Corte Brusco

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!

Billed as an action movie by trailers, and occasionally funny, Rough Cut is a complex drama playing out underneath an amusing premise.

The two leads share great chemistry and rivalry but manage to avoid a lot of the stereotypes and clichés for buddy action/comedies. The actor must negotiate a deteriorating private and public life while learning how to be less of an ass; the gangster's journey is perhaps more enigmatic and very thought provoking. His trajectory isn't what you'd expect from Hollywood cinema.

The two characters have their own distinct lives, which are interwoven mostly through their commitment to the film, which punctuates the ending with what may be the only major full action scene. (and it's plenty visceral to behold) This movie is easy to get into, but deep enough to truly reflect on. It's a little gem of entertainment.

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.

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

First of all, I'd love to point out that I've seen all the 3 films of this director and this was the last one I saw.

When i got the glimpse of the faces of the two actors, I though This would be a predictable ''there is a problem'', ''gangster'' film. Nevertheless I watched it for the sake of the director.

(I highly recommend his two other films. Both are very very awesome.)

When the film was over, i was left speechless, shocked and regretfully happy inside my heart.

This film goes over the humane problems and unfolds all the rigid and complex architecture of attitudes in two people: a gangster and an actor.

Acting, script/Story/plot, scenes, originality: all 10/10. This film is a masterpiece and is Highly Recommended to anyone who appreciates complex and masterful directing. Just watch it. Pure awesomeness. You will not forget this.