FRIEND is nothing you haven't seen before. It's a South Korean Jopok movie, their version of the familiar American "rise and fall" gangster films. Having seen enough films from this part of the world, all I had to do was sit there with a checklist and checked off all the cliches that played out onscreen. FRIEND was a big hit at home, but it's certainly nothing special. The only thing that makes the movie stand out are the terrific performances by all involved, and the cinematography is just gorgeous. But for something original, go somewhere else. Then again, if you've never seen a Jopok movie before, FRIEND might seem really original to you.
7 out of 10
(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie and reviews of other foreign films)
7 out of 10
(go to www.nixflix.com for a more detailed review of this movie and reviews of other foreign films)