There is only one theatre within reasonable driving distance where I can go to see the smaller, limited release films that come out. On their website they list any small film as an “art film”. When I finished watching Snowpiercer this title seemed like a complete misnomer. Don’t let the limited release of the film fool you; this movie is action sci-fi that could have been marketed to audiences all across the country. There is enough action to satisfy the popcorn viewers and enough thought-provoking material to satisfy viewers looking for something a bit more sophisticated.

It’s a shame that just because the film was produced on a relatively small (at least compared to other action movies) budget and was made by a foreign director (this is Korean director Bong Joon-ho’s first English language film) it has not received the attention it deserves, because it is a gorgeous and all-around wonderful film that reminds us what good science-fiction can do. Sometimes the best way to reflect on modern society is to set a story in the future.

All Aboard!

Snowpiercer takes place in a post-apocalyptic future where a failed global warming experiment has resulted in an ice age that has killed nearly all of humanity. The few survivors have boarded a train (called Snowpiercer) that continually travels around the world thanks to a self-sustaining engine. Like the world before it, the train consists of the haves, who make up almost the entirety of the train with night clubs, fine food, and comfortable living quarters, and the have-nots, who are crammed in the train’s caboose with barely enough nutrition to survive and only a cramped cot for living space.

Fed up with the disparity between the two groups, Curtis (played by Chris Evans) inspires a revolution to take over the front of the train. What ensues is a car-by-car spectacle of gorgeous design, breath-taking violence, and a number of very pleasing plot twists. This video game, level-by-level design has been overdone in movies like Dredd and the The Raid series, but what Snowpiercer does to distinguish itself from those films is provide breaks in the action that brings a depth to the film that similar films have lacked. Perhaps the best way to describe the film is a combination of Dredd and Elysium if both films met their full potential.

There is a political message like that in Elysium but Bong Joon-ho doesn’t repeatedly nail you in the head with his agenda in an obnoxiously transparent way. Besides the breaks in action, Snowpiercer also benefits from absolutely stupendous set designs. This is a train with cars that range from dingy to elegant, disturbing to beautiful and more. The film would be worth seeing for the creative design all by itself. The use of light in some cars and little in others is visually stimulating, but there is a lot more than just a wonderful setting in Snowpiercer.

Staying On Track

There is never a dull moment in Snowpiercer. From the start there is always something interesting happening on screen whether it’s the unique mixture of comically designed characters like John Hurt‘s (he is missing an arm, which has been replaced with the curved handle of an umbrella, and a leg, which has been replaced by the leg of a table) who also has very touching emotional moments, Tilda Swinton putting on a tremendous performance and stealing just about every scene she’s in, or the surprise guest at the end of the movie, Snowpiercer refuses to let the viewer become disengaged.

The film is constantly introducing new characters including a security expert played by Song Kang-ho with a penchant for a toxic future drug, known as Kronol, who speaks only Korean in the film but is translated by audio via an (often muffled and hard to understand) instant translator. There is also one stand out scene featuring Alison Pill as a schoolteacher whose duty is to portray to each student that the train’s creator, Mr. Wilford, is some kind of righteous savior for all human-kind.

Snowpiercer does a great job of varying its action, as well. There are shoot ‘em up moments, giant melee battles, examples of the train brutally running through giant chunks of ice that have formed over the tracks, and a particularly cool scene where two of the characters attempt to shoot each other across almost the entirety of the train as it drives across a huge curve and they face each other for a few moments. Another great moment is when the guards, dressed in all black with an almost ninja-esque mask, turn off the lights with night-vision goggles on and the vigilante revolutionaries must fend for themselves without any light. Chris Evans brings his action experience from Captain America to great success in all of the action sequences. This action, though, is not just a black and white good guys versus bad guys affair. There are many moral quandaries where characters must make sacrifices for what some would say is the greater good, but there is always a question looming about which side is even the good one. We want to root for Chris Evans and his crew, but we wonder if there are reasons that they must be stuffed in the back of the car. Is it possible to make sense of the disparity?

Future History

Science-fiction has the capacity to lift up a mirror and reflect the world at the time as well as any genre in storytelling. Bong Joon-ho boldly tackles a few of the world’s biggest debates in a subtle enough way that it doesn’t distract from the story but still makes you think about your own opinions. It does a good job of showing you the topic and letting you decipher what it means and which side you are on. The last portion of the film is the most dialogue-driven section of the film, but also the most interesting. The stylized action sequences are fantastic, but the last portion is a total paradigm shift that, for some, will completely change the way the movie is interpreted.

The idea of humans bringing about their own destruction by trying to solve a problem they themselves brought on is a fascinating one. Are we doomed to an abrupt end thanks to our past actions? The civilization on the Snowpiercer is simply a bottled up version of our own. Regardless of how many people there are, some people will have benefits and lifestyles that others cannot. In some ways, Bong Joon-ho says that this is a necessary evil, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the poor to swallow. All of that said, there is some trouble with the short final scene of the film. It seems to be a bit of an insignificant and convoluted end to a fantastic lead up.

Conclusion

Snowpiercer is a great entry into the sci-fi canon and one of the best films released this year. It is a movie that is action-packed, funny, and dramatic. Bong Joon-ho has established himself as a force to be reckoned within the science-fiction genre. His condensed universe is wonderfully imagined and beautifully shot, which distinguishes it from films that have attempted to do similar things that Snowpiercer is able to accomplish. With good performances (especially from Tilda Swinton) and great pacing, there is never a dull moment to be had. The action is unquestionably great with just the right amount of violence, but the film’s themes and message also give you a lot to think about. The narrative is full of little twists and turns (no character is too important to not be killed) that are very effective and, while the ending is a little disappointing, Snowpiercer is an example of great sci-fi with a compelling narrative, interesting ideas, and fantastic setting.

What did you think of Snowpiercer? Did you think it was one of the best movies you have seen this year?