Mother (Madeo) (2009)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Albert K

  
  Korean moms are hella paranoid and always filled with worry for their children... but this mom takes it to the SSJ-hardcore-to-the-max limit. I've been loving Korean movies recently... no, it's not cause I'm Korean. They're expertly structured, artistically… More
  Korean moms are hella paranoid and always filled with worry for their children... but this mom takes it to the SSJ-hardcore-to-the-max limit. I've been loving Korean movies recently... no, it's not cause I'm Korean. They're expertly structured, artistically vibrant, and extremely immersive. "Mother" continues to keep the Korean movie industry running smoothly. "Mother" staggers slightly due to the lack of a moral or thematic foundation and, contrary to more recent Korean films, slight pacing issues. Yet, these are just minor issues for an deftly crafted thriller with a multiple of riveting, suspenseful scenes. All the actors play their roles superbly, the cinematography is unique, the editing has an unbelievable amount of precision, and the dialogue is simple yet smart. I'm gonna tell ya though, this is a violent movie that exudes a very eerie and disturbing tone. Haven't seen a movie like it. For a movie with a very linear plotline, "Mother" dishes in variety through unpredictability, enthralling "indie-like" scenes that add artistic value, and incredibly tense scenes. Yeah... Hollywood's missing out... "Mother" exceeds on all levels and unlike many Korean movies, leaves viewers with something more then just a story -- it leaves an impression that won't be forgotten for a while.

• Randy T

  
  Slow-burning dark drama that features a fantastic performance by Hye-ja Kim in the title role.

• Nicki M

  
  Expected to like this a little more than I did. Was a very long movie, and it seemed to change half way through. It starts off as being about an overprotective mother and her simple son. I liked that angle. Then the son goes to jail over a murder it seems likely he did not commit… More
  Expected to like this a little more than I did. Was a very long movie, and it seemed to change half way through. It starts off as being about an overprotective mother and her simple son. I liked that angle. Then the son goes to jail over a murder it seems likely he did not commit (or did he...), and suddenly this turns into a murder investigation led by the mother. It does pick up again at the end, but whether or not it was worth sticking with is debatable. This is quite a popular films with a lot of good reviews, so it's possibly just me and the mood I was in when I watched it, but it wasn't quite what i was expecting, and I was a little underwhelmed by it, though I'll admit the acting and filming was very good here.

• Adam M

  
  Finally, a movie people can watch on Mother's Day who are unsentimental about it. Antoine Doinel would love this one.

• Drew S

  
  Absolutely stunning. Bong Joon-ho has refined his fusion of dark comedy and darker mystery to an even sharper razor point than previously seen in The Host - where his creature feature was a bit unwieldy, suffering from balance and pacing issues despite its creativity, Mother feels… More
  Absolutely stunning. Bong Joon-ho has refined his fusion of dark comedy and darker mystery to an even sharper razor point than previously seen in The Host - where his creature feature was a bit unwieldy, suffering from balance and pacing issues despite its creativity, Mother feels superbly judged. The film moves at a slow clip, but every scene is so beautiful and thoughtful and loaded with innovative ideas that surprise and entertain. Mother is a massively original film, if not in premise then certainly in execution, but it would be lost without a lead performance that sells the breakneck insanity of the narrative. Kim Hye-Ja is a revelation, fiercely devoted, heartbreaking, a little crazy, and slyly funny. She is an incredibly limber communicator, much as the movie strives to be, and in many ways she's exactly the mouthpiece it needs for its often very violent tonal shifts. Min-sik Choi served a similar role in The Host, but Joon-ho is more generous to his main character here. Both of them have a goal, but Kim knows at least where to start looking. Yet another bright jewel in the South Korean crown, Mother is a film that will hopefully be celebrated for a long time to come. A vital piece of work; necessary viewing.

• Gordon A

  
  Another beautifully crafted Korean thriller with a gripping central performance from Kim. Sprinkled with subtle humour, it plays with maternal devotion to their sons and the ending surprises you by its unexpectedness.

• Alireza M

  
  It's so impressive how korean directors like Joon-ho Bong, Chan-wook Park and to a lesser degree Ji-woon Kim intellectually combine comedy,violence and sentimentalism.Even after almost a decade of making anti-genre movies,their works still looks fresh to us.I wonder howcome it… More
  It's so impressive how korean directors like Joon-ho Bong, Chan-wook Park and to a lesser degree Ji-woon Kim intellectually combine comedy,violence and sentimentalism.Even after almost a decade of making anti-genre movies,their works still looks fresh to us.I wonder howcome it hadnt been chosen in Cannes Festival's competition section.

• Dean M

  
  Superb Korean murder mystery film, with twists coming thick and fast... paced like Hitchcock suspense thriller. This is edge of the seat stuff, with a dash of wry humour, from a filmmaker with a good understanding of family dynamics and the mechanics of suspense. Korean… More
  Superb Korean murder mystery film, with twists coming thick and fast... paced like Hitchcock suspense thriller. This is edge of the seat stuff, with a dash of wry humour, from a filmmaker with a good understanding of family dynamics and the mechanics of suspense. Korean director-writer Joon-ho Bong does a remarkable job of populating the world of this film with real people and manages to give them depth and development in a very short period of time. Hye-ja Kim is excellent as the mother. Her performance is understated but at the same time intense, cold and at the same time powerful. The cinematography is beautiful. The film moves along and builds slowly, more akin to the tempo of the small town we're visiting for the duration of the film, but the twists, turns, and suspense make it a highly rewarding and satisfying ride.

• Greg S

  
  When her mentally incompetent adult son is accused of murdering a girl, an overprotective mother will go to any lengths to establish his innocence. A winner thanks to the believably tender and slightly twisted mother/son relationship, the engaging mystery, and a great performance by… More
  When her mentally incompetent adult son is accused of murdering a girl, an overprotective mother will go to any lengths to establish his innocence. A winner thanks to the believably tender and slightly twisted mother/son relationship, the engaging mystery, and a great performance by an obsessed and pathetic Hye-ja Kim.

• El Hombre I

  
  Mother is more than a mystery. It's a story of love, devotion and sacrifice. However, the director Bong Joon-ho isn't interested in delivering a mushy melodrama but instead suggests incest, sexual dysfunction and unhealthy emotional relations. Early part of the film takes… More
  Mother is more than a mystery. It's a story of love, devotion and sacrifice. However, the director Bong Joon-ho isn't interested in delivering a mushy melodrama but instead suggests incest, sexual dysfunction and unhealthy emotional relations. Early part of the film takes a while to get steam going, but lead actress Kim Hye-ja is solid in her performance and supporting actors do well. I seem to be in the minority with my lower rating, but I will say the film was done with style and class. There was a nice balance of humor, especially in showing the ineffectiveness of detectives which echoed Memories Of Murder. Being a fan of Korean cinema, it's nice to see more and more directors turning out well done alternatives to the usual "play it safe" dramas here at home. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view¤t=Madeo_Mother_1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/Madeo_Mother_1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

• Arash X

  
  Gets better & better the more I think about it, It succeedes in many levels & not only in portraying the crude instincts of human beings, Hye-ja's extraordinary performance is very important in the film's success, Another Masterpiece by Joon-ho

• Carlos M

  
  Bong uses both intense tragedy and dry humour to create a witty, unexpected sense of bizarreness in this ironic story filled with clever plot twists, along with an elegant cinematography and one absolutely magnificent performance by Kim Hye-Ja.

• Tsubaki S

  
  Well, Bong did it again. Not just another twist in genre conventions, an intimate exploration of everything from human relations, family, the justice system among other things. Hye-Ja's performance deserves every single award ever made.

• familiar s

  
  I'd pretty high expectations from Madeo as it's from the director of my favorite movie: Memories Of Murder. However, I was a bit disappointed as it lacked the thriller quotient that entertained me in Memories Of Murder. Seems it'll be having a tough luck at Oscar.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Your son has such beautiful eyes, like a baby deer."</i> A mother desperately searches for the killer that framed her son for their horrific murder. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"Your son has such beautiful eyes, like a baby deer."</i> A mother desperately searches for the killer that framed her son for their horrific murder. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> This marvelous and intelligent psychological murder mystery from Korea is about a young man who appears to be somewhat mentally challenged who is accused of murdering a teenage school girl in a village in South Korea. His mom, in a fairly stellar performance by Kim Hye-ja, sets out to prove his innocence by doing detective work, as the police think its an open and shut case. What makes this film stand alone is its tenacity. It doesn't let you go, it keeps on trying in the form of the mother attempting to follow every trail. Its a great premise and you are kept guessing throughout. You may be slightly put off by the unusually close nature of the relationship between mother and son, but director Bong Joon-ho, who is probably on the short list of excellent contemporary directors from Asia, keeps the main focus on the core story, the mystery. Mother is a far more restrained and thoughtful film from Joon-ho Bong, better known for his over the top horror films like The Host. With its careful development of suspense and sly injections of humour, this outstanding psychological thriller is reminiscent of vintage Hitchcock (Rear Window, Vertigo, etc). At first it is hard to warm to Kim's character, but as the film progresses audiences begin to sympathise with this unusual heroine and her obsession. Highly recommended.

• Luke B

  
  Mother is yet another fantastic piece of cinema from Bong. He takes a very simple and familiar plot (as he has done before) and intricately threads subtle nuances of powerful emotions and themes amongst the more predictable moments. Mother is a grim and compelling watch that punches… More
  Mother is yet another fantastic piece of cinema from Bong. He takes a very simple and familiar plot (as he has done before) and intricately threads subtle nuances of powerful emotions and themes amongst the more predictable moments. Mother is a grim and compelling watch that punches humanity in the balls. It evaluates a mother's love and how far she will go to defend her young. The comedy is typical Bong. Very odd and very awkward. A lot of laughs are quickly followed by a saddening moment where you realize you probably shouldn't have laughed. The violence is handled with absolute confidence, being shocking, unexpected but never graphic. It's a haunting film, one that gradually evolves in your mind after you have seen it. Beautifully shot in terms of lighting, composition and length, Mother is a film that is deceptively plain at first.

• Glenn G

  
  I was a big fan of Joon-ho Bong's previous film, THE HOST, so I came into this new one expecting visceral filmmaking, beautiful frames and absurdist humor. THE HOST was a cross between GODZILLA and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE...you know, your typical environmental allegory/family… More
  I was a big fan of Joon-ho Bong's previous film, THE HOST, so I came into this new one expecting visceral filmmaking, beautiful frames and absurdist humor. THE HOST was a cross between GODZILLA and LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE...you know, your typical environmental allegory/family adventure/monster movie! MOTHER is a very different kind of monster movie, yet no less masterful. This is a filmmaker in complete control of his craft and using every frame to give us the unexpected. He announces that from his very first shot, the title character (the great Hye-ja Kim) walking through a field, stopping, making fleeting eye contact with the camera (ala NIGHTS OF CABIRIA's famous last shot), and then breaking out in a strange dance. You're immediately sucked in and want to follow the film wherever it goes. It's part comedy, part murder mystery, and ALL intriguing. Filled with beautiful setups and payoffs, vibrant framing, and thrilling performances, this is a movie lover's wet dream come true. Like THE HOST, there are some questionable plot strands that keep me from giving it 5 stars....but Joon-ho Bong is a filmmaker whose work I will follow no matter where he goes.

• Walter M

  
  A mother(Hye-ja Kim) almost slices her finger off during the preparation of ginseng when her son Do-joon(Bin Won) gets sideswiped by a hit and run driver outside of her shop. Otherwise fine, he and his pal Jin-tae(Ku Jin) swear revenge, knowing the only place in town a Mercedes could… More
  A mother(Hye-ja Kim) almost slices her finger off during the preparation of ginseng when her son Do-joon(Bin Won) gets sideswiped by a hit and run driver outside of her shop. Otherwise fine, he and his pal Jin-tae(Ku Jin) swear revenge, knowing the only place in town a Mercedes could have been going is the golf course. The resulting altercation lands them all at the police station and a settlement would have been reached if not for the broken car mirror. Do-joon goes to hang out with Jin-tae at a restaurant but he never shows up, leaving him to return home very drunk. And that's when the body turns up. "Mother" is a dark and compelling, if a little too long, mystery with a couple of stunning twists but also a couple of unanswered questions that does a keen job of playing with viewers' expectations throughout. At first, the mystery is wrapped up quickly by the police who think Do-joon is the killer without investigating any other suspects. So, at first his mother acts like anybody else would in her position and takes it on herself to form her own investigation, knowing her son who has a child's mind in an adult's body is totally innocent.(That's not to mention his imperfect memory which comes and goes.) For the first time in her life, she is not able to watch her son, feeling that he gets into trouble whenever she is not around to protect him. Nobody witnesses the murder either and there is trouble when the police are not around to watch all the time, especially where they are going.

• Jeff T

  
  Several years ago, Korean director Bong Joon-Ho gave a kicky, funny vibe to the horror flick with THE HOST. Now he's back, giving that same touch to the psycho-thriller with MOTHER, and if it the fit isn't perfect, it's still exciting as hell to welcome him back. This… More
  Several years ago, Korean director Bong Joon-Ho gave a kicky, funny vibe to the horror flick with THE HOST. Now he's back, giving that same touch to the psycho-thriller with MOTHER, and if it the fit isn't perfect, it's still exciting as hell to welcome him back. This is a filmmaker with such a detailed compositional and emotional eye, and he dedicates them to finding the strange, human parts of the genre machine. So hard to pigeon-hole, he's content with full-out comedy blending right into real emotional depths, and at times the shift can leave you uneasy. But his aim is so true, and his camera so keen, that you can't help but stay on-board, and when it all starts coming together, as the last 45 minutes of this film prove, there's nobody in world cinema like him today. This Almodovar-meets-Hitchcock near-gem is very special even in its imperfections. And the lead performance is absolutely perfect. Whatever will he do next?

• Jason V

  
  Mother leaves one too many unanswered questions for my liking. Why does a best friend seemingly drop in and out of the story, only to become the heavy and then leave again? Why exactly did a key witness not come forward? How are the cops this incompetent than an older woman can run… More
  Mother leaves one too many unanswered questions for my liking. Why does a best friend seemingly drop in and out of the story, only to become the heavy and then leave again? Why exactly did a key witness not come forward? How are the cops this incompetent than an older woman can run laps around them? Regardless, Kim Hye-ja as the titular character rules the entire film, carrying every scene and emotion the script can throw at her. Action, crying, jubilation, tenderness...she exudes it in spades. Mother is a tough film to get through, not only with the running time, but also with the subtitles and subject matter. It is ultimately rewarding, though, when all the elements finally come together.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings