Korean Cinema is just as diverse as Hollywood’s films. They’ve got everything from sappy romances to historical tales and, yes, they even do violent action flicks that compare to Tinsel Town’s releases.
Alas, A Man of Reason isn’t an example of the very best of the genre, but it holds its own with some cool violence and chases and chilly villains.
A man spends ten years in prison (Jung Woo-sung), and when he gets out, he just wants to retire and be a family man. Family? Oh yeah-he learns that he has a daughter whose mother has died, leaving him as the active father. Time to give up the life of crime.
The problem is that his former mob boss wants him back in the worst way, and he sends assassins after him. I mean, if they kill him, how’s he going to come back? But never mind.
The film’s protagonist is the quiet, dangerous type, and we root for him easily. Especially entertaining are a man and woman couple who’ve been sent after him. Thet are nasty and ruthless and, at times, a kind of comic relief in an otherwise grim story. It’s especially fun to see the woman’s meanness.
Although the film is just a retread of all the others of the genre, it’s well produced, acted and art directed. I wasn’t bored- I’ve said many times that I hate real violence, but love well-done movie violence. So, I was down for the fights and weapons and such. If you’re into that, you could do worse than A Man of Reason
Opens in theaters July 5th and On-Demand Starting July 9th.
