A Hard Day (2014)

Original Title

끝까지 간다 Kkeutkkaji Ganda

Genre

Crime | Thriller

Director

Kim Seong-hun

Country

South Korea

Cast

Lee Sun-gyun, Cho Jin-woong, Shin Jung-geun, Jung Man-sik, Shin Dong-mi, Kim Dong-young, Joo Seok-tae, Heo Jung-eun, Park Bo-gum, Lee Jae-won, Jo Ha-seok, Yoo Soon-woong

Storyline

After trying to cover up a car accident that left a man dead, homicide detective Go Geon-soo (Lee Sun-gyun) is stalked by a mysterious man (Cho Jin-woong) claiming to have witnessed the event. 

Opinion

I haven't seen a lot of South Korean movies, but they all have a thing in common, they all are great films. And "A Hard Day" is no different. It in fact is a gripping, entertaining and thrilling crime movie.

The plot sounds a lot like the one to "I Know What You Did Last Summer", but it's very interesting and it does have enough twists and suspense to keep the viewer glued to the screen until the end. What I really liked about it is that it really isn't a police story, but a story of a man that happens to be a police officer.

I don't know if it's the same for all Korean crime films, or just this one, but the main character isn't portrayed as a hero. He is just a dirty cop, like the majority apparently. In spite of that, the character is still very likable and it's very likely to find yourself rooting for him.

The film also features good action and dark humour, and it's all well balanced. One moment you'll be laughing, the next one you'll be intrigued by the turns the story is taking. And it's also quite beautiful to look at.

But "A Hard Day" doesn't entertain only. It also makes a criticism not only towards the police force and social hierarchies, but towards human beings as well, targeting those people that are willing to do anything to save themselves. Even doing something very immoral.

At last but not least, Lee Sun-gyun. In the role of the dirty detective who is having a hard day, he manages to carry the film, giving a quite exaggerated yet humour performance.