SYNOPSIS: An unexpected promotion at a cutthroat hedge fund pushes a young couple's relationship to the brink, threatening to unravel far more than their recent engagement.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Netflix marketing department wants you to believe that Fair Play is the must watch erotic thriller of the year. We have to admit it does have a handful of sex scenes (nudity excluded) but to call it an erotic thriller seems pretty far-fetched.
Written and directed by TV director Chloe Domont who has expertly crafted a story revolving power play between the sexes. Throws in a toxic workplace and a loving relationship into the mix, you get an intense, dynamic talky story set in Wall Street.
Hedge fund analysts Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) are deeply in love and getting engaged. But their relationship soon turns sour when Emily gets promoted to portfolio manager working alongside their ruthless, fiery tempered boss, Campbell (Eddie Marsan). Did we mentioned it’s against company policy to have a relationship in the office?
Anyway, Emily promises Luke that she will look out for him maybe singing his praises in front of Campbell. Unfortunately, the latter does not give a crap about Luke, in fact Campbell despises him. Thus the unhappiness starts to boil in Luke. The sex stops. He gets jealous when Emily starts to come home late after drinking sessions with Campbell and gang. The damage is done and you wonder where is Fair Play heading to?
The story of Fair Play covers a lot of ground from competitive corporate workplace, sexual politics, family dynamics to personal mindset. It makes you question why when a woman rises to be the boss, she attracts more wrong attention than the average man. And also why the man in the couple finds it humiliating and bothered when the lady gets to climb up the corporate ladder faster than him.
Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich are superb as the “tragic” couple caught in the maelstrom making their characters seem more believable than it should be. Dynevor is riveting throughout, turning her seemingly vulnerable character to a stronger, controlling self by the end of it. Ehrenreich matches up by playing a complete jerk that makes things even more uncomfortable through his drastic behaviour and actions.
Please don’t watch this thinking it’s merely an updated erotic thriller from the 90s that probably stars Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. Fair Play is not that kind of movie. There’s no eroticism or thrill in the entire story except for a rather uncomfortable sequence. Ultimately, an intense, well-written and executed drama as compared to empty big screen CGI spectacles.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
SYNOPSIS: This film depicts the beautiful and ruthless revenge by Ok-joo, a former bodyguard, for Min-hee, her best friend.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Ballerina is a South Korea action revenge movie that has nothing to do with the John Wick’s spinoff of the same name that is releasing next year.
Ok-joo (Jeon Jong-seo from Burning and The Call) is a lonely, introverted retired bodyguard whose only friend it seems is the bubbly Min-hee (Park Yu-rim), her middle school classmate. When Min-hee left a suicide note asking Ok-joo to seek revenge for her, all hell breaks loose as Ok-joo found out her target is a BDSM loving, drug supplier jerk, Choi Pro (Kim Ji-hoon).
The opening which showcases Ok-joo beating up several thugs at a convenience store pretty much summed up the tone of the entire movie. The action is fast and chaotic owing partly to the swift editing and camerawork. As per any other action female protagonists in modern cinema, the character of Ok-joo is painted as more than formidable but there are still believable moments whereby we wonder if Ok-joo will survive the next vicious attack.
The clever usage of lighting and colour adds to the beauty of the various shots especially Ok-joo first encounter with Choi Pro at a sleazy hotel room. Again, the action choreography is madness and gory. For a 90 minutes movie, the amount of action sequences on the whole more than suffices and the momentum keeps building up to the finale which took place in a drug plant.
While Ballerina boasts a superb mix of John Wick meets John Woo brand of stylized action, the narrative is primarily on the weaker side. There’s no backstory of how Ok-joo turns into such a jaded self despite not looking a day older than 30. Or how exactly did Min-hee encountered Choi Pro? And what other crimes did Choi Pro and his gang members did besides supplying soy sauce packets disguised as drugs and imprisoning high school girls as sex slaves? The possibilities are endless but director and writer Lee Chung-hyun keeps things to the minimum which to be fair isn’t exactly a bad decision.
Jeon Jong-seo plays the fiery character perfectly, channelling her rage and intense stares to avenge a person whom probably the only genuine friend left in her life. As for Kim Ji-hoon, his performance easily turns him into the most hated villain of all time with his flashy, perverted appearance and behaviour.
For all it’s worth, Ballerina knows how to excite the audiences and action fans. We are sure there is a fanbase waiting eagerly to see who is Ok-joo battling next. Perhaps taking out any sex predator? Perhaps using another mind-blowing weapon liked a flame thrower from the old couple who sells weaponry out of an amusement park van. The possibilities are again endless.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama/Crime
Director: Jonathan Li
Cast: Da Peng, Lam Ka-tung, Zhang Songwen, Qi Xi, Sunny Sun
Runtime: 1 hr 52 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:
Opening Day: 28 September 2023
Synopsis: In 1995, a large armed robbery occurred in Guangdong. A bank cash truck was robbed by five armed robbers, causing a loss of $15 million and three bank's escorts were killed. The incident shocked the whole country, the Police immediately set up a task force, led by Wang Shouyue (played by Lam Ka Tung) and He Lan (played by Zhang Songwen), and quickly found the whereabouts of the five robbers, except the real mastermind behind the case, the owner of a construction company, Chen Xinwen (played by Da Peng), and his cousin Chen Xinnian (played by Sun Yang). Chen Xinwen and Chen Xinnian embarked on the road to escape, and has since evaporated. Twenty-one years later, the case has long faded from the public, and Wang Shouyue also retired. However, a usual video with a blurred figure rekindled his hope of solving the case. He went to the border city to look for the "stranger" in the video. The final showdown between good and evil begins after twenty-one years.
Movie Review:
Thanks to movie adaptations, we get to see how true life first class heists were planned and executed. While the law breakers may not look anything like the actors who play them in the movies, it does give us a glimpse of what those characters’ personalities were like, given how the actors might have done some research while portraying the characters, or were under the good direction of the filmmaker. This Chinese crime thriller based on a cash robbery that took place in a Guangdong province in 1995 is a competent production that sheds light on the incident that made the headlines almost three decades ago.
Five daring armed men robbed a van and escaped with 15 million RMB, making this the biggest heist in Chinese history. There are some fatalities in the process and the bad guys manage to escape, but not for long. They are captured one by one, but two particular individuals, Chen Xinwen (Da Peng) and his younger cousin Chen Xinnian (Sunny Sun) remain unfound. This pisses Wang Shouyue (Lam Ka Tung) off, because one of his compatriots died during the hunt for the robbers.
The movie would have been a straightforward thriller if not for the fact that someone resembling one of the missing men suddenly shows up in a publicly televised clip. This sends the retired Wang into action, determined to make the two unfound bandits pay for their crime.
The movie directed by Jonathan Li takes a creative approach with the storytelling, as the incidents unfold in a non linear manner. You first see a wide shot of a man being hit with a rock at a mine, then you see Wang showing up at a store located in a Yunnan province claiming to be the owner’s old friend. Then you go back in time to the 1990s (you can tell from the looks of the character and their backgrounds, thanks to a good job done by the art department), where the owner of a construction company is haughtily showing off his assets and dealing in some shady businesses.
As the 112 minute movie progresses, you also realise that this isn’t just about Wang’s manhunt. It is a well developed human drama about how the three men’s lives have changed due to the robbery, and what have become of them almost 30 years later.
Da Peng, a variety show host and actor from China, delivers a very committed performance as the older Chen. You first see him as an extremely dislikeable character (he is crass, loud and a total jerk), then witness his fear when he became a fugitive, before he settles down and becomes a mellowed family man. While his body transformation is not as drastic as Christian Bale’s, it is a believable one that complements his character development and good acting. He was recognised with the Best Actor prize at this year’s Shanghai International Film Festival. His co star is the ever reliable Lam from Hong Kong, and he delivers an intensely good performance as well. As the younger Chen, Sun has less screen time but leaves an impression as well.
As a crime thriller, this movie may not have non stop car chases and gun fights to keep your adrenaline running, but there is a solid human drama that is well worth your time.
Movie Rating:
(A solid performance from Da Peng makes this crime thriller an engaging human drama)
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: Inspired by true events, when a handshake deal goes sour, funeral home owner Jeremiah O’Keefe (Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones) enlists charismatic, smooth-talking attorney Willie E. Gary (Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx) to save his family business. Tempers flare and laughter ensues as the unlikely pair bond while exposing corporate corruption and racial injustice in this inspirational, triumphant story.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Dubbed the “Giant Killer”, Willie E. Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a flashy, charismatic lawyer who is known for his flawless record and taking down America’s well-known corporations. The Burial is a movie adaptation of one of his famous cases whereby a small-town Mississippi funeral home-owner, Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) successfully sued a Canadian conglomerate funeral company over a contract dispute.
The Burial unsurprisingly is a feel-good, David-taking-on-Goliath legal drama that owed much of its charm to its leading star, Jamie Foxx. Foxx is incredible and undisputedly, he makes sure all the courtroom drama is genuinely entertainingly so long he commands the screen. His comedic flair and dramatic beats are in top form and his chemistry with the perpetually grumpy looking Jones is pleasing to watch unlike the odd pairing of Jim Carrey’s The Riddler and Jones’ Two Face.
The supporting cast is also admirable with Jurnee Smollett (Birds of Prey) who plays the tough-as-nails counsel opponent of Gary, Bill Camp playing the despicable big-time businessman, Ray Loewen who plans to take over O’Keefe’s failing funeral homes instead of a straight-forward buyover and Mamoudou Athie (Jurassic World Dominion) as an enthusiastic young lawyer who introduces Jeremiah to Gary in the first place.
Director and co-writer Maggie Betts known for her social consciousness delivers a movie that not only showcases a small-time business being nearly taken over by a larger corporation but venturing into the issue of race, slavery and the extent of how scary the greed of man can be. Apparently, the Loewen group owned by Ray resort to working with Black churches and association to “cheat” the lower income of more money despite buying prior funeral packages from them.
The Burial in short is that kind of predictable legal drama that captures your attention exceptionally well even though you know how exactly it’s going to end. For a case over a minor contract dispute, it only seems to get more interesting and compelling as more facts and happenings are dug out. We all know David is going take down Goliath in the end. However, you need to find out the process yourself. We can only assure you it’s going to be rewarding.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
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MANG HOI (孟海) (1958 - 2023)Posted on 10 Oct 2023 |
Genre: Action/Crime
Director: Herman Yau
Cast: Andy Lau, Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xuan, Janice Man, Jason Gu
Runtime: 2 hrs 8 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website:
Opening Day: 12 October 2023
Synopsis: In 1993, a series of violent armed robberies occurred on the K3/4 international train connecting Beijing and Moscow, the only land communication line between China and Europe back then. The Chinese police engaged in a cross-border investigation and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice. Disguised as businessmen and undaunted by danger, a special operations team led by the Railway Police set off for this investigation in the unfamiliar territory of Moscow, with only one goal in mind: to arrest the criminals and successfully extradite them back to China. The film is based on a real historical event.
Movie Review:
Hong Kong director Herman Yau is a very hardworking filmmaker. Before this title, he had already helmed three other thrillers: Raid on the Lethal Zone, Death Notice and The White Storm 3 - Heaven or Hell which we saw in theatres some months back. Most of his works are extremely testosterone driven, starring the who’s who of Hong Kong showbiz. Leading actors like Sean Lau, Louis Koo, Francis Ng and Julian Cheung are just some of the names you’d expect to see on the movie posters. It is no different for his latest work, which is based on a series of train robberies which happened on the train journeys from Beijing to Moscow. This is already a win for viewers who enjoy movie adaptations of true life crime stories.
Back in the 1990s, it was common for businessmen to take a six day train trip between the two locations to trade commodities. Given the economy then, this was an opportunity for people to earn high profits. And this also means this would be a field day for bandits – simply because there were no law enforcers on the train. Violent crimes like rapes were also known to take place.
The backdrop is perfect for what seems like Yau’s favourite genre of thriller flicks. The movie is not too interested in the political undercurrents between the two countries (it is a production with substantial backup from China after all), because a popcorn movie with cat and mouse chases and explosive gun shootouts is likely to bring in more bucks than a film with lots of talking.
And so it is with this premise we are treated to an exhilarating ride. The leading men this time round are China’s Zhang Hanyu and Huang Xuan (both of them starred in The Battle at Lake Changjin), as well as Hong Kong’s Andy Lau (the star of Yau’s Shock Wave movies). Zhang plays the righteous cop who leads a team of men to hunt down the gang leader (Huang) and another shady individual (Lau) who Is somehow involved in the robberies.
There are many remarkable action sequences in this 128 minute movie, and every one of them leaves an impression. There is a scene where the law enforcers attempt to capture the bad guy in the midst of an orchestra performance, and another one that sees the antagonists being pursued by the police in a maze of underground water passages. There is also the finale where a whole train is held hostage and the evil doers are not holding back with their gunshots.
Besides these sequences that will have your eyes glued to the screen, there are also storylines which explore loyalty, brotherhood and what it means to serve justice. Thanks to the commendable performances by the ensemble cast (which also includes Janice Man as a robbery accomplice and Jason Gu as the gang’s second in charge), the drama is engaging throughout. If you have watched Yau’s previous works, you wouldn’t expect anything less from this explosive action movie.
Movie Rating:
(Herman Yau delivers yet another explosive action thriller, and this one features impressive performances from Zhang Hanyu, Huang Xuan and Andy Lau)
Review by John Li
SYNOPSIS: A tale of forbidden romance and changing social conventions, My Policeman follows the relationships between three people, policeman Tom (Harry Styles/Linus Roache), teacher Marion (Emma Corrin/Gina McKee) and museum curator Patrick (David Dawson/Rupert Everett) and their emotional journey spanning decades.
MOVIE REVIEW:
Based on a 2012 novel by Bethan Roberts and inspired by the relationship between writer E.M. Forster and a real-life policeman, forbidden love, lust and jealously pretty much summed up the themes of this LGBTQ+ drama which stars pop star Harry Styles as My Policeman.
The drama opens in the 90’s whereby a seemingly normal retired couple, Tom (Linus Roache) and Marion (Gina McKee) stays in a sleepy seaside town that boasts a gorgeous view. Of course, audiences are here not for the view. We are here for the story. Soon, their mundane lives are disrupted when Marion decides to take in their old friend, Patrick Hazelwood (Rupert Everett) and assumes caring responsibilities as the latter has suffered a stroke.
For some reason, Tom is distanced towards Patrick as he spends a lot of time walking his dog instead of caring for his old friend, the story then jumps back in time to the late 1950s where we see how a younger Tom (Styles) and younger Marion (Emma Corrin) falls in love and how their supposedly best friend, Patrick (David Dawson) turns out to be a love rival to Marion rather than just a third wheel.
The deliberate drama spends its time examining the complexity and struggles of living as a queer man through the eyes of Tom and Patrick. As a museum curator, Patrick is cultured, refined while Tom is suave, charming and loves falling asleep at recitals. But that doesn’t stop them from falling madly in love (cue in numerous butt naked sex scenes) although Tom swiftly marries Marion, a school teacher probably in a bid to repress his homosexuality not knowing it’s a hot recipe for disaster.
Meanwhile, the timelines continue to jump back and forth and as Marion starts to pry more into Patrick’s dairies, we realises there’s nothing more we can learn of their suffering love triangle other than a life-changing decision made by Marion. Even though there’s an interesting mention of criminalisation of gay activities in the movie, sadly, it didn’t go beyond two policemen chasing after a queer figure and a subsequent brief courtroom scene.
Styles has been largely blamed for his bland performance mostly outshone by veteran David Dawson who plays a painful nuanced character. Still, you got to admit the former One Direction star indeed has the balls to take on such a controversial role. The appearances of Linus Roache and Rupert Everett on the other hand is far more interesting to watch unfortunately their limited screentime is the reason why everything ends up flat and uninspiring.
My Policeman is definitely not on the level of Brokeback Mountain even if the proceedings and themes are somewhat eerily similar. With a quiet accompanied music score, lush cinematography and costume design, it is still a decent serving of a classic romance drama.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: Kevin Greutert
Cast: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Synnøve Macody Lund, Steven Brand, Michael Beach, Renata Vaca
Runtime: 1 hr 59 mins
Rating: R21 (Strong Violence and Gore)
Released By: Shaw Organisation
Official Website:
Opening Day: 19 October 2023
Synopsis: John Kramer (Tobin Bell) is back in SAW X, the most intriguing, unexpected, and chilling installment of the global horror franchise. Exploring the untold chapter of John / Jigsaw’s most personal game, the film is set between the events of Saw I and II. A sick and desperate John travels to Mexico for a risky and experimental medical procedure, which he hopes will be a miracle cure for his cancer. But he discovers the operation is a scam to defraud the most vulnerable. Armed with a newfound purpose, John returns to his unique work, turning the tables on the con artists in his signature visceral way, through terrifying and ingenious traps.
Movie Review:
Hard to believe that it has been close to two decades since ‘Saw’, which saw (no pun intended) former civil engineer John Kramer (played by Tobin Bell) devise medieval-looking contraptions to test how far his victims were prepared to go in order to survive. To be sure, it was only in ‘Saw II’ that we found out that Kramer was dying from an inoperable frontal lobe tumour, which he would die from by the end of ‘Saw III’.
Those who have followed the franchise religiously would also know that subsequent instalments got increasingly tangled with present-day continuity and flashbacks to Kramer’s past, struggling to advance the narrative while retaining the series’ iconic anti-protagonist. That the last chapter ‘Spiral’ floundered at the box office just reinforced how significant Jigsaw’s presence is to the success of the franchise, and it is no wonder that ‘Saw X’ decides to make him front and centre.
In an obvious but nonetheless inspired master stroke, veteran ‘Saw’ editor-turned-director Kevin Greutert has decided for ‘Saw X’ to be a direct sequel to the very first ‘Saw’ (and therefore situating it between ‘Saw’ and ‘Saw II’). Not only would this justify making the still dying but very much still alive Kramer the lead in the movie, it would also allow the film to bring back fan favourite Amanda Young (Shawnee Smith), who survived a reverse bear trap in ‘Saw’ and became an apprentice to Kramer.
Somewhat contrary to formula, ‘Saw X’ takes its time to set up the circumstances by which Kramer would cross paths with his victims. Staring down the months he has to live, Kramer finds hope from fellow cancer support group member Henry (Michael Beach), who introduces him to an experimental programme by Dr. Cecilia Pederson (Synnøve Macody Lund). After securing what seems to be a coveted spot on her programme, Kramer boards a plane for Mexico and forks over an exorbitant sum for what is a big fat scam.
It should come as no surprise that Kramer is furious, and with the help of Amanda, decides to instruct Cecilia and three of her colluders in his code of ethics. Like we said, it does take an hour before we get to the traps proper, but Greutert’s effort to build out the arc of betrayal which Kramer suffers elevates this entry above the excuses in ‘torture porn’ which many of its predecessors were guilty of. Indeed, the emphasis on Kramer makes this probably the most character-driven entry, and by making it personal, beefs up the stakes even more.
Even if it takes longer to get there, ‘Saw X’ doesn’t disappoint at all in the gore department. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that the ‘games’ involve the use of Leonardo Gigli’s primitive wire cutter to extract an amount of bone marrow, drilling into one’s skull to remove a portion of cerebral tissue, and a high-powered radiation canon that blisters skin dark and crispy. In between, devotees will also lap up the trademarks from the ‘Saw’ universe, such as the appearance of Billy the Puppet riding an old-fashioned red tricycle.
Credit too goes to writing duo Pete Goldfinger and Josh Stolberg for devising Cecilia as a cunning enemy, who changes the game for Kramer in the last 20 minutes in surprising and deeply satisfying ways. Oh yes, while many instalments have struggled to match the original with a similarly devious twist at the end, ‘Saw X’ succeeds with just the right combination of nastiness, smarts and comeuppance. We might even go so far as to say that it has probably the most rewarding payoff we have seen in a ‘Saw’ movie for a long while, and that is also thanks to the effort spent developing Kramer as a character than just exploiting him as an icon.
Though ‘Halloween’ and ‘The Exorcist’ did likewise, we dare say ‘Saw X’s’ back to basics approach is the most successful resurrection of the three thus far, wiping away the complications of its contorted predecessors and taking a far more focused and deliberate plotting to set up its games. Fans will also cheer the coda at the end, which promises the return of yet another Jigsaw apprentice. Despite a dying Kramer, ‘Saw X’ breathes new life into the franchise, and we dare say gives reason to be excited about this Halloween mainstay again.
Movie Rating:
(Probably the best 'Saw' sequel to date, 'Saw X' goes back to basics to deliver a satisfyingly character-driven revenge tale without losing any of its signature gore)
Review by Gabriel Chong
SYNOPSIS: Sound of Freedom is a true story film that exposes the darkness of child trafficking. A federal agent saves a boy from traffickers, but his sister is still captive. He embarks on a dangerous mission, risking his life to free her from a fate worse than death.
MOVIE REVIEW:
If not for the countless controversies surrounding the release of Sound of Freedom, you probably won’t hear a bleep about the title or even remember you have caught it. However, this is not to say it’s a bad movie. On the contrary, it’s a decently well-made crime drama with good intentions.
Playing out more liked a higher budgeted episode of Singapore’s beloved Crimewatch, Sound of Freedom tells the story of real-life special agent with the Homeland Security, Tim Ballard (Jim Caviezel), who specialised in arresting those criminals who dabbled and distributing child pornography. In a desperate attempt to rescue a pair of brother and sister, Tim decides to travel down to Columbia to take down a child trafficking ring and even resort to disguising as an UN doctor to infiltrate a rebel army camp deep in the jungle.
For a typical Hollywood action movie, Tim’s exploits are more than plausible. Think early Arnold Schwarzenegger and Stallone’s action flicks. The thing is the narrative is based on anti-trafficking activist and campaigner Tim Ballard’s stories so it seems overly exaggerated and dramatic for a single unarmed man to make it out alive in an heavily-armed camp.
Still, you might want to forgive director and co-writer Alexjandro Monteverde despite Ballard’s questionable heroic deeds. At least, the movie works tremendously well in delivering and shining a spotlight on the treacherous crimes of paedophiles worldwide. For the most part, Monteverde manages to convey the message and tone without resorting to lurid visuals or excessive violence. Even a fight between Ballard and a rebel leader in the finale is played down to the minimum.
Caviezel has been a reliable actor since his early screen days though his acting career has been side-lined due to his controversial political views and statements. The role of Tim Ballard fits him to a T as he no doubt delivers a nuanced performance as the dedicated lawman who strives to rescue children from human trafficking rings.
It doesn’t really takes away the true meaning of the crime drama despite all the conspiracy theories on QAnon and Ballard’s non-profit organization, O.U.R because in Ballard’s own words, “God’s children are not for sale”. Strictly speaking except for a little creative plot mechanics, Sound of Freedom is mostly a grounded crime drama that steers away from fancy CGI explosions and gunshots. It’s not the most sensational or must-see movie of the year yet certainly deserved a single watch.
MOVIE RATING:
Review by Linus Tee
Genre: Drama
Director: Kim Chang-hoon
Cast: Hong Xa-bin, Song Joong-ki, Kim Hyoung-seo (BIBI), Jeong Jae-kwang, Yu Seong-ju, Park Bo-kyung
Runtime: 2 hr 4 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence & Coarse Language)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures and Purple Plan
Official Website:
Opening Day: 19 October 2023
Synopsis: For us, there are things we just have to do. A town with no future, and no hope. Seventeen-year old Yeon-gyu (HONG Xa-bin) was born in this place, and has never been to anywhere else. While enduring the repeated violence inflicted by his stepfather, he saves up money in the lone hope of moving to the Netherlands with his mother. Chi-geon (SONG Joong-ki), born and raised in this town, is now a mid-level boss in a criminal organization. Having learned early in life that this world is hell, he gets by in his own way. One day Yeon-gyu gets into a fight to protect his stepsister Hayan (KIM Hyoung-seo). Unable to raise the settlement money, Yeon-gyu is helped by Chi-geon, and in that way Yeon-gyu comes to start a new life as a member of Chi-geon’s gang. Although scared and awkward, Yeon-gyu gradually adjusts with the help of Chi-geon who is like an older brother to him. Having earned Chi-geon’s trust while fighting to survive in the gang, Yeon-gyu begins to fall into more and more dangerous circumstances. In order to escape from hell, they become a part of it.
Movie Review:
With a generic title like “Hopeless”, one wonders what the film is about without reading the synopsis. There seems to be nothing to cheer about in this debut feature from Kim Chang-hoon, and to this writer’s dismay, it is indeed a joyless movie that will dampen your spirits further if you are already feeling down and out. But if you are a fan of the baby faced Song Joong-ki, you’d find eye candy in this noir thriller which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival.
The movie’s protagonist is Yeon-gyu (newcomer Hong Xa-bin), a teenager who grew up in a family which isn’t far from picture perfect. As if being surrounded by violent bullies in school isn’t enough, he has an abusive (and alcoholic, of course) stepfather at home who doesn’t hold back when it comes to beating the poor boy up. He gets along okay with his stepsister, but his ultimate dream is to escape this brutal environment with his mother.
Circumstances find Yeon-gyu getting involved with a local gangster Chi-geon (Song doing a great job to appear rough and tough on screen despite his boyish look), who takes him in a part of the gang. Chi-geon shows Yeon-gyu the way of life, and asks him to call him “big brother”. However, as Chi-geon isn’t the one calling the shots all the time, danger still lingers in the form of a ruthless mobster boss who is just going to make Chi-geon’s life murkier – things will become hopelessly devastating as the film approaches its finale.
To say that this film doesn’t spark happiness (except for Song’s fans who will enjoy every time there is a close up shot of the actor) is an understatement. The story starts off by painting a very grim picture and things do not get any better even after Yeon-gyu meets Chi-geon. You’d think as a “big brother”, Chi-geon would be all protective and make things easy for the timid and awkward Yeon-gyu. But nope, he shows him that even with a mentor, things can be ugly if you don’t get your act together. This is shown in an excruciating scene where Chi-geon stomps into Yeon-gyu’s house after something doesn’t go according to plan, and the exchange ends with an entire fingernail being yanked off as viewers squeamishly imagine the pain.
Amidst the violence, there are some quieter and thoughtworthy moments in the film. One particularly memorable scene sees Yeon-gyu and Chi-geon at a picturesque lake, and the latter begins sharing stories. Then you realise the poignance of his words, and begin appreciating the things he has done for the Yeon-gyu. Without giving too much away, the last on screen encounter between the two guys is almost too heartwrenching to watch.
In terms of story development, nothing very dramatic happens during the 124 minute movie. The slow burner takes its time to make audiences realise the gloomy mess that the characters are in, and how there isn’t really a way out. Even if any of them manage to leave the town, is there really a better life waiting out there? One can argue that if you do not try, you would not know. But things just don’t look good from whichever perspective you try to see the situation from – and that’s when you feel that the movie title is a very apt one.
Movie Rating:
(This moody noir thriller won't spark any joy, but it is a solid drama with engaging performances from Hong Xa-bin and Song Joong-ki)
Review by John Li
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