Veteran (2015)

“We may not have money, but we’ve got pride.” A single line in the film sums up in one breath what kind of movie Veteran is. This entertainment film, which director Ryoo Seung-wan made with full intent, pushes the story of a detective who never backs down before the arrogance of the privileged at an unrelenting pace. You can watch it with your mind emptied, and yet it leaves you strangely satisfied.

What it’s about — A detective who pursues a third-generation chaebol heir to the end

Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min), a detective in the metropolitan investigation unit, is a man of action who stops at nothing. One day he learns of a case in which a freight worker he was acquainted with was found unconscious after protesting a wage dispute at a company run by the third-generation chaebol heir Jo Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in). On the surface it is processed as a simple suicide attempt, but Seo Do-cheol senses Jo Tae-oh’s violence and cover-up hidden behind it. Before Jo Tae-oh, who mocks the investigation with enormous money and power, Seo Do-cheol breaks through his organization’s restraint and pressure to pursue him to the end. The film races without hesitation toward the head-on collision of these two figures.

Direction — Weighty impact and action shown with clarity

Ryoo Seung-wan is one of the foremost craftsmen when it comes to action direction. Veteran’s action concentrates on the weighty impact of body striking body rather than flaunting flashy technique. From the early car chase at the docks to the late brawl in the middle of the city, every scene unfolds with a clear purpose and rhythm. His sense for using space in particular is excellent, with narrow alleys and crowded streets each creating tension of a different texture.

Another strength of the direction is the blend of speed and humor. Even while handling material that could turn heavy, the director slips in laughter at the right moments so the audience never tires. The bickering banter among the detectives and the sly one-liners of the supporting cast serve as commas that release the tension. Thanks to this sense of balance, the film never sags once across two hours.

The rhythm of the music and editing props up the thrill of the action as well. During the chases and fights the camera precisely follows the characters’ movements, so the audience never loses track for an instant of who is doing what and where. This film does not commit the trap action films so often fall into, where the frame shakes wildly and you cannot tell what is happening. Ryoo Seung-wan knows well that action shown with clarity is, in the end, the most powerful.

Performance — A boiling Hwang Jung-min, an unpleasantly magnetic Yoo Ah-in

Hwang Jung-min breathes a boiling vitality into the character of Seo Do-cheol. He perfectly inhabits a detective who is rough and direct yet unmistakably righteous, with his signature slyness and explosiveness. That the audience naturally sympathizes with his anger is entirely the actor’s doing. Opposite him, Yoo Ah-in leaves a strong impression playing Jo Tae-oh. His acting, blithely moving between a spoiled-child innocence and cruel violence, makes this villain a presence of unpleasant magnetism you cannot simply hate. The rapport of the investigation team including Yoo Hae-jin, and the brief but blazing turn by Jang Yoon-ju, add to the film’s energy.

What the film says — A satisfying anger at the arrogance of the privileged

The emotion Veteran touches is clear: the public’s accumulated anger at those who believe money can cover up anything. The film develops this emotion not into refined social criticism but releases it as the satisfying catharsis of crime and punishment. If you expect deep insight it may feel somewhat simple, but in showing, on screen at least, the kind of gratifying ending rarely seen in reality, it takes precise aim at the audience’s heart.

Ratings & reception

By major film databases the rating is 7.0 out of 10. The critical freshness index drew a fairly high response at 89 percent. Drawing over thirteen million viewers, it left its mark on the history of Korean box-office success and is frequently cited as a model of a well-made commercial entertainment film.

Verdict

Veteran is a film that does not overreach and concentrates on what it does well. Refreshing action, living characters, and a catharsis that lands precisely, it fills in without omission every element an entertainment film should have. It is a work I want to score on craftsmanship over the depth of its message, and so ★4.0 suits it.

Recommended for

• Viewers who want to enjoy lean Korean-style cop action
• Those who want to see the spark-flying acting duel between Hwang Jung-min and Yoo Ah-in
• Anyone who wants a gratifying ending to blow away the frustrations of reality