V.I.P. (Korean: 브이아이피; RR: Beu-i-a-i-pi) is a 2017 South Korean crime-action thriller film[3][4][5] directed by Park Hoon-jung and starring Jang Dong-gun, Kim Myung-min, Park Hee-soon and Lee Jong-suk. In the film, officers from South Korea, North Korea and Interpol chase after a serial killer suspect.
| V.I.P. | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Hangul | 브이아이피 |
| Revised Romanization | Beu-i-a-i-pi |
| Directed by | Park Hoon-jung |
| Written by | Park Hoon-jung |
| Produced by | Yeon Young-sik |
| Starring | Jang Dong-gun Kim Myung-min Park Hee-soon Lee Jong-suk |
| Cinematography | Kim Young-ho |
| Edited by | Kim Chang-ju |
| Music by | Mowg |
Production company | Peppermint & Company |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 128 minutes |
| Country | South Korea |
| Language | Korean |
| Box office | $9.7 million[1][2] |
The film was released on August 23, 2017.[6][7] The reception was largely negative, with criticism directed mainly towards the portrayal of graphic violence towards a female character.[8][9] The film was later released on DVD and Blu-ray formats on 7 March 2018.[10]
Plot
editThe son of a high-ranking North Korean official, Kwang-il (Lee Jong-suk), is suspected of committing serial rapes and murders of women around the world. To stop the killer, South Korea, North Korea and Interpol chase after him.[11]
Cast
editMain
edit- Jang Dong-gun as Park Jae-hyuk:[12][13] An agent working for the South Korean National Intelligence Service(NIS).
- Kim Myung-min as Chae Yi-do: A Police Detective Chief Inspector who leads a serial murder case and who fights hard to bring a criminal to justice.
- Park Hee-soon as Ri Dae-bum: A North Korean police officer who secretly crosses the border into the South to track down Kim Kwang-il.
- Lee Jong-suk as Kim gwang-il: A key North Korean political figure's son who receives VIP treatment after his defection to South Korea, organised by the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). He becomes a prime suspect for a serial murder case.[14][11][15][16][17]
Supporting
edit- Peter Stormare as Paul Gray: A CIA agent.
- Lee Jung-hyuk as Gwang Il's gang member
- Oh Dae-hwan
- Tae In-ho as agent Tae.
- Yoo Jae-myung
- Park Sung-woong
- Jo Woo-jin as Prosecutor.
- lee seo jun as gwang il's gang member 2
Production
editFilming began on October 22, 2016, and ended on January 22, 2017.[18] Filming took place in South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand and other countries.[19]
Release
editThe cast of V.I.P was invited to the 74th Venice International Film Festival which began on August 30, 2017. However, the invitation was declined by the production company as the film's release could not be rescheduled to a later date.[20]
The film was released in South Korean cinemas on August 23, 2017.[21][22]
Reception
editCritical response
editV.I.P was named as an R-rated crime film, which restricted audiences younger than eighteen years of age.
Many viewers criticized the film's depiction of violence against women.[23][24] Some of the comments were regarding the film's unnecessary cruel and gruesome scenes, while others critiqued the use of female characters as devices of sexual violence to show the cruelty of male characters.[25]
Box office
editUpon its release in South Korean cinemas on August 23, 2017, V.I.P. hit the top spot, selling 174,022 ticket and earning a gross income of US$1.17 million on its opening day.[26] During the first two days V.I.P sold 341,610 tickets earning US$2.3 million.[27] After five days of its release the movie has attracted 940,359 audience screening in 966 venues.[28][29]
According to the Korean Film Council V.I.P had surpassed 1 million viewers by August 29, in just seven days since its release, and the film earned a total gross income of US$7.8 million.[30]
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Person | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Fantastic Fest 2017 | Best Director - Thriller Features | Park Hoon-jung | Won | [31] |
References
edit- ^ "V.I.P." Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ "V.I.P. (Beuiaipi)". The Numbers. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ "Jang Dong-gun on his role in crime-action thriller movie 'V.I.P.'". International Business Times.
- ^ "Lee Jong Suk explains his first evil role in 'V.I.P.,' delaying military enlistment". International Business Times.
- ^ "V.I.P (Korean Movie - 2016) - 브이아이피". HanCinema.
- ^ "영화 'VIP', 캐스팅은 VVIP급…"김명민·박희순 출연, 장동건·이종석 검토"". Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ "News". koreanfilm.or.kr.
- ^ "[HanCinema's News] "V.I.P" Enters Rotation on OCN". HanCinema.
- ^ "Korean film's depiction of brutally abused women -- Is it too much?". The Korea Herald.
- ^ "[Just out on Blu-ray and DVD] Korean Movies "V.I.P" and "I Can Speak"". HanCinema.
- ^ a b "이종석, 영화 'VIP' 출연 확정…악역 파격 변신 (공식)". Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ "Jang Dong-gun will star in new film 'VIP'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ W, Ruiting (2016-08-22). "Jang Dong-Gun Leads A-list Cast in Upcoming Film 'VIP'". Asian Movie Pulse. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ "Actor Lee Jong-suk confirmed for 'VIP'". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ "Lee Jong Suk confirmed to star in movie 'VIP'". Korea | Korea Hallyu | K-pop | hallyu. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ Herald, The Korea (22 August 2017). "[Herald Interview] Lee Jong-suk on playing a delicate serial killer".
- ^ Herald, The Korea (18 September 2017). "Heartthrob actors Lee Jong-suk, Song Seung-heon take on villain roles".
- ^ E., Maolen (2016-10-21). "Lee Jong-Suk's new film 'VIP' begins principal photography". Yibada English. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
- ^ "'V.I.P.' 장동건 김명민 이종석, 베일 벗은 촬영장" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-01-27.
- ^ Jin, Min-ji (August 18, 2017). "Star-studded cast comes together to stop killer". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Maala, Jon (August 21, 2017). "Jang Dong-gun on his role in crime-action thriller movie 'V.I.P.'". International Business Times. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Cho, Yeon-gyeong (August 22, 2017). "Jang Dong-gun is ready to go again : After falling into a slump, the 'V.I.P.' star has finally hit his stride". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ Jang, Young-hoon (August 25, 2017). ""친구랑 영화 욕하다 왔다"…영화 'V.I.P.' 본 관객들의 분노 후기". Insight (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-09-01.
- ^ "[K스타] 영화 'VIP' 女배우 역할 명(名) '여혐' 논란". Nate News (in Korean). August 25, 2017. Retrieved 2017-09-01.
- ^ Jin, Min-ji (September 1, 2017). "Movies draw ire for on-screen violence: Some Korean moviegoers say that depictions of misogyny are far too common". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 2017-09-01.
- ^ Baek Seung-hoon (August 24, 2017). "개봉 `첫날` 브아이피, `천만` 택시운전사 제치고 박스오피스 1위" (in Korean). Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Maala, Jon (August 24, 2017). "'V.I.P.' tops Korean box office for second straight day". International Business Times. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ^ Shim, Sun-ah (August 28, 2017). "'V.I.P.' wins first weekend box office". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 2017-08-28.
- ^ Jin, Min-ji (August 29, 2017). "[Korean Box Office] Star-studded 'V.I.P.' debuts strong despite criticism". Korea JoongAng Daily . Retrieved 2017-08-29.
- ^ Maala, Jon (August 30, 2017). "R-rated film 'V.I.P.' reaches 1.08 million audience in 7 days". International Business Times. Retrieved 2017-08-31.
- ^ "Director Park Hoon-jung of 'V.I.P.' wins prize at Fantastic Fest". Yonhap News Agency. October 13, 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-13.