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A Bittersweet Life

Play trailer Poster for A Bittersweet Life 2005 2h 0m Crime Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 12 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A gangster (Lee Byung-hun) starts a violent feud after he refuses to kill his boss's (Kim Yeong-cheol) cheating girlfriend.

Critics Reviews

View All (12) Critics Reviews
Anton Bitel Little White Lies scenes of Tarantino-esque mayhem, messy rebirth and ultra-violent destruction serve to dramatise Sun-woo’s conflicting inner desires as he shadow-boxes with himself as much as taking down everyone else. Apr 11, 2024 Full Review Empire Magazine Rated: 4/5 Apr 1, 2006 Full Review Panos Kotzathanasis HanCinema The film is filled with cliches of the category, starting with the script and continuing with the characters. However, Kim Jee-woon seems to realize the fact, and does not take the film so seriously, in a tactic that adds to the entertainment it offers Dec 16, 2018 Full Review Tim Brayton Antagony & Ecstasy The worst things about it are still awfully solid, and the best things are deep and probing far beyond what you'd ever naturally expect from a film of this model. Rated: 8/10 Mar 4, 2015 Full Review Adam Lippe Examiner.com It's all artifice. No matter how good the acting, how stylish the visuals, or efficient the screenplay, A Bittersweet Life never convinces us that it's not a movie. Dec 17, 2011 Full Review Don Willmott Filmcritic.com What's great about all this isn't just the gloriously choreographed violence (among the best I've ever seen) but also Lee Byeong-heon's bravura and surprisingly profound performance Rated: 4/5 Mar 10, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Darren D Another team up between director Kim Jee-woon & leading man Lee Byung-hun, makes "A Bittersweet Life" another impressive title from the two, a beautifully made & violent crime thriller. A breakdown of communication & duty from one loyal gangster leads to all trust & loyalty from his boss to be thrown out of the window. This one act is the domino effect for the story, leading to a chain reaction of violent encounters of rival gangs, arm deals & revenge that works towards the final confrontation of blood, bullets & a trail of bodies. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/23/24 Full Review Daniel M Good movie with a story that felt original and done well Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/13/23 Full Review JJJJJJ J Its hard to find much fault with this film. Maybe know watching it for the second time maybe I am seeing it with rose-tinted glasses but I really think this film is incredible. The story, music, shots, editing everything is exceptionally done. The most important thing though is the plot and story. This film is a great character study about a singular man, his thoughts, feels, life, struggle. Just truly incredible. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review sam s 10/10. Filmaço com uma excelente história e com grandes cenas de ação. A great movie with an excellent story and with great action scenes Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Liam D Packs more of a Punch than you think because Kim Jee-woon (The Quiet Family, Doomsday Book) draws you into this gruesome but touching Thriller Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/21/21 Full Review Audience Member The best Korean movie. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Read all reviews
A Bittersweet Life

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis A gangster (Lee Byung-hun) starts a violent feud after he refuses to kill his boss's (Kim Yeong-cheol) cheating girlfriend.
Director
Kim Jee-woon
Producer
Oh Jeong-wan
Screenwriter
Kim Jee-woon
Production Co
Bom Film Productions
Genre
Crime, Drama
Original Language
Korean
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 22, 2019
Runtime
2h 0m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital Surround EX