Today’s quick review: Cold Eyes. Ha Yoon-joo (Han Hyo-joo), the newest recruit to the surveillance team of the Special Crimes Unit, has her skills put to the test when a criminal named Shadow (Jung Woo-sung) orchestrates a perfect bank robbery in broad daylight. Working under the guidance of Chief Hwang (Sol Kyung-gu), the team’s brilliant but eccentric leader, Ha watches the streets for any sign of their only suspect.
Cold Eyes is a Korean crime drama about an elite surveillance team on the hunt for a criminal mastermind. Cold Eyes uses this premise to good effect. Hwang and Ha make for a sharp duo. Hwang’s years of experience and keen tactical mind let him coordinate the operation with skill, while Ha’s clear memory and flashes of insight make her an asset despite her inexperience. Their skills are matched by the careful planning and ruthlessness of Shadow.
Cold Eyes’s distinguishing feature is its dedication to the craft of surveillance. The movie has a knack for making stakeouts, undercover work, and monitoring security footage feel like a lifestyle. The meticulous work the characters put in comes across clearly, yet the audience never has to wait long for the next bit of excitement. The characters also have great chemistry together, bringing them to life without resorting to personal drama.
Cold Eyes is a rock-solid pick for anyone in the mood for a criminal investigation. The mechanics of the surveillance are interesting on their own, the cast is easy to like, and the twists and turns of the investigation keep the movie tense and engaging from start to finish. Cold Eyes has a clear vision in mind and executes it well. Give it a shot if you are interested in what it has to offer.
For another battle of wits between a brilliant criminal and the police, try Inside Man or Heat. For a more paranoid thriller about a criminal mastermind, try Accident. For a more minimalistic crime movie about the perils of surveillance, try Following.
[7.1 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2969656/). I give it a 7.0 for a tightly woven plot backed by tense action and a skilled cast.