Inside Men (2015) User Reviews

Corruption everywhere

[kosmasp · 8/10 · 26 February 2021]

Is it possible to bring those to justice that are as corrupt and evil as we imagine some to be? I'm not talking any conspiracy theories here, no I'm talking those who are corrupt because ... well you know money! And how to prove their guilt ... in the real world that is quite something to achieve and even if you do that, they mostly have so much power, they walk away with almost nothing to fear.

But this is a movie, so we can expect that at least there is a ... fighting chance of that happening one way or the other. No pun intended. And if you watch a movie about that, why not make it this Korean effort. When it comes to action and intriguing story, South Korea has quite the output. I can really highly recommend quite a lot of their movies. And since they won best movie at least years Oscars the awareness of their industry has been raised (finally). Not for the faint hearted and maybe predictable for quite a lot of people, this still can entertain quite a lot to say the least!

This movie shines a spotlight on Korean actors.

[kanyeezy-28832 · 7/10 · 27 July 2016]

Do you want to know more about Korean actors? Then this movie is exactly what you've been looking for. Including Hollywood-famous Byung-hun Lee, Korean actors in this movie presents overwhelming performances. However, this is the movie's strength and there's obvious downsides too (a lot). First, the storyline has a wrong tempo. Sometimes, it's too slow and sometimes it's too sudden. This causes a lack of suspense. Second, the clichés in this movie are quite troublesome. I don't know how foreign people would feel about them, but to Korean people those clichés are definitely overused and used only in one pattern in this movie. This makes the story quite predictable. Third, the message of this movie is in vain. The director should have given more thought about how to resolve social corruption or how to give an alert about it more effectively. Since the resolution shown in this movie is so simple (I won't tell more specifically. Just watch the movie), it sounds so empty. It just doesn't resonate in my mind Yes, in conclusion this movie is quite cheesy and has many flaws. But still, actors' performances are so amazing that they make this movie look well-made Crime/Thriller movie with authentic aura. Should you watch it? Well, if you are into Korean movies I would say 'definitely!'

Inside Men: Engaging film

[Achyut_Prashast_Singh · 8/10 · 3 January 2017]

Movie: Inside Men

Rating: 4/5

Lee Byung-hun impressed me when I last time watched his action-thriller I SAW THE DEVIL, which happened to be one of the best South Korean films I had seen. Now he comes with NAEBUJADEUL, or better termed INSIDE MEN, a political crime/action film which has plenty of material to keep you engrossed.

Not going into too much depth, I would just like to say that INSIDE MEN is really entertaining. For the first time I watched a 3 hours long movie with so much interest. Yes, it's the director's cut I watched. Long, but no dull moments. The performances of all actors, including my favourite Lee Byung-hun are excellent. He rightly won the best actor award for this movie.

The film's visuals need a special appreciation as we hardly come across political thrillers with good visuals. Surprisingly, INSIDE MEN has terrific visuals that keep you engaged. The story and screenplay are excellent, the dialogues are too good. The action scenes are well filmed and executed. Cinematography is top notch and many beautifully filmed shots will be in your mind forever.

Overall, INSIDE MEN is a film which is highly recommended. Needless to say, South Korean filmmakers prove themselves great yet again.

A simple story told much too complex; and a twist that you can see from a mile away

[stx_s · 6/10 · 29 November 2015]

First of all, lets discuss what this film does right.

The build up of the relationship between the two protagonists is well structured and is an amazing reenactment of Korean male social culture and how friendship is built among Korean men in film. Jang-hoon (the prosecutor, played by Seung-woo Cho) and Sang-gu (gangster turned whistle-blower, Byung-hun Lee) both put in a great performance that really bring out the writing of their characters' relationship. However, as far as compliments go I cannot find any more beyond the character development and the performances of the two actors.

Another positive comes with the choreography in a few of the fight scenes and the cinematography involved in delivering the sequences. A stand out moment is the night fight sequence involving Sang-gu. The first half of the fight are rapid cuts of close ups mixed with full shots and 3/4s - this keeps the sequence's visual adrenaline while maintaining a sense of space for the viewer. The real cinematographic magic happens after Sang-gu destroys the only bulb lighting the area and gives himself the upper-hand by fighting in the dark.

The scene is lit (or not lit) to perfection, giving the viewer just enough detail through character rim- lights and silhouettes from stray background lighting to comprehend what is happening in the scene but dark enough that the illusion of fighting in the dark is never lost. The sequence is also shot as a long(-ish) take in 3/4s that gives the viewer a clear view of the scene. This is an amazing spot of cinematography that deserves a point of commendation.

The remainder of the film is standard business as there is not much to complain but, equally, not much else to commend.

The first two acts of the film could use another visit to the editing room as the movie was paced too slowly for its own good. With a running time of over two hours, this is a rather standard story that drags on for far too long. Even Taratino's Reservoir Dogs, in which elements of the storyline reveal themselves and develop in regularly spaced intervals, has a run time of 99 minutes.

The twist on the twist aspect in the ending of the script is a great attempt to finish the film with a 'bang', however, perfect happy endings of a protagonists' victory are far too common to make it a surprise.

Overall, this movie leaves a feeling of "something that could have been". A brilliant movie in parts, yes. But primarily a visit to the editing room and a writers' session short of being a great film.

Stylish and it tries to be cool, but nothing really that will grab the viewers attention

[KineticSeoul · 6/10 · 10 January 2016]

This is actually a dragged out story that is more about the cinematography and the style of it all over a deep story that intrigues. It's a watchable movie but it does feel like the plot is really drawn out. It is a a movie with high quality cinematography for a Korean movie. With some topnotch actors, that really bring a bit exaggerated and yet it works when it comes to the style of this movie. When it comes to the plot it delves in the nasty side of politics, the corruption within it and how some old farts take advantage of the system. While screwing young women during there meeting together and giving idealistic speeches. Lee Byung-hun is a good actor but not really a guy that has integrity in real life. So he puts on a believable performance as a thug that built his way up to the top by doing errands from top officials. He sort of reminded me of the character he played in "A Bittersweet Life" except not as charismatic. Anyways besides the style of this film and some nasty underground stuff that happens in Korean night life. This is actually a forgettable film. The end has the typical clean wrap up that works but isn't all that impactful. Mainly because the build up wasn't all that interesting. It's watchable and I was able to sit through it without checking my time but again it's still a forgettable movie.

6.5/10

Beware of Koreans with axes

[mrrcott · 7/10 · 6 November 2016]

Or hacksaws, bricks, plant pots. Its seems that anything can be used as a weapon In Korean films. This one has corrupt politicians (is there any other kind) doing shady deal with a newspaper boss for re-election. Corruption is embedded deep in every corner. Like sauna rooms. Or hostess bars, where slimy politicians perform sex acts involving escorts and soju glasses.

When an ambitious prosecutor gets on the case , he teams up with a crippled gangster (Lee hyung Byun) to break open the whole sordid business. It could have been so clichéd and this story has been seen many times over. Still. it has been directed with style.

Recently I watched Asura as part of the London Korean fIlm festival, and i questioned why they would want to promote such a wrong-headed and pretentious film when they could have chosen so many others. This was a much better choice and a good showcase for the actor Baek Yun-shil.

A word about the title: it really is all men, apart from a small part for Lee's actor girlfriend. It really is a shame that they didn't give her more to do.

Excellent Crime Drama

[ebossert · 9/10 · 12 June 2016]

Note: Check me out as the "Asian Movie Enthusiast" on YouTube, where I review tons of Asian movies.

A former political henchman seeks out revenge for being dropped by a ruthless politician. Meanwhile, a determined investigator tries to nail the politician himself, and a shady newspaper editor manipulates matters behind the scenes. This has a complex story that shifts back and forth in time, with a lot of maneuvering by a fairly large cast of characters, but the script is so cleanly written and presented that it is easy to follow after a brief period of adjustment by the viewer. It will take a bit of time, early on, to figure out which characters are aligned with whom, and how everyone is related. But that slight sense of confusion eventually dissipates and transforms into a totally immersive, entertaining experience because characters are properly developed, with decisions and motives that are fleshed out nicely.

Most of the players here are quite shady, so it's almost like rooting for the lesser of all evils, but it works really well because a few of these characters become more appealing as the film progresses. And that's one of the big positives that can be found in "Inside Men" – there's some multi-dimensionality to enjoy, which makes it easy to root for the protagonists that emerge from the pool of corrupt characters. On the other hand, you will find some of the others to be very dislikeable. The newspaper editor – in particular – is a real snake, and I was rooting against him the entire time.

This is one of those films that gets more gripping and intense as it moves along. It just gets better and better, with the entire final hour being flat-out awesome. There is a lot of dramatic tension that is earned and I was glued to my television screen to see what would happen next. I have seen a few online movie reviewers criticize the film for being conventional, which is true to a degree. It is a crime drama, after all, and it has some similarities to films that came before it. With that said, however, the nuance and complexity that is presented keeps the viewer off balance. I wasn't entirely sure how things were going to play out during the second half of this movie, which helped to keep things fresh.

There are a few recognizable faces here, but the big-man actor is Byung-hun Lee – who I'm sure you've seen elsewhere. He's been in popular Korean films such as "A Bittersweet Life", "The Good, the Bad, the Weird", "I Saw the Devil", and "Masquerade." His performance in "Inside Men" is one of his better outings, in my opinion. He's successful at portraying his character as intimidating, flawed, and endearing all at the same time. This guy is really good actor, but I wish he would stop wasting his time in American movies. I'm sure it's beneficial for him to try to break into Hollywood, but every single time I've seen him in a Hollywood film, he's been wasted. For example, I was looking forward to seeing him play the Terminator in that stupid Genisys movie, but he only had like 5 minutes of screen time. It's ridiculous.

In any case, I definitely recommend "Inside Men", which is one of the better crime dramas of the past decade. I did watch the 3-hour extended cut, which is 50 minutes longer than the theatrical cut. I'm not exactly sure what scenes are included in one but not the other, but I can say that the 3-hour cut is really good. There is a Region 3 DVD available with English subtitles, and that release includes both the theatrical and extended cut.

Money can grind the devil.

[yoggwork · 7/10 · 19 February 2019]

Money can grind the devil. Under the Western-style electoral system, the political circles can not rely on the restraint of capital. The theme of this film is that evil is more than right, so the protagonist shines and incarnates Xiaoqiang. In addition, political opponents are deliberately ignored. In fact, it must be capital and politics, not underworld and law, that can defeat capital and politics. The description of several villas in this film must be very attractive to otaku men.

You have to know the culture in order to understand this movie

[hihiment · 9/10 · 9 November 2018]

I personally think, if this movie was translated into English or other language in t he world, it would be pretty hard to deliver the message. It goes pretty deep that you would understand if you know the language and the culture. I see it could be boring and too stretched out but if you can't see the details, you should just stop watching this. You have to know the culture in order to understand this movie

One of the best Korean movies

[misungpark · 9/10 · 25 September 2021]

The story is simple yet riveting, the acting superb and the overall flow is so smooth you don't feel the hours pass. The balance between thriller ingredients and elements of dark humor makes the experience very pleasant. It's a must watch if you like Korean movies!

Too Stretched Out!

[jackhuntermtl · 1/10 · 21 February 2016]

Story itself is fairly boring, tired, overdone, practically cliché corporate corruption nonsense. The kind of film nobody needs to be making in a market flooded with far superior choices.

Then it goes from bad to worse.

Bad camera angles, horrid lighting, predictable ending. Frozen acting, emotionlessly delivered lines.

I'd actually give it a 3/10, basically +1 point for each of two scenes I found passable, but too many obviously fake reviews making this films score 7.1 force me to lower mine to counteract abuse of rating system here.

Tour de Force

[AJ_McAninch · 8/10 · 24 October 2020]

Excellent film with two of SK's finest actors in the leads, having a great time spinning this crime tour de force. It has some rough scenes, but in the nature of the corrupt world being exposed: ultimately very satisfying closure.

Necessary and...great

[PedroPires90 · 8/10 · 29 May 2023]

Political thrillers have gone out of fashion in the US - and even in Europe - but fortunately South Korea and Japan still know how to make them. It's a very specific genre. Modern audiences - and this didn't start with Gen Z, but with my generation, the Millennials - have become disinterested in politics and consequently in the genre. The problem with thinking little about politics and losing interest in the subject is that... politics is the society we live in. Politics is the world we live in, and if we don't want to know what's happening there, there's more room for us to be controlled, dominated, and mocked by those at the top.

Inside Men is a fantastic film that shows this lack of scruples to achieve one's goals. It doesn't do anything particularly new. Cinematically, many would say the genre can only give us what we expect without major innovations possible. In part, I can agree, although it presents excellent cinematography, well-choreographed action scenes, and a very well-achieved sound. Nonetheless, not all good cinema has to be visually disruptive. Personally, I love a good political thriller, well-written, with good characters (played by great actors), with moral dilemmas mixed in, showing us the rot of a corrupt system that is nothing more than a reflection of what we all are. Politics, journalism, and gangsters go hand in hand in a dirty, cruel, and unscrupulous world, and for everything to remain as it is, people only need to look the other way.

As for the magnificent performances, I don't even know where to start. Lee Byung-hun is at his best, with layers I didn't expect from this character. Cho Seung-woo is flawless, and Yun-shik Baek is perfect, leaving us with goosebumps from the repugnant way he moves in these corridors of power without his image being tarnished. If Min-ho Woo continues with this style (he also gave us the excellent The Man Standing Next), he may never have the admiration of the younger generations, but I will always be eager for his next project. The world still needs these films. Perhaps - now that the younger ones care little about them - more than ever.

must watch

[bakulikiraj · 9/10 · 17 April 2021]

The sound track of this movie is captivating and the acting deliver and sell the story perfectly. Amazing movie.

DIRTY Political thriller. Not to be missed. ( South korean A+ Movie) My Ratings 10/10

[THE-BEACON-OF-MOVIES-RAFA · 10/10 · 27 February 2020]

Media, politician, and corporation, the 21st century's corrupt triumvirate ,Woo Min-ho's typically polished direction see events play out closer to a blood-splattered gangster flick. With Lee Byung-hun centre stage, the result is hugely entertaining

This is not about the twist

[YujinH · 8/10 · 16 March 2019]

When this movie first came out, the majority of viewers criticized it for being over-the-top, hyperbolized. They assessed: politics has its ugly side, but this is too "B," too Tarantino-ish. Well years later, it turns out the movie was PG and reality was much, much worse. This movie became a weird criteria for Koreans to pit reality against and therein lies its merit.

It's true what some of the reviewers said. The subtitles don't do the script justice and some background knowledge about Korean culture helps. And honestly, if you like simple stories... go watch something else?