sophisticated and refined than most family dramas — it doesn't rely on hammy exposition or rambling speeches, it steps back and simply presents the story to us.
Yeun proves himself to be a master of this style of acting. You can see the burden and longing Jacob is feeling in every crevice of Yeun's face; in every glance and gesture. His performance makes you root for him as soon as you first lay eyes on the red cap he wears while toiling away. But it's not just about money. He wants his kids to see him be successful, and you can feel that weight of responsibility pressing down upon him.
Yeun was snubbed by the Globes but nominated by the Critics Choice Awards and the Screen Actors Guild for best actor. It would, frankly, be criminal if this intelligent, thoughtful performance wasn't nominated for an Academy Award.
Yeun's co-stars also deliver imposing performances. Han Ye-ri goes toe to toe with Yeun on several occasions, and their scenes always stay the right side of melodrama thanks to smart writing and their considered performances. Meanwhile, Youn Yuh-jung has the most colorful role as foul-mouthed Grandma Soon-ja. She is great fun to watch, and provides many of the movie's laughs, but she isn't without heart and drama herself.
Similar to Helena Zengel in "News of the World," child actor Alan Kim is the heart of his story. He does everything so charmingly and so genuinely, you'll forget you're watching an actor. In fact, the entire movie feels so natural that if it weren't for the stunning cinematography by Lachlan Milne, you might think you're watching a real family in a documentary rather than a fictional movie. The last movie to look this radiant and transcendent was Barry Jenkins' "Moonlight."
Coupled with this cinematography is an ethereal score by Emile Mosseri and a moving original song ("Rain Song," performed by Han) — making "Minari" at once a beautiful piece of art and a naturalistic study of one particular family's American dream.
What's not: Steven Yeun features less than you'd expect
Yeun is up for best actor this awards season, but arguably he could have campaigned in supporting actor instead as the story follows Kim's David more consistently than Yeun's Jacob. In fact, the movie could easily be read as David's story rather than Jacob's.
Yeun is absent onscreen for a longer-than-you'd-think while during one portion of the movie's second half, and those who come to see the film for him may be disappointed at that. Yeun's impact is felt on and off-screen (he's an executive producer), and he does feature enough to be considered a leading actor rather than supporting.
The bottom line: A perfect movie that will move you with every scene
Lee Isaac Chung has delivered a perfectly crafted film that combines the naturalistic story of a family working for their American dream with the magical look and feel of an arthouse movie.
This movie tells the specific tale of an Asian American family working to accomplish something and stay together while doing so, and no doubt a lot of Asian Americans will feel a strong connection with this. But the power of this movie is so paramount that anyone of any background will be able to take something away from this movie. Immigrants of any background. Those with ambition. Those who have struggled to fit in. Anyone who has seen their parents work tirelessly to offer them a better future.
As Steven Yeun has said consistently across his social media about this movie: "this one is for everyone."
Grade: A+
Watch the full trailer below:
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'Minari' is not just the best American movie of the year, it's the best movie of the year - Insider
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