Only God Forgives (2013) - Nicholas Winding Refn

I really think I need to sleep on this one, but I also want to write this whilst it's fresh in my mind. I finally got around to seeing it, when Cineworld decided to do a special one off showing, thank God. I think this may be an important movie in the future, and I'm glad I've seen it on the big screen.
I am torn between two minds. Firstly, the thing that stands out about this film is the perfectionism and symmetry that occurs in every shot, and I can say, "Every" without generalising. 100 per cent of shots are perfectly made with Stanley Kubrick's rules of symmetry in mind. Refn has done this expertly well, but it is noticeable within the film. However, with the thought that has gone in to all of these shots comes the negative aspects of the film: has too much concentration been put upon what is seen rather than what is happening?
The story lacks a strong narrative. I'm all for keeping a bit of mystery around lead characters, but when a viewer comes away from a film without any kind of answer or even any particular message, googling must be done, and that is a no-no. It's this aspect of the film that makes me wonder if Refn is just fuelling his own ego, by trying to make something as slow paced as Drive (2011), but even edgier. It is slow-paced, sure, but that again is its downfall.
The narrative could be told completely differently, and in twenty minutes or less, and I don't think that it would skimp on the action. Again, like Drive, this film has brilliant, memorable scenes (and shots), but the rest of the in-between is just fodder.
Another point I have to pick up on is the Ryan Gosling top billing. It is in no way, shape or form his film. To me, his character and the sort-of-but-not-quite-explored-B-plot of his erectile dysfunction (or so it seemed to me) was sidelined to the real story of parents and their children, both through his relationship (in every sense of the word) with his mother (played by Kristin Scott Thomas), and between the under-acknowledged Vithaya Pansringarm and his child.
I cannot rate this film, just yet, as I still cannot make head nor tail of it, which means to me anyway, that Refn was at least a little successful in cementing it in my mind for further pondering. MUST REWATCH.

SPOILERS The Place Beyond the Pines (2012) - Derek Cianfrance SPOILERS

I really didn't expect that Ryan Gosling's character would die half way through. It was like three short long films, all of which were brilliant. Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling were both amazing. I liked how their characters became not so nice and they became what they said they never would. There were so many comparisons between each character and way too much to write in a short review here. One day, I will do an academic essay on this film, and there's so much I could write about each individual shot. It's possibly my new favourite film. A! May! Zing!

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Drive (2011) - Nicolas Winding Refn

My girlfriend is in love with Ryan Gosling, so I may come off as a bit biased when I say I don't get what the big deal is about this film. I can watch it, yes, but I don't think it's Refn's best film. For me, that would have to be Bronson (2008).

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Gangster Squad (2013) - Ruben Fleischer

This film was good. Go and watch it.
Ryan Gosling is awesome in it, and Josh Brolin follows up his good performance in Men In Black 3 (2012) - Barry Sonnenfield, by playing almost the same character in this, but he was pretty good at it. So, why not?
If you like gangster films, plus CGI car chases, then this is the film for you! A film worthy to be in the ranks of other classic mob films.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆