| Kim Soo-hyun appears as Jang Tae-yeoung in the film “Real” / Courtesy of CJ Entertainment |
By Kim Jae-heun
Popular actor Kim Soo-hyun returned to the big screen in the action noir film “Real,” playing a dual role in the story as gangster Jang Tae-yeoung and mysterious investor of the same name.
It has been four years since Kim's last movie when he appeared in the comedy-drama film “Secretly, Greatly.” The new movie has already been receiving harsh reviews before its opening today for its rough storyline and lack of information about its characters, confusing audiences with its lack of continuity.
Film critics posted reviews on their personal social media pages saying “upcoming rubbish films should thank Real. Whatever you can imagine, there (Real) is something worse.” Another commenter added “If there is ‘Transformers: The Last Knight' in the west, there is Real here. They balance each other out.”
The actor also seems to acknowledge that he felt a little frustrated after watching the film during the press preview.
“Myeyes got bigger while watching the movie. I felt like my soul was leaking somewhere,” said Kim in an interview withlocal media.
However, Kim went on to say that all the hardship the film is currently undergoing is part of the process to reach people. In the end the audience will recognize the quality of the movie.
The actor explained that he poured everything he had into this film.
“I hope this film becomes my biggest hit as it is the last I will make in my 20s,” said Kim during the press conference at CGV Wangsimni in eastern Seoul, Monday. “It was the most frightening script I've ever received. The story would not leave my head and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to shoot this film,” said Kim.
Kim will join the army next year in the spring as he has come to the brink of the age limit to delay enlistment to serve his two years of mandatory military service.
Kim did not receive the severe criticism that his new film is receiving as many critics say Kim saved the movie with his acting to a certain point.
Despite playing two different characters with the same name and making an identical appearance in one of the scenes, Kim managed to differentiate the two characters through distinguished psychologies. The actor said he focused on the attitude of each Jang Tae-yeoung and this helped him naturally make different gestures as he was engrossed in each of the characters separately.
Kim's bedroom scene with the singer-turned-actress Choi Jin-ri, or Sulli of K-pop group f(x), is also contributing to attracting audiences and increasing ticket sales.
“Real” had the highest ticket sales as of Tuesday with 27.7 percent at the local box office.
The film is about a casino owner and gang boss Jang Tae-yeoung facing a critical moment when a big hand of the dark world, Jo Won-geun appears in front of him, alleging that the casino belongs to the businessman. Jang searches for an investor to solve his problem until a man with the same name and same look, appears and suggests that he will do the job.
Popular K-pop stars like Suzy of Miss A and IU appear in cameo roles in the film.