[Review] 'Concrete Utopia' Lee Byung-hun Grabs Collar and Dances for 130 Minutes

Movie Review: 'Concrete Utopia'

An Apartment Block in Seoul Surviving a Great Earthquake
A Hellish World... Strangers Become Fear Itself

A peaceful city, where people live their daily lives everywhere. Peace is shattered in an instant. Seoul becomes a ruin after an unprecedented earthquake. The ground cracks, pillars of fire rise, and loud explosions are heard everywhere. The world has collapsed. The city, having lost its light, is filled with thick dust. Among the ashes, a building stands tall. Everything has fallen, but only Hwanggung Apartment Building 103 remains intact.

'Concrete Utopia' stills [Photo by Lotte Entertainment]

A fire breaks out on the first floor, and Yeongtak (played by Lee Byung-hun), who jumps into the flames, becomes the residents' representative. Unaware of how he became the representative, Yeongtak feels unfamiliar with the responsibility, but amid the residents' expectations and encouragement, a sense of duty rises within him to protect the apartment, his home, at all costs. His once humane gaze gradually darkens in the face of power.

The apartment residents unite under Yeongtak's leadership to survive. Survivors from outside flock to the comfortable Hwanggung Apartment, and the residents are engulfed in fear. They form a human barricade to prevent outsiders from entering.

A new society is formed. The apartment residents create internal rules and establish another society. They organize groups to procure food from outside and distribute it according to contribution. There are no exceptions. They line up to receive water and food, striving to get more.

The outside world is hell. The apartment residents desperately block outsiders and eventually begin to root out residents who have secretly infiltrated. They believe this is how to protect the apartment's peace and care for their families' safety. Some residents watching this feel human guilt and compassion as they see fellow survivors driven to the brink of death.

'Concrete Utopia,' opening on the 9th of this month, is a disaster drama depicting the story of survivors gathering in the only remaining Hwanggung Apartment in Seoul, which has become a ruin after a massive earthquake. It is a film adaptation of the second part, 'Cheerful Neighbors,' of Kim Soong-nyung's webtoon 'Cheerful Outcast,' serialized in 2014. Director Um Tae-hwa, who helmed 'Ingtoogi' (2013) and 'Hidden Time' (2016), takes the helm.

Lee Byung-hun plays Yeongtak, the apartment residents' representative. He completes Yeongtak, who is both humane and charismatic, nonchalant yet sharp, with his own unique color.

Yeongtak becomes the representative by instinctively acting without any purpose and is revered, gradually revealing his rising power and desire. Lee Byung-hun expresses Yeongtak's changing emotions with astonishing acting. Director Um Tae-hwa's direction is also excellent, conveying Yeongtak's altered feelings and desires just by a scene where he looks up at the apartment.

The scene where Lee Byung-hun sings Yoon Soo-il's 'Apartment' (1998) is expected to be talked about for a long time. The close-up shot filling his face, then gradually pulling away, evokes admiration. The actor's performance and the director's direction create a powerful scene with perfect harmony. This single scene gives plausibility to all of Yeongtak's narrative. Lee Byung-hun breathes life into the role with tremendous pathos.

Lee Byung-hun is free and clever in the black comedy genre, performing like a sharp dance with his acting. Like a fish in water, he swims freely but knows exactly when to stop. His eyes, which change sharply in an instant, add tension to the enigmatic Yeongtak. He expresses emotions even through subtle wrinkles on his face, trembling under his eyes, and unnatural muscles around his mouth.

'Concrete Utopia' stills
[Photo by Lotte Entertainment]

The film's appeal as a disaster genre is not very strong. It is questionable how well it will resonate with audiences accustomed to well-made overseas content, including many spin-offs like the American drama 'The Walking Dead.' Scenes where people become disasters to each other, deceiving and struggling to survive, do not break away from existing disaster genre clich?s. Instead, it seems to try to differentiate itself through a Korean-style disaster situation and dystopia.

Park Bo-young is somewhat disappointing. The actor, not the role, suddenly stands out. While there may be limitations due to her image, the actor's unique color clashes with the role, making her somewhat conspicuous. There are scenes that make one wonder how it would have been if another actor had played the part. These are very important scenes.

Lee Byung-hun fills these shortcomings completely. He brings life to the somewhat dark and heavy dystopian worldview. With his vibrant acting, he grips the audience tightly and runs with them. Kim Sun-young and Kim Do-yoon also deliver strong performances, breathing life into their characters and fulfilling their roles. Especially the scenes where Kim Sun-young and Lee Byung-hun meet are a highlight.

Lee Byung-hun recently expressed regret in a lecture about declining roles in Bong Joon-ho's 'Parasite' and Park Chan-wook's 'Decision to Leave.' And then he worked with director Um Tae-hwa on 'Concrete Utopia.' After watching the film, his remarks take on a different meaning. Watching the film, one finally realizes how wonderful this actor's choice was. He is no less than the top ten Hollywood actors. Running time 130 minutes. Rated 15 and over. Opens August 9.