'Gil Bok-soon' Jeon Do-yeon, nice to see a new face, but the action is disappointing

≪Choi Ji-ye’s Cinema Talk≫
TenAsia reporter Choi Ji-ye tells the story of the movie. We analyze every aspect of movies through live on-site reporting and write fun articles with sharp perspectives.

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I think the best virtue for an actor is challenge. An actor is one who blends into the lives of tens of thousands of characters, so an actor who puts on a strange face every time is not interesting. It's natural to easily lose attraction to an actor who makes you think 'I've seen this somewhere before' and gives you a sense of déjà vu.

In that sense, the actions of actress Jeon Do-yeon, who took on the role of single mother killer Gil Bok-soon in the Netflix movie 'Gil Bok-soon' (director Byun Seong-hyun), are worth commending. Whether age is important in acting, it would not have been an easy decision to take on an action challenge that I had never done before when I was over 50 years old. In addition, the character setting of the industry's best killer, boasting a 100% success rate, does not convey in the text itself how important the action is.

Jeon Do-yeon's work 'Gil Bok-soon', which she took on at the age of Ji Cheon-myeong, was released to home screens around the world through Netflix on the 31st. From the unique setting that replaced the world of killers with actors to the stylish directing, it was a work that exceeded expectations. However, if we judge Jeon Do-yeon's acting solely from the action scenes, which were the biggest highlight of 'Gil Bok-soon', it is somewhat disappointing.

Jeon Do-yeon said she took on the action with the determination to "do it no matter what, even if it means breaking my body." However, in the 30,000 won ax scene that opens the movie, Jeon Do-yeon's movements were sluggish and even seemed burdensome. Even considering that this scene was the first action scene filmed, it was disappointing for a magical action scene that determines the first impression of the movie. The filming techniques, sound, and background music were intense and flashy enough to dazzle the eyes and ears, but the substance of the action acting was lacking. I think it was a start that did not meet the expectations of viewers who excitedly pressed the play button on the remote control and wondered what the Jeondo chronology action would be like.

Although Jeon Do-yeon's movements felt lighter and more agile towards the end, I still had the strong impression that I was watching coordinated choreography rather than exciting action.

There are four main scenes where Jeon Do-yeon's action can be seen, and the action combination with Lee Yeon, who plays the role of MK Entertainment trainee Yeong-ji, was clearly worth watching. The final action scene with Seol Kyeong-gu as Cha Min-gyu is reminiscent of movies such as 'Kingsman' and the sophisticated directing catches the eye, but it is difficult to see the true essence of the action and it relies heavily on editing.

Jeon Do-yeon's mother's performance was impeccable. Jeon Do-yeon's acting, which sees her daughter putting up a wall against her and trembles at her unexpected and shocking confession, was that of a perfect mother. Also, the scenes that required deep emotions, such as when he found out his daughter's secret and when he found out that he was a killer, made us immediately immerse and sympathize. In addition, the lines spoken out of the blue when engaging in a war of nerves with Lee Som, played by Cha Min-hee, or from the killer's perspective, felt complete in plausibility simply because they were portrayed through Jeon Do-yeon, even if they were absurd.

Meanwhile, Gil Bok-soon's character is very similar to Jeon Do-yeon's real-life appearance, so it's fun to discover it. The fact that she likes tteokbokki, her hobby of growing flowers, and having a daughter in middle school stimulates the imagination that Jeon Do-yeon might actually be a killer.

Jeon Do-yeon was recognized on the global stage by winning the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for the movie ‘Secret Sunshine’. It was an honorary trophy that earned her the nickname 'Queen of Cannes', but it is said that after winning the award, Jeon Do-yeon had to go through a period of comforting herself as no scripts came in. I think that director Byun Seong-hyun has fully satisfied Jeon Do-yeon's thirst and dedicated his work to 'Bespoke to Jeon Do-yeon.'

Although there are some disappointing points in the action, it is difficult to imagine Gil Bok-sun other than Jeon Do-yeon. Jeon Do-yeon's challenge and acting spectrum were exquisitely combined to create Gil Bok-soon. Just like his wish to be consumed in a variety of ways as an actor, meeting a new face of Jeon Do-yeon that we have never seen before is enough to make 'Gil Bok-soon' worth it.

Choi Ji-ye, Ten Asia Reporter wisdomart@tenasia.co.kr