Steven Yeun is a rising force within the film industry. He gained his initial fame on the television hit series “The Walking Dead” (2010–2022) but soon segued that television fame into bigger film roles. “Burning” (2018) brought Yeun a big hit, gaining popularity in indie circles and expanding into some modest Oscar buzz.It wasn’t until 2021, however, that Yeun would get his Oscar nomination with his leading role in the dazzling “Minari” (2020). Yeun now continues this strong career trajectory with a recent role in the film adaptation of Stephen Karam’s “The Humans” (2021) and is soon to star in Jordan Peele’s newest project, “Nope” (2022). In sum, Yeun has successfully used his acting prowess and cult following to carve a role for himself within the industry.
The most physically demonstrative role of Yeun’s abilities would be his leading feature in “Minari,” a drama centered on the lives of a Korean American family and their move to rural Arkansas. In the film, Yeun plays Jacob, the Yi family’s optimistic patriarch. Throughout the film, Jacob is pictured as both high achieving and fallible. He desperately wants to build a better life for his family, but in that process finds himself at odds with some of his family’s deeper needs and desires. The story is quiet and deeply human, using cinematic nuance to create emotional connection. Within that strong narrative, Yeun is charismatic, light hearted and uplifting. He allows you to see the value in a character who can often be problematic and to empathize with his struggles. For that, Yeun accomplishes the task of the film: making small, poignant acting choices to cement the broader narrative of hope in strife.
Another sign of good acting is the ability to make something out of a supporting role. This is all too true of Yeun’s work in “The Humans.” The film follows the Blake family’s Thanksgiving, hosted by daughter Brigid Blake (Beanie Feldstein) in her Chinatown apartment. What follows is an hour and a half of love, tension and complex family drama. Within the film, Yeun plays Richard,Brigid’s boyfriend, who tries hard to impress her parents. Though a smaller role within the film, it is often Yeun’s character who brings levity and lightness to an incredibly solemn narrative. In a recurring bit, Richard goes on about his wild dreams as an attempt to connect with Brigid’s father, Erik (Richard Jenkins). These brief moments of quaint joy provide respite from the film’s drama and are crucial to the viewing experience. In this way, Yeun is able to turn a smaller character into the light-hearted backbone of the film.
Steven Yeun has indefinitely etched out a space for himself within the indie film market. His acting brings emotional resonance to small, succinct moments. Everything is filled with intention, from the largess of his dialogue to things as small as the expressions he makes. As Yeun grows his celebrity and expands into bigger movie markets, it will be interesting to see how he brings this strong emotional clarity to bigger-budget films.
