Real (Korean: 리얼) is a South Korean neo-noir action film directed by Lee Sa-rang, starring Kim Soo-hyun, Sung Dong-il, Lee Sung-min, Sulli and Jo Woo-jin. The film was released on June 28, 2017, in South Korea.[3][4][5][6][7]
Real | |
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![]() Theatrical poster | |
Hangul | 리얼 |
Revised Romanization | Rieol |
Directed by | Lee Sa-rang |
Screenplay by | Lee Jung-sub |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Kim Jung-won |
Edited by | Kim Chang-ju |
Music by |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 137 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Budget | US$10 million[1] |
Box office | US$3 million[2] |
Synopsis
editIn the underworld of a fictional city, Jang Tae-yeong (Kim Soo-hyun) is a successful gang boss and owner of a large casino. Disturbed by an entirely different personality that lies within himself, Jang decides to seek the help of Dr. Choi Jin-ki (Lee Sung-min). To help Jang be rid of the other personality, Dr. Choi comes up with an elaborate plan which Jang follows through with, but it yields unexpected consequences. What then ensues is a battle between the real and fake Jang Tae-Yeong.
Cast
editMain
edit- Kim Soo-hyun as Jang Tae-yeong[8]
- Sung Dong-il as Jo Won-geun
- Lee Sung-min as Dr. Choi Jin-ki[9]
- Choi Jin-ri as Song Yoo-hwa
- Jo Woo-jin as Sa Do-SHAYTAN
Supporting
edit- Lee Gyung-young as No Yeom
- Kim Hong-pa as Choi Nak-hyeon
- Han Ji-eun as Han Ye-won
- Rich Ting as Ryu Gil-soo
- Choi Kwon as Head of Department Baek
- Park Gyeong-ree as Restaurant Waitress
- Jung Yi-seo as Secret room club addict
- Park Min-jung as Private hospital room nurse
- Jung In-gyeom as Professor Kim
- Lee Sang-hoon
- Yoon Ji-kyeon
- Yoon Kyung-ho as Broker
- Hyun Bong-sik as Chinese gangster
- Ko Kyu-pil
Cameo appearances
edit- Suzy as Song Yoo-hwa's best friend [10][11]
- Lee Ji-eun as Awards ceremony guide[12]
- Park Seo-joon as Dressed-up bodyguard
- Kim Da-som as Rehabilitation therapist
- Ahn So-hee as Chinatown's sewing room worker
- Son Hyun-joo as Patient with disability
- Park Min-ha as Siesta's serving fairy
- Nam Kyung as Casino Waitress
Production
edit- On October 12, 2015, Alibaba Pictures signed an agreement at the 20th Busan International Film Festival to fund the film.[13] Paradise Group also co-invested with additional US$7 million. It also filmed in the corporation's resort, Paradise City.[14][15]
- Director Lee Jung-sub dropped out of the film and was replaced by Lee Sa-rang, first-time filmmaker, owner of the production company of Real.[16]
- Filming began on January 3, 2016, and ended on June 30, 2016, in Paradise City, Yeongjongdo, Incheon.[17][18]
Release
editThe film was released cinematically on 28 June 2017, and later digitally in mid-July in South Korea.
Taiwan became the first region outside of South Korea to have a cinematic release of the film, on 4 August 2017.[19] It was released in Hong Kong on 16 November 2017 and in Japan on 14 April 2018.
Reception
editReal received mostly negative reviews during its initial release.[20] MaxMovie's review stated that despite Kim Soo-hyun giving justice to his dual roles, the film's plot is non-existent, the editing and special effects are amateurish, in addition to its action scenes being boring.[21] One critic felt the story was confusing and named the film "one of the most distastrous films ever made".[22]
One critic proclaims Real to be a "future camp cult classic" that "is the 'real' deal".[23] Sitges Film Festival, one of the world's foremost international festivals specialising in fantasy and horror films, has included Real in its 2017 catalogue. The experimental adventure that is Real is in Kim Soo Hyun's words, not an endearing film that is easy for moviegoers to fall in love with.[24] Yet, in the end, love it or hate it, there is no denying that Real is "one of the most singular Korean films to emerge in years".[23]
When Real was released for Digital Cable TV VOD and IPTV subscription in South Korea, it topped the charts at its initial release. In contrast to its box office response, the movie fared reasonably well on the VOD chart. While it is released via VOD platform only in mid July, the movie ranked quite high on the overall chart of July 2017.[25][26][27]
Real received positive reviews upon its opening in Taiwan in early August. Critics praised Kim Soo Hyun's acting, proclaiming that both main characters, despite looking identical, were easily distinguished through his use of body language, mannerisms, and voice acting.[19]
Expat Korean movie critic/blogger Pierce Conran included Real in his list of top 15 Korean movies of 2017 for its uniqueness and originality.[28]
Box office
editReal grossed over $1M NTD (New Taiwan Dollar) in its first weekend of release in Taiwan. It was the highest initial week box office take for a Korean film at the time.[19] The film grossed over $4.7M NTD in Taiwan.[29]
References
edit- ^ "115억 제작비 투자한 영화 '리얼' ···누적 관객 44만 기록". 18 May 2018. Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
- ^ "REAL (2017) - Korean Film Council". Archived from the original on 6 November 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
- ^ "김수현 복귀작 '리얼', 성동일ㆍ이경영ㆍ이성민ㆍ설리 등 역대급 라인업". 비즈엔터. 30 December 2015. Archived from the original on 11 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (12 October 2015). "Alibaba Pictures In 'Real' Deal; Pacts For First Korean Film Investment". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 17 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
- ^ "김수현 '리얼'로 2년만 스크린 복귀, 10월 크랭크인". newsen.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ kdramastars.com (30 November 2015). "Kim Soo Hyun Gets Ready For His Role In 'Real'". KDramaStars. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "김수현과 호흡, '리얼' 女주인공 누구?… "노출 수위 높아 부담될 수도"". Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "김수현, 영화 '리얼' 출연 확정…2년만에 스크린 컴백". 9 April 2015. Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "'김수현과 호흡'… 이성민, 영화 '리얼' 출연 결정". 중앙일보 (in Korean). 15 December 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "[리폿@이슈] 설리-아이유-수지 가진…김수현은 좋겠다". Archived from the original on 10 July 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Suzy, IU to cameo in 'Real'". Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "[단독] 수지·아이유까지…김수현 1인2역 '리얼'에 요정들 총집합". Archived from the original on 5 August 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Alibaba Pictures invests in Kim Soo-hyun's upcoming film". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 3 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ "Kim Soo-hyun's new film draws new investment". Archived from the original on 10 November 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "김수현 영화 '리얼' 파라다이스그룹에서도 80억 투자 결정". Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2016.
- ^ "Filmmaker Lee Jung-sub drops out of upcoming film 'Real'". Archived from the original on 6 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2016.
- ^ ""REAL"在韩杀青 金秀贤"星你"后演技变身". Archived from the original on 1 November 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ ""김수현이 온다" 영화 '리얼' 스틸컷 첫 공개". Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "《REAL》在台上映獲亮眼票房 金秀賢入伍前代表作". Yahoo! Movie, Taiwan (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 7 August 2017.
- ^ "[엑's 이슈] '리얼' 김수현의 마음고생, 끝내 눈물 터졌다". XSportsNews. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "<리얼> 보자마자 리뷰 . 괴상하고 이상한 나라의 김수현". MaxMovie. Archived from the original on 5 March 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "[Oh!쎈 리얼①] '리얼', 두 유 노우 '클레멘타인'?". Osen. Archived from the original on 10 September 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Review: REAL Makes Korean Noir Gloriously Camp, Weird and Amazing". ScreenAnarchy. 2 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 September 2022. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "[연예세상 비틀어보기] 나는 '리얼'이 '레알' 좋았다!". SPORTSWORLDI. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "스크린서 움츠렸던 '악녀' · '리얼', 안방극장에선 선전". MoneyS News (in Korean). 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "영화순위, 케이블TV 7월 VOD 순위 김옥빈 악녀1위, 김수현-설리,리얼도 상위권 - 울산종합일보". Ulsan Daily (in Korean). 12 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "영화순위, 케이블TV 7월 VOD 순위 악녀1위, 리얼도 상위권". polinews.co.kr (in Korean). 11 August 2017. Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Conran, Pierce. "Top 15 Korean Films of 2017". www.modernkoreancinema.com. Archived from the original on 27 December 2020. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
- ^ "全國電影票房截至2017年九月前資訊". Taiwan Film Institute (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 18 January 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2017.