The film follows an unproductive and incompetent bank clerk (played by Song Kang-ho) who escapes his demanding, alpha-male boss by entering the pro-wrestling ring and fighting under a pseudonym, "The Foul King."
[18][19][20] Coming Out was also included as a special feature on the UK DVD release of The Quiet Family, and a review at DVDActive praised it as "delicate, cerebral and contemporary cinema at its most profound.
Kim wrote and directed A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), an adaptation of a Joseon Dynasty era folktale called Janghwa Hongryeon jeon.
[5][23] A Tale of Two Sisters, released in-between the aforementioned hits of 2003, was the third highest-grossing film after Memories of Murder, and only about 150,000 tickets short of Oldboy's initial run of 3,260,000 admissions.
[27][28] In 2005, Kim wrote and directed A Bittersweet Life (2005), his first collaboration with actor Lee Byung-hun (whom he would later work with in The Good, the Bad, the Weird and I Saw the Devil (2010).
[43] According to di Bonaventura, Kim was brought on board because of his ability to elevate simple concepts and make them feel more rich in his previous works.
Kim himself expressed interest in the film's storyline of protecting something valuable, no matter how small, and the idea of using old-fashioned methods to take down advanced technology.
According to di Bonaventura, the film had a Western movie vibe, featuring a small town besieged by a villainous figure similar to a corrupt cattle baron, with a seasoned veteran attempting to thwart his plans.
[45] The actor stated that he found the project to be "quite different" from his previous roles, despite being action-packed, as he had to portray a character who was sensitive to his team and shared humorous moments similar to True Lies.
[47] Initially, Kim was hesitant to cast such a prominent star in the film, but after discussing the character of Ray Owens with Schwarzenegger, they both agreed on portraying him as an everyman rather than having a "Terminator-like feel.
Production designer Franco-Giacomo Carbone filled six vacant lots with façades that incorporated a mixture of styles to heighten the appearance of a frontier city with much history.
[7][58] On August 3, 2015, it was announced that Warner Bros. would finance and distribute its first ever Korean-language 1930s set drama Secret Agent, and the $8.62 million budgeted film would also be produced by Grimm Pictures.
[79] Lee Sun-kyun stars in the lead role as Sewon Koh, a brain scientist who tries to solve the mysterious death of his family by utilizing advanced technology to access the memories of his deceased wife.
The movie, which features an ensemble cast that includes Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se, Jeon Yeo-been and Krystal Jung, was written by Shin Yeon-shick.
[87][88] On December 7, 2022, at the 'Yong Film Night' event, it was announced that Kim will co-direct an OTT series with the tentative title Mangnaein, alongside young director Park Bo-ram.
[89][90] In September 2023, Kim participated in the 10th Prada Mode exhibition titled 'Multiple and Parallel' alongside director Yeon Sang-ho and Jeong Da-hee.
He has written and directed films that span a wide range of genres, including horror, comedy, sci-fi, noir, western, and spy thrillers.
Rather than relying on a formulaic approach, Kim's filmmaking involves exploring a diverse array of eras, styles, and genres with impressive proficiency.
[93] Kim's directing techniques are characterized by smooth camerawork and his use of classic colors, lighting effects, and rich architectural set design, which are prominent features of his visual storytelling.
His ability to choreograph complex fight scenes and chases, as well as his use of practical effects and stunts, has earned him a reputation as one of the most skilled action directors in the industry.
[94][95][96] Additionally, Kim is renowned for his affinity for graphic violence, which makes even his famous compatriots Bong Joon-ho and Park Chan-wook pale in comparison.
"[99][100] Kim has mentioned on multiple occasions that he was inspired and influenced by the works of French auteur Jean-Pierre Melville, whose films he watched as a child.
Secondly, he draws inspiration from Melville's indirect and oblique narrative style, attempting to replicate the weight of atmosphere, the meaningful presence and absence of light, and the body language of actors to convey meaning without relying on dialogue.
The resulting dark tones were no longer flat black, but appeared hazy or grey, creating a creepy atmosphere that set the film apart from Kim's earlier works.
However, he soon realized that his film differed significantly from these movies, as they depicted conflicts between Western cultures and powers during the first and second World Wars.
In contrast, The Age of Shadows centers on the sacrifices and struggles of individuals fighting for their own nation, imbuing it with a sense of desperate emotion that intensifies as the narrative progresses.
For instance, he worked extensively with cinematographer Lee Mo-gae particularly on A Tale of Two Sisters (2003), The Good, the Bad, the Weird (2008), I Saw the Devil (2010), and Illang: The Wolf Brigade.
[111] Kim has also developed a productive partnership with music director Mowg, beginning with their first collaboration on the omnibus film Doomsday Book (started in 2006, released in 2012).
In addition to Song, other actors who have appeared in at least two of his films are Choi Min-sik, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, Kim Kap-soo and Im Soo-jung.
According to Park Ki-tae, the general manager of VANK, on August 12, 2008, Kim made the donation as a way to show his appreciation for the support he received for The Good, the Bad, the Weird.