JEANNE’S REVIEW

Director Park Chan-wook’s latest effort, NO OTHER CHOICE, is a riveting black comedy starring Lee Byung Hun as Man-su, a man who feels he has everything --- until he loses his job after 25 years. Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel, The Ax, Park, along with three others, crafted the screenplay.

Man-su is a very happy, content man. He has a beautiful wife, Miri (Son Yejin), and two children whom he adores. They live in his ancestral home --- a residence he worked very hard to buy. They have a great life, including two gorgeous Golden Retrievers. It all begins to fall apart when he is fired from the paper company where he worked for a quarter of a century.

Now Man-su is forced to go out and interview, something he hasn’t had to do in ages. He no longer possesses the right skills to answer the questions from prospective employers. He really wants the position of line manager at Moon Paper, which is currently held by Sun-chul (Park Hee Son). But, unfortunately he’s not the only one after this desirable job. The pressure of not being employed takes its toll on Man-su, who devises a rather unconventional, diabolical plan to get what he wants.

Lee has collaborated before with Park on two other films. He has the ability to portray characters of all types, in all genres, and that talent is very apparent as Man-su. A seemingly normal guy is thrown into upheaval and weaves a course of action no one would suspect --- including the detectives working on the disappearance of two other men.

NO OTHER CHOICE is very dark --- and, at times, wildly funny. I’m sure there are moviegoers who would not find it as amusing as I, but I happen to really like black comedies. Some of the violence may also be off-putting, but again, it goes with the storyline. I am fascinated by how the mind works --- and Park and his co-writers have captured the essence of a tortured, desperate man.

David is not as big a fan as I, but he does appreciate the creative genius that Park and Lee bring to this outrageous story. NO OTHER CHOICE is certainly not for everyone, but if you enjoy a drama with ironic humor and some violence to spice things up, then I encourage you to see NO OTHER CHOICE at the theater.

                          Opens Christmas Day

Opinion: See It Now!     

            DAVID’S REVIEW

Acclaimed director Park Chan-wook and his three co-writers, Lee Kyoung-Mi, Don Mckellar and Jahye Lee bring to the screen NO OTHER CHOICE, a story many people may be able to relate to, at least on a non-violent level.

When Man-su (Lee Byung-hun) loses his job after 25 years, the comforts of home enjoyed by his wife, Miri (Son Ye-jin) and their two children are suddenly in jeopardy. Simple joys like playing tennis with her friends are now a luxury they cannot afford. As a desperate job seeker, Man-su makes some terrible decisions, yet the film is infused with a lot of humor.

Lee’s portrayal of Man-su is revelatory. He goes from being a mild family man to someone possessed by desperation. He’s collaborated with Park Chan-wook a few times before and obviously Park is aware of his multi-talented leading man capabilities. Lee is truly astonishing in NO OTHER CHOICE.

Park’s film has been a darling at film festivals all over the world. It’s a unique study of self-preservation mixed with dark comedy and some disturbing violence.

                           Opens Christmas Day

Opinion: See It Now!