NR | 1h 53m | Biography, Drama, Sport | 2023
As the 2023 Academy Awards draw closer, anticipation and speculation about the winners is building. Many predict winners for the prominent categories, including Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Actress, however, the technical aspects of filmmaking are often ignored.

“Road to Boston” features great cinematography and certainly deserves to be up there with Oscar nominees in this category. The film fuses a celebration of strong male characters and narrative with outstanding visuals.
Great Visuals
“Road to Boston” boasts a highly skilled production team, particularly in its camera and electrical department. The film benefits from the expertise of seasoned primary camera operator Leroy Button, known for his work on blockbusters such as “F9: The Fast Saga” and “Mission: Impossible—Dead Reckoning Part One,” as well as Stephen Oh, who lent his talents to “John Wick: Chapter 4” and “Napoleon.”
Additionally, the film benefits from drone support provided by Luke Annells, whose impressive portfolio includes “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “Lion.” With such a distinguished lineup of cinematographers, “Road to Boston” showcases some of the industry’s best talent.
Button’s trademarks are present; with sweeping landscapes to intimate close-ups and with breathtaking precision, his lens captures historical references and the world’s beauty. His use of light, shadow, and color creates an atmosphere of palpable tension during the dramatic marathon scene, drawing the audience deeper into the story with each frame.
The cinematographers adeptly handle the aforementioned flashback scenes to the Berlin Olympics as well, and employ longer takes in a different color grading to vividly depict the historical context of Japan’s occupation of Korea.

After his disappointing Olympic experience, Son grapples with self-criticism but still retains a burning desire to advocate for South Korea as the nation emerges to establish its own identity. Therefore, Son and his bosom buddy Seung-Ryong Nam (Bae Sung-woo) decide to hold trials to find and coach long-distance runners with the potential to win international marathons. Even though Son’s Korean marathon dreams were unfulfilled, he’s decides to go all out to help worthy up-and-comers achieve theirs.
More on Its Cinematographic Wonders
While the main actors’ performances are commendable, the film’s cinematography is outstanding. Utilizing a series of jump-cuts, drama pans, and variations in speed, the film’s skilled camera crew creates a sense of immediacy that fully immerses viewers in the unfolding drama.The movie also delivers exhilarating bird’s eye shots thanks to the skilled work of Luke Annells and his drones. Annells wisely demonstrates restraint in his drone usage, deploying them judiciously rather than succumbing to overreliance.
“Road to Boston” offers a technically superior, refreshing portrayal of masculinity and patriotism, themes often overlooked in modern Western cinema. It’s encouraging to see these values celebrated in films from other countries, reminding audiences of their enduring significance—all in a technically sound package that is sure to delight audiences.