Golden Slumber
Golden Slumber is a 2018 South Korean action thriller film[2] directed by Noh Dong-seok, starring Gang Dong-won, Kim Eui-sung, Kim Sung-kyun, Kim Dae-myung, Han Hyo-joo and Yoon Kye-sang. It is based on the 2007 Japanese novel of the same name written by Kōtarō Isaka,[3][4] previously filmed by Yoshihiro Nakamura in 2010. The film revolves around a deliveryman who has to run for his life after he is held responsible for an explosion causing the death of a presidential candidate.
Golden Slumber | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Hangul | 골든 슬럼버 |
Revised Romanization | Goldeun Seulleombeo |
Directed by | Noh Dong-seok |
Produced by | Song Dae-chan |
Screenplay by | Lee Hae-jun Noh Dong-seok Cho Ui-seok |
Based on | Golden Slumber by Kōtarō Isaka |
Starring | Gang Dong-won Kim Eui-sung Kim Sung-kyun Kim Dae-myung Han Hyo-joo Yoon Kye-sang |
Music by | Kim Tae-seong |
Cinematography | Kim Jung-wook Kim Tae-sung |
Edited by | Shin Min-kyung |
Production company | Zip Cinema |
Distributed by | CJ Entertainment |
Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
Country | South Korea |
Language | Korean |
Budget | US$12.75 million |
Box office | US$10.7 million[1] |
The film was released in South Korean theaters on 14 February 2018 and in US theaters on a limited basis, on 16 February 2018.
Plot
A presidential candidate is assassinated as part of a conspiracy, and a deliveryman has to flee for his life when he is framed and the evidence against him begins to accumulate.
Cast
- Gang Dong-won as Kim Gun-woo
- A reliable and friendly package delivery worker who gains unexpected fame when he saves a pop star. However, his life changes when he is falsely accused of a terrorist attack that kills a presidential candidate.[5]
- Kim Eui-sung as Mr. Min
- A mysterious man who helps Gun-woo after he is accused of being an assassin.[6]
- Kim Sung-kyun as Geum-chul
- A computer repair man
- Kim Dae-myung as Dong-gyu
- A band-mate and a close friend of Gun-woo from college, who is now a divorce lawyer.[7]
- Han Hyo-joo as Sun-young
- A radio reporter who went to college with Gun-woo and also his first love.
- Yoon Kye-sang as Moo-yeol (special appearance)[8]
- Gun-woo’s friend who is tasked with capturing him.
- Lee Hang-na as Team leader Do
- Park Hoon as Team leader Sun
- Kim Jae-young as Park Goon
- Jo Young-jin as Yoo Young-gook
- Jung Jae-sung as Jo Se-hyun
- Jeong Hyeong-seok as Detective Cha
- Baek Bong-ki as Courier competition man
- Lee Sang-hee as Geum Cheol-cheo
- Yeom Hye-ran as Store middle-aged woman
- Yoo Jae-myung as Hwang Jin-ho
- Lee Jun-hyeok as Plastic surgeon (cameo)
- Jung So-min as Yoo-mi (cameo)
- Choi Woo-shik as Joo-ho (cameo)
- Kim Yoo-jung as Soo-ah (special appearance)
- Namgoong Yeon as Radio DJ's voice (special appearance)
Release
On January 17, 2018 a press conference was held at Apgujeong CGV. The main cast together with the director were present at the event.[9]
The main poster for the movie was revealed on January 19, 2018.[10] It was followed by the main trailer being unveiled on February 1, 2018.[11]
Golden Slumber was released on February 14, 2018 in South Korea.[12]
The film was released internationally in the U.S, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.[13][14][15]
Reception
Box office
In the first weekend of its release, Golden Slumber ranked third at the South Korean box office and sold 628,197 tickets.[16] The film earned US$7.71 million during the first five days of its release.[17] At the end of the second weekend, the movie suffered a 75% drop, grossing US$1.24 million by selling 158,217 tickets. After 12 days since its release, the film earned a total of US$10.23 million, attracting an audience of 1.3 million.[18][19]
Critical response
Los Angeles Times noted, "The movie ultimately paints mass media cynicism as its real villain, noting how a sensationalist press and a gullible public allow amoral creeps to spread dangerous lies."[20][21]
Film Journal International recognised the film as "A fast-paced, Jason Bourne-like Korean thriller, given depth by its theme of friendship".[22]
National Post response for the film was "A confused but lively hour-and-three-quarters".[23]
Yonhap News Agency reviewed the movie to have "all the right ingredients to become a box office hit" however, "it appears to have lost balance when it tried to put in as many ingredients as possible."[24]
References
- "Golden Slumber (2018)". koreanfilm.or.kr.
- "US Trailer for Korean Action 'Golden Slumber'".
- "강동원X한효주 '골든슬럼버' 출연 확정…日소설 원작 (공식)". chosun.com.
- "GANG Dong-won & HAN Hyo-joo Headline Thriller GOLDEN SLUMBER". www.koreanfilm.or.kr.
- Yoon Min-sik (January 21, 2018). "'Golden Slumber' portrays an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary events". The Korea Herald.
- Kim Kyoung-joo (January 16, 2017). "[공식입장]'골든슬럼버' 측 "윤계상 합류..올 초 크랭크인"". OSEN (in Korean).
- Kim Kyoung-joo (December 22, 2016). "강동원·한효주·김성균·김대명, '골든슬럼버' 꿈의 라인업 [공식입장]". OSEN (in Korean).
- "YOON Kye-sang Readies for GOLDEN SLUMBER". www.koreanfilm.or.kr.
- "대선후보 암살범 된 강동원, <골든슬럼버> 이렇게 나왔다". Oh My Star (in Korean). January 17, 2018.
- Park Jung Sun (January 19, 2018). "골든슬럼버' 포스터 공개, 암살범으로 지목된 강동원'". JTBC News (in Korean).
- "Trailer for 'Golden Slumber' unveiled". Yonhap New Agency. February 1, 2018.
- Jo Yoon Sun (January 18, 2018). ""선한 사람들"…장예원 아나X'골든슬럼버' 4인 '훈훈 인증샷'". Sports Chosun (in Korean).
- Liz Shackleton (February 15, 2018). "Korea's CJ strikes deals for Noh Dong-seok's 'Golden Slumber' (exclusive)". Screen Daily.
- "Spackman Entertainment Group's GOLDEN SLUMBER Set To Release In Singapore On 8 March 2018". Asia One. February 14, 2018.
- Rachel Mui (February 20, 2018). "Spackman's Korean thriller film 'Golden Slumber' sold to international markets". The Business Times.
- Shim Sun-ah (February 19, 2018). "'Black Panther' smashes S. Korean box office". Yonhap News Agency.
- Sonia Kil (February 19, 2018). "'Korea Box Office: 'Black Panther' Rules Holiday Weekend". Variety.com.
- Shim Sun-ah (February 26, 2018). "Black Panther' continues reign at S. Korean box office". Yonhap News Agency.
- Sonia Kil (February 26, 2018). "Korea Box Office: 'Black Panther' Remains on Top, Local Films Stay Weak". Variety.
- Noel Murray (February 25, 2018). "Korean wrong-man thriller 'Golden Slumber' has the right stuff". Los Angeles Times.
- Murray, Noel. "Korean wrong-man thriller 'Golden Slumber' has the right stuff". latimes.com.
- "Film Review: Golden Slumber". Film Journal International. February 16, 2018.
- Chris Knight (February 23, 2018). "Golden Slumber may put you to sleep". National Post.
- Shim Sun-ah (February 8, 2018). "(Movie Review) 'Golden Slumber' loses its way between drama and thriller". Yonhap News Agency.