In
The Flim-Flam Man, George C. Scott
often says “you can’t cheat an honest man.” That’s Hwang Ji-sung’s entire
business plan. He is a con artist, who targets other con artists (including the
respectable white-collar variety). Hwang has no end of possible targets, but there
is one particular purveyor of Ponzi schemes he has his sights set on. The con
is on and it is definitely personal in Jang Chang-won’s deviously entertaining The Swindlers (trailer here), which opens this
Friday in New York.
Jang
Doo-chil is the Korean D.B. Cooper of pyramid schemes. He got away with
billions and then faked his death in China, leaving behind thousands of ruined
lives and at least ten suicides. Of course, to get away, he relied on highly
placed corrupt officials in the Korean government. He also had papers forged by
Hwang’s father, who was killed for his efforts, as a loose end. Since then,
Hwang has sworn to kill Jang—and also shake loose some cash in the process.
That
might sound like idle talk, but he is starting to get close enough to attract
the attention of prosecutor Park Hee-soo. Hwang has already laid the groundwork
to compromise a small-time real estate shark with direct links to Jang. Park
wants in on the plan, so he puts his off-the-books team of not-so-reformed
bunco artists at Hwang’s disposal. That includes a computer guy, Choon-ja, the designated
femme fatale, and Ko Suk-dong, whom Hwang set up in one of his previous scams.
By
the way, do not trust anybody. Sure, you’ve heard that before, but in this
case, its warranted. It is amazing this is Jang Chang-won’s feature directorial
debut, because he pulls of so much sleight of hand right before our eyes. It is
also a minor miracle his attractive ensemble never starts breaking up, but they
bluff their way through like consummate con artist professionals.
Of
course, super-recognizable thesps like Park Sung-woong and Bae Sung-woo are
total pros, who deliver in spades as the resentful Ko and Kwak Seung-gun, Jang
Doo-chil’s trusted money man. Somehow, as Hwang, Hyun-Bin looks younger and
edgier than he has in previous films like Confidential Assignment, so hey, good for him. Former K-pop star Nana also handles
comedy and seduction with stylish flair as Choon-ja.