Lee Byung-hun opened up about how his bold look in "No Other Choice" came together ― and why he worried at first that it might overshadow the story.
During a release-week interview in Seoul’s Samcheong-dong on the 24th, Lee said the team tested two style references for his character Man-su’s grooming. “Early in hair-and-makeup, we had two references: Steve McQueen and Mads Mikkelsen. Their hairstyles are polar opposites ― Mads lets his straight hair fall, while McQueen had a tight, short curl close to the head. We ultimately went with McQueen,” he shared.
He continued, “Once we locked the hair, someone suggested trying a mustache ― so we did. We even shot the opening sequence that way. I was in a Hawaiian shirt, having a meal with my family in the yard, and looking at myself I thought, ‘I look like a South American cartel boss.’ I was a bit thrown. The look felt so strong that I worried whether audiences could stay focused on the story.”
He says he was on the fence about Man-su’s mustache during filming, but felt relieved once the movie screened and international press weighed in.
“After our premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, I read a fun review,” Lee recalled. “It said Man-su in "No Other Choice" ― from his look to the way he’s thrown by an AI-driven system ― evoked 'Modern Times' and Charlie Chaplin. I asked the director if the mustache was an intentional nod, and he said it wasn’t,” Lee added with a laugh.
"No Other Choice" is a gritty crime thriller about Man-su (Lee Byung-hun), a salaryman who thinks he’s finally made it ― until he’s suddenly laid off. Determined to protect his wife, two kids and the home they worked so hard to buy, he launches a desperate, all-or-nothing bid to get back on his feet.
The film opened in theaters across Korea today (Sept. 24).
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)