The Big Swindle

Run time : 116 min
Open in Korea : 15 April 2004
Director: CHOI Dong-hoon

Cast:
PARK Shin-yang as CHOI Chang-hyuk/CHOI Chang-ho
YEOM Jung-ah as SEO In-kyung
BAEK Yoon-shik as Mr Kim
LEE Moon-shik as Eol-mae
PARK Won-sang as Swallow
KIM Sang-ho as Gasoline
CHUN Ho-jin as Detective Chae

Synopsis:

The movie starts with a car chase that ends in a fatal car accident, and the audience see the lead actor, Park Shin Yang, as the con-artist Choi Chang-hyuk crashing to his death. Choi and his gang have just succeeded in swindling KRW 500 million from the Bank of Korea with fake promissory notes.

The story is told via the police investigations that take place after the car accident as they try to recover the swindled funds. With Chang-hyuk's death, the police bring in his brother, the bookstore owner cum novelist Chang-ho, for interrogation. The stiff and timid Chang-ho is a far cry from his charismatic, charming and crafty brother.

At the police station, Chang-ho meets In-kyung, who is Chang-hyuk's partner-in-crime Mr Kim's mistress. In-kyung was also having an affair with Chang-hyuk.

Through the statements of the various suspects, the movie unfolds the amazing plan pulled off by Choi Chang-hyuk and his gang.

Review (spoilers):

After seeing Yeom Jung-ah's outstanding performance in "Say I love you", and being a big fan of Park Shin Yang, I decided to stake my bet on "The Big Swindle", and I have to say I was not disappointed! (Decided to get away from Korean sappy love stories for a change)

The plot was based on a real swindle case in 1996. The script was tightly structured, fast-paced with a well-designed plan and an outstanding cast! The movie is also funny, and delightful to watch and a refreshing change from the usual sappy fare of Korean productions.

The director was smart to leave the best for last, as it was easy to guess that Chang-ho and Chang hyuk were the same person, and this was revealed fairly quickly midway in the movie. Then the focus was shifted to the showdown between Mr Kim and Chang-hyuk, leaving the audience dying to know who was going to outwit who in the end.

I love Park Shin Yang and he has such a confident look that you knew he was going to outsmart everyone; or perhaps the director cast PSY in this role as he wanted the audience to feel that way about the character. Somehow I never had a doubt that PSY would win at the end of the day, and he got both the money and the girl. From that aspect, the story in certain ways seemed too good to be true.

PSY successfully sheds his usual professional image to portray 2 very different brothers, Choi Chang-hyuk and Choi Chang-ho. You will never be able to imagine him in these roles! (He had this chestnut-colored spiky hairdo as Chang-hyuk, and donned a prosthetic nose with bunny teeth as Chang-ho) As the fast-talking and charming Chang-hyuk, PSY was convincing as the quick hustler with the plan! PSY pulled off the stoic, stiff and reserved Chang-ho with just as much ease.

Yeom Jung Ah was very good playing the 3rd-class cheat who is Chang-hyuk's love interest. She was so classy in "Say you love me" and she was completely transformed in this movie! She had this bimbo, sleazy feel to her character that is so befitting as Chang-hyuk’s “Sharon Stone”.

I love the entire supporting cast and each held their presence despite the strong performance from PSY. From the other partners-in-crime to the police investigators, all contributed to pull together a balanced delivery to create this entertaining and humorous tale of a cat-and-mouse chase.

My only complaint is that the showdown with Mr Kim could have been better managed and the tension should have been more tightly spun. I sort of felt that the ending was a little abrupt, and wished the director had put more effort in improving the climax scene in the rain. Otherwise, a highly recommended K-material, a great alternative from the usual sentimental fare.

My favourites
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1) All scenes with PSY and YJA
2) All scenes with Detective Chae
3) No tears in this movie! (Well, not much at least)
4) When Detective Chae realised that Chang-ho was the novelist of one of his favourite books
5) Every time Chang-hyuk gave advice about health

I don't understand
==================
1) How could Bank of Korea allow Chang-hyuk's team to load cash into a normal van instead of an armoured car?
2) Did Chang-hyuk buy the land?
3) What was Chang-hyuk's relationship with Detective Park (the policeman working on the side for Mr Kim)?
4) Did In-kyung leave and then come back?
5) How could Chang-hyuk change his looks so easily?