Rough Play

Rough Play (An Actor Is an Actor) was released in 2013 starring Lee Joon who was a former member of the K-Pop group, MBLAQ. This movie not only spotlights Joon's amazing acting skills, but a gritty world where fame and fortune comes at a price.

Plot

Oh Young is an aspiring actor who tries hard to make it in the entertainment industry. Either going against the script because he fancies his own words or trying way too hard for success continues to backfire on him.

After mingling with a group of actors and directors who seem to withhold a shady personality, Young manages to spark some form of interest within the group. He's given a role in a hot-shot film and makes it as a breakthrough actor rising to fame overnight.

How? Well, mingling with gangsters who have an upper hand on the entertainment industry makes anything possible.

Overall

This is the first time I've seen Lee Joon in a movie and though the plot in itself was questionable, his acting was superb and exciting. I'm normally very skeptical when it comes down to idols turned actors being spotlighted from drama to drama or making it onto the big screen with movies. Also the fact that Joon hadn't renewed his contract with MBLAQ to pursue his acting career makes me believe he—in fact—made the right call.

Joon was the perfect embodiment of Oh Young who hungered for the celebrity life. He wanted a long line of fans chanting his name and coming to the release of his many movies. When going to his own premiere and seeing himself on screen does the lust for fame start to tug at Young's heart. He can't help but idolize himself and find an obsession with all the women that are throwing themselves at his feet.

Though the originally naive and sweet rookie actor waited to make a name for himself, the dark side that starts to envelope him turns into more than just a man looking for places to waste his money.

There are two scenes where Oh Young sexually assaults a woman. It isn't graphic and I definitely think it's the start of his spiraling downwards into this abyss he can't seem to climb out of. Though the first act against a co-star is gone unnoticed (only because the corrupted mobsters who seemingly own the entertainment business make sure it disappears), the second assault regards an underage girl—seventeen and still in highschool. She too has sold herself to the underworld of the acting business Young has wrapped himself in and it's only then does he find himself faced with reality. Fame doesn't make him untouchable, and the man whose invested his time and patience into making Oh Young a star makes sure he gets that through his head. After being jumped and beaten does Young find himself facing these problems by himself, especially since The Boss refuses to act on the claims placed against him.

I will admit, the plot has had me a bit jostled from the time I've watched it and I almost want to re-watch it and analyze every scene, but on a first impression basis, I didn't like the movie at all. It was rushed, choppy, and honestly confusing. I don't remember the names of those who ruled over Young's life like it was their own to take, but the fact that these individuals were all mobsters who rose within the industry, took it over, and corrupted it was an interesting take. They played actors and actresses by placing them in movies, shows, and gigs they thought would grant them the most money. And if they couldn't execute this properly, said actors and actresses would be de-idolized and made out to work in the more degenerate pieces of work.

I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone unless they're true fans of Lee Joon because his acting is seriously to die for.