‘Parasite’ named best 21st century film by New York Times

Bong Joon-ho poses in the press room with the awards for best director for “Parasite” and for best international feature film for “Parasite” from South Korea at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Image: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

The thought-provoking legacy of Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” continues to be felt by critics and fans alike, as it was named the best film of the 21st century by the New York Times.

On June 29, “Parasite” topped the US-based publication’s “100 best films of the 21st century” list after surveying 500 filmmakers, stars, and cinephiles for their 10 best movies that were released since Jan. 1, 2000.

The 2019 film is noted for its “ferocious rebuke to the devastations of neoliberalism,” as well as seamlessly combining elements of comedy and social satire in telling the story of a poor family who turns a rich family’s life upside down.

“A tale of haves and have-nots, and a ferocious rebuke to the devastations of neoliberalism, Bong Joon-ho’s pleasurably kinked and unsettling shocker follows a destitute family as it insinuates itself into a wealthy household,” The New York Times said.

“Bong, a master of genre unbound by convention, fluidly shifts between broad comedy and blistering social satire throughout, then lights it all on fire with a paroxysm of tragic violence that’s as stunning as it is inevitable,” the publication added.

Rounding up the Top 10 are David Lynch’s “Mulholland Drive” (2001), Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood” (2007), Wong War-kai’s “In The Mood for Love” (2001), Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” (2016), Ethan and Joel Coen’s “No Country for Old Men” (2007), Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (2004), Jordan Peele’s “Get Out” (2017), Hayao Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” (2002), and David Fincher’s “The Social Network” (2010).

Also part of the list are Ang Lee’s “Brokeback Mountain” (17th), Martin Scorese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” (20th), Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (22nd), Andrew Stanton’s “Wall-E” (34th), and Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Amelie” (41st), to name a few.

The satirical film stars Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, Jang Hye-jin, Jo Yeo-jeong, Lee Jung-eun, and Park Myung-hoon.

Since its premiere at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, “Parasite” has reaped multiple awards, including four Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film, as well as the Palme d’Or at Cannes, to name a few. /edv