Yahoo News The Sympathizer review: Park Chan-wook's nail-biting spy thriller is an instant classic
Park Chan-wook is a master of cinema and he is proving it once again with his new HBO drama The Sympathizer, which is premiering on Sky in May.
The espionage thriller follows The Captain (Hoa Xuande), a biracial undercover spy for the Viet Cong, telling his story from the days before the fall of Saigon, to his emigration to the US with other high profile refugees, and the intricacies of hiding in plain sight.
In the US, he is faced with many potential threats, including not one but four antagonists played by Robert Downey Jr., and he must do everything he can to remain undiscovered.
The Captain acts as our unreliable narrator, revisiting his journey whilst awaiting judgement at a prison camp in an unknown location. Which begs the question, how much of what he tells us can we believe?
Park brings his unique and iconic filmmaking style to the small screen, his second TV venture after 2018's The Little Drummer Girl. He delivers an intense thriller that will have viewers on the edge of their seats as they watch The Captain embark on his dangerous mission.
Read more: What to watch on Sky and NOW in April 2024 from The Regime to Oppenheimer
The story itself, based on Viet Thanh Nguyen's novel of the same name, is full of intrigue — there are plans within plans, betrayals and close-calls. The Sympathizer goes to some unexpected places, in one episode it will feel like a slick, nail-biting spy thriller while the next it is a commentary on Hollywood's depiction of Vietnam.
Park knows how to write well and it often seems like his voice can be heard through The Captain — particularly when he speaks about the way Asian people are portrayed onscreen, or taboo subjects like gore, sex and masturbation.
If anyone was concerned Hollywood might try to dull Park's gritty, outlandish cinematic vision that made Oldboy and The Handmaiden hits, the good news is the director gets several (what can best be described as) Park Chan-wook-isms in there. Suffice to say, there's parts of this show that will have some viewers feeling squeamish.
It's not just a drab and serious drama, though, there is real humour to the piece delivered expertly by both Xuande and Downey Jr. The latter is one of the highlights of the series, as he approaches each character —the spy, the professor, the politician, and the director— in interesting ways. They are hilarious but also somehow menacing in equal measure, and Downey Jr. is a true chameleon in the role.
What critics think of The Sympathizer:
The Wrap: Robert Downey Jr. Shines With 4 Roles in Park Chan-wook’s HBO Limited Series (5-min read)
Huffpost: HBO's Stylish Adaptation Of 'The Sympathizer' Is A Watered-Down Version Of The Book (6-min read)
The Daily Beast: Robert Downey Jr.’s First Post-Oscars Project Is a Mindf**k (6-min read)
But it has to be made clear, this is Xuande's show. The actor is astounding as The Captain, taking on the challenge of such a nuanced, complex person and making it look easy, you will want to rally around him even if he sometimes does abhorrent things to protect his secrets. Xuande goes toe-to-toe with Downey Jr. well, and the way in which he holds the story together til its triumphant end is remarkable.
The Sympathizer does, of course, also have a great supporting cast, with Fred Nguyen Khan and Vy Le's Lana being standouts for delivering stunning performances as The Captain's friends Bon and Lana.
There's a lot to love with The Sympathizer, from Park's slick directing and cinematography to the cast's gut-punching performances and the tense story they bring to life. This series is an instant classic of the spy genre, and you will not want to miss it.
📺 Where to watch The Sympathizer: Sky Atlantic and NOW in May
⭐️ Our rating: 5/5
🍿 Watch it if you liked: The Little Drummer Girl, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Bridge of Spies, Oldboy
🎭 Who's in it?: Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr., Fred Nguyen Khan, Sandra Oh, Toan Le, Vy Le.
⏰ How long is it? 8 x 1 hour episodes
📖 What’s it about? In a post-Vietnam War era, undercover communist spy The Captain is sent with his countrymen to America, where he must continue his espionage and report back to the Viet Cong, but faces increased risk of exposure as he does so.
Watch the trailer for The Sympathizer:
