Slow pace in the most part of the movie.

Self-important, over-dramatic, uninspired.

An absolute waste of money

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

WIth just over 3,000 ratings on IMDb, "A Dirty Carnival" probably qualifies as my #1 film most people have never heard of. This film encapsulates just about everything I love about foreign film: Action, oddball comedy, revenge, uncomfortable-love, and gangsta-stuff.THere's something quite genuine about the lead character here. It's more of a mediocre rise to the top compared to say "Scarface", and the comedy really sets an entirely different tone compared to all other gangster films with heavy themes and/or endings.The film is an absolute gem. The acting, the fight choreography, the laughs, and evolution of the lead character in the storyline will keep you glued to the screen."Twilight Samurai" is a 10 for me, but it has 15,000 votes, and a bit more notoriety. A Dirty Carnival is a total departure. WHereas Samurai is dead serious and slow burning, "Carnival" is light-hearted and fast-paced.This is one to move to the top of your list.91/100 FOr what it's worth - I loved the ending - couldn't have been any other way. Sleeper gem. There's just something special about this.I usually include a list of "You'll like this if you liked___,___,___", and I say whether I liked them better or not, but if I make that list and then say I like it as much or more than say Casino, Scarface, State of Grace, or whatever - it wouldn't do justice for my "useful" ratings, or for what is a truly original, great film here. Rent it, heck, BUY it.

A tale of betrayal & motivation in the Korean mob life, A Dirty Carnival concerns a 29-year old gangster working for a middle-rank enforcer whose rise begins after he takes up a job that earns him the big boss' trust & eliminates his boss to take up his position instead. But the real trouble begins when his friend, an aspiring filmmaker, asks him to be a consultant for his debut features which brings forth the events that were buried long ago.There isn't much to complain in most of the film's aspects as everything is carried out pretty well be it the direction, screenplay, cinematography, editing or performances but the one thing I admire most about it is the action choreography for it puts on screen an impressive example of street fighting in the opening moments only & repeats itself at regular intervals throughout the film plus it's amazingly well accompanied by its electronic score.On an overall scale, A Dirty Carnival presents a really fine effort from its cast & crew to come out as a nicely crafted crime-drama but it's also missing that X-factor that elevates a film like this to a level of greatness & the sum of the parts don't add up as well as I would've liked it to. Still, A Dirty Carnival works in many ways & steadily captures the zero tolerance principle of Korean mob life. Recommended for fans of Asian cinema.

In Seoul, Byung-Doo (In-sung Zo) is a twenty-nine year old gangster that works under the command of Sang-Shui (Yoon Jae-Moon) in the mobster organization of the boss Hwang (Ho-jin Chun). Byung-Doo is also the patriarch of his family and is having financial problems to support his old mother that is very ill and his younger siblings. When Hwang is pressed by the corrupt prosecutor Park, Byung-Doo sees the chance to prove his loyalty to Hwang, climb positions in his criminal career and improve his income, and he volunteers to get rid off Park, killing him and burying his body and the secret with his partner Jong-Soo (Ku Jin). Meanwhile, his former high school friend and aspirant director Kim Min-Ho (Min Nam-Koong) meets him asking Byung-Doo to be his adviser in his debut movie about gangsters. Later Byung-Doo goes to a high school reunion with Min-Ho where he meets his high school crush Hyun-Joo (Bo-young Lee) and they start seeing each other. One night, after arguing with Hyun-Joo, Byung-Doo gets drunk and makes confidences to Min-Ho about his dark secret, affecting his relationship in the criminal organization and friendship with the ambitious director."Biyeolhan Geori" is a great Korean movie of gangsters. The story about family, friendship, ambition and betrayal is engaging and disclosed in an adequate pace. The choreography of the fights is impressively realistic, giving the sensation that the cast is fighting for real. The ambiguity of the lead character Byung-Doo is very well developed in the screenplay and performance of In-sung Zo Zo that gives the necessary credibility to his character, a family man and cold blood killer. This feature has indeed the true spirit of the gangster's movies like for example "Godfellas" and "Casino", and the plot is open to interpretation since it is never clear who might be the mastermind of Min-Ho's betrayal. Based on the last scene, I believe Jong-Soo forced Min-Ho to snitch out Byung-Doo to take over his position in the family. The music score is also excellent and gives a touch of high-quality to this great feature. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Caminhos do Crime" ("Ways of the Crime")

The movie is bittersweet, reminding me of "Blow" and "Casino". I refuse to say that it is the Asian counterpart of the above-mentioned movies because I think that does not do Yoo Ha or In-Seong Cho justice.The cast acted as though each role was made just for them and the accordion laced soundtrack simply added to the irony and hard, cold truth of the subject matter.But most of the kudos have to go to In-Seong Cho, for letting viewers live through his character (Byung-Doo). Whether it's laughing at his karaoke rendition in the car and club.; his intense, awkward yet realistic fighting skills or the boyish charms oozing when he sees the woman he loves ~ if I knew nothing of the actor I would have thought he was cast to play himself. It is extremely well done so just watch it and find out for yourself!