IFF BOSTON: Joheunnom Nabbeunnom Isanghannom (The Good, The Bad, The Weird) (2008)

This review is part of my coverage of the Independent Film Festival of Boston 2010. (official site)


Oh yes, you'd better believe this was my one absolute must-see movie at IFF. I've been waiting to see it ever since first becoming obsessed with actor Song Kang-ho in last year's Thirst, and it's the main reason I finally got my act together and watched The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, on which it is loosely based. Set in 1930's Manchuria (during which time the Japanese had taken over China), The Good, The Bad, The Weird concerns the mad-cap, gunslinging antics of three men in search of a mythical treasure.

Yoon Tae-goo aka The Weird (Song Kang-ho) is a resilient petty thief who chances upon a treasure map while robbing a group of Japanese soldiers. Park Chang-yi aka The Bad (Lee Byun-hun) is a malicious assassin sent to reclaim the map, but must resign himself to hunting Tae-goo down. Park Do-won aka The Good (Jung Woo-sung) is a taciturn bounty hunter chasing after both men's rewards who eventually teams up with Tae-goo in the search for the treasure. Sprinkle in some curious Manchurian bandits and a dedicated group of Japanese soldiers, and you've got an all-out chase replete with wackiness, gunfights, and thrills!


There's a lot going on in this film, but the sheer enthusiasm that brings it together makes it all completely work. The story is fun and interesting, the action is loud and inventive, the characters are appealing, and the visuals are detailed and colorful. It's both an homage to and appropriation of Leone's original, but becomes infused with its own imaginative mythos and offbeat sense of humor, drawing it away from being an actual remake.

The three leads are superb, but Song Kang-ho really owns the film. As The Weird he's hilarious, likable, and unexpectedly capable, plus he's got a secret past! The writers did well to make him the central character, devoting the most time to him and giving him the best lines. Song is adept at wacky comedy but never slides into flat characterization, making him both engaging and intriguing to watch. Lee Byun-hun as The Bad is, well, really attractive and I didn't focus so much on his actual performance. He spends most of his time being incredibly badass and looking sharp. Jung Woo-sung as The Good was a bit bland, but there wasn't too much attention paid to his character, though I certainly liked him and his very large guns (the kind you shoot, not his arms). His mustache looked silly though.


There is very little about this movie for me to criticize (except perhaps the under-utilization of The Good's character). It had the audience laughing out loud and gasping at "oh shit!" moments in equal measure, with its oft-frenetic pace, out-there stunts, and silly atmosphere. The final chase scene at the end is guaranteed to have everyone riveted, while the film itself leaves viewers instinctively smiling from ear-to-ear. I believe the technical term is "rip-roarin' good time." It's opening in the US this month (FINALLY) so you should all go see it immediately! Run, don't walk! Ride a horse if you have to!

5/5

Further Reading:
Trailer
This Guy Over Here review
Rach on Film's review