The Man Standing Next

About the Movie The Man Standing Next

The Man Standing Next is a 2020 South Korean political thriller film directed by Woo Min-ho. Based on an original novel of the same title, the film stars Lee Byung-hun, Lee Sung-min, Kwak Do-won, and Lee Hee-joon as the high ranking officials of the Korean government and the Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) during the presidency of Park Chung-hee 40 days before his assassination in 1979.

Who Should Watch The Man Standing Next?

If you are interested in political thrillers or Korean cinema, then I highly recommend The Man Standing Next. It is a well-made and suspenseful film that offers a fascinating glimpse into a turbulent period in South Korean history.

Plot: The Man Standing Next

The film is based on the true story of the power struggles that took place in South Korea in the lead-up to the assassination of President Park Chung-hee.

The film follows the story of Kim Jong-geun (Lee Byung-hun), the director of the KCIA, who is forced to battle against his rivals within the agency as well as the president himself.

As the political situation in the country becomes increasingly unstable, Kim Jong-geun must make a choice between his loyalty to the president and his own personal safety.

Final Verdict

The Man Standing Next is a well-made and suspenseful film that offers a fascinating glimpse into a turbulent period in South Korean history. The film is also notable for its strong performances, particularly from Lee Byung-hun, who gives a tour-de-force performance as Kim Jong-geun.

The film was released in South Korea on January 22, 2020, and was a critical and commercial success. It was selected as the South Korean entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but it was not nominated.