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I CANNOT BELIEVE THE RATING. IT DESERVES A 100/10.
The movie keeps you guessing about the feelings of the actors and the characters separately, starts off in a typical 'old guy accidentally seduces new guy' stereotype, BUT changes into something amazing when you realise what's actually happening. you end up blown away and won't forget the ending, even though it's not a mystery genre.The idol was moved by the veteran actor's acting when he first met him, and eventually learned the method way of acting and practised each and every single thing he absorbed from the veteran actor, on him in real life too!
After the idol stormed off at the press conference when he expected some kind of open confession from the veteran guy, and was met with 'this was just method acting', he decided to give the veteran actor a taste of his own medicine, and thoroughly schooled him on what 'method acting' is.
In the end the idol, although somewhat moved by the actor and maybe he had some feelings for him too, managed to move on easily because he understood the game. The veteran was used to method acting but he didn't realise that the idol would practise it on him, and the amazing kissing scene was proof that he was maybe in too deep for once. Eventually his wife would still comfort him, so that's that. He probably was confused about himself for a long time after that.
And that kissing scene *phew*
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Promised to deliver more than it actually did
I don't have much to say about this one. Guess I went into it with more expectations than I should've when I saw that Park Sung Woong was in the main cast.It's experimental which I find interesting but it really does not deliver whatever it promises to. The acting is good but the script fails to seems natural in my opinion. It might be because of its theatrical inspiration but it was truly ridiculous how some of the lines came off.
I did enjoy the theatre scene and the ending as well. Still, overall, it'll remain unmemorable.
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Fascinating with lots of room for interpretation
This was an interesting movie because although it had gay/bi themes, it wasn't entirely clear if the characters actually had those orientations. The story is about method acting, which if you don't know, it's a style of acting in which you try to become the character *even when you are not performing.* There's a lot of room for interpretation in this one.For example, we might wonder if Lee Jae Ha was homophobic, which is why he could not connect as well to his stage-character. Unlike most of his play works, he also doesn't write in his method acting journal, as if he is afraid to connect to his character. So can we interpret this as he is afraid of the gay feelings awakening in him? Is he just homophobic?
Young Woo on the other hand at one point says he's not gay, but he is only attracted to Lee Jae Ha, which we could interpret as him fully immersing himself in his role instead of being bisexual. However, it could also be that he is just demisexual towards men, and Lee Jae Ha happens to be someone he could connect to. So then was his kiss scene with Lee Jae Ha because he was method acting, or because he was actually attracted to Lee Jae Ha?
It's implied that Young Woo was secretly the better and more immersive actor. Another interpretation then is that Lee Jae Ha actually fell for Young Woo, while Young Woo was only method acting. Lee Jae Ha had a harder time making a distinction between the play and real life, while Young Woo seems to have a better understanding of those boundaries. At first we might wonder if Young Woo is the one who can't separate the play from reality once he sneaks into Lee Jae Ha's house in the end. He seems like he is hunting for Hee Won in the same way his character hunts for Claire. But when she's safe at the end, we realize Young Woo was in fact the better method actor, the one who could become his character off stage, while still maintaining the boundary between reality and fiction. He even arrogantly thinks of himself as better than Lee Jae Ha by the end. Lee Jae Ha thought he was mentoring Young Woo, but it was Young Woo who surpassed him.
The writer/director of the play says, "I named the play 'Unchained' because I think human love is individual. They're connected but the link can be broken." And then we get the following scene where both Young Woo and Lee Jae Ha seems to be sentimental about the play, and perhaps their feelings? Lee Jae Ha seems defeated, and he returns to his girlfriend (wife? can't remember), a woman who (from the beach scene) we might think is used to her boyfriend's infidelity through his method acting. And Young Woo's smile as he settles into the car is not that of an arrogant pupil overcoming his teacher. He seems disappointed that its over. Whether he is sad about the play ending, or his relationship with Lee Jae Ha ending, we aren't sure. Maybe both?
But if we think about that director's line again, "human love is individual. They're connect but the link can be broken." We might wonder, if we are supposed to interpret the story as the two had fall in love with each other, but once the play is over, so is their relationship, even if they still have feelings for each other. The play ends in a suicide-murder with Walter seemingly in love with both Claire and Singer. If the stories are meant to parallel each other, then we could interpret Lee Jae Ha was in love with both Hee Won and Young Woo. But, its also made clear that Young Woo has a better separation from fiction and reality, so we can't say for sure if Young Woo also felt the same way.
In my personal interpretation, I think Lee Jae Ha actually fell for Young Woo, and we are supposed to be unsure if Young Woo loved him back.
But what is the truth of the story? Lee Jae Ha was a homophobic actor who had trouble connecting to his character and was straight? Lee Jae Ha was a homophobic actor who had trouble connecting to his character as was bi? Young Woo immersed himself in his character, but never fell for Lee Jae Ha? Young Woo immersed himself in his character and actually had feelings for Lee Jae Ha? Did neither of them fall for each other? Was it one-sided? Did they both become infatuated with the other? When were the two method acting as their stage characters, and when were they being their true selves? So much is left unsaid that we can't really say for sure.
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So Damn Good
Keeping this short and sweet. I randomly started watching this movie and it was devastatingly good! Mind bending, intense, dramatic, heart pumping - all the things! The acting is superb. The story is superb. The direction and production is superb. Layers upon layers of meaning within the story. Each scene unexpected so it keeps you at the edge of your seat. It was a rollercoaster of a movie and I had a blast watching it. I highly recommend. I'm about to go check out the pages of the two leads and see what else they're in because they were both such powerful actors. I want to see what they offer in their other works.Was this review helpful to you?
With this premise, the film is a pretty interesting concept, which can be watched on three levels: one, the play "Unchain" that is being rehearsed and performed within the film; two, the characters who must take up "method acting," let loose and assume the identities for the performance of this play; three, the real actors who are indeed doing "method acting" to assume the characters and in turn assume the same identities for the play. Which of the three is believable, and is it all acting - well, with regard to these questions: after watching the film, I can say that there is a missing element to "method acting," outside the control of actors but ultimately attributes to its success or failure. That element is what the film is about...you, the silent watcher, you with the choice as willing accomplice or critical call out in all this charade.
I can think of movies like Ocean's Eleven, Twelve, and others about some kind of heist or collaborative effort to "con" a stupefied audience, within and without the film. This is just like it. Do you believe the multi-level acting put on before you?
The funny part is that there's also a master and student relationship going on on the different levels. At the beginning, there's no interest whatsoever in any serious play. Then, one of them gets a signal from the other, almost like a prank - to see who can pull one over the other, maybe even outdo the other in this game - and suddenly there's now a contest, a battle of wills, to find the true master. One line says it all: "You are just another Walter, but I am the perfect Singer." On the pseudo-stage in the film, at least, I think we know who the victor, the master of the game, is.
On whether the real actors are convincing in their roles - I have to say it was a hot kiss that they shared, but take note that both their eyes were tightly closed, almost like they're afraid to look at each other. One wonders what they must be imagining, and two points off for not convincing me wholly.
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Fever Dream
Honestly I got this movie recommended to me by a friend and I decided to go blind into it, not reading the summary or anything, just diving into it. I didn’t know what to expect, but once the scenes about them getting intimate started I thought it was going to be a cute romance between the dudes but pretty soon enough it’s established that won’t be happening.To some extent it did lowkey remind me of call me by your name, both movies have the intimate moments happen early on to the movie and make things escalate,, it was honestly a roller coaster ride.
I’m confused withn this movie though, are they both just going to ignore everything that happened and move on? Was it really just method acting? I’m so curious about it…Wish it didn’t end so abruptly honestly.
It was good and it’ll keep you distracted. Pretty solid movie, just very frustrating ending (in my opinion).
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It shows the very fine line between reality and fiction thanks to an astonishing performance.
This movie gave me the chills. I loved from the get go Park Sung Woong's flawless performance and one of the best in my whole time watching korean dramas and movies, the way he delivers every piece of dialoge is impecable, just amazing. Thanks to that I was invested in the story in the first 5 seconds. But that's not the only great thing, the concept of the story and how fiction and relality intertwine in a seamlessly way, it just takes your breath away. It says a lot about what Art does, and how every artwork takes a piece of yourself till you don't know who you are anymore. The entire final part (the actual play) is a master piece, the ending, even if its not what I wanted for the main characters, fits perfectly to the movie.The sound of the movie is its soul, you really don't notice that is there but it blends with every though and every action and highlights the emotions the best way possible.
In general, is a really well build movie with a spectacular cast and an enteresting narrative. I do think that is not the greatest representation of LGBTQ community, but at least it touches the matter.
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All the staff worked very hard to bring us the talent could see on the screen.
ACTING:
As I said before, the acting was the best point of the whole movie. It pulled me in so fast and refused to let go. I really loved the play and honestly, that scene shocked me so much. I know our Singer is a young actor, but....don't hate me, but I did NOT expect such amazing acting but I was very suprised and for sure I'll follow his future work as well. With our Jae Ha it was just as I expected and even better. The relationship which was potrayted in the movie is not easy to show but the two leads had such great chemistry between each other...I can't even explain with words how good it was. It was a match made in Heaven. Everything looked so real that for a second I really thought that they are together in real life.
STORY:
Before the movie came out, me and many others started to picture the movie in our heads and guess the plot/ending. I must say, yes, the movie was a bit predictable but still I enjoyed it and loved to see that my theories were in some parts true. The idea of method acting romance is amazing but I must say I want to see more. I expected it to give us the deeper insight in characters lives, not just Jae Ha's. If this was 2 hour movie I think it would be much better. I won't spoil the ending so watch it, but overall the story IS very good but not well described which is the fault of the run time.
MUSIC:
No comment. I have ALL the songs in my phone on replay, yes it is that good. I just love instrumental music so much and when u know at which scenes it was played, your head automatically takes u there.
REWATCH VALUE:
I watched it today, but i'm going to watch it again so yes, definetly in my top 10 fav movies.
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Also it's not everyday we get to see full length Korean films that deal with homosexuality in a serious manner, let alone the way this film approaches it. It does not vilify it nor does it use it as a cheap hook to bring in BL fans to rake in the audiences and then leaves people feeling mad and unfulfilled.
Even though some may say the ending falls into the usual trope for LGBTQ+ movies in western media (either sad or the usual tragedy), I wouldn't have this film ending in any other way as it would take me out of the whole experience.
True to its name, "Method" is a compelling story about an older mentor figure who has a special acting method to get into character whenever he assumes a new role to give out his best performance, which solidified him as famous and well regarded in the industry, and how he deals with a younger less experienced figure, coming from South Korea's pop culture world, trying to transition into acting. Both leads are male and through this acting method fiction and reality start getting blurred.
This by no means does the film any justice but it's about as far as I can go as "Method" must be experienced, not summarized.
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Love all of the cast but I didn't expect Park Sung Woong, a veteran in drama to accept this kind of film but honestly he did very well, very very very very well. Next actor, worthy to be acknowledged is Oh Seung Hoon, he may be a fresh image for me, but definitely his acting is that of a professional. I can see how perfectly he portrayed a character and I definitely will look forward for more of his dramas and films.
I agree with the majority that the film was rushed. There could have been a concrete proof of the development of characters but ,nevertheless, I was able to enjoy it. The intense scenes are definitely something to look forward (If no one told you yet, then let your imagination work. think and watch to understand what intense I am referring to xD). Knowing that it is from Korea, hopefully, more dramas and movies with BL can be aired or shown.
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This movie is bit more mature and heavy but I enjoyed that. It is nice to see how there is more and more movies and dramas about gay relationships, especially in South Korea where homosexuality is not totally exepted yet.
STORY-The story was really interesting it was nothing like what I have ever seen before, it was hard to tell what was going to happen next. There were moments where it wasn't quite clear if they are playing their characters in the play or just being themselves but I think that is what is so cool about the movie.
The story was a bit rushed because the movie was only 1h 22min long, it would have been better if the movie was around 2h.
ACTING/CAST- In my opinion the acting in this movie was great, the actors fit their roles really well. Although the agap between the main leads was 18 years it didn't disturb me at all, so don't worry the interactions between the actors weren't cringy or uncomfortable to watch at all.
For a rookie actor Oh Seung Hoon did a great job, this was his first movie but you really can't tell based on his acting.
Park Sung Woong's acting was also great as expected from a veteran actor.
MUSIC- The music compimented the story very nicely and I think it played a big role in this movie.
ENDING- What I like about this movie is that the whole story wasn't predictable, it was really hard to tell what was going to happen in the end and that's something that doesn't happen often with romantic movies.
I didn't like the ending but when i think about it it went well with the story.
All in all I really recommend watching this movie if you want something different from those sweet, cute romcom movies.
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