Today’s quick review: A Company Man. Ji Hyeong-do (So Ji-sub), a hitman working for a white-collar company, begins to question his job when he is ordered to kill Hun (Kim Dong-jun), his young protege. In the aftermath, Ji visits Hun’s mother Yu Mi-yeon (Lee Mi-yeon) and begins to fall in love. But to put his violent career behind him and make a fresh start, Ji must convince his controlling boss Kwon (Kwak Do-won) to let him leave in peace.
A Company Man is a Korean action movie about an assassin who wants to get out of the business. So Ji-sub stars as Ji, a quiet man who keeps his head down and kills with efficiency when required. Over the course of several morally taxing assignments, Ji becoms disgusted with his work, setting him on a collision course with his former colleagues. Crisp action and a contemplative tone help A Company Man carve out a niche for itself.
A Company Man has an introspective streak that serves it well. The movie takes its time getting to know Ji and the dilemma he faces. Ji has devoted his life to the company, and now he has nothing to show for it. His targets are much the same: men left empty and purposeless because they sacrificed everything for their dehumanizing work. The drama is simple but effective, and it adds a layer of thematic depth to an otherwise conventional plot.
A Company Man takes a focused approach to its action. The action scenes are spread out with long stretches of character work in between them, but they are well worth the wait. Each fight is executed with power and precision. Sharp choreography shows off the skills of Ji and his fellow assassins, while the kill-or-be-killed nature of the fights keeps the stakes high. Fans of the serious side of the action genre will like what they see.
The end result is a tightly scoped action movie that delivers everything it promises. A Company Man will to appeal to everyone, thanks to its moral ambiguity, slow pacing, and heavy tone. But its melancholy story, strong stunt work, and all-around clean execution make it well worth a watch for the right viewer.
For another movie about a hitman questioning his line of work, try Bangkok Dangerous. For a more brutal, stylized action movie about the complications of leaving the assassination business, try Polar or John Wick. For an even more introspective movie in the same vein, try The Professional, La Femme Nikita, or Drive. For a black comedy with a similarly corporate setup for assassination, try Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back).
[6.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2371486/). I give it a 7.0 for sharp action and solid character work.