Crypto Man

I must confess, this was my first foray into Korean cinema, and initially, I found myself rather bewildered by the unfamiliar educational landscape and social dynamics of Seoul. The first thirty minutes, with all the talk of school districts and educational privileges, felt quite foreign to my British sensibilities.

However, darlings, once the story shifted into the cryptocurrency scheme, I was absolutely riveted. Song Jae-rim (who I've learned, tragically, passed away after this film) delivers a performance that transcends any cultural barriers. The way he portrays Do-hyun's transformation from an ambitious young man into something far more complex is simply brilliant - rather reminds me of Michael Corleone's character arc, if I'm honest.

The mother-son relationship particularly resonated with me, despite being set in a different cultural context. Kim Hye-soo as Ok-ja is absolutely magnificent - every British mum who's ever pushed their child toward Oxbridge will recognise that steely determination in her eyes.

What began as a curious peek into Korean cinema turned into one of the most engaging financial thrillers I've seen in ages.

The latter half had me perched on the edge of my sofa, clutching my cuppa gone cold. Even my husband, who typically dozes off during foreign films, remained wide awake throughout.

A splendid introduction to Korean cinema, though I'm told this is rather different from their usual fare. Quite gutted to learn it was Song's last performance - what a tremendous loss to cinema.

I'm still trying to process this film through my tears... As someone who's watched every single Song Jae-rim project since his "Three Musketeers" days, seeing his final, most powerful performance is just... I can't even find the words.

The way he portrayed Do-hyun's transformation is just chef's kiss. Every detail, from his changing walk to his hardening gaze - it's like watching someone slowly lose their soul to society's pressure. Director Kim really knew how to capture those small moments that make Korean cinema so special.

Oppa, you gave us your best performance as your last gift. The scene where Do-hyun confronts his mother (legendary Kim Hye-soo unnie - no words needed!) in the rain will forever be iconic in Korean cinema. The way the camera lingered on his face as the rain mixed with his tears... I've rewatched it 10 times and still cry every time.

This isn't just another financial thriller - it's a haunting reminder of what we lost. Song Jae-rim, you will forever be remembered as one of Korea's finest actors.

What's fascinating about this film isn't just Song Jae-rim's final, haunting performance (though it's magnificent), but how it employs documentary techniques to tell a narrative story. The director's choice to use handheld cameras during key moments, particularly in the government office scenes, creates this unsettling sense of witnessing real corruption unfold. It's like watching a true-crime doc, except the crime is happening in real-time.

The film's most interesting stylistic choice is how it handles the cryptocurrency storyline. Instead of the usual sleek, Fincher-esque approach to financial thrillers, we get this raw, almost cinema vérité treatment. The way the camera lingers on mundane details - document timestamps, coffee-stained grant applications, flickering trading screens - builds tension in a way that feels more "Capturing the Friedmans" than "The Big Short."

Song Jae-rim (whose tragic loss still feels unreal) seems to inherently understand this documentary-narrative hybrid approach. His performance never feels performative - it's like he's being captured rather than performing. There's this incredible moment where the camera follows him through a government building, and you can't tell if it's staged or if they somehow got actual footage of a white-collar crime.

The interview-style scenes with supporting characters, spliced throughout the narrative, add this layer of authenticity that most financial thrillers miss. It's reminiscent of what Bong does with class commentary, but through a more journalistic lens.

This documentary-narrative fusion might be divisive, but it brings a fresh perspective to the Korean film landscape. It makes you question how much of this story is fiction and how much is pulled from real headlines. Whether this style becomes a new trend in Korean cinema remains to be seen, but it's certainly an interesting experiment in form.

A movie based on a cryptocurrency crash that affected victims not only in South Korea but around the world.

I watched it with interest because it was inspired by this shocking incident.

I sincerely hope that those responsible for the crime are brought to justice through proper legal procedures and face the consequences they deserve.

The acting in the film was outstanding, and I understand that this is the final work of the Korean actor Song Jae-rim.

While it's heartbreaking to think about, the actor's performance and the story were truly captivating and engaging.

I hope this movie reaches a wide audience and gets the recognition it deserves.

The movie's story felt very familiar, perhaps because it was inspired by a real cryptocurrency crash that happened in South Korea.

Although the subject is well-known, the film was far from cliché. Everything-from the direction and storyline to the acting-was absolutely perfect.

It made me reflect on how our modern society has become so focused on the idea of hitting the jackpot. This is a movie I definitely want to watch again at the theater.

After watching the trailer, I was so curious about the story that I went to see it as soon as it was released. The timing of this movie felt incredibly relevant, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.

Even those who aren't particularly interested in cryptocurrency will find this movie highly entertaining.