Open City (2008)

Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Open City is a story about the leader of an international pickpocket organization led by sexy siren Baek Jang Mi, played by Son Ye Jin,who returns to Korea after blowing her cover in Japan. Keeping a low profile by running a small tattoo parlor, she soon organizes a new ring which quickly gains power across the country. Top-notch criminal investigator Jo Dae Young,portrayed by Kim Myung Min, is called in to handle the massive pickpocket crime that is spreading like wildfire. Besieged by a dark family secret, Dae Young reluctantly takes on the case. A fatal attraction ignites when the detective saves Jang Mi from the hands of her rival ring members. Ensnared by her brazenly sexual advances, Dae Young is shocked when he later learns that she is his investigation's prime target. With so much riding on the outcome, he trails her right into her tattoo parlor. But once again, he finds himself gambling away his basic instincts in the name of passion. This is first Korean film to reveal the intricate inner workings of what is considered Korea's equivalent of the FBI, Open City also offers a riveting first-hand look at the various methods of pick pocketing that will have the audience think twice before leaving the house.Completely smitten by Son's beauty is Kim Myung Min who breathes much charisma into his complex role as a criminal investigator. As he finds himself caught in the deadly predicament of falling for his investigation's prime target, the on screen chemistry between the him and Son Ye-jin leads explodes to a new high.Son Ye-Jin tries to master the art of seduction in Open City, an erotic crime thriller penned and directed by Lee Sang Ki in his first feature film. The chameleon actress is enchantingly breathtaking as the sexy, manipulative femme fatal who leads an organized pickpocket ring.Unfortunately,I find her performance as the sexy siren in my opinion is a little bit forced and somewhat unconvincing.It is hard to play a sexy siren considering that she is probably a very sweet and elegant girl in real life.It is like asking Audrey Hepburn to play the lead role of Basic Instinct.But nevertheless,the Korean actress' performance is not below average.He did good but not great.Tightly coiled with sexual tension throughout the film, Open City shows all the right moves in all the right places.This movie is highly recommended. The action scenes were great. It was one hell of an action thriller.

As a previous user said , there is not too many movies about pickpockets. But for my case this is not the most important thing. This movie shows a very strange story where each character is related to another one in a city where all seems great but only in appearance. The story has this particularity to give you a show where the main character , a police officer know how to fight crime but is unable to accept it in a way that it is presented toward him. There are fights , there is a plot but no super hero or happy end , only a character who has to accept the reality and to struggle against his past which will influence his future. The main plot is centered on pickpocket ; and this idea gives the scenario credibility. Add to this movie a very good soundtrack , and a very good acting , and even if you do not like Asiatic movies , this one has to be seen like these rare Korean movies which are exported in Europe or in the USA some years laters. Very cool movie.

What turned me on to Open City in the first place was the compelling plot. When was the last time you saw a movie about pickpocketing? There are very few movies in between K-Dramas and Korean thriller movies, so I was happy to find this movie. The characters are well developed and unique; many crime movies have very similar characters to each other, but Open City has many memorable ones. The plot is very well developed, keeping the viewer on their feet, but at the same time is easy to follow. I recommend this movie even if you don't know Korean. I was able to follow the plot fine even by just reading the subtitles. I look forward to see what Sang-ki Lee will come up with next...