Kang did not quite do enough due diligence on his latest divorce snoop job. Barging into a murder frame-up instead of two illicit lovers in a hotel love nest, he finds a ringing cell phone next to the dead body. The mystery voice calling promises to clear Kang’s name if he can evade capture long enough to do the cabal’s bidding. There happens to be a certain state’s witness due to testify against the leaders of the dodgy opposition party. As luck would have it, Kang has history with the disgraced bank chairman, none of it good, which makes the noose fit snugger. Indeed, the double-crosses and betrayals come fast and furious in Troubleshooter, even threatening Kang’s young daughter.
Despite the complex uber-conspiracy afoot, Troubleshooter is an old school wrong-man thriller. Basically, Kang runs like mad, laying the smack-down on everyone who gets in his way in hopes that it will shake loose some exculpatory evidence. Frankly, it is a winning strategy, at least cinematically.
An international cult star as the lead of the Public Enemy franchise, Sol Kyung-gu brings considerable hardnose cred, but also shows a more sheepish everyman side as Kang. He certainly knows how to handle a fight scene, including a brutal close-quarters mano-a-mano in a bathroom that looks painful, for real. Yet, Oh Dal-su (of Old Boy fame) manages to outdo his haggard understatement as the honest copper assigned to the case. NYAFF audiences should also enjoy Moon Jung-hee’s icy smooth villainy as the spokesdaughter of the thoroughly corrupt party boss looking to make a comeback.
