The Man From Nowhere (Korea 2010)
Jan. 15th, 2011 11:28 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousie
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ockoala, I am in your eternal debt. If it wasn't for your post, I would have never checked out The Man From Nowhere (international title; Korean title is Ahjusshi) and thus would have missed which is probably going to be my favorite Korean film for some time to come.Ahjusshi has a fairly simple set-up: a mysterious, quiet loner who runs a pawn shop in a bad part of town (Won Bin, about whom more below) befriends the young daughter of a neighbor. When the girl is taken by gangsters as a result of her mother's choices, the pawn shop owner decides to come out of his isolation and find her, transforming into a killing machine on the way. Clearly his past is a little complicated.
The set-up sounds fairly cliche but the execution is anything but. First, there is the gorgeous fluid visual style - most of the movie takes place in sordid, run-down surroundings but the way they are shot adds an extra vividness to every scene. The fight scenes (and there are many) are brilliantly done - brutal and to the point. But ultimately, the reason Ahjusshi really works and the reason I ended up crying more than once (yes, crying - go ahead and mock) is because underneath the action trappings, it's really a character study of a traumatized, broken person who rediscovers his purpose. Won Bin nails the role - he has next to no dialogue and his character is, obviously, not a very expressive person, but somehow he manages to convey so incredibly much - loneliness, grief, trauma, horror, righteousness, anger, and hope - just through his eyes. He plays the man who's been to hell and hasn't really made the trip back yet. I confess (insert gasps of fangirl horror here) that I have never seen Won Bin in anything before - I am a lot less likely to watch a Korean movie than a drama, and he hasn't done a drama in close to a decade (and no, I am not watching Autumn Tale - not after
lesbiassparrow's hilarious write-ups). I know he is a big Korean movie star, but before this movie I wouldn't have been able to pick him out of a line-up. But I am absolutely blown away now and really must find more of what he's been in - he is so intense and expressive without showing much, if it makes any sense. I was blown away by him the way I haven't been by an actor in a very long time. The other major character in the movie, young Sohmee, played by Kim Sae Ron, is also unforgettable - I was anxious for her the whole movie. Anyway, enough of my rambles. Go watch! Here is the official MV to convince you if the write-up hasn't:
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 05:28 am (UTC)On another note, I started watching Lovers and I want to thank you thank you thank you!!! I LOVE IT!!! Gangsters&love stories always get to me!! I am so scared how it's going to end though.... THANKS AGAIN! XD
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 05:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-18 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 05:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:49 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 06:57 am (UTC)I love this movie like you wouldn't believe. It's stark and gut-punchingly good. Won Bin is spectacular. All that potential I saw back in AimH from 10 years ago, he's more than met his promise.
I still haven't watched Mother, which I hear is dark and twisted in the K-movie way, but I treat WB like the finest whiskey, sip and savor.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:49 am (UTC)But seriously - huge thank you - Ahjusshi wasn't even on my radar before your post.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 06:58 am (UTC)Now,... Autum Tale might be ridiculous but I love it. You should think about giving it a try.
For movies, there's Taegukgi and Mother. Both are damn good movies too.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 07:15 am (UTC)It's finally here...the last ep! So excited!
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 08:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 10:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 01:46 pm (UTC)It did not dissapoint, Won Bin was great(I've seen some of his other work but I think his recent work is far more better.
I cried in some scenes and was all yay the bad guys exploded in other scenes, and the little girl who acted Soomi just won me over.
Such a good film, soon I hope to see Won Bins other movie Mother as well.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 04:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 04:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 06:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 05:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 05:57 pm (UTC)Anyhow, other good korean movies I would recommend, if you're in the mood for more, are Welcome to Dongmakgol, Maundy Thursday, and maybe Mother if you want more Wonbin.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:42 am (UTC)Yes, when he put his gun to his head...oh my God.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 07:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 07:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:41 am (UTC)I plan to get to Brotherhood of War at some point
no subject
Date: 2011-01-16 10:27 pm (UTC)And Won Bin ::swoon:: in this one. When he turns from shaggy ajusshi into kick ass ajusshi ::swoon::
I've been on a movie kick the last week or so - I'm catching up on where the rest of the world has been. OH! Try Secret Reunion. I liked that one as well.
momosan
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 04:37 am (UTC)Yes, I loved this movie
no subject
Date: 2011-01-17 07:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-18 02:07 am (UTC)