'Parasite' vs. 'Joker': Cinematic Contrasts

Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' and Todd Phillips' 'Joker' are two distinct narratives exploring the repercussions of societal inequalities and the descent into violence by those affected. While 'Parasite' stands out as the superior film, the comparison reveals intriguing insights into the craftsmanship and messaging of each director.

In 'Joker,' a facile premise spirals into incoherent political trolling due to scattershot plotting. Phillips appears to lose sight of his narrative, resulting in a film that lacks the precision seen in Bong's work. 'Parasite,' on the other hand, reflects Bong's skilful and thoughtful approach. The Korean director navigates with a clear purpose, delivering a message that is so on point it leaves little room for imaginative freedom.

'Parasite' fulfils Bong's strong intentions, presenting a satirically comedic thriller addressing poverty, inequality and social injustice. The film's settings play a crucial role, contrasting a cramped, substandard apartment with a lavish villa, symbolizing the agony of the deprived. The Kim family's takeover of the affluent Park household exposes underlying tensions, leading to Grand Guignol's extravagance.

In contrast, 'Joker' caters to conflicting political perspectives, descending into chaos and feeding off societal discord. 'Parasite' maintains consistency, focusing its messaging on the dark truth of capitalism. Bong suggests that the rich, by hiring only one-half of the working class, are effectively contributing to the demise of the other half.

Bong's film dramatizes the daily indignities faced by the poor, exposing the consequences of unemployment, gross inequality and a competitive system designed to be fiercest at the bottom. The contrast between the lives of the poor and the rich becomes a powerful commentary on societal flaws.

However, 'Parasite' falls short in comparison to great satirical political comedies. The film's meticulously scripted plot and stringently filmed images create a sense of fan service, tailored to a specific perspective. The machinery is composed in the script, limiting the film's materiality and connection to experiences outside the screen.

Nevertheless, 'Parasite' offers a shocking twist and skillfully tweaks genre elements, introducing a spectral conceit rooted in the economic realm. The film flaunts its production values and suave sophistication but suffers from characters lacking density, contributing to a ground state of simple normalcy.

'Parasite' is an elegantly realized movie with valuable insights, yet it remains essentially a conservative film, lamenting an order that falls short without challenging it substantially. While a good movie in both artistic and moral senses, 'Parasite' falls short of greatness due to its reluctance to disrupt its schema in pursuit of more drastic experiences and ideas.