Only God Forgives

Name: Only God Forgives
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Crime
Released: July 19, 2013
Duration: 90 min
Rating: 37
Cast: Kristin Scott Thomas, Ryan Gosling, Vithaya Pansringarm

2013

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 39 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 561 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 561 Ratings

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Only God Forgives

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Movie Details & Credits

RADiUS-TWC | Release Date: July 19, 2013 | R

Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas, Ryan Gosling, Vithaya Pansringarm

Summary: Julian 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, 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 ofJulian 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, 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.… Expand

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller, Crime

Rating: R

Runtime: 90 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Empire Damon Wise

Jul 29, 2013

Experimental and uncompromising, Winding Refn and Gosling’s Drive follow-up is a tripped-out riff on the crime family movie in which The Grifters — literally — go to hell. Read full review

Jesse Cataldo

Jul 15, 2013

It takes the basic form of the revenge flick and dips it in tar, making for a movie that comes out sticky, nasty, and black. Read full review

Joshua Rothkopf

Jul 16, 2013

Crushingly, the dependably perverse art-action director Nicolas Winding Refn has finally made a boring movie. Read full review

Anthony Lane

Jul 15, 2013

However mystifying, or downright boring, you find the result, rest assured that the Refn faithful will swoon. Peace be with them. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Jul 17, 2013

Long after Only God Forgives concludes, only its scuzziness remains. This artistic misfire will forever be knocking on heaven’s door. Read full review

Sara Stewart

Jul 18, 2013

The innovation of Refn’s latest is mostly just in the way it manages to merge gory and boring. At least it’s created a new movie adjective for me: goring. Read full review

Rex Reed

Jul 16, 2013

In Cannes, one wag described it as “cinematic defecation” in print. I’d like to top that one, but as James Agee used to say, I know when I’m licked. Read full review

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User Reviews

alescio92

Jul 19, 2013

Only God Forgives directed by Nicolas Winding Refn, an intense film, aesthetically perfect with beautiful colors, beautiful performances, a directorial no flaws, a wonderful movie, perfect, a beautiful soundtrack, not a fim suitable for everyone though.
This is the real masterpiece of Refn.

20 of 33 users found this helpful2013

Toxictedz

Jul 22, 2013

Its all about how you look at things. The reason why people have slain the movie is because they all expect it and watch it from a perspective and in a way that movies are typically shown, like for instance, Hollywood blockbusters and Drive. This movie though breaks all the rules of cinemaIts all about how you look at things. The reason why people have slain the movie is because they all expect it and watch it from a perspective and in a way that movies are typically shown, like for instance, Hollywood blockbusters and Drive. This movie though breaks all the rules of cinema and delivers fresh, original, brutal, beautiful content that makes a new standard in movies. Its like a puzzle at you must solve yourself. People has seen this movie and take it as another average arthouse failure flick. Well if you dont take the movie for granted. And go beyond the details, and try to put the puzzle pieces together, you will find a more complex and a more realistic and fantastic brutal story. People that rate this movie bellow 7 and says this movie failed, has failed themselves.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

cnrcnr

Aug 4, 2013

I really really loved Only God Forgives. Winding-Refn is about the only director who is artistic, controversial and faithful to his own style Some viewers who watched Drive will be expecting to see a 'similar' sort of film, but only god forgives is much more violent, arty, sparse andI really really loved Only God Forgives. Winding-Refn is about the only director who is artistic, controversial and faithful to his own style Some viewers who watched Drive will be expecting to see a 'similar' sort of film, but only god forgives is much more violent, arty, sparse and well... Amazing. I can understand that some critics absolutely hated this film, but the fact there is hardly any dialogue makes the film much more atmospheric! The best performance comes from Kristen Scott Thomas, she is hilarious in a dark mess-up kind of way, with some brilliant lines within the film. Ryan Gosling's acting has always been of a high quality, but in Only God Forgives, his performance is much much more refined and silent (Literally!!, he only specks 22 lines in the whole film).
Only God Forgives deserves viewers with an open mind who love violence, aren't easily offended and simply LOVE art-house films...… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

TravisFinn

Jul 20, 2013

Can I tell you it confused me when this film was booed at festivals? Can I also tell you I was distraught when I realized why some people booed it? The only problem I find in Only God Forgives, is that it's boring. That's it. That's the real reason why I can understand this film is mixed.Can I tell you it confused me when this film was booed at festivals? Can I also tell you I was distraught when I realized why some people booed it? The only problem I find in Only God Forgives, is that it's boring. That's it. That's the real reason why I can understand this film is mixed. Coming from Nicholas Winding Refn's last neo-noir film, Drive, I was pumped when I first saw the trailer for this movie. Ryan Gosling reinforced the 'Man with No Name' character in Drive and I absolutely loved his performance. But take that awkward silence in parts of the film, multiply that by at least 5, and there you have the scenes in Only God Forgives. Take the good-willed nature of the main character, erase it completely, and leave an almost silent character who seems more mad and evil than being the protagonist. Basically speaking, take what was dear and good in Drive, and leave it as a dull and emotionless art film. Gosling's performance as the slightly disturbed Julian is written over by the character's lack of good dialogue, and no reason to root for him at all. The narrative sounds good on paper, but feels dragged painfully slow against scenes that are considered art, which as well cut short actual thrilling scenes. Now don't get me wrong, Refn does keep you entertained with some real cringing violence. Unfortunately, it's not even that grueling to keep you entertained or full-on disgusted. There are some scenes worth mentioning; the trailer-hinted fight with Gosling and Vithaya Pansringarm and... actually, that's the only real highlight I have. In conclusion: Unlike many rude festival attendees, I think God and me can forgive Mr. Refn for this boring art piece. Though I can sadly say Refn has turned into the filmmaker who attempts to stick to what he did before, but got a little too carried away. Only God Forgives is a visual gritty art film, plagued with dull and lifeless characters who hardly interact in scenes at all, causing many boring moments, and leaving us only slightly awakened to whatever the hell it was trying to tell us.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

theseparator

Dec 18, 2013

I was able to stomach Drive. Maybe I even kind of liked it. There were
some parts of Drive that kind of maybe even kicked a$$, like the
opening scene So, I really wanted to like this film, or at least, at the bare minimum, make up my mind after I'd watched it, but I just could not do it.I was able to stomach Drive. Maybe I even kind of liked it. There were
some parts of Drive that kind of maybe even kicked a$$, like the
opening scene So, I really wanted to like this film, or at least, at
the bare minimum, make up my mind after I'd watched it, but I just
could not do it. I had to bail out when the ridiculous mother enters
the picture.

I love that it's set in Bangkok, and all the aura that this could
provide, but besides potential, which is never developed, there is
little else of value. The charters don't treat the country with
respect, and if this is supposed to be some kind of statement, it fails
in all possible intended variations.

All the ridiculously over done, tyring-to-hard scenes shot with weird
lighting when normal lighting would have sufficed idiotic. The
overexposed, deep colours of the hotel are not artistic but stupid.

What the heck are Gossling and his crew doing in Thailand anyway?

So many more complaints than this, but it's all the time I'm willing
spend analyzing this very disappointing film.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

shaunmed

Oct 8, 2013

Artistic and hyper-violent, but pointlessly slow to the point of predictability and in the end empty and without redemption. etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.

2 of 8 users found this helpful26

crossifo

Aug 2, 2013

One of the worst movies I have ever seen, very disappointed. Any one who watches this and likes it has serious mental issues, my unknown self-published book is a trillion times better.

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

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55	#55 Most Discussed Movie of 2013
83	#83 Most Shared Movie of 2013