By [For the month of July, we will be covering the New York Asian Film Festival and the (also New York-based) Japan Cuts Film Festival, which together form one of the largest showcases of Asian cinema in the world. For our NYAFF coverage, head over here. For Japan Cuts, here.]
As I already mentioned, I was lucky enough to interview Korean superstar/sweetheart Choi Min-sik while he was feeding his nicotine addiction while he was in New York promoting his new movie. I knew from the internet that his next project was called Brave New World, but I wondered if there was any new information that could be gleaned from him. And there was, kind of. After being asked what the film was about, he said:
I’m a police officer this time (laughs), but it’s an ongoing project, and I can’t talk about it that precisely. But I’ll give you a hint: it’s similar to The Departed by Martin Scorsese.
I think it’s interesting that he used the example of The Departed rather than Infernal Affairs (which, by the way, is screening along with its sequel this Friday at Lincoln Center), but it’s probably because I’m white, and he assumed that I wouldn’t know what Infernal Affairs was. I don’t know if I should be offended by that or not. I have yet to actually see Infernal Affairs, however, so I guess he wasn’t wrong.
Regardless, a Korean version of The Departed/Infernal Affairs sounds absolutely brilliant to me, especially with Choi Min-sik involved. I’m curious exactly what his role in the whole thing is, but hopefully it’s all of them. That would be so cool.