Overall rating: 4.711111 / 5 from 45 reviews.
Only the River Flows is a limited edition slipcover for a critically acclaimed neo-noir film directed by Wei Shujun. The movie, based on Yu Hua's short novel, features solid detective action and a wonderfully atmospheric setting. It is praised for its immersive experience and unique photography, making it a must-have for film enthusiasts.
Review topics: ["feel","set","film","movie","cinematography","story","thriller","buy","features","ending","mystery","gem","slipcover","presentation","murders","restoration","label","addition","vinegar syndrome","picture","sense","acting"].
"Only the River Flows is a bleak and moody film about a detective tasked with solving a murder but manages to raise more questions. This isn't a Hong Kong romp, it's a film that is critical of the institutions of mainland China that will get under your skin. The disc itself is short on extras, featuring an interview with the director and a trailer, but the quality of the film make it worth every penny."
"I'll keep this review as ambiguous and as much of a mystery as the film. This film has some excellent cinematography, capturing the bleakness of its settings, and the direction is very good. While I couldn't help thinking of some distinct parallels with Bong Joon-ho's incredible films Memories of Murder and Mother, Only The River Flows still stands on its own, as a decent watch. I'm glad I made the order for this blind buy, it did pay off. The special features are limited to an interview with the director, which is great. The slipcover is a nice addition, as well."
"An amazingly bleak neo-noir that pulls you down into its dark underbelly. Only the River Flows in starkly reminiscent of a Lynchian nightmare set in Southern China, with everything beginning when a body is found, and what is supposed to be simple quickly becomes surreal. Touches of black humor give additional charm to the exploration of a seedy atmosphere, and an increasingly darker tale of crime"
"It doesn’t totally disappoint and I love the empty feeling it leaves upon exiting but honestly there were points where the editing just didn’t come together and there is *no* momentum for much of the film. It’s like Cure but without the creeping tension to keep all those moments of slow silence full of dread and anxiety. Still a memorable film with some killer cinematography and unforgettable moments peppered throughout"
"Only the River Flows is a beautifully grim neo-noir, built around Ma Zhe investigating a body found near a river while the case keeps opening into stranger and more troubling layers. The abandoned cinema office, the rural southern China setting and the grungy low-contrast 16mm photography give the film a fantastic 1990s texture. I like that it never turns the mystery into something neat or comfortable. This KimStim release fits the film well, with the Wei Shujun interview and English subtitles making it a very strong pickup for anyone into atmospheric modern noir."
"The slipcover is awesome, as always with anything VS or their awesome partner Labels release! It is a cool movie that was a lot of fun to watch! I always love the unique VS service of allowing you to stack as many movies as you like in your cart during any release period and ship them for free! The peerless VS restoration process was on full display with stellar sound and picture! Thank you, VS, for continuing to lovingly restore and release so many wonderful films from every conceivable genre! You are keeping physical media alive in this streaming world we now live in! Highly recommended!"
"Either this film is really brilliant or it makes no sense. The transfer is not very good. It looks like a very old blu ray"
"This is a slow burn. Reminiscent of others like it but with it definitely has it's own unique approach. Memories of Murder lite. But still worth it."
"Solid crime thriller from China. Love the artwork on the slipcover, had to pick this up."
"Beautiful copy of a movie had no idea existed before browsing the sale. Found the screenplay to be a little flimsy, but Only the River Flows is excellently directed, gorgeous, very moody and surprisingly funny. Would recommend!"
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