So Ji-sub's Hidden Action Masterpiece, “The Company Man,” Revisited

Recently, the drama “The Square,” released on Netflix, has sparked heated discussion, once again drawing public attention to actor So Ji-sub's charismatic action performances. Fans enthusiastic about his new challenge naturally began exploring his past filmography, and in the process, the film “The Company Man” was rediscovered like a hidden gem. The “So Ji-sub craze” sparked by “The Square” has propelled the 2012 film “The Company Man” to the second spot on Netflix's movie rankings, igniting an unexpected retro trend.

The brutal truth hidden within ordinary life, “The Company Man”

The title of the film, “The Company Man,” sounds like an ordinary, everyday word at first glance. However, in this film, “company” has a completely different meaning. On the surface, it appears to be an ordinary metal manufacturing company, but in reality, it is a professional killer organization that contracts and carries out murders. The employees wear suits to work, suffer from performance pressure, and compete for promotions. This setting, which portrays the brutal act of murder as “work” and the killer group as an extremely ordinary system called “company,” is the film's greatest charm and most original aspect.

In fact, this setting is not entirely detached from reality. People belonging to special organizations like the National Intelligence Service or the police often refer to their workplace as a “company” for security reasons. In situations where it is difficult to clearly reveal their affiliation to outsiders, there is no more convenient or safe expression than saying, “I work at a company.” The film borrows this aspect of reality and successfully imbues the radical setting of a “murder-for-hire company” with ironic realism.

The Perfect Killer, Awaking to Human Emotions

The protagonist “Ji Hyung-do,” portrayed by So Ji-sub, is the most capable member of the murder-for-hire company and a cold-blooded sales manager who carries out his missions without any emotional disturbance. With his absolute loyalty to the company and his perfect work skills, he has established himself as a trusted ace within the organization. His life was like a track racing toward only two goals: “mission completion” and “survival.”

However, unexpected cracks begin to appear in his life, which had been as perfect as a machine. When he has to dispose of the part-time worker “Ra-hun” (played by Kim Dong-jun) hired for the mission, he breaks the company's rules for the first time and spares his life. And when he meets Ra-hoon's mother, Yoo Mi-yeon (played by Lee Mi-yeon), at Ra-hoon's request, Ji-hyung's life is turned upside down. Seeing Mi-yeon's dream of a happy family and ordinary happiness, Ji-hyung feels the warmth and humanity of life that he has never experienced before.

The company recognizes his contributions and promotes him to manager, demanding deeper loyalty, but Ji-hyung's heart has already begun to drift away from the company. His inner conflict reaches its peak as he struggles between his longing for a new life and the company's ruthless system that binds him. Ultimately, the company detects his small changes and labels him a “traitor,” attempting to eliminate him. Ji-hyung begins a life-or-death battle against the company that was once his everything.

Sophisticated action and a lingering impact that transcend the times

Despite being released in 2012, “Company Man” features action sequences that are anything but outdated. It actively adopts a practical fighting style that prioritizes simplicity and efficiency over flashy techniques, a trend that gained prominence in Hollywood action films following the “Bourne Identity” series. So Ji-sub perfectly executes the disciplined yet stylish action sequences, leveraging his long, flexible physique, thereby adding credibility to the character of the ruthless killer Ji Hyung-do.

However, the final large-scale battle scene, which serves as the film's climax, is primarily composed of gunfights rather than hand-to-hand combat, leaving a sense of disappointment. Given that this scene is where Ji Hyung-do's intense emotions and personal abilities explode, many have commented that a more intense martial arts scene would have provided a more powerful catharsis.

Nevertheless, “The Company Man” is a masterpiece that packs a unique setting, intense action, and the tragic drama of a man into a relatively short 96-minute runtime. The story of a man who had to turn all his colleagues into enemies simply because he dreamed of an ordinary life transcends the boundaries of a mere action film, leaving a profound emotional impact. For fans of So Ji-sub and those seeking a well-crafted action film with a unique premise, “The Company Man,” which is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity, is a more than satisfying choice.