Ode to Okja

Creativity reigns in Okja, another splendid movie by filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, who also gave us such unusual offerings as The Host and Snowpiercer. This time he focuses on the relationship between a girl and her very strange pet, a monstrous pig-like animal that’s been with her and her grandfather for ten years. Sadly, Mija (played by Seo-Hyun Ahn) had no idea that Okja really belongs to a multi-national corporation with plans to take her back for their nefarious purposes. And that means shipping the animal from South Korea to New York City for a big celebration and then – yikes! – turning Okja into a tasty food product. Naturally, animal lovers get involved with Mija in efforts to save Okja and help the two get back to their Korean home.

It’s greed, gluttony, manipulation and betrayal versus love, courage and concern for animals in this action-packed movie. So, of course, I was motivated to write another film poem.                 

“Okja! Okja!” Young Mija shouts

during one of their playful bouts.

Her creature friend? A super pig.

Okja is really, really big.

Okja it seems was engineered

to help food shortage that was feared.

But to Mija, she’s much, much more --.

a part of her family core.

When time comes for Okja’s demise

will Mija do something that’s wise?

Or will she be too late to save

Okja although she’s very brave?

Okja the film dazzles the eyes.

Scene after scene offers surprise.

But not for youngsters, I must state.

Vegetarians, too, should hesitate,

As a vegetarian myself, I found it hard to watch some of this film. Okja starts out with such beautiful, gentle scenes between Mija and her super pig as they play together in the mountains of South Korea. So when the movie goes to the dark side, it’s quite shocking. Sequences of animal abuse and slaughterhouse procedures almost made me physically ill.

    

Outrageous as the Okja plot may seem, it deals with important issues and makes us think-- not simply enjoy. It ends up being a movie that matters.   

(Released by Netflix and rated TV-MA.)

James Cagney On Demand

Beginning on July 2 and continuing through July 9, film fans have the opportunity to hear a popular Movie Addict Headquarters Tribute to James Cagney, one of Hollywood’s legendary actors. Critics Diana Saenger, James Colt Harrison and A.J. Hakari join this salute to Cagney’s remarkable move career, including his Oscar-winning performance in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY plus many of his other films. What a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July!

Listen to this On Demand episode any time during the week by clicking on the BlogTalkRadio link at the end of this article.   

Although known primarily for his many “tough-guy” roles, Cagney started out in show biz as a dancer. For his first stage performance, he danced dressed as a woman in the chorus line of Every Sailor, a 1919 revue. In later years, he even opened a dance studio for professionals and served as a choreographer. But he only danced in a small number of movies, including Footlight Parade, Taxi, The Seven Little Foys and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Cagney earned numerous honors for his on-screen work. In addition to his Best Actor Academy Award, he garnered two other Oscar nominations. One for Angels with Dirty Faces, the other for Love Me or Leave Me. He also received the AFI Life Achievement Award, a Kennedy Center Honor and the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award.

It’s interesting to note that after Cagney’s breakthrough gangster part in The Public Enemy back in the 1930s, many moviegoers had a hard time accepting him in “good-guy” roles, but it’s still not surprising that in 1999 the AFI ranked him EIGHTH among the 50 Greatest American Screen Legends.  

The list of other films that prove Cagney’s versatility as an actor includes: White Heat, Mr. Roberts, Ragtime, One Two Three, Strawberry Blonde, The Roaring Twenties, Tribute to a Bad Man, Man of a Thousand Faces, The Oklahoma Kid, and A Lion Is in the Street.

HOST: Betty Jo Tucker

PRODUCER: Nikki Starr

LINK TO LISTEN:   http://www.blogtalkradio.com/movieaddictheadquarters/2016/07/05/james-cagney-yankee-doodle-dandy