The Attorney

This is a very good movie centred on a wonderful performance from Song Kang-Ho, and while his character and character arc shine, much of the movie feels very fictionalised and "cinematic", sometimes to the point of detracting from the story. Also has a weird, made-for-TV vibe to some of the shots even though generally the cinematography was decent.

A South Korean drama from 2013. Song Kang ho (Bong Joon-ho's go to guy who's appeared in several of his films including 2019's Best Picture, Parasite) stars as the titular ambulance chaser, well tax prepper, who gets a case that will change his life. Starting off his career making a lot of bank by luring clientele to his office to prep taxes (something a lawyer in Korea can do) where he even gains a partner who comes in off the street to help w/his work load. Soon enough a friend, Kim Young-ae, who runs an eatery w/her son, Oh Sal-su, calls upon his services when Sal-su is arrested during a Communist crackdown in their city where he's beaten, tortured & forced to make a confession along w/others. Definitely outside of his comfort zone, Kang-ho forges ahead & although the defense is stacked against him (along w/the judge), his passion & his astute reading of the law gets the public on his side where his fellow legal brethren stand w/him by film's end. Kang-ho is excellent here as he uses the court arena to vent & attack injustice at its most severe but unfortunately the plot struggles to find focus until the trial begins during the film's second hour diluting the overall film's power which Kang-ho nearly saves, I said nearly.

Another really enjoyable outing for Song Kang-ho, the Korean star who can do no wrong in my eyes. This makes a good companion piece to A TAXI DRIVER and PARASITE, one again looking at issues surrounding Korean politics and society, this time around the country's right-wing authoritarian dictatorship in the 1980s and a series of witch hunts that make even McCarthy look tame by comparison. The actor is in his element, transferring from light comedy early on to intense courtroom drama at the climax, and he's true to his character throughout. As usual, exemplary production values and writing make this a classic slice of contemporary Korean cinema, and if I had to criticise it would only to be to mention a couple of steps into melodrama at times. Otherwise, top stuff!

GOOD. Interesting and inspiring story. Initially, you think it is a motivational film, the kind in which the protagonist manages to rise from nothing to success in his career. However, this is not the focus of the film. It is a film about JUSTICE and justice in a corrupt and authoritarian judicial environment. The title already foreshadows what you will see throughout your execution: lawyer, judge, court, police ... I was not curious to research, but perhaps the film is biographical (based on a real story). The phrase that motivates and guides our main character reflects his conduct throughout the plot: "Never Give Up". It is a self-help phrase commonly found in motivational books. The main actor is competent (perhaps one of the best in South Korea) and his performance is impeccable. I recommend.

The almost first half of the movie was average but it grips up after the first half and it is really awesome to watch the second half of the movie.

Absolutely great. What's so great about it? First it's a totally relatable human story. Second it's about truth and justice. Third this is all made into a great movie through the absolutely RIVETING performances. It's not a glitzy movie, it's real and gritty but full of hope. Im Si Wan started out his career with a great role, I hope he'll get some similar ones in the future. The lawyer is outstanding. The journalist, the mom, the supporting cast. I highly recommend this as a serious piece of cinema that has deeper meaning. Apparently I need to fill in more characters- this movie reminds me about the real stories that are at the heart of great cinema.

The main character has so much passion! I was with him all the way. Made me cry. The transitions between scenes are rough -- I was often confused as to whether we went forwards or backwards in time. Also why did the protesting real estate agents get tear gassed?

The storyline is literally heart-striking, each plot following one by one tightly just like a chain. And it sharply criticizes a political persecution, which strips the civil rights undoubtedly. However justice never came to the persecuted students and citizens, what fell on them is brutal brainwashing and physical torture. Based on real political event initiated by Chun doo-hwan, the film vividly revealed the social condition at that moment. And the main character is adapted from the story of Roh Moo-hyun, the former president of Korea. And the main character, Song Woo-seok, was a normal person who earned his bread in the city to raise his family. He was once a brick carrier. But he picked up his motto and struggled to be a lawyer. By handling cases which were easy but high paid, he became rich, just with his senior academy. But he was involved in a political persecution just as the restaurant woman's son was arrested because of reading "banned books". Song rose his dignity, his conscience, his justice, he devoted himself to the case controlled by the military government. Song is a great man. He is just like all of we ordinary people. He is a little greedy, a little vain, likes a drunken man at times. But when the ordinary person did extraordinary thing, he was a legend. It is literally a "dark" movie under suppression ,full of the dark side of political conflict. But just BRAVO.

It portrays the reality. Must watched movie. Highly recommended.

For this kind of movie it's totally involving from beginning to end. Song Kang Ho shows a huge range from down and out to successful attorney to human rights lawyer full of indignation. Powerful performance without overacting. The torture is quite heartbreaking for the needlessness of inflicting this on their own citizens in a so called democracy not that long ago.