Before I start the review please note that this is not an action flick. I realized this only halfway through the movie. IMDb has got is wrong as usual and I have submitted a request to correct the genre.
Now, the heart and soul of this movie is "corruption" and how it affects people in its wake. The story revolves around Sung-Jin, a detective living in poverty, awaiting a long due promotion. He tries his best to impress his superiors but things don't seem to be going right for him. He catches a lucky break when a man apprehended by him is declared a serial killer by the secret police. He sees his status rising financially as well as professionally and he is hailed as a hero in the police department. Soon after this, while investigating further, he starts to realize that this guy might not be the killer and is being framed by high ranking officials just to close the case. The dilemma before him is to keep his mouth shut and disregard his moral values so that his disabled son can get a operation or to blow the whistle and face the music as a consequence.
The story is pretty straight forward and makes us witness the dilemma Sung-Jin is facing. It shows how a corrupt system engulfs unsuspecting people by praying on their weakness (generally poverty) and how the rich and the powerful manipulate other as per their whims and fantasies.
Although I didn't find the drama very engaging, it does raise some seriously valid questions that can be related to by people of any nationality.
The movie starts on a lighter note and progresses to the actual plot around midway. The actors do a good job of portraying the respective characters and make it watchable.
I still wish they had a made it shorter by 20 minutes or so.
Now, the heart and soul of this movie is "corruption" and how it affects people in its wake. The story revolves around Sung-Jin, a detective living in poverty, awaiting a long due promotion. He tries his best to impress his superiors but things don't seem to be going right for him. He catches a lucky break when a man apprehended by him is declared a serial killer by the secret police. He sees his status rising financially as well as professionally and he is hailed as a hero in the police department. Soon after this, while investigating further, he starts to realize that this guy might not be the killer and is being framed by high ranking officials just to close the case. The dilemma before him is to keep his mouth shut and disregard his moral values so that his disabled son can get a operation or to blow the whistle and face the music as a consequence.
The story is pretty straight forward and makes us witness the dilemma Sung-Jin is facing. It shows how a corrupt system engulfs unsuspecting people by praying on their weakness (generally poverty) and how the rich and the powerful manipulate other as per their whims and fantasies.
Although I didn't find the drama very engaging, it does raise some seriously valid questions that can be related to by people of any nationality.
The movie starts on a lighter note and progresses to the actual plot around midway. The actors do a good job of portraying the respective characters and make it watchable.
I still wish they had a made it shorter by 20 minutes or so.