A figurehead of Korean cinema, auteur and director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) is back with his newest feature, No Other Choice. Opting for a more comedic style that his previous works, the film follows Yoo Man-soo, a veteran paper mill manager, after being laid off and humiliated by a ruthless job market. In a desperate bid to reclaim his dignity, he descends into a world of violence. In the starring role is Lee Byung-hun, known for his recent fantastic work in Netflix original series Squid Game as antagonist Front Man. Oozing with style and balancing humor and violence exceptionally well, No Other Choice is a well acted, hilarious effort from Park Chan-wook that provides exploration of unemployment and capitalism alongside its laughs.
Though it’s listed everywhere as a comedy, it’s impossible to imagine how funny No Other Choice is until you’ve seen it yourself. Not only is the dialogue packed with witty humor, but it’s full of physical comedy, too, relying on the talent in front of the camera to deliver it well. Even some of the filmmaking choices in framing, sound design, music supervision and editing all aid the humor even further, capturing the absurdity of certain moments perfectly and heightening them where possible. Park knows how to elevate these sequences, just by adding a song here or lingering on a visual gag a little longer there. We see a much lighter side to Park, and it’s both refreshing and successful. On the flip side, the plot synopsis suggests a proclivity for violence, and the script provides that tenfold. If you’re a fan of Park’s darker works, don’t be put off, as he’s still up to his usual tricks. Not only are there some intense themes to explore, but the criminal path our lead character winds up taking is a very violent one. Juxtaposing those laughs are some very dark, macabre and even harrowing scenes. The balance of humor and crime thriller ensures No Other Choice is entertaining from start to finish, and makes those grittier scenes far more palatable. Flawlessly managing that change-up between side splitting laughter and jaw-dropping thriller, and even doing both simultaneously at times, No Other Choice is a riot.
It takes a talented cast to make that tonal balance believable, and luckily, Park’s team are more than up to the task. Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game) is a marvel in the leading role, giving such an admirable physical performance with on-point comedic timing. It’s not just the comedy he nails, but the emotions required from the character, too. From a loving father and husband to an embarrassed unemployed one, and everything that comes in between – an unruly life of crime, violence and much, much worse – Lee gets to flex his range and deliver a standout, memorable performance. The heart of the movie is Son Ye-jin (Crash Landing on You), who plays his wife, Lee Mi-ri, beautifully. Less in the dark than her husband thinks, the script often allows her to become just as funny as him, with the pair working exceptionally well together with good chemistry. She balances the love for her husband and family with the shock and acceptance of her husbands actions masterfully, making for an intriguing, unique on-screen partner. Another standout is Yeom Hye-ran (Memories of Murder), who just so happens to be in the most memorable scenes of the movie, and is often the standout in all of them. She is absolutely hilarious in her batshit craziness. The cast understand park’s vision, and deliver it in the most entertaining, engaging way possible.
Even though it’s a big change-up in terms of genre, Park’s filmmaking traits are still as present as ever, making for a stunning watch on all fronts. The cinematography is bright and eye-catching, letting so much light flood the screen, and there’s certainly a few wacky shots in here that show a playful side. As mentioned above, the editing is one of the films best assets, delivering plenty of reaction shots and transitions that increase the humor tenfold. The music supervision pairs perfectly with the original score, delivering a mixture of upbeat K-pop alongside piano-heavy classical. Whilst it’s main goal is to entertain, and it certainly keeps things light and thrilling, in true Park Chan-wook fashion, it also has an awful lot to say. Lee Byung-hun does so much face acting, showing the human nature hidden behind his absurd behavior, and as he keeps repeating to himself, he has ‘no other choice’ but to partake in these dangerous acts of violence. And what has pushed him here? Unemployment, capitalism, and the job market that is collapsing around him. Less men are needed in his industry due to machinery and large corporation takeovers, and the only way he can get his foot back in the door is to eliminate his competition. Even his years of experience and managerial status can’t help him, and to anyone who has ever faced unemployment, No Other Choice will likely be a hilariously painful relatable watch. From awkward interviews to facing his family at the dinner table, there’s a lot to be said within the script, and it says it well.
No Other Choice is the gift that keeps on giving. When it’s not making us laugh with side-splitting hijinks and laugh-out-loud one-liners, it’s forcing us to quiver in horror towards our main characters actions and the regrettable relatability behind it all. The filmmaking is as expert as ever thanks to Park Chan-wook, but the real cherry on top is the acting on display. Led flawlessly by Lee Byung-hun who’s turn is nothing but award-worthy, the cast deliver the heart, humor and thematic strands well. Whether you view it as an absurd comedy or a deep dive into economic anxiety, unemployment and corporate greed, it’s extremely impressive.
