On Feb. 9, 2020, South Korean filmmaker Bong Joon-ho took the stage at the Dolby Theatre four times to accept Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay, Best International Feature Film, Best Director and Best Picture. As the crowd erupted with applause, “Parasite” made history as the first foreign language film to win Best Picture. After the resounding success of “Parasite,” Bong has exploded onto the Hollywood scene.
Starring household names in the United States like Robert Pattinson, Steven Yeun and Mark Ruffalo, “Mickey 17” is Bong’s first movie to be released since the iconic “Parasite” over five years ago. Though he’s put out films in collaboration with Hollywood in the past, “Mickey 17” is Bong’s largest budget movie yet.
Having made the leap from South Korean critical darlings to star-ridden Hollywood blockbusters, can Bong stick the landing?
The answer is, of course, yes.
A science fiction film based on the novel “Mickey7” by Edward Ashton, “Mickey 17” follows the life of titular Mickey Barnes, played by Pattinson, in the distant future. Only Mickey’s life keeps ending, over and over, because he is an “Expendable.” With newly developed cloning technology, every time Mickey dies, he is “reprinted” with all of his memories having been uploaded to a database and reinstated in his new body. He ended up this way after going to great lengths to avoid loan sharks, who invested in his macaron business with Yeun’s character.
Set on a spaceship bent on colonizing the just-landed-on planet Niflheim, “Mickey 17” is weird, wild and absolutely incredible.
A twist occurs early on in the film, as the 17th iteration of Mickey is left for dead in the snow on Niflheim. However, the planet’s native inhabitants, massive bug-like creatures dubbed “creepers” save Mickey, and he makes it back to the spaceship. There, he realizes that an 18th Mickey has already been printed, a mishap that is absolutely forbidden and could result in both Mickeys being killed – for good.
Part of the delight comes in that both Mickeys, played by Pattinson, are completely different. Mickey 17 is frightened, insecure and yet compassionate. Mickey 18 is cold, bold and harsh. Pattinson brilliantly portrays the contrasting characters, playing some scenes for laughs and some for tender moments of a rivalry turned into a sort of brotherly love between the two.
This is heightened by both Mickeys’ love for Nasha, portrayed by Naomi Ackie. Ackie is arguably the least well-known performer in the cast of “Mickey 17.” Pattinson has made bounds in his career from “Twilight” to “The Batman,” Ruffalo is the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Hulk, and Steven Yeun won an Emmy for “Beef.” However, Ackie fully held her own alongside her co-stars. As the different Mickeys squabble over Nasha, Nasha is a powerfully realized character in herself. She is clever, courageous and absolutely attracted to both Mickeys. While some parts of this relationship are played for laughs, others create a nuanced and high-stakes conflict.
Ruffalo also puts forth an unforgettable performance as Kenneth Marshall, the politician in charge of the spaceship who is determined to build the colony on Niflheim. His outlandish performance is matched by the brilliant Toni Collette as his wife, Ylfa.
Marshall and Ylfa are pure villains. They are not meant to be empathized with in any regard. This is especially commendable, as we live in an age of cinema that seems determined to make every character morally gray, with some sort of backstory to make them relatable. It was refreshing to see such ridiculously villainous individuals in a live-action R-rated film.
And the kicker might be that their characters aren’t even so ridiculous. Marshall and Ylfa live in luxury on the spaceship, eating gluttonously and indulging in lavish material possessions. Meanwhile, they force the rest of the spaceship inhabitants to carefully ration their food and sleep in bland, confined barracks. Many of these very spaceship inhabitants practically worship Marshall, wearing branded hats and clapping for his absurd political announcements. On Niflheim, Marshall is bent on wiping out the native creepers in order to colonize the planet, despite the fact that the creepers are clearly innocent, highlighting this when they saved Mickey 17.
Some viewers might criticize this movie because it is, undeniably, overt in its social messaging. Ruffalo’s performance, while entertaining, is essentially a Donald Trump impression, the kind one might see on “Saturday Night Live.” In one line, his character declares that they must create a pure, all-white new planet. While that statement is a paraphrase, it’s important to note that the word “white” was literally used. But in today’s political climate, it’s necessary for messages to be so unsubtle. Otherwise, it would probably go over the less socially aware Americans’ heads. Besides, the overtness creates an intentional hilarity that blends into the film as a brilliant dark comedy.
While “Mickey 17” may not be the masterpiece grounded in reality that is “Parasite,” it is an outstanding film, intricately crafted by a director who has clearly cemented himself as one of the greatest of all time. Rating: 4.5/5 stars.
“Mickey 17” is playing in theaters as of March 7, 2025.
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Featured Image via Warner Bros.
