Nameless Gangster

The story wasn't that compelling, but like others said the acting was great. My biggest issue is that I didn't quite understand the sudden shift between the Daebu and the gangster. Maybe I missed something. The movie was a bit too long and felt slower in its pacing.

The best Korean movie.

Only slight demerit is that the story wasn't great. Everything else was. Especially the cinematography and acting.

2 of my hands down fav's - Min-sik Choi (Oldboy/I Saw the Devil) and Ha Jung-woo (Yellow Sea, Berlin File) in a so/so movie thats well done but in the end is all about watching people that can run circles around normal actors without even looking like they are breaking a sweat.

Decided to check this out because it starred Choi Min-sik (star of the original 'Oldboy' and 'I Saw the Devil') and because it was a gangster film. It is a genre that has given us so many cinema classics after all, regularly providing a reliable source of entertainment. However, 'Nameless Gangster' itself should take note and sleep with the fishes. The film mimics a 'Scarface' rags to riches style set up, showing Min-Sik as a man who rises up the ranks of a gangster organisation. It's a shame his ascension is more of a drunken stagger instead of a graceful rise to power. With no real implementation of cunning forceful manoeuvres, Min-sik manages to constantly improve on his situation simply because of his broad family connections. There is no denying the social weight of family links, as I've come to realise having recently joined the job-hunting population; but it is difficult to believe a man, with no apparent street awareness nor physical or intellectual intelligence, would skate his way into such a comfortable position. This film concentrates on political operations rather than those of the violent nature but it is not as smart or gripping as it thinks it is, meaning the movie becomes a drag long before it even reaches the two-hour mark. My attempt at delving deeper into Choi Min-sik's filmography and finding more hidden gems has failed. Nothing particularly interesting at all happens, meaning 'Nameless Gangster' does not warrant your attention and so might as well be regarded as nameless.

no me gustan las películas de gangsters, y esta no me ha hecho cambiar de opinión

Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (Bumchoiwaui Junjaeng; "War on Crime: The Golden Age of the Bad Guys") - South Korean gangster film co-produced, written and directed by Yoon Jong-bin. Starring Choi Min-sik (Oldboy), Ha Jung-woo. For the role Choi put on weight (10kg). Film received several accolades and nominations at Baeksang Arts Awards, Buil Film Awards, Grand Bell Awards, Asia Pacific Screen Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, Busan Film Critics Award and Asian Film Awards. Nameless Gangster is said to have been inspired from the real events emanating from the decade 80s-90s, when South Korea was ruled by rampant street low-life thugs and gangsters - until an operation was executed under direct orders from the Korean presidency. Time has frequently equated it with Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas - and further says, that this should be what may make Scorsese proud of. Set in Busan (South Korea) early 80s - the film starts with footage from the period showing massive crack-down on crime-gangs, after country's President Roh Tae-woo declares war on gang-crimes - who'd vowed during election-campaign to rid country of corruption and crime. Choi Ik-hyun (Choi Min-sik) is handcuffed and behind the bar where he's visited by country Attorney-General, who asks him to write his confession about his involvement with the gangs (which he denies, and gets a beat for this). Film than jumps back to the past, showing the rise of Choi as beneficial to crime-syndicate. He works as custom officer of mere rank at shipyard. He owns lovely family (a wife - 2 daughters and small son). He seems to have reach to influential governmental, official bodies - based on his clan-name he uses it to persuade the people to help him out from grave situations, often using it to receive favors and sympathy. In deep down he's neither coward nor a brave person. One day he finds 10kg of heroin in the container which his colleague takes him to a young handsome looking drug-dealer Choi Hyung-bai (Ha Jung-woo). After learning the clan-name (Choi), Choi rebukes him and asks him to bow before him - soon he's shown getting slaps after slaps from Hyung-bai's bodyguard. Choi reaches out to his old father who scolds Hyung-bae for treating him that way and further informs him that Choi had actually helped him during his boat-operating days. This sets of long-lasting partnership between Choi and Hyung-bai - Choi tells him, 'I have got brain and you've got muscles - let's use them to grow as one'. I tried to play this movie to get a preview of it but then decided to continue it - because I was fascinated by the pace and settings in it. Remarkable indeed, this concludes the reasonable assumption that Korean cinema has taken correct path to achieve its goals of becoming one of the finest cinemas from largest continent (Asia). What is there to learn more about acting when you have name like 'Choi Min-sik' and 'Ha Jung-woo'; but it's actually Min-sik who steals the show. He has continued his rhythm of bearing sensitive approach that he shown in 'Oldboy' and 'I Saw The Devil'. Nameless Gangster should be regarded long after this in milieu of movies that became pioneers to set standards for South Korean cinema. Go ahead and enjoy the brain and genius tactics that Choi applies to get his assignments done - that even Michael Corleone or others used little for their scenes.

A slow, powerful crime drama much like the mafia films of 80s/90s by Scorsese and others. Mixes social issues with politics and the unrest in South Korea in the 80s. Min-sik Choi nails it as always. Well worth a watch.

Takes an entirely different route from your standard gangster flick. Through this film you truly see mobster culture from the korean way of life. In that respect this film deserved more than my undivided attention for the full length. Not sure who was better out of Choi Min Sik and Ha Jung Woo because they were both just incredible in their roles.

4/10: Had high expectation but turned out to be a major disappointment. Too draggy and it's not engaging at all with silly comedic acting.