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Mother
Mother
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Mother

Mother

2009
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 9m
A mother desperately searches for the killer that framed her son for their horrific murder. (imdb)

Directed by:

Joon-ho Bong

Screenwriter:

Joon-ho Bong, Eun-kyo Park

Starring:

Won Bin, Goo Jin, Je-mun Yun, Kim Hye-ja, Song Sae-byeok, Jeon Mi-seon, Byoung-Soon Kim, Chun Woo-hee, Gin-goo Kim

Genres:

Drama, Suspense/Thriller, Crime, Action

AKA:

Madeo

Country:

South Korea

Language:

Korean
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Mother

2009
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
2h 9m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 69.17% from 1798 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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kmcneilKMcNeil
Rated 19 Jun 2010
9
94th
I loved the word game during the sex scene. Spa-ghet-ti! A-larm! Ar-ma-dil-lo! I'll have to try that. I also liked. Uhm. Let's see. Every other f-ing scene. This was just about as breathtaking as "Memories of Murder". Joon-ho Bong might be one of the best things since (in no particular order) sliced bread, 70mm film and Wes Anderson. Hye-ja Kim (the titular 'Mother') delivers one of the three or four best female performances of the decade. She's pain, faith, commitment and love personified.
Rated 19 Jun 2010
jmboschJMBosch
Rated 03 Oct 2009
86
80th
A very effective murder mystery that delves deep into character and carries a lot more emotion than you would expect. Typical of Joon-ho Bong: the cinematography is great, overt and subtle comedy is peppered throughout, and a lot of characters do strange or over-the-top things out of grief. The theme of ignorance, both willful and otherwise is looked at pretty closely. Hye-ja Kim does incredibly well.
Rated 03 Oct 2009
paxtonPaxton
Rated 24 Oct 2024
91
91st
As I do at every available opportunity I'm going to make this about myself: I did a Joon-ho Bong draft with another guy and he selected this film towards the bottom of the list of seven. It was then my task to defend the film and I gave such a spirited explanation of why this warrants praise that he admitted I had sold the film effectively. There's no way I could reproduce that here so you'll just have to take my word that one time I convinced someone to like this. My Tenacious D - Tribute tale.
Rated 24 Oct 2024
hawkinsHawkins
Rated 15 Jan 2021
83
77th
Bong's mastery of tone juggling lends an unpredictable edge to this Psycho-inspired noir. I don't see anyone else making Hitchcock movies this good anymore!
Rated 15 Jan 2021
alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 25 Feb 2020
4
70th
Few directors have ever managed such a command of disparate tones in the same film as Bong seems to with every single one of his. Mother is one of his most twisty and elaborate, with Bong constantly pulling out the rug from under his audience and characters alike as new and shocking developments pile up to the point of near-absurdity.
Rated 25 Feb 2020
afx237viafx237vi
Rated 31 Aug 2012
85
90th
Thought-provoking mystery about the corrupting nature of truly unconditional love. Slightly whimsical, darkly funny, visually arresting, it also features one of the best opening sequences I've seen in ages. As soon as the music kicks in you know you're in for something a bit different.
Rated 31 Aug 2012
kevinjosephkevinjoseph
Rated 27 Apr 2011
76
91st
There is a certain danger that hangs in the air in Mother. Match that with some impressive cinematography and a stellar performance by Hye-ja Kim, and it's a good watch (to say the least). I liked it for its genre-bending quirks, and I wish those aspects were played up more.
Rated 27 Apr 2011
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 16 Feb 2011
90
94th
The plot takes a lot of interesting turns and finds a compelling Hitchcockian balance of humor, mystery, drama and horror. Hye-ja Kim's is burdened with carrying almost every scene after the first act, and she does an admirable job. I do kind of have a problem with simpleton characters (i.e., the son) as it often becomes a rather cheap plot device (see also: Dancer in the Dark). Other than this, however, I thought the movie was very effective and contains some terrific, inventive moments.
Rated 16 Feb 2011
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Mar 2021
40
26th
Contains a few interesting things but the character of the son is concocted in a contrived and unappealing way that ultimately dooms the film. Also seems superficial: a film that wants to take the audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotion and narrative twists and turns, done in such a way as if it was concerned with all the sufferings that plague the world, yet without the filmmakers or the audience ever really having to engage in any genuine care or reflection. Still, not exactly boring.
Rated 14 Mar 2021
hotsakehotsake
Rated 18 Jul 2018
70
75th
A well made movie with good acting but the pacing was a bit too slow and while there were many twists and turns the film lacked tension. The lack of tension and slow pace really made the film seem a lot longer than it was. By about the 95 minute mark I could feel myself getting antsy. Ultimately while I really liked the final twist I found the ending to be very unsatisfying.
Rated 18 Jul 2018
zipsterZipster
Rated 11 Aug 2014
95
92nd
Mum's the word for this Bong hit. Sublimely created and full of genuine surprises, Mother becomes increasingly enthralling the further it unravels as a stitching of absurdity and precisely delivered humor are only part of what gives true unpredictability to the seemingly straightforward story, eluding genre conventions by using such a singular character to bore through the wounded, withdrawn nature of the private eye pattern.
Rated 11 Aug 2014
moraesfelipemoraesfelipe
Rated 08 Apr 2014
80
85th
The main reason this POV-family-procedural-crime-drama works, despite its slightly vacillating third act, is his immense ability to give key moments images that stay with us after the credits. This obsessed mom protects her son to the extreme of killing the bum who saw her kid murdering the girl in order to bury the truth -- and to show herself the confusing, quasi-hypersexual care she feels. She starts and ends dancing because what she shows is not love -- it's a need of self-satisfaction.
Rated 08 Apr 2014
okkervilOkkervil
Rated 14 Apr 2013
84
89th
Contains some of the finest photography you'll ever come across. Visually "Mother" is a beautifully thought out movie and every shot feels atmospheric, intricately lit and subtly coloured. Kim Hye-ja's performances is brilliant too and she stands some distance above the rest of the cast. "Mother" also contains one of my favourite cinematic (literal) kicks to the face ever! Darkly comic, intense, intriguing, slightly malevolent and highly recommended.
Rated 14 Apr 2013
danastevensdanastevens
Rated 30 Nov 2012
90
92nd
A Hitchcock-ian murder mystery that unfolds into a maternal melodrama worthy of Joan Crawford, shot through with bursts of black humor. Bong's ability to sustain three or four different tones in one movie without betraying the emotional truth of the story is nothing short of amazing: He can pat his head, rub his stomach, and break our hearts all at the same time.
Rated 30 Nov 2012
walkenrollWalkenRoll
Rated 21 Jun 2012
85
85th
Great central performance by Hye-ja Kim. Suspenseful throughout, with hard hitting violence. You feel every frustration along with Mother. Joon-ho Bong cannot go wrong in my book.
Rated 21 Jun 2012
icarusIcarus
Rated 22 Mar 2012
82
69th
Bong has created a completely unpredictable film, a far too rare occurrence at the movies. Combining elements of a crime procedural with tinges of suspense, horror, and even a dash of the absurd, the film keeps you guessing until its striking and layered conclusion. The performances are solid and the visuals are consistently engaging, while the tonal disjunction is occasionally distracting. Overall, a very good film worth seeing.
Rated 22 Mar 2012
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 05 Jun 2010
90
83rd
Bong crafts endlessly creative images. His construction relentlessly displays a bravura inventiveness, a willingness, a compulsion to find visual loveliness, even sometimes in the most mundane of shots. He doesn't sacrifice earthiness, spontaneity, the rewarding snap of unpredictability in the name of creating rectangles of art a frame at a time. Mother always feels fiercely, toughly alive, even as the elegance of the frame reminds that it is a film shot by a man with a remarkable eye.
Rated 05 Jun 2010
rossRoss
Rated 23 Apr 2010
55
50th
Very dissapointing. The visuals are great, but once again Bong's pacing was to slow for me. The middle part is quite boring and the whole movie was too predictable.
Rated 23 Apr 2010
anselmi86Anselmi86
Rated 22 Apr 2010
78
65th
It's too easy to say that this film is an ode to some great Hitchcock work. I thought I'd be disappointed by Bong as the first 30 to 45 minutes dragged on uninterestingly. However, once the midpoint rolled along, the story kicked into gear. Superb performance by Hye-ja Kim. An excellent character study. However, it seems to be Bong's best job is forging unlikely relationships between characters, and more between mother and Jin-tae would have been highly entertaining.
Rated 22 Apr 2010
jazzalohaJazzaloha
Rated 04 Apr 2010
48
9th
The lead actor has a compelling face, but I didn't care about her or her son very much.
Rated 04 Apr 2010
entrapmenentrapmen
Rated 21 Mar 2010
65
38th
simple story, long runtime. acting is good but couldn't say the same to directing and writing. Could be more simple as the story.
Rated 21 Mar 2010
cinemaasiaCinema_Asia
Rated 15 Jan 2010
90
96th
Joon-Ho Bong's world is usually always brutal and cynical in every film he does but yet it's always a pretty accurate reflection of reality. He once again creates a running commentary on Korean society by cynically twisting the concept of the "perfect" son ideal and pairs it with a mother's protective pride and obsession. It's a morbid tale that offers up a bizarre look at contemporary small town Korean life. There's also a standout performance in this from the way underrated Hye-Ja Kim.
Rated 15 Jan 2010
astrakhanastrakhan
Rated 10 Jan 2010
83
89th
Terrifically well-made and tight character-driven mystery that recalls, and almost matches, Bong's earlier masterpiece Memories of Murder. Although the son is a weak character, as the film goes on you realise it is not about him but his mother (the clue was in the title). She is a remarkable and complex character, brilliantly acted by Kim Hye-Ja. The story unfolds slowly like an origami figure and there are some nice artistic touches in the direction of the silent scenes in particular. Great.
Rated 10 Jan 2010
ceekay19Ceekay19
Rated 28 Aug 2024
70
54th
Mother: "No way, you trash! You're not even worth the dirt on my son's toenail."
Rated 28 Aug 2024
muutanetmuutanet
Rated 21 Jul 2024
87
93rd
Started almost like a comedy but went on a way in the really deep waters. Kim Hey-ja on a lead was a prefect choice.
Rated 21 Jul 2024
armilioArmilio
Rated 30 Nov 2023
75
79th
The first half really challanged my suspension of disbelief: it's hard to believe that the police would arrest a person with disability that easily. But then everything turns out differently from what we thought, and the film gets better and better until a magnificent final scene.
Rated 30 Nov 2023
chmulcr0nchmul_cr0n
Rated 14 Oct 2023
76
82nd
The pacing is slower than it needs to be, as always, but the concept of basically making this a fairy tale of uncomfortability is really entertaining by itself already.
Rated 14 Oct 2023
dawdlingpoetDawdlingPoet
Rated 19 Jul 2023
90
93rd
This is surprisingly haunting, not in a scary way but in as much as the titular character gives a quite powerful performance and what happens in the plot, its a film that may stay with you for some time. There are certainly some emotionally powerful scenes and images. Its less an all out action thriller film and more a subtle drama about a mothers determination to do right for their child. There's some decent cinematography and ocassionally a funny scene or two as well.
Rated 19 Jul 2023
bownBown
Rated 29 Oct 2022
86
79th
I will never stop being astounded by Bong’s ability to blend so many wildly disparate tones. A beautiful and brilliant thriller.
Rated 29 Oct 2022
mystic4884Mystic4884
Rated 19 Feb 2022
81
46th
I was forced to watch this movie by a friend so I didn’t have any expectations for this film. Starts off slow and the characters are weird but in a funny awkward way. That could be cause they’re Korean tho. Nonetheless, the movie picks up and the ending is worth. Good film
Rated 19 Feb 2022
teemukeskteemukesk
Rated 27 Nov 2021
81
62nd
Another hit from Bong Joon-ho. A thrilling but touching movie with beautiful cinematography and shots. Kim Hye-ja also gives a fantastic performance, making her character feel extremely real and relatable.
Rated 27 Nov 2021
drtfx7drtfx7
Rated 31 Oct 2021
80
86th
Mother develops very organically, much better than most whodunnit mysteries, and also boasts an incredible performance by its leads. It also takes its time to contemplate the reality of this seemingly unreal crime, leaving one wrecked to have found the truth.
Rated 31 Oct 2021
sadmanSadman
Rated 09 May 2021
80
63rd
God damn, Bong can really frame a shot. So many mesmerizing frames that left me gleeful. If only the storytelling was as masterful as his camerawork. That isn't to say that it was bad, only that it had flaws. Most prominently, the second act. It drags. Bong's (and Korea generally?) trademark tonemixing doesn't work as well here, the humor sapping the drama and vice-versa. The third act redeemed the movie. It had the social critique and willingness to "go there" unique to Bong.
Rated 09 May 2021
dsonlaDSonla
Rated 23 Apr 2021
77
80th
High score mostly due to the main actress' performance. She was amazing !
Rated 23 Apr 2021
sfxysfxy
Rated 30 Dec 2020
60
22nd
The third act is quite good. It takes a bit of patience to get there. Bong's other films are more satisfying.
Rated 30 Dec 2020
chengmingchengming
Rated 04 Dec 2020
80
87th
Great example of Korean cinema, where we watch a bunch of whacky characters with beautiful cinematography. Makes me question even more what Bong he was smoking from when making Okja.
Rated 04 Dec 2020
akatemossfanAKateMossFan
Rated 29 Oct 2020
23
54th
ifeeltoomuchIFeelTooMuch
Rated 25 Aug 2020
93
88th
Maybe the greatest director to ever live. PERFECTION
Rated 25 Aug 2020
matthagenmatthagen
Rated 15 Aug 2020
73
88th
Quirky, cerebral, focused, complicated, darkly funny. Definitely a companion piece to Memories of Murder, but is more successful and poignant in every way. I was confused about how some of the investigative clues came together in the second act, but I highly recommend this one.
Rated 15 Aug 2020
king_zazvorking zazvor
Rated 15 Apr 2020
85
86th
Feels like a minor Memories of Murder. Much more understated than the other films I've seen by Bong Joon-ho: A very good job at leaving some questions unresolved but still making the film feel complete.
Rated 15 Apr 2020
bigboytonybigboy_tony
Rated 23 Mar 2020
84
76th
bong joon ho, can never do wrong, i repeat , HE WILL NEVER EVER MAKE A BAD FILM. if we keep saying that, it will remain true.
Rated 23 Mar 2020
wetwillieswetwillies
Rated 27 Feb 2020
90
80th
Viewed February 25, 2020.
Rated 27 Feb 2020
radumsmnradumsmn
Rated 02 Aug 2019
85
96th
...and that, Do-joon, is how I met your mother!
Rated 02 Aug 2019
peyrinpeyrin
Rated 22 Jul 2019
60
32nd
Very into the forceful visual language (sweeping wide shots vs deep claustrophobic shots) on display here. Honestly couldn't get into this at all but may give it another try now that I'm a fully converted member of the #BongHive
Rated 22 Jul 2019
wickedwicked치킨
Rated 17 Feb 2019
87
96th
Dem fine movie. Best piece of Korean cinema I've encountered thus far.
Rated 17 Feb 2019
sourheartsourheart
Rated 18 Nov 2018
4
72nd
Best ending of all of them - sometimes a little slight, but absolutely great set pieces
Rated 18 Nov 2018
evilmangoesEvilMangoes
Rated 24 Sep 2018
90
71st
A-
Rated 24 Sep 2018
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 24 May 2018
93
94th
A top notch thriller. Immaculately directed by Joon-ho Bong with a script reminiscent of Fincher
Rated 24 May 2018
tipartipar
Rated 02 Mar 2018
70
90th
The beginning is kind of slow but when it ends you got the impression that you have watched something good.
Rated 02 Mar 2018
pratchett3Pratchett3
Rated 05 Jan 2018
3
4th
has that stupid goofy tone that's common in south korean movies. the actress who played the mother was incredible though.
Rated 05 Jan 2018
capodelnullacapodelnulla
Rated 22 Jun 2017
85
90th
bong'un filmlerini ne plotla, ne kamera işiyle, ne genel anlatım tarzıyla ilgili bir şey söyleyerek tanımlamak mümkün. adeta söze dökülemeyen bağlantıların filmini yapıyor ve bu süreçte elden bırakmadığı -burada da olduğu gibi- bazen çok nadir gözüken mizah anlayışıyla çok nüanslı bir açıdan bakıyor. her şey bir yana, şu final sahnesinden sonra dönüp yanındakine ya da kendine neyi, nasıl uyuşturarak kutladığını sormayan insan...
Rated 22 Jun 2017
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 31 Aug 2016
77
51st
Interesting exploration of a mother's dedication to her son, mixing in a decent crime mystery with the character study. It throws in some sparks of violence and moral ambiguity for a pretty strong and engrossing film. I liked it, but couldn't get as deep as I would have liked into the main character. There were a number of great scenes and the bones of the film are good, I just didn't feel it was all connected together as well as it could have been.
Rated 31 Aug 2016
francogonzoFrancoGonzo
Rated 19 Feb 2016
16
89th
Star Rating: ★★★★1/2
Rated 19 Feb 2016
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 26 Oct 2015
20
10th
Really bad, really boring and amazingly over-hyped
Rated 26 Oct 2015
ratedarghratedargh
Rated 27 Oct 2014
85
75th
The tonal shifts, while sometimes jarring, really keep the viewer off balance. The movie plays with expectations. As a viewer you may be conditioned to expect, or even want, a specific and familiar turn. Mother doesn't give that to you. It still suffers from a meandering aimlessness at times. Sometimes when a filmmaker tries to conceal the mystery too much from the audience, it seems like it's concealed from the film itself as well. It causes a couple of the reveals to suffer.
Rated 27 Oct 2014
damildamil
Rated 30 Sep 2014
75
81st
It's similar to the director's earlier film, Memories of Murder (2003), but I liked this one a lot more. It starts off like a pretty typical murder mystery, but soon reveals that the film is much more about motherhood and the lengths parents will go to for their children. The lead actress gives a brilliant performance. Definitely give this one a chance.
Rated 30 Sep 2014
keanseenankeanseenan
Rated 28 Sep 2014
90
92nd
This film floored me in most ways. The story and characters always helf my attention, it was visually and aurally inventive and it ended with no splashes, tens across the board. I'm probably biased, I love this director, but from the opening seen of the title character dancing almost insanely, but not in the way you would assume that to look, I was hooked and the rest of the running time was spent reeling me in.
Rated 28 Sep 2014
jacoiiiJacoIII
Rated 09 Sep 2014
37
40th
So far, my least favourite of Bong Joon-ho's films. Still a lot to like but it certainly could have been shorter.
Rated 09 Sep 2014
honestthiefHonest_Thief
Rated 22 Jul 2014
5
91st
Bong nails it again, despite a slow start the cynical downward spiral that is the movie's journey will keep you hooked,
Rated 22 Jul 2014
robertaRoberta
Rated 07 May 2014
83
88th
What an ending!
Rated 07 May 2014
glm01glm01
Rated 23 Mar 2014
87
91st
86.500
Rated 23 Mar 2014
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 13 Feb 2014
73
81st
Well-acted, especially Hye-Ja Kim, excellently paced drama that goes in a surprising direction.
Rated 13 Feb 2014
girlonfiregirlonfire
Rated 13 Jul 2013
90
95th
This movie has a great plot, and some really fantastic performances, especially Hye-ja Kim who is amazing as the Mother. You cannot take your eyes off her every time she is on the screen. There's lots of twists and turns, which I did not see coming and had me gripped right to the very end.
Rated 13 Jul 2013
taumpytearstaumpytears
Rated 10 Feb 2013
96
85th
A masterpiece.
Rated 10 Feb 2013
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 01 Sep 2012
70
70th
The movie chronicles the efforts of a mother to clear her son of murder. She is dedicated to tracking down the guilty party and proving her son innocent. Her single minded crusade finally leads her to the truth, and demonstrates how far a mothers love will go to protect her own. A powerful story with an unexpected but entirely believable ending. I would like to have watched a version dubbed in English, since the subtitles were shabbily edited and badly displayed. Still it was worth watching.
Rated 01 Sep 2012
paulofilmopaulofilmo
Rated 31 Aug 2012
40
5th
Just horrifically boring.
Rated 31 Aug 2012
stevekimesstevekimes
Rated 13 Aug 2012
90
88th
How far should a mother go for her disabled son? Smart and intense drama.
Rated 13 Aug 2012
entertainmeEntertainMe
Rated 30 Jun 2012
55
29th
Something something Korean films and violence against women.
Rated 30 Jun 2012
jlee421jlee421
Rated 13 Jun 2012
7
14th
With no friends, no alibi and a unethical public defender, his fate seems grim.The only chance he has is his mother, who risks all to prove his innocence. Examining the lengths a mother will go to protect her child and the complexity of the relationship between mother and son A gritty, dark and visceral movie, Mother's suspense is palpable.
Rated 13 Jun 2012
maakalmaakal
Rated 12 Dec 2011
80
75th
This goes to darker places than I was expecting, and I enjoyed it all the way through. Some plot points didn't make a lot of sense, and I kind of wanted to slap the son around, but Kim Hye-ja's performance as the nameless Mother was incredible.
Rated 12 Dec 2011
alzukealzuke
Rated 01 Dec 2011
84
86th
1600th
Rated 01 Dec 2011
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 16 Oct 2011
30
78th
"Bong is less interested in shocks than in the synergy between the country's vast fields and the equally mysterious inner landscape of the dazed matriarch making her way across them." - Fernando F. Croce
Rated 16 Oct 2011
vandelay1Vandelay1
Rated 12 Sep 2011
80
90th
Nice movie
Rated 12 Sep 2011
topaz024topaz024
Rated 21 Aug 2011
70
26th
My first Joon-Ho Bong film. Not a fan. There are whispers of greatness here, but it never really gels for me. There are at least a dozen Korean film masters working today, making urgent, exhilarating work. This just wasn't one of them.
Rated 21 Aug 2011
closedmouthclosedmouth
Rated 21 Aug 2011
90
89th
God damn it, Mr. Bong, how are you so good at this?
Rated 21 Aug 2011
sweekodenSweekoden
Rated 13 Jun 2011
75
73rd
Big dilemma here: The first hour was very, very difficult for me to get through. Took me several days. It bored me. I don't know if I just wasn't in the mood for this kind of film or what, but that was the situation. Then I watch the second half of the movie and am utterly enthralled. Beautifully shot, brilliantly acted, emotionally resonant, unexpected, unusual, awesome. Really awesome. So what do I rate it? With the last hour fresh in my mind? 90+. But I can't do that. Sorry, Mother!
Rated 13 Jun 2011
senseisensei
Rated 21 May 2011
75
50th
It was shaping up to be a lame thriller until it boldly moved in a fresh direction. Most parents are blind to the true nature of their children: "My little Johnny would never bully your daughter! He studied very hard on that test; give him a better mark! etc." How far will a parent deny the truth, and how will that parent react when the truth becomes undeniable? "Mother" would be a classic if it had spent more time exploring these questions. Also, all characters besides Mom are superficial.
Rated 21 May 2011
whatismynamewhatismyname
Rated 03 May 2011
65
63rd
The first part of this film and the trailer gave me the impression it would be a different film, a more basic storyline. While it didn't just go down the familiar path, it also didn't have the 'meat' I was expecting.
Rated 03 May 2011
derekstarDerekstar
Rated 27 Mar 2011
80
68th
I saw this on quite a few best of the year lists. While I wouldn't rank it that high, it's always refreshing to see films which reject the idea of genre, or homage, or precedent. Mother allows itself to be unpredictable and untethered in a way that maybe 1 out of 50 Hollywood films are.
Rated 27 Mar 2011
fichincefi_chince
Rated 16 Mar 2011
78
82nd
The characters do a lot of shocking and crazy things, but I don't think you could call them crazy. You could almost imagine yourself doing the same thing if you were in their shoes.
Rated 16 Mar 2011
worstcasesceworstcasesce
Rated 04 Jan 2011
1
0th
Let's get one complaint out of the way: the ending drags. Otherwise: Mother is engaging, the plot is interesting, the movie raises interesting questions thematically, and Joon-ho Bong evidently has an eye for cinematography, because the entire film is visually fantastic: somehow gritty and earthly, but simulatenously it has an odd ethereal beauty, especially in the last shot (and a great shot it is). In summary: Mother is a great film from a great director. Score is not a grade.
Rated 04 Jan 2011
glmglm
Rated 31 Dec 2010
89
89th
88.750
Rated 31 Dec 2010
quickyapiQuickyAPI
Rated 30 Dec 2010
80
82nd
Really liked this film about a mother searching for the real killer of a murder her son was convicted for. It's at times hilarious, at times terrifying and at time sweet. Hye-ja Kim delivers a fantastic performance as the extremely devoted mother of a child that is just too dumb to distinguish his nose from his ear. Impressive on a cinematographical level as well!
Rated 30 Dec 2010
armondwhiteArmondWhite
Rated 14 Dec 2010
1
0th
As in his overrated sci-fi monster movie The Host, Bong uses outrageous, over-scaled violence to offset his superficial look at family dynamics.
Rated 14 Dec 2010
ceruleanblueceruleanblue
Rated 16 Nov 2010
9
70th
The film's theme "how far would you go to save your child (or your closest loved one)?" When it's over then ask the question of yourself-- Would you go crazy? Would you be willing to _______? Fantastic performances. Yes, they should have done more with the Hye-ja Kim (Mother) and Ku-Jin (Jin-Tae)-- I loved the direction that was going.
Rated 16 Nov 2010
simpliciosimplicio
Rated 03 Oct 2010
87
86th
Bong turns down the kinetics (minus a few thrilling outbursts) to let this creep along, all slow gliding camera taking in his beautifully hostile world. Kim and Won are perfect as Mother and Son; damaged, mercurial codependents incapable of avoiding friction in their small town, and both cannily relay Bong's knack for surprising moments of pure vitality. If this moves more slowly than his other films, it's to reflect the speed of his leads and the town itself, and to let those hooks sink deep.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
adrianadrian
Rated 21 Aug 2010
50
59th
Some excellent direction and mise-en-scène to be found here, along with Hye-ja Kim's wonderful performance. The writing, however, especially during key plot points, is much less compelling, and the pacing suffers in the last third.
Rated 21 Aug 2010
filmfreak88filmfreak88
Rated 20 Aug 2010
70
54th
This Korean thriller is very slow moving and it's hard to get into the characters especially in the first 40 minutes or so. The film also seems unsure if it wants to be a murder mystery or an in-depth look into the maternal psyche and this diminishes the film's impact. But one thing's for sure, Kim Hye-ja's astonishing turn as the extremely devoted mother (the kind of devotion which borders on insanity) as she does absolutely anything just to clear his son's name is a joy to behold.
Rated 20 Aug 2010
marianecmariane.c
Rated 20 Aug 2010
70
36th
Great story. Moving. Shocking.
Rated 20 Aug 2010
joojooJooJoo
Rated 06 Aug 2010
3
32nd
Joon-ho Bong knows how to create impressive and meaningful cinematography (I assumed this was the same cinematographer as Memories of Murder, but no) - and that's basically all this movie has going for it. Yeah.
Rated 06 Aug 2010
kasperlKasperL
Rated 06 May 2010
55
39th
A few brilliant moments aren't quite enough to recommend this slow movie. Watch Bong's considerably better 'Memories of Murder' instead.
Rated 06 May 2010
begoniabolbegoniabol
Rated 25 Apr 2010
85
87th
Very nicely made movie. Liked the ending
Rated 25 Apr 2010
rocketluccoRocketlucco
Rated 23 Apr 2010
55
42nd
Overall Enjoyment: 25/40, Plot/Themes: 5/20, Cinematography/Direction: 15/20, Acting/Writing: 10/20 A well made movie with beautiful filmography, but the story never really came together. This is the type of film that makes a large investment in the ending, the "who did it", and without spoiling anything... the director ties the story together in a way that leaves the viewer feeling somewhat cheated.
Rated 23 Apr 2010
parcalihamparcaliham
Rated 10 Apr 2010
75
53rd
5 nisan 10, atlas sinemasi, cansu ocelle, 29. ist film fest 16:00 & 'anne'nin oyunculugu tum filmi sirtlamayi basarsa ve film teknik olarak cok basarili olsa da bir turlu sevemedim. hikaye beni sasirtmadi ve katmanli olusu pek gozume basarili gelmedi. isinamadim, bilmiyorum ya da beklentim fazlaydi..
Rated 10 Apr 2010
bmastrorosabmastrorosa
Rated 11 Feb 2010
90
40th
One of the best south korean movie. Beautiful in its plasticity.
Rated 11 Feb 2010
constantineconstantine
Rated 24 Jan 2010
92
97th
This is the best South Korean movie I watched for a while. I don't remember I loved a Korean actress' performance that much before. Kim Hye-Ja is beyond amazing. She does an incredible character study and she carries the whole movie by herself although supporting performances are pretty good. I officially worship Joon-ho Bong now. God bless South Korean cinema!
Rated 24 Jan 2010
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 20 Jan 2010
90
88th
Kim Hye-ja is astounding in the lead role. A fascinating murder mystery that pokes fun at its red herrings with clever gags. Along with the great performances all around, a subtle sense of humor fills this otherwise gloomy film with personality.
Rated 20 Jan 2010
octaveOctave
Rated 08 Jan 2010
66
63rd
As it turns out, a character study is more than just a plot.
Rated 08 Jan 2010
ranaldRanald
Rated 31 Jul 2009
80
73rd
Impeccably plotted murder mystery / character study packs quite a punch in its final act.
Rated 31 Jul 2009

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