No Other Choice
Short description
Man-su is a highly experienced professional in the paper industry who enjoys a stable life with his family and home. After an unexpected layoff, he struggles to find new employment, eventually facing the threat of losing his property. Driven by desperation and a desire to maintain his social standing, he decides to systematically eliminate other qualified job seekers to ensure he is the only viable candidate for a position. This crime thriller and comedy is based on the novel The Ax.
Directed by Park Chan-wook, the film follows Decision to Leave (2022) in his filmography. The screenplay was written by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, and Don McKellar. The movie stars Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran, and Cha Seung-won.
Produced by Moho Film, CJ ENM Studios, and KG Productions, the film had a budget of 12 million USD and earned 40 million USD at the worldwide box office. It is well-received by audiences, holding a 7.5/10 rating on IMDb with over 73,000 votes and a 7.5/10 rating on TMDB from 1,291 votes. Film critics gave the movie a higher score of 8.3/10 based on 229 reviews.
What's left behind the scenes
- Director Park Chan-wook wanted to adapt Westlake's novel for about 20 years.
- Originally, the film was planned to be English-language, but Park Chan-wook couldn't find investors. In an interview, he admitted that he was glad he ultimately filmed it in Korea and that he wanted to add acknowledgements to all the Hollywood studios that had rejected him to the film's credits.
- The film is dedicated to Costa-Gavras, the director of another adaptation of Donald E. Westlake's novel.
- When actor Lee Byung-hun read the script, he called director Park Chan-wook and asked if he understood correctly that it was supposed to be a comedy. Park replied that the funnier it was, the better.
- Filming took place from August 17, 2024, to January 15, 2025.
- The film's title translates to 'Nothing to Be Done'.
- At the 69th minute, you can spot a dancer in American football uniform with the number 9 and the name Boucher. This is a reference to Bobby Boucher – a character from the movie 'Billy Madison' played by Adam Sandler.
- The lead actor, Lee Byung-hun, admitted in an interview that the most challenging scene for him was portraying the attempted murder of the first victim (Lee Sung-min), when his character feels sympathy for him.
- In an interview, Park Chan-wook revealed that loud music plays during the scene of the attempted murder of the first victim so that the characters scream, expressing their feelings. According to the director, the scene wouldn't have worked if the actors had delivered their lines calmly.
- The director's cut of the film has a runtime of 157 minutes.
Auditions in India
Casting calls in USA
Castingi w Polsce
Кастинги в Україні
