Over the years, visionary filmmakers have made defining films for each decade. Bong Joon Ho is one of those directors. In 2020, Parasite became the film to define the decade and challenge the rich with their questionable values.
Whether you were part of the #BongHive that season or watched his other films- Okja, Snowpiercer, and Memories of Murder- he knows how to intertwine cynicism and hopefulness, crafting an impactful narrative for audiences to reflect on their lives as well.
Bong Joon Ho addresses social issues plaguing our society through his experimental vision while grounding his characters with human values, having them question those with power. In Mickey 17, Joon-Ho tackles the world Edward Ashton created in his novel Mickey 7.
Mickey 17 (Robert Pattison) is an expendable worker who goes on impossibly dangerous missions, waiting for death only to be re-imagined in a machine to continue these tasks for an egomaniacal politician, Kenneth Marshall (Mark Ruffalo).
Joon-Ho begins the film with a voice-over narration from Mickey 17, who describes the feeling of death and the process he has gone through sixteen times. The exposition was heavy towards the start, but it worked because of Pattinson’s delightful voice acting for Mickey 17. It’s always difficult to adapt a novel; it’s even more challenging to adapt a science fiction novel, which has already been rumoured as dense because of the world-building.
Bong Joon-Ho has a fantastic eye for the obscure. In this (and Okja), fantastical creatures are incorporated to show the contrast from newness to the traditional values Kenneth Marshall wants to control.
Marshall wants to build a pure race and rations the food intake for those who are living under him on Niflheim. He conditions his people to manipulate them into living under his rule because he feels he knows best. Ruffalo channels another egomaniacal authority figure, not by mocking but by exaggerating the absurdity of a dictator's comments. The stories we get from the genre are never far off because they’re deeply rooted in the human condition. Joon-ho has noticed the cries of humanity and the cynicism of feeling disposable by the very people who are supposed to protect you.
As we get to know Mickey's 17s past, we learn that for him to regenerate, he must relive past traumas. One massive one being the death of his mother. He believes that his life is all karma circling back to one small moment that was out of his control. The one mistake he made as a child had repercussions and set the path for his life.
There are many ways to interpret the journey of Mickey 17. Even though different threads are being explored, especially the bigger picture of a leader being more destructive than helpful, there’s something so deeply personal being said about one’s identity. Humans can learn and grow and reshape themselves throughout their lives. The previous versions of Mickey are part of him regardless of them being disposable by a system he was working for to hopefully lead a better future.
The film may seem bleak because of the cycle of death and the political idealogies Kenneth Marshall enforces. However, there’s levity in Pattinson’s performance because of how exhausted Mickey feels about the mundanity of his work. His voice and physicality completely change once Mickey’s duplicate, Mickey 18, arrives, and it’s a captivating dual performance from Pattinson.
Mickey 17 has Robert Pattinson at his whackiest to date; he is a master at changing his voice and physicality for any role. Bong Joon-ho crafts a cynical yet hopeful sci-fi adventure allowing humans to reflect that every journey is valuable no matter the obstacles.
That humans can change the course of their lives by not letting their past decisions have a hold on their future. The beauty of life is to find love and peace through the pain and despair. Mickey's 17s relationship with Nasha (Naomi Ackie) is incredibly strong because of their communication and love for one another.
There’s a ferocity in Nasha contrasting with Mickey's 17s meekness. Pattinson and Ackie’s chemistry was electric, and their romance uplifted the film because they loved each other for their true selves. Naomi Ackie proves she is a force to be reckoned with and shines in every scene she has.
Mickey 17 begins to challenge the system and make his own choices after learning the truth about the creatures on Niflheim. Their attempt to save him shifts his perspective—he no longer sees himself as disposable, constantly dying for the benefit of others. Instead, he comes to understand that his life has value, and it’s this entirely different species that helps him realize it.
Joon-Ho leaves us with a sense of hope at the film’s end, as Mickey Barnes recognizes that his worth isn’t defined by his role in society but by how he chooses to exist among others.
4/5
Review by: Amanda Guarragi
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