The Movie: Bad Genius (ฉลาดเกมส์โกง)
The Director: Nattawut Poonpiriya
The Cast: Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Chanon Santinatornkul, Teeradon Supapunpinyo, Eisaya Hosuwan
The Story: Inspired by actual events, a group of high school students hatch a plan to profit off of their brains by selling the answers to standardized exams.
The Review:
Let me just say this right off the bat. Bad Genius is a fantastic movie. Nattawut Poonpiriya has put together a movie that is smart, stylish, intense, compelling, and really fun to watch. The cinematography, expertly handled by Phaklao Jiraungkoonkun, has a very stylish and edgy look to it and is complemented perfectly by a slick sounding soundtrack that was composed by Vichaya Vatanasapt. The whole production has a confidently urgent vibe to it that pushes the story forward and is embodied by the primary cast members.
Leading the way as Lynn, a student prodigy, is Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying who absolutely owns the screen with a fearless personality and a range of emotion that is pretty freaking impressive. As the story unfolds, her character evolves and adapts to new surroundings, new friends, and new challenges and the beauty of that performance comes from an opposition of youthful vulnerability and steely determination that Chutimon effortlessly puts into each moment.
Eisaya Hosuwan and Teeradon Supapunpinyo seem have a great time playing Lynn's friends while Chanon Santinatornkul is on board as her rival and intellectual equal although it's Thaneth Warakulnukroh who impresses most in the role of Lynn's father. Over the course of the movie, and with limited time on screen, his character is everything Lynn needs to help learn some very valuable life lessons and he ends up providing a couple of the most emotionally compelling moments that the story has to offer.
The Verdict:
Bad Genius is a stunning cinematic achievement and is a prime example of why I love film festivals and the access they provide to beautifully made films that would otherwise never get seen outside of their home country. Director Nattawut Poonpiriya has put together a nearly flawless film and we may just have a superstar in the making with Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying's breakout performance.
Bad Genius is an official selection of the 2017 Hawaii International Film Festival.
TwoOhSix.com coverage of the 2017 Hawaii International Film Festival.
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