Bad Genius 2017

Nice cinematography and strong color grading. I am honestly surprised how good this Thai film is. I really like the idea of turning music and finger movements into something like Morse code for the answers. Even the barcode trick was clever. The whole setup has that heist energy, planning, decoding, and executing under pressure just to get the answers. It also gets very stress inducing. At times it reminded me of Uncut Gems with how tense everything feels. This might be the first time I found myself rooting for a cheater. That alone says a lot about how engaging the film is. I am also glad it did not focus too much on rivalry. If it did, it would have just turned into another eat or be eaten story. Instead, it stays focused on the system and the choices they make. The ending touches on integrity versus greed. Both characters go through character development, one moving in a better direction while the other falls deeper. That contrast gives the film a strong closing.