THE BERLIN FILE starts off fairly badly purely because it's so convoluted. It's a German-set spy thriller featuring about half a dozen different factions all involved in a conspiracy plot. For the first hour you'll be scratching your head, trying to work out who's who, who the protagonist is meant to be, and just exactly what's going on. It's well made, certainly, with style to spare, but I admit that confusing plotting leaves me, well, confused.
My advice? Stick with it. Because at around the hour mark, things suddenly become VERY clear. Crystal clear, in fact. Suddenly, the narrative simplifies down and it all becomes very straightforward; THE BERLIN FILE is a Bourne-style action movie that outplays Hollywood at its own game. The action scenes are extremely intense and realistic, and very well handled by cast and crew. This is exciting, frenetic film-making at its best.
Ha Jung-woo (THE YELLOW SEA) makes a fine job of playing the sympathetic North Korean spy who finds himself mixed up in events beyond his control, and Han Suk-kyu makes for a delightfully weaselly villain. But the real winner is director Ryoo Seung-wan, who in the last hour of his movie has made one of the best action films of the year. I can't wait to rewatch it!
My advice? Stick with it. Because at around the hour mark, things suddenly become VERY clear. Crystal clear, in fact. Suddenly, the narrative simplifies down and it all becomes very straightforward; THE BERLIN FILE is a Bourne-style action movie that outplays Hollywood at its own game. The action scenes are extremely intense and realistic, and very well handled by cast and crew. This is exciting, frenetic film-making at its best.
Ha Jung-woo (THE YELLOW SEA) makes a fine job of playing the sympathetic North Korean spy who finds himself mixed up in events beyond his control, and Han Suk-kyu makes for a delightfully weaselly villain. But the real winner is director Ryoo Seung-wan, who in the last hour of his movie has made one of the best action films of the year. I can't wait to rewatch it!