Rough Cut

This is a fantastic Korean film that deserves the widest audience possible. Not an action flick, but more a gangster movie crossed with a showbiz black comedy topped off with that special kind of pathos that only Asian films know how to do. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Hollywood remake this with people like Christian Bale and Mark Wahlberg or something like that. You owe it to yourself to check this out as soon as you have the means to do so. A colossal jerk of a movie star named Soo-ta can't get anyone to act opposite him in his latest movie because he beat the crap out of the last two actors and the media is having a field day with it. Plus, he has a girlfriend who he refuses to take out in public and has sex with her in a van down by the river. His agent is fed up with him and a scandal is bound to rear its ugly head any day now. Enter Kang-pae, a vicious gangster who loves movies. After an awkward run-in at a club with both their entourages in tow, Soo-ta gets the bright idea to cast him as the other actor. He agrees and everyone is so desperate to shoot, they go along with it. The only problem is that Kang-pae fights for real. That means Soo-ta needs to get tough quick if he's to win the final fight hes scripted to win - but now he has to do it for real! There's a lot more to the movie than that and its a joy to go along for the ride. It was refreshing and had me laughing and smiling while caring about the characters all the way through. Highly recommended!

Hard to describe this movie in a foreign language. You can read the other reviews for details, i believe that their descriptions are right. All i can say is that this movie is a strange movie, strange in a remarkable way. Kim Ki Duk has written the script, don't expect something heavy or depressing, expect a modern film noir(?) and some terrific performances from the actors. (The actor who plays the gangster gives one of the best performances i have seen recently). If you want to know some similar movies, i will not be able to help you, because, movies like this, are a genre of their own. I wonder in how many ways, Hollywood would destroy Kim Ki Duk's script: Τhis is not a comedy, this is not a gangster film, this is not a drama nor an action film, but it manages to combine all these and make something new. I am looking forward to watch his new movie, Pieta.

PS I haven't mentioned the director and this is not fair because he also did a great work.For sure,i will search for his other movies.

The arrogant action film actor is a bully with a temper and after one tantrum too many finds himself without any willing co-stars, so enter the inscrutable gangster who was in a movie once as an extra and still enjoys watching films. A request for an autograph leads to the first showdown between the actor and the gangster. Western films have led us to believe Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro (and now Steve Buscemi as Nucky Thompson) are the stereotypical gangsters that whack and or whip out a garrote at the smallest slight. Not the stoic Gang-pae, played so well by Ji-Seob So, who barely needs any dialog to convey his thoughts or reactions. From the moment he agrees to be on screen, and to fight for real, I began to get a feeling of dread. His line to the action star about finally becoming a real actor was as heartbreaking in its own way as the events that followed. Like I said, action yes, but the characters made made it a solid film.

Gang-pae, played by So Ji-sub, is a local organized crime leader who still wishes he could be in movies. Su-ta, played by Kang Ji-hwan, is a haughty actor who is easy to provoke. Within his latest film, where he plays a gangster, he gets into the role too much and sends one of the stuntmen to the hospital. The two men meet by chance at a room salon and Su-ta enlists Gang-pae to join the production. But this real life gangster will only join the production if the fights are real. The two main characters continue to try and one-up the other every chance they get (plot).

Rough Cut's interesting premise delves into parallel stories involving Gang-pae's gangster life, the filming of the movie within a movie, and Su-ta's shallow personal life, if the story seems convoluted don't worry, it is linear and doesn't bother to delve more than skin deep examining those issues, the film's focus is rather on two men and their violent confrontations on screen. Ji-seob So becomes an incredibly charismatic figure, using his calm, cool demeanor that houses a monsoon of emotions underneath, Ji-seob So quickly takes over the film until it is literally his movie. His counterpart Ji-hwan Kang, performs satisfactorily as "Su-ta," but there is a mile difference between their screen presence. Rough Cut has what it takes to win you over with ease.

Watch it, it has all of the elements of a good JPF movies film—which is hard to come by, and yes Dangerous you will like the choreography of the fights scenes in this film, I recommend this film to every one like some drama or crime drama with a few decent fight scenes thrown in.

5/5

The story revolves around a egoistic rising star and a gangster who who is trying to get his boss out of jail. There path eventually cross and end up disliking each other, but the situation the actor is in makes him ask the gangster to co-star in the film with him. The Gangster agree, but in one condition, they fight for real on camera.

The character that stood out the most for me was Ji-seob So role and acting, he really does show off all his charms from him looking threatening without speaking a word while being in calm composure. While Ji-Hwan Kang did the best he can with the role he is given, unfortunately Su-hyeon Hong was just a pretty face in the movie. Watching the movie making process from the two somewhat of a rival was intriguing to watch. There is some thrown in this movie which I thought was unnecessary, but this was mostly character driven film. Even if the plot might not be solid as it should be, it is still a intriguing film to watch and is worth the time.

7/10