So many movies, so little time. Every month I’ll suggest the five movies you must watch. Can you catch them all?
Part-Time Spy (6 April)
35-year-old Jang Young-sil (Kang Ye-won 姜艺媛) has never held a full-time job her entire life, despite having countless qualifications. After being fired from her contract job at the National Security Agency, she accidentally discovers her ex-boss’s (Jo Jae-yun 赵在允) secret… The agency lost half a million dollars to a voice phishing scam because of him! Desperate for a job, Young-sil offers to go undercover at the phishing centre, and strikes a deal with her ex-boss. If she successfully retrieves the money without alerting the authorities, she will be given a permanent position at the agency. While undercover at the phishing centre, she meets foul-mouthed cop Na Jung-an (Han Chae-a 韩彩雅) from the Intellectual Crimes Unit, who was assigned to infiltrate the organisation to uncover the identity of the mastermind behind its operations. The two reluctantly join forces, but each with different agendas. What will be the final outcome of their undercover mission?
I know I don’t usually recommend Korean comedies, but this one is actually pretty watchable. True, there are some awkward moments (quite a lot, come to think of it) here and there, but structurally, it’s a pretty good film that hits all the necessary emotional beats. It might not be the most original, but it’s more than decent. There’s also the fact that the protagonist is intentionally made as ugly as possible, so you empathise with her because of her performance, instead of plastic surgery good looks.
Pop Aye (13 April)
On a chance encounter, a disenchanted architect bumps into his long-lost elephant on the streets of Bangkok. Excited, he takes his elephant on a redemptive journey across Thailand, in search of the farm where they grew up together.
Again, I don’t usually recommend art or independent films because I don’t think that they’re for everyone (I mean, I’m usually in cinemas for entertainment, so I presume that’s the same for everyone else) (not that kind of entertainment). But “Pop Aye” has received such rave reviews and it’s a genuinely interesting premise that I can’t help but be intrigued by the story. It feels like a film that’s made from the heart, rather than to prove a point.
Fast & Furious 8 (April 13)
Now that Dom and Letty are on their honeymoon and Brian and Mia have retired from the game- and the rest of the crew has been exonerated- the globetrotting team has found a semblance of a normal life. But when a mysterious woman (Charlize Theron) seduces Dom into the world of crime he can’t seem to escape and a betrayal of those closest to him, they will face trials that will test them as never before.
I think this is one of the rare few “Fast & Furious” film not to have a fancy or truncated title. Anyway, it’s also got a tinge of sadness to it since the synopsis itself addresses why Brian (Paul Walker) is not in this film. What I’m really excited about is to see what madcap stunt they’ll pull off this time. Will they drive through the sky? Will they flip their car multiple times? How fast and how furious will they be this time?
Guardians of the Galaxy 2 (27 April)
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.
Oddly, I don’t enjoy “Guardians of the Galaxy” as much as many people think I do because I don’t listen to music and I really don’t enjoy the retro soundtracks used, and neither do I understand the significance of them. But I’m looking forward to the new one because Ego (Kurt Russell) the Living Planet! And also maybe because Thanos will appear. What galaxy spanning adventure will our heroes see? Can Groot (Vin Diesel) get any cuter? Who will Sylvester Stallone play?
Sex Doll (27 Apr)
My name is Virginie. I’m a young, independent woman. My job keeps me busy. I’m a hooker. There’s no other way to say it: a high-class hooker. From where I stand, it’s the best thing that could have happened to me. I know how to get respect. I make a great living. But now I’ve met him. He’s not even likeable, not even rich. The kind of guy with a mission. The kind of guy who’d die for an idea. The kind of guy who’s already dead. A disaster waiting to happen… He’s looking for trouble, and he’s going to find it. And find me.
Yeah I’m including this only because of the title. It also sounds interesting and really, it’s a film full of unknown actors. The performances will be more raw, but they will also be more authentic. The lack of polish (I’m assuming, not saying that it will definitely be unpolished) is actually appealing in this context.
What films are you looking forward to in April?
Marcus Goh is a Singapore television scriptwriter, having written for Police & Thief, Incredible Tales, Crimewatch, and Point of Entry. He’s also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find him on social media as Optimarcus and on his site.
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