‘Man Standing Next’ Takes Charge on Digital, Disc May 26
THE MAN STANDING NEXT
On Digital and DVD & Blu-ray May 26
Film Synopsis:
In the 1970’s, South Korea is under the absolute control of President Park Chung-hee (Lee Sung-min) who controls the KCIA, who controls the KCIA, the country’s spy and intelligence service. The director of KCIA, Kim Gyu-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun), is the seemingly most prospective second-in-command. In the midst of the reign of fear, a former KCIA director, Park Yong-gak (Kwak Do-won) who knows all about the government’s obscure operations, exiles to the U.S where the investigation of ‘Koreagate’ is underway. As the tension escalates, the stifling political maneuvering leads up to Park’s assassination in 1979.
THE MAN STANDING NEXT
Written by WOO MIN-HO
Directed by WOO MIN-HO & LEE JI-MIN
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean/English
Genre: Thriller
Distributor: MPI Media Group
Produced by Kim Won-kuk and Kang Sa-ra
Cast: Lee Byung-hun (I Saw the Devil, Red 2), Lee Sun-min (The Spy Gone North), Kwak Do-won (The Attorney, The Wailing), Lee Hee-jun (Mad Rush), Kim So-jin (The King, The Terror Live)
Run Time: 113
WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING…
“Man Standing Next a powerhouse Korean thriller”“As if it weren’t known already, The Man Standing Next is proof that there’s much more to South Korean cinema than Parasite.” – houstonchronicle.com“The Man Standing Next is an exceptional mainstream film that uses the true-story setting to present a captivating spy thriller whose atmosphere, acting and direction will satisfy all viewers looking for entertainment along with elements of historical context.”- hancinema.net“If you’re a history buff though, there’s even more reason to appreciate The Man Standing Next. Beyond offering a comprehensive retelling of events, the film is also an interesting datapoint for historiography around Park Chung-hee’s assassination.”- cinemaescapist.com“The Man Standing Next is a wonderfully made biopic of the story that rocked Korea in 1979, changing the political climate with Lee Byung-Hun showcasing an excellent performance that has to be seen by any fan of Korean cinema.”-worldfilmgeek.com“The film is a tense and dense thriller. Director WOO does an admirable job of keeping the developments clear and understandable. The cast is uniformly fine.” – asiancinefest.blogspot.com“The Man Standing Next should appeal to anyone who likes this kind of thriller. It’s one of the few recent movies that run near two hours and didn’t feel overlong to me. The setting, and for some, the unfamiliarity of the events, should also add some interest to the film.”- voicesfromthebalcony.com
