April 06, 2005 ㅡ "I wanted to make a 'cool' film", said film director Kim Ji-woon describing his new film, "Bittersweet Life", released last Friday.
As Mr. Kim wished, the film turned out to be "cool" enough, capturing the audience with sophisticated visual effects that gave its scenes glowing luster.
Action scenes are sophisticated, and the film sets were picture perfect, looking like interiors in design magazines. Even a gray tunnel in Seoul looks eerily beautiful in the film. However, what makes the film really cool is Lee Byeong-heon, the lead actor.
Lee, 34, who has established his fame as a multi-faceted actor, plays Seon-u, a once-powerful gang member, destroyed after falling in love with his mafia boss's lover.
Lee pulls 90 percent of the film's weight, whether he is escaping from a mud hole or fighting with gangsters.
In scenes that highlight his character's internal conflict, he fully traps the audience by his convincing portrayal of a tormented outcast.
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