In A Hard Day Homicide Detective Go Geon-soo is under investigation for corruption by internal affairs, he is late for his mother’s funeral, he attacks police who stop him for a DUI check, and he hides the victim of his hit and run in his mother’s coffin. And he is the hero. Perhaps the biggest achievement of A Hard Day is that the audience feel compelled to root for an anti-hero who’s behaviour would make him the villain of most western action films, as he becomes more and more desperate to save his career and his life - and entertains us along the way.
First of all, the film looks great. There are some inspired shots in there, including a chase sequence shot largely from birds-eye view. There is definitely a film-noire influence, with some moody night-time shots, however it is certainly not a gloomy affair, willing to bring the action out into the light of the day. Lets talk about action, because there is a lot of it. This is not the heavy-footed, plodding brutal action of films like Taken, but rather a fleet-footed mixture of parkour and martial arts. Of course this is nothing new, parkour has been in vogue since Bond and Bourne brought it into the limelight, but A Hard Day brings such authenticity and flow to the action set pieces. The fight sequences all feel vital, with combatants grasping for any weapon within their reach to gain the upper hand and stay alive. This blend of Jackie Chan style resourcefulness and Bourne style brute force is a winning combination that keeps the action fresh.
The plot itself is well paced and well thought out. What begins as a coverup and blackmail story, takes a few unexpected twists, and our anti-hero is forced to make desperate choices. Supporting characters all feel real, as though there is backstory that could be explored with more time on screen. Unfortunately, some of the plot threads could have been pulled at a little more, the police corruption makes for some compelling drama, however it is never truly resolved. Likewise we are constantly reminded that Go is a bad son, but never given any real substance to this (besides the obvious grave incident). Ultimately the subplots take a backseat to the desperate conspiracy that drives Go to push his limits, and while this makes for gripping action, it does not fulfil the potential of the story.
I saw A Hard Day at a busy screening at the Leeds International Film Festival, the cineliterate audience seemed to thoroughly enjoy their evening, and there were more than a few laughs at moments in the film. It is indeed an enjoyable experience, however I did find myself wondering what tone the director was aiming for. There were laugh-out-loud moments of black comedy (the hiding of the body a particular highlight), other moments of satire, social commentary, straight up action, and a couple of plot developments that stretch credulity and force the viewer to make the choice - do I go along with this? As I listened to audience members discuss the film, it seemed as though everyone had found something they enjoyed, even if there were parts they were less keen on, so it is commendable that director Seong-hoon Kim managed to craft a film with so many components and still create a satisfying experience.
A Hard Day is an imaginative and entertaining action thriller, the cast all play their roles with gusto, with special mention going to Cho Jin-Woong, who plays the villain with equal menace and madness . The film moves at a brisk pace, keeping audiences gripped and delighted with Go’s predicament. The action set pieces are a joy to watch, both light-footed and bruising in equal measure. It will probably earn an unnecessary english language remake in the not-to-distant future, but do yourself a favour and see the original, you won’t regret it.
WHO: Cho Jin-Woong chewing the scenery.
WHAT: The coffin sequence, nail-biting and hilarious.
WHY: To take a refreshing break from sequels and franchises.
WHEN: Before hollywood make their watered down version!
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