Golden Slumber

Golden Slumber
Theatrical release poster
Hangul
골든 슬럼버
Revised RomanizationGoldeun Seulleombeo
Directed byNoh Dong-seok
Screenplay by
Based onGolden Slumber
by Kōtarō Isaka
Produced bySong Dae-chan
Starring
Cinematography
  • Kim Jung-wook
  • Kim Tae-sung
Edited byShin Min-kyung
Music byKim Tae-seong
Production
company
Zip Cinema
Distributed byCJ Entertainment
Release date
  • February 14, 2018 (2018-02-14)
Running time
108 minutes
CountrySouth Korea
LanguageKorean
BudgetUS$12.75 million
Box officeUS$10.7 million[1]

Golden Slumber is a 2018 South Korean action thriller film[2] directed by Noh Dong-seok, starring Gang Dong-won, Kim Eui-sung, Kim Sung-kyun, Kim Dae-myung, Han Hyo-joo and Yoon Kye-sang. It is based on the 2007 Japanese novel of the same name written by Kōtarō Isaka,[3][4] previously filmed by Yoshihiro Nakamura in 2010. The film revolves around a deliveryman who has to run for his life after he is held responsible for an explosion causing the death of a presidential candidate.

The film was released in South Korean theaters on 14 February 2018 and in US theaters on a limited basis, on 16 February 2018.

Plot

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A presidential candidate is assassinated as part of a conspiracy, and a deliveryman has to flee for his life when he is framed and the evidence against him begins to accumulate.

Cast

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Main

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A reliable and friendly package delivery worker who gains unexpected fame when he saves a pop star. However, his life changes when he is falsely accused of a terrorist attack that kills a presidential candidate.[5]
A mysterious man who helps Gun-woo after he is accused of being an assassin.[6]
A computer repair man.
A band-mate and a close friend of Gun-woo from college, who is now a divorce lawyer.[7]
A radio reporter who went to college with Gun-woo and also his first love.

Supporting

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Special appearance

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Gun-woo’s friend who is tasked with capturing him.[8]

Release

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On January 17, 2018 a press conference was held at Apgujeong CGV. The main cast together with the director were present at the event.[9]

The main poster for the movie was revealed on January 19, 2018.[10] It was followed by the main trailer being unveiled on February 1, 2018.[11]

Golden Slumber was released on February 14, 2018 in South Korea.[12]

The film was released internationally in the U.S, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines.[13][14][15]

Reception

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Box office

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In the first weekend of its release, Golden Slumber ranked third at the South Korean box office and sold 628,197 tickets.[16] The film earned US$7.71 million during the first five days of its release.[17] At the end of the second weekend, the movie suffered a 75% drop, grossing US$1.24 million by selling 158,217 tickets. After 12 days since its release, the film earned a total of US$10.23 million, attracting an audience of 1.3 million.[18][19]

Critical response

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Los Angeles Times noted, "The movie ultimately paints mass media cynicism as its real villain, noting how a sensationalist press and a gullible public allow amoral creeps to spread dangerous lies."[20][21]

Film Journal International recognised the film as "A fast-paced, Jason Bourne-like Korean thriller, given depth by its theme of friendship".[22]

National Post response for the film was "A confused but lively hour-and-three-quarters".[23]

Yonhap News Agency reviewed the movie to have "all the right ingredients to become a box office hit" however, "it appears to have lost balance when it tried to put in as many ingredients as possible."[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Golden Slumber (2018)". koreanfilm.or.kr. Archived from the original on 2018-02-12. Retrieved 2018-02-11.
  2. ^ "US Trailer for Korean Action 'Golden Slumber'".
  3. ^ "강동원X한효주 '골든슬럼버' 출연 확정…日소설 원작 (공식)". The Chosun Ilbo. 22 July 2020.
  4. ^ "GANG Dong-won & HAN Hyo-joo Headline Thriller GOLDEN SLUMBER". www.koreanfilm.or.kr.
  5. ^ Yoon Min-sik (January 21, 2018). "'Golden Slumber' portrays an ordinary man caught up in extraordinary events". The Korea Herald.
  6. ^ Kim Kyoung-joo (January 16, 2017). "[공식입장]'골든슬럼버' 측 "윤계상 합류..올 초 크랭크인"". OSEN (in Korean).
  7. ^ Kim Kyoung-joo (December 22, 2016). "강동원·한효주·김성균·김대명, '골든슬럼버' 꿈의 라인업 [공식입장]". OSEN (in Korean).
  8. ^ "YOON Kye-sang Readies for GOLDEN SLUMBER". www.koreanfilm.or.kr.
  9. ^ "대선후보 암살범 된 강동원, <골든슬럼버> 이렇게 나왔다". OhmyStar (in Korean). January 17, 2018.
  10. ^ Park Jung Sun (January 19, 2018). "골든슬럼버' 포스터 공개, 암살범으로 지목된 강동원'". JTBC News (in Korean).
  11. ^ "Trailer for 'Golden Slumber' unveiled". Yonhap New Agency. February 1, 2018.
  12. ^ Jo Yoon Sun (January 18, 2018). ""선한 사람들"…장예원 아나X'골든슬럼버' 4인 '훈훈 인증샷'". Sports Chosun (in Korean).
  13. ^ Liz Shackleton (February 15, 2018). "Korea's CJ strikes deals for Noh Dong-seok's 'Golden Slumber' (exclusive)". Screen Daily.
  14. ^ "Spackman Entertainment Group's GOLDEN SLUMBER Set To Release In Singapore On 8 March 2018". Asia One. February 14, 2018.
  15. ^ Rachel Mui (February 20, 2018). "Spackman's Korean thriller film 'Golden Slumber' sold to international markets". The Business Times.
  16. ^ Shim Sun-ah (February 19, 2018). "'Black Panther' smashes S. Korean box office". Yonhap News Agency.
  17. ^ Sonia Kil (February 19, 2018). "'Korea Box Office: 'Black Panther' Rules Holiday Weekend". Variety.com.
  18. ^ Shim Sun-ah (February 26, 2018). "Black Panther' continues reign at S. Korean box office". Yonhap News Agency.
  19. ^ Sonia Kil (February 26, 2018). "Korea Box Office: 'Black Panther' Remains on Top, Local Films Stay Weak". Variety.
  20. ^ Noel Murray (February 25, 2018). "Korean wrong-man thriller 'Golden Slumber' has the right stuff". Los Angeles Times.
  21. ^ Murray, Noel (25 February 2018). "Korean wrong-man thriller 'Golden Slumber' has the right stuff". Los Angeles Times.
  22. ^ "Film Review: Golden Slumber". Film Journal International. February 16, 2018.
  23. ^ Chris Knight (February 23, 2018). "Golden Slumber may put you to sleep". National Post.
  24. ^ Shim Sun-ah (February 8, 2018). "(Movie Review) 'Golden Slumber' loses its way between drama and thriller". Yonhap News Agency.
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