The Big Swindle

With his deep-laid plot having more twists and turns than might be found within a reservoir of cotton candy, fledgling director and scriptor Choi Dong-hun has fashioned an enormously enjoyable work that, although one shall properly think of it as being derivative from and influenced by popular latter-day crime caper films made in the United States, nonetheless solidly stands upon its own merit, of which there is full measure. The script, despite its intricacy, is harmonious as well, with no lapses in continuity to drive at one, and Choi's skill with post-production processes, particularly editing, is seminal to the film's potent impact, as flashbacks form the spine of a scenario that is loosely based upon a recent high-profile incident that occurred in South Korea. A non-linear narrative, occupied as it is by double and triple crosses, is very appropriate for this tale of an elaborate scam perpetrated upon the Bank Of Korea by a nicely diversified assortment of five confidence men, each of whom intends to follow a private agenda, with varying success, and of a siren (Seo In-keong) and police officials who have additional personal issues to resolve, in a sophisticated story that often touches upon factors of honour and loyalty. The film's design elements are glossy with warm colours and bright alloys, suitable to the breakneck pace of the cunningly devised action, with all of the players giving first-rate performances, in particular Baek Yoon-sik and Park Shin-yang as devisers of the heist, with the latter impressive in a dual role to take acting honours, merely one high spot of a piece where it is found that production values are quite as strong as the direction and script, the felicitous result being an outstanding suspense thriller laced with bumptious comedy.