A Man of Reason ~ Redemption in the Crossfire

“A Man of Reason” (2022/2023) is a Korean action thriller that is perfect for movie night. The movie is streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi TV, and The Roku Channel.

 

• Memorable Quote:  “I regretted all my decisions in life.”

SUMMARY: An ex-gangster/former mob enforcer discovers he has a daughter after serving ten years in prison. He attempts to rebuild a peaceful life, but his past resurfaces violently. His former boss sends assassins after him, forcing him back into the underworld. Now he must protect his family.

♦ I Have a Daughter?

“A Man of Reason” (“Bohoja”) follows Soo-Hyeok, a former mob enforcer who is released from prison after serving ten years for his crime boss. Hoping to leave his criminal past behind, he reunites with Min-Seo, the woman he loved before his imprisonment, and learns he has a young daughter, In-Bi, whom he has never met. Determined to become a father and live an ordinary life, Soo-Hyeok cuts ties with the syndicate that once defined him.

His decision sparks conflict with Eung-Kook, the gang leader who considers Soo-Hyeok’s departure a betrayal. To keep him under control, Eung-Kook assigns his ambitious second-in-command, Sung-Joon, to monitor him. Motivated by jealousy and resentment, Sung-Joon takes matters further by hiring two ruthless assassins, Woo-Jin and Jin-A, to eliminate Soo-Hyeok.

As the assassins close in, Soo-Hyeok is forced to confront the life he is trying to escape. Torn between his violent past and his desire to protect his family, he fights for a second chance at happiness.

Soo-Hyeok – Why Won’t They Let Me Leave?

After spending ten years in prison, he discovers that he has a daughter he never knew existed. Determined to abandon his criminal life and become a better man, he seeks an ordinary future. His desire for peace drives the plot, but his former associates refuse to let him walk away. A weary but resilient man carrying years of regret. He is dangerous when provoked, yet motivated more by love and responsibility than violence. Soo-Hyeok wants redemption and a normal family life.

We Can’t Let Him Leave

Eung-Kook: The crime boss who once relied on Soo-Hyeok. After waiting years for his loyal subordinate to return from prison, he feels betrayed when Soo-Hyeok decides to leave the organization. Eung-Kook demands loyalty to the criminal past.

Sung-Joon: Eung-Kook’s trusted lieutenant and the gang’s second-in-command. He harbors deep resentment and insecurity toward Soo-Hyeok, whose reputation overshadows him. Driven by jealousy, he plays a major role in escalating the conflict and hiring assassins to remove Soo-Hyeok.

• Woo-Jin: A ruthless contract killer brought into the conflict, hired to eliminate Soo-Hyeok.
• Jin-A: Partners with Woo-Jin as an assassin. While she may appear younger and less intimidating than the veteran criminals around her, she is a highly capable and dangerous operative. Together, she and Woo-Jin relentlessly pursue Soo-Hyeok.

Mother and Daughter

Min-Seo is Soo-Hyeok’s girlfriend and one of the few people connected to the life he wants to build outside the criminal world. Her presence represents the normality, love, and family life he desperately seeks.

In-Bi – Simply put – she’s daddy’s little girl. Soo-Heok’s entire world revolves around mother and child.

BOTTOM LINE? Can a man who has lived by violence truly earn a second chance?

Main Characters:

• Soo-Hyeok (played by Jung Woo-Sung, “Made in Korea 2”, “Athena: Goddess of War”, “Asura: City of Madness”, “Made in Korea”, “The Divine Move”, “12.12: The Day”, “Steel Rain 1 and 2”, “Cold Eyes”, “Beasts Clawing At Straws”, “The Good, the Bad, the Weird”)
• Woo-Jin (played by Kim Nam-Gil, “Trigger”, “Through the Darkness”, “Live Up To Your Name”, “Song of the Bandits”, “Emergency Declaration”, “The Fiery Priest 1 and 2”, “Karma“, “Island 1 and 2”, “The Great Queen Seondeok”, “Pandora”, “The Sound of a Flower”, “Pirates: Bandits Going to the Sea“, “One Day”)
• Sung-Joon (played by Kim Joon-Han, “One Spring Night”, “Mad Concrete Dreams”, “Mission: Cross”, “Good Partner”, “Newtopia”, “Time”, “Anna”)
• Eung-Kook (played by Park Sung-Woong*)
• Jin-A (played by Park Yoo-Na, “Spirit Fingers”, “A Year-End Medley”, “Spring Fever”, “Crushology 101”, “All That We Loved”)
• Min-Seo (played by Lee Elijah, “Decoy 1 and 2”, The Last Empress, “Children of a Lesser God“, “Ms Hammurabi”, “Chief of Staff 1 and 2”)
• In-Bi (played by Ryu Jian)

*K-dramas starring Park Sung-Woong:

• The Killing Vote
• Bloodhounds
• Unlock My Boss
• Rugal
• The Wild
• Hundred Million Stars From the Sky
• Man to Man
• Remember: War of Son
• Cabbage Your Life
• OK! Madam
• The Dude In Me
• Love, Lies
• Monstrum
• The Fatal Encounter
• The Swindlers
• A Head Coach’s Turnover

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Tubi TV, and The Roku Channel

Viewership and Rating:

• IMDb: 5.9 out of 10 stars
• MyDramaList: 7.4 out of 10 stars
• Letterboxd: 2.9 out of 5 stars
• Amazon customers: 4 out of 5 stars
• Geek Vibes Nation: 7 out of 10 stars

My personal rating matches Letterboxd.

“A Man of Reason” is a good pick for a weekend movie night. It’s loaded with top-notch Korean actors who never disappoint. You might find it odd that the “man of reason” is Soo-Hyeok (played by Jung Woo-Sung), yet viewers kept talking about Woo-Jin (played by Kim Nam-Gil). I’m a fan of both actors, so it was fun to have them onscreen together.

LINKS OF INTEREST:

A Man of Reason (South Korea, 2022) – Review. | AsianMovieWeb

Man of Reason, A (2023) Review. | Cityonfire.Com

Film Review: A Man of Reason (2022) by Jung Woo-Sung. | Asian Movie Pulse

‘A Man Of Reason’ Review – Jung Woo-Sung’s Stellar, Enthralling Debut Thriller. | Geek Vibes Nation

A Man of Reason Review: Superior Korean Thriller. | BFI

TRAILER/TEASER:

Action Society. “A Man of Reason – Official Trailer (2024) Jung Woo-Sung.” YouTube, 27 Jun. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYWcT9ImmBI.

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