Yes No Maybe So: Minari
Friday, October 2, 2020 at 11:30AM by Eurocheese
The Minari trailer has arrived, and wow is it gorgeous. I may not be familiar with writer/director Lee Isaac Chung’s previous works, but this trailer for the Sundance success and its endorsement from one of our most promising new directors (we’ll get there) are enough to get me excited. Let's do the Yes No Maybe So breakdown after the jump …
YES
• Let’s be real: A24 is a miracle. They’ve done such an amazing job championing excellent films that their name is enough to peak my interest.
• Such beautiful cinematography, right out of the gate. Malick is surely watching those grass fields and salivating as we speak.
• The last time I saw Steven Yeun, he was playfully drawing me in as a possible serial killer in Burning (nominated right here for Best Supporting Actor). Here, his hopeful smile as he surveys his new home in pursuit of the American dream warms my heart. I’m so glad to see him again so soon, and in a completely different role. (I’m not a Walking Dead fan, but I heard he was terrific in that too.)
• The boy’s back and forth with Grandma (the legendary Youn Yuh-Jung from The Housemaid) is both sweet and hurtful, which feels spot on for a child not appreciating things he is bound to remember fondly later in life.
• I know I already mentioned the American dream but in these troubled political times, watching belief in a better life and dogged optimism honestly makes me tear up. I have a feeling our favorite movies this year will touch on a sense of hope because right now, it’s what we are all craving.
• And if none of that is enough for you, how about this endorsement?
Yes, I'm crying. You have no idea how long I've waited for this film. https://t.co/rbhnuGN91b
— Lulu Wang (@thumbelulu) September 30, 2020
NO
• I heard a rumor (totally unrelated: check out The Umbrella Academy) that Steven Yeun’s role in the film is smaller than the trailer would have us believe, which is too bad if it’s true
• Mr. “Is your daddy doing things right?” immediately puts me on edge. Same thing goes for the fire. The wonderful reviews mention the film “breaks your heart”… let’s go easy on us in 2020. We’ve been through it.
MAYBE SO
• Hoping we get more from the mother than a constant reality check. This is only the trailer though, so perhaps its misleading in that regard.
They had me at A24, but this has quickly jumped to the top of my most anticipated films. But when is it coming out? Are you excited for this one?
Reader Comments (9)
Props to A24 for marketing these Asian-American stories (like last year's THE FAREWELL) as American stories. Pushing the boundaries of 'American identity' in cinema by each film. And yes, such a touching trailer.
This trailer made me tear up; love the cinematography and score. However, some of the humour was a little too "sitcomy;" hopefully it plays better in terms of the story and not from being out of context in this trailer.
Me before the trailer: Yes, of course.
Me after the trailer: YYAAASSSS GIVEEE IITT TTOO MMEEE.
Yes.
Maybe so:
- They got the 'grandson mistreating grandma' trope from Asian films right on point, though I completely hate it.
- Steven Yeun isn't bilingual, which might annoy the Korean audience.
- Also, although he's a great actor and he's 36, he still looks way too young.
No:
- It's a very manipulative trailer.
- There's a lot of clichés of trying to fulfill the American dream in the countryside in it.
Yes:
- An Asían cast leading a US film is, sadly, still very fresh.
- A24 stamp might indicate an almost certain quality guaranteed.
Yes.
A real case of why there still should be a juvenile award now too!
It seems like the protagonist is the little boy. Tink the father (Yuen) n grandma will be campaigned under supporting?
Claran that would be my guess, at least at this point.
Steven Yeun's Korean is fine. He has an American accent, but not a terrible one - it reminds me of some of my cousins who moved here to the U.S. from Korea when they were kids.
Late to this party but just want to say lament on how BUMMED I wasn't able to get tickets to the Middleburg virtual screening of this film. Who knew a virtual screening could "sell out"? Argh!