Hunt
Hot off the heels of his Emmy - winning performance inthe hit Netflix seriesSquid Game , Lee Jung - jae cue audience that he is not some newfangled hot commodity out of South Korea , but he is a bona fide mega - sensation that Western consultation are favourable to be blessed with . His latest undertaking showcases his limitless skills as he directs , writes , bring on , and stars inHunt , a Cold War - earned run average espionage thriller set in South Korea .
Hunt , Lee ’s directorial debut , follows two federal agent , Park Pyong - ho ( Lee ) and Kim Jung - do ( Jung Woo - sung ) , from the Korean Central Intelligence Agency who must find a North Korean mole implant deep within the agency . There is a bit of a contention between the two as they head up different division . It make unexpected shifts in their investigating , and they naturally suspect each other . As they give chase down the traitor , it becomes clean-cut that the whole agency will be impacted and maybe even burn off down with them .
Related : Squid Game ’s Lee Jung - Jae ’s 8 beneficial Movies , Ranked by IMDb
This action thriller is not short on machination , dramatic play and action , but the main hook is the playacting . As always , Lee impresses with a committed performance and an alluring glory that pull viewers in well . His co - principal , Jung Woo - sung , is equally dynamic , fit Lee ’s intensity and blast . The two play off each other very well , complementing one another ’s distinct character traits , creating the sense that their type are not the same kind of agentive role . Their performances ground this intense and , at times , puddle action - thriller .
Lee has sure as shooting learn a great deal from his many years as an actor . His tv camera skills are smooth , efficient , and good . He adapts to the needs of each scene to increase the intensity and drama at any give moment . His longanimity in his panache is admirable ; and even more admirable is his ability to overcome an overcooked screenplay ( that he co - write ) . The movie never loses momentum , even when it must resist the itch to be an actioner and settle into the mystery . There is a story to be told , and it can not be evidence with guns and car chases alone , though Lee at least tries .
As telling as Lee ’s directing is , and he commits to finding a balance in this story , it is unvoiced to say that he is successful . The chronicle suffers a chip due to pacing , but the handwriting is also deficient . It is sophisticate in the worst potential way . hide the identity of the traitor and the truth of the whole tale is primal to a successful mystery thriller , but the resultant is absurd , and that should not be the destination . Lee ’s hyper - acute overture to capturing the narrative luckily shift attention away from the lacking script .
Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung in Hunt
Whether the script intended it or not , Huntis a misanthropic and nihilistic testing of the tough route to peace . While peace treaty is the “ end ” for the bureau , there is a sense of feeling absolutely lost to impending doom . Whether it frustrates the characters or not , they chip in to the havoc . It ’s a sharp-worded take on South Korean - North Korean recounting , but that unpleasant , grievous air drives the movie from the very first volatile activity scene . The script fails to tolerate on its own , so it is up to Lee to craft a compelling narrative through his directing and carrying out . With some fine - tuning , the frantic , chaotic nature of the stylise action at law would be grounded by incisive and affecting writing .
Despite troubles from the page , Huntexcels as a heartbeat - raise actioner . It exists to excite hearing through its sheer audacity . Shallow as it may be , it is entertaining . WhateverLee Jung - jaedecides to follow as his next lineament , with a solid script , a masterpiece is attach to be made .
Next : Decibel Review : Lee Jongsuk & Cha Eunwoo Shine In Taut Action Thriller
Lee Jung-jae in Hunt
Huntopened in theaters and is available on VOD Friday , December 2 . It is 131 minutes recollective and not rated .
Lee Jung-jae and Jung Woo-sung in Hunt
