"No Other Choice" is riding a wave of praise following its official screening at the 63rd New York Film Festival.
After taking a bow at NYFF on Oct. 9 (local time) to roaring applause, the film has been drawing effusive notices from critics.
With director Park Chan-wook and star Lee Byung-hun in attendance, the screening and a lively post-show Q&A packed the house and amped up the festival buzz. Since its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in August, "No Other Choice" has continued to hit major global festivals and rack up international reviews―while maintaining a pristine 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring its singular craftsmanship.
The Hollywood Reporter praised the film for capturing "Park Chan-wook’s trademark razor-wire tension and unease, executed with exceptional finesse," while The Daily Beast called it "another achievement added to the legacy of a master of world cinema." Screen Rant noted that "'No Other Choice' feels achingly of this moment," and Culture Mix wrote that "the performances are uniformly superb," applauding the cast’s airtight work in this visceral survival tale.
"No Other Choice" opened in Korea on Sept. 24 and has drawn 2.63 million moviegoers nationwide. Now confirmed as South Korea’s official submission to the upcoming Oscars, its NYFF showcase and glowing response mark a meaningful boost―an astute warm-up before awards season heats up.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)