Searching

Rating: 5/5

With an incredibly innovative concept and stellar performances by its' cast, Searching is a truly impressive movie to behold.

David Kim (John Cho) is a newly single father who is trying his best to be a strong support system for his teenage daughter Margot (Michelle La). While talking with her through Facetime, Margot tells her father she is at a study group and won't be home until late in the evening. Assuming all is well, David goes to bed.

The next morning, David wakes up to find that Margot apparently got home late and has already left for school. As he tries to get in touch with her throughout the day, he begins to realize that something sinister has happened, and his daughter is missing. With the help of Detective Rosemary Vick (Debra Messing), David begins an endless search to find Margot.

Searching is one of the most creative films that I have seen in a long time. The entire story is told through screens, whether they be on David or Margot's laptops or an iphone. This concept not only created one of the more emotional and heartbreaking opening sequences since Up, but it stayed interesting from beginning to end. You'd think that this particular filmmaking style would lose its' luster after awhile, but it shockingly does not. Instead of tiring of the movie's type of storytelling, you are constantly wondering in what way's the film will get its' plot across next.

Though there are a handful of other actors throughout the film, John Cho carries almost the entirety of the film on his shoulders. His role as a grief and panic stricken father is one of the more believable performances I have watched in recent history. As the search for Margot intensifies, so does Cho's portrayal of David. Where some may have gone overboard with the character, Cho was able to give off the needed desperation for his role, while keeping it firmly rooted in reality.

It is a rare quality in a film when it can be watched, and almost instantly want to be watched again. That is how I felt after first seeing Searching. It is a movie that has so many components to it, big and small, that it demands multiple viewings. The story itself is not overly complicated, but the way in which it is presented allows the viewer to want to watch it over again, just so they can try and pick up on the many different pieces that are shown on the various screens that are used throughout the movie.

Searching is a film that will sadly not receive the critical acclaim that it deserves. Yes, it has been recognized for its' creativity at film festivals here and there, but it is not the type of movie that would garner any main stream accolades. As much as I love watching the Academy Awards and other like minded entertainment based events, it makes me sad that movies that are as influential and as brilliant as Searching don't get nominated; because it most certainly deserves it.