Method (2017)

This movie was pretty good although the ending was a little iffy because it was not what I personally wanted, it ended perfectly. The pace is fast and quick and gets right to the relationship immediately. I will say there are a few spicy scenes and it's not mature, but it definitely is more than I have seen in most k-dramas. If you are looking for sweet romance then this is NOT for you. Would definitely rewatch for the actors and their characters together.

-- Spoilers Below --

Jae Ha is a seasoned actor who takes his job and craft seriously. He is a method actor and gets deep into his characters and who they are and literally becomes them. He is harsh and cold, openly showing his disdain towards Young Woo in the beginning of the play. Young Woo is a famous idol who is tired from his daily schedule and then adding the play on top of it. He starts out super childish and very obviously does not care about the play nor what any part of it. That all changes when he starts taking a liking to Jae Ha, wanting to be around him and wanting to take in and learn everything he can from him. Jae Ha pushes Young Woo to take the play seriously and while doing so, ends up falling for Young Woo himself.. getting caught into a whirlwind relationship between the two. It's hot and sneaky, and you can see them falling for each other more and more as they go deeper into their characters and play. Jae Ha becomes cold and angry towards his wife who begins to have doubts about Jae Ha and how he is dealing with his character Walter. She sneaks around to try to read his method acting journal, which she finds blank, and even tries to catch some practice scenes to which Jae Ha tells her to just stop. She eventually catches them kissing in the theater and stays quiet about it. After her catching them, she tries to initiate sex with Jae Ha but he refuses and shows no interest. My one downfall with the plot and storyline is, they run away and go on a day adventure out to a beach and Young Woo posts pictures to his Instagram. They find him and Young Woo cuddling together in a van sleeping and accuse him of kidnapping Young Woo. The rumors of the dynamic of their relationship and "supposed" kidnapping gets out to the news outlets and they become slightly distant. How exactly did he kidnap Young Woo if he went voluntarily with him and is an adult? - His wife finds him at the beach too and gets into an altercation with him alluding to that this isn't the first time that Jae Ha has gotten too deep into a role. Things start escalating as their home is broken into and things start getting darker between the 2. Young Woo wants to be in a relationship with Jae Ha and to be out and open with him, to tell the truth to the press and let it be known how they feel, but Jae Ha doesn't want to do that at all. He pushes his feelings for him down, so Young Woo does the same and puts on the "chains" of hiding his sexuality and never getting to be with the person he loves. During the play, Jae Ha shares a passionate kiss that wasn't in the script with Young Woo, and continues on. The play is dark, emotional, and heavy, but has a great reaction. After the play, Young Woo coldly says that he is the best Singer and Jae Ha is just Walter. It ends with him getting into his limo and driving off obviously saddened and still with his feelings for Jae Ha, while Jae Ha's wife shows up to the theater and they leave together hand in hand.

Most of the reviews I read before watching were mostly about how the ending could've been better and I want to agree because the few "love" scenes we did get between Jae Ha and Young Woo were passionate and left you yearning for more, but I can also see the realism in their love story in South Korea. Especially in the year this came out, LGBTQ+ is not totally accepted there and is looked down upon, and I can imagine that is even more-so true for idols and actors. They are left with their feelings that they both obviously fell for each other hard. The play is called unchained, which I feel hits the story in another way meaning their feelings, but in the end they are both still chained due to them.

Would 100% watch again, I loved all the actors and characters and just couldn't get enough of it in the hour that we did have.

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Intentional Nudge in the Right Direction

For all intensive purposes, I was rather impressed with this movie. It had been sitting in my To Watch list for at least 2-3 years. I might have watched the beginning of the movie in the past, but just never committed to finishing it. Finally sat down and watched the whole thing.
It took a very poetic approach, which I wasn't expecting. Even though this is about a director that wrote a play about two men that have a romantic relationship with each other, the movie doesn't go in depth about it, but it should of, because the play talks about very important issues, like what its like being in a toxic relationship, and how the dynamic of the two actors shifts drastically because of the nature of the play. Its also about having such a strong hold on someone, like your chained to them, and you can't escape, and that is what made this movie so suspenseful to watch.
Something that also impressed me was how the older ML takes method acting very literally, and how that is reflected off stage. I could almost sense what Jae Ha was feeling in the moments when he was alone and there were no cameras, and in that way, this movie shed a light on societal pressures on how men are expected to behave and conduct themselves. A part of me wanted to believe that he wanted to be the person he was suppressing, but in a unique, unexpected way, he was just always in character.
If anything, I wish it could've been longer, and had more to say. It was a very light watch.

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I was on the hunt for some m/m shows i could watch when i came across this movie. I held off of watching it until yesterday and -to my suprise- absolutely fell in love with it. Method isn't necessarily a romance movie. It's a psychological drama and i think it's important to know this before watching it. Method is intense, complex, twisted, dark- but so good.
Story-
The story is excellent. It gets more and more intense and intriguing as time goes by- the second half absorbs you into the story and you just can't stop watching. The things that happen in this movie reach from somewhat cute to almost disturbing. The realms of reality and method acting mix and at times you, as a watcher, and the characters themselves don't even know what is just staying in character and what is not.
Method is also filled with symbolism, it would take hours to unpack everything.
At the beginning i thought it was kind of rushed but i think it further strengthened the conclusion of the movie. And while we're at it- the ending of the movie was perfect, it fit the story to a T and i couldn't have imagined it ending any other way.
Acting/cast-
The characters in Method are all so very well constructed, written and developed, alot of care is put into them. They aren't really good people but their actions are still understandable.
As for the acting- it was amazing. Every actor excelled in their role, simply put.
Music-
It helped set the scene for the events of the story. I loved the score and i got chills sometimes. Method also makes perfect use of silence, sometimes it's just quiet but it fits perfectly into the atmosphere.
Rewatch Value-
Method has alot of rewatch value. As i mentioned earlier, the movie is filled with symbolism and on there are just a few things you miss and/or don't understand on the first watch.
Overall-
Method is a masterpiece, simply put. Everything about this film is excellent, i literally don't have anything negative to say. This movie is rather hard to recommend to everyone though, alot of people will not enjoy it. I would still say that you should watch it, even if you're not really a fan of bl.

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It's a Psychological Thriller People!

On reading the bad reviews, I think some people missed the theme of this movie. It wasn't just about same sex attraction, it was a psychological thriller, about when one man takes his role too much to heart - i.e. "Method" acting.
I was already a fan of Park Sung Woong, but now I am head over heals, because of this film!
And, Oh Seung-hoon - fabulous.
I was holding my breath in the last scene! Wonderful writing. Great acting!
As one of the 'good' MDL reviewers said - both actors were very brave to take on these roles. Their raw emotions were on show. The vulnerable "Singer" became the alpha, by taking his role on stage *off* the stage.
Yes, I would watch it again, but after watching a few fluffy romcoms first - I need to calm down a bit....

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Good movie.

I enjoyed “Method”. It was complex, interesting, and heart-wrenching at times. I would have liked to see more intimacy between Jae Ha and Young Woo. The film seemed to end too quickly. It begs the question of who really was the perfect method actor? Were both their actions really done solely to get into their characters more subversively? Or was that line blurred, into actual feelings? The end didn’t really clear this up, and I suppose it’s up to the viewer to decide who was playing who. I got the impression that at least Young Woo got in a bit over his head, and really did feel something more for Jae Ha. Hee Won expressed that Jae Ha always behaved completely submersed in his characters when he acted, but I think maybe he felt more than he let on, too. It’s a good movie. I would definitely recommend.

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Method, in my opinion was one of those movies that have two storylines happening at the same time. It might be a bit confusing and at times rushed, as you're watching it but the revelation comes at the ending. I'll explain what I mean:

Story - 9.5/10
For the storyline, as I was saying about having two different series of events happening at the same time, Method does an amazing job with combining the two worlds. As you are watching, you see it as a forbidden romance between two male actors that doesn't end well. However, on the other hand, it is about a play. Similar to Hamlet where there is a play within a play, Method shows how the actors of the on stage play 'Unchain', take on their role completely. While forming a bond between each other, they diverse themselves into their characters and truly become method actors. While I'm not saying that their attraction was completely untrue, their roles in the play (that were at the time influencing their mindset) did deeply affect it. Many watchers mention that they didn't really enjoy this movie because of how Korea constantly has unhappy endings for their gay couples, but I don't think that this was just a cop out for queerbaiting. I think that the writers and directors wanted to show a sinister twist to an affair between actors. The actors in question ust happened to be both males. When you watch the movie with this perspective, I think that Method did a great job.

Acting/Cast - 10/10
For the cast, I have nothing to say but compliments. I think that the actors did a wonderful job at showcasing their chemistry on screen as well as portraying their emotions incredibly for the storyline. I was pleased to see Park Sung Woong play Jae Ha because he is a relatively known actor. He took on the challenge of this role and I think that he pulled it off perfectly. I was able to see his internal struggle between the temptation of Oh Seung Hoon, the actor who plays Young Woo, and his commitment to Yoon Seung Ah, the actress who plays Hee Won. As for Oh Seung Hoon, despite being a rookie actor, I could not imagine Young Woo being played by anyone else. He was phenomenal at showing an idol overcome with passion and desire for his co-star that led him to losing a part of himself and his sanity completely. For the acting, I say well done.

Music - 9.0/10
Music is never a big concern for me when it comes to the storyline as long as it somewhat fits the mood of the scene. The music of this movie never took away from the scene and even added a suspenseful and sinister vibe to many moments with the violin undertone so I was pleasantly surprised.

Rewatch Value - 8.0/10
I can't say with my whole heart that Method is my favourite movie to watch over and over again, so I gave it an 8 out of 10. I would say however, that it is a fairly light movie, in the sense that you don't necessarily need to sit down and think about all the hidden eggs and metaphors as well as the meaning of life after watching it lol.

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Truly unhinged (in a positive way).

Well, when I first started the movie, I didn't had any kind of expectations, somehow waiting to see the typical Rivals to Lovers trope, or, don't know, a "Forbidden Love" kind of thing. However, the story has the perfect pace; unfolding in such a delicious and intense way that you can't help but watch everything till the end, without wanting to miss a single detail. It leaves you empty, even lost with such an ending, but it's really worth it.

Story: The story begins in a slow motion, almost making you feel bored and annoyed for Youngwoo's attitude, but seeing little by little Jaeha's persistence, talking with (and by) his experiences, trying to make Youngwoo a better actor; letting him change the way he delivers his lines and portraits his emotions, it really makes you feel like you are right there, in the same moment and place as them. At some point things starts to get really dark and distorted with the development of their relationship, but it doesn't feel sudden, like, they're Singer and Walter after all, right? But, yeah. It engulfs you, like there is no other thing in this world except of them. It feels natural how everything happens, even the ending, as open as it was.

Acting: The acting of both leads was mesmerizing, but I definitely need to give my hat to Oh Seunghoon for delivering such a breathtaking, almost intoxicating portrayal of Singer, and, of course, Youngwoo himself. His character development is insane, and those last scenes where he actually tried to kill himself (and Jaeha) in front of the crowd... speechless. At the end, both actors knew what they needed to do, and it really shows.

Music: It's there, and you hear it, but doesn't have anything memorable about it, until it does. I think it's beautiful that just a slight change in the music, with the right lightning can immerse you even more. It's great till the end.

Rewatch value: I... would definitely think twice before doing it. It's a real rollercoaster of emotions, so, you need to prepare yourself before going in for a ride. But we as humans tend to like what's risky and exciting, so...

Overall: If you love morally gray movies and you're not picky about open endings (and a couple questions without answer), give this a shot. You're not going to find another like this in awhile.

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So this movie is out about a year and I watched him couple days ago, my heart really almost exploded and just by the fact that im in love in BL or M/M genre.

The movie is good! and I love him. but first, not bad but not good either;
1. the movie was to short for me.
2. their relationship became so intense in a second, so many things were missing, moments, words and understanding between the two.
3. Missing details in script.
4. superficial character, we don’t see what is happening in the character life.
5. attempt to show cheap romance.
6. fast way for award/nominated movie using their gay story.

what i love the must;
1. Korean movie that are making a huge progress in the LGBT world.
2. they show a (REAL) kiss among men and was not ashamed of it.
3. very famous actor take part in this movie (park sung woong).
4. age gap.
5. oh seong hoon acting is everything.
6. movie inside movie type of thing.
7. the play itself, i love it and i would pay to watch it in real life.
8. special connection between the actors.
9. the kiss - i love it, it’s takes so much courage to play as a gay and that kiss was a total devotion, so passionate, i can’t imagine how hard it was for them to kiss like that.
10. a feeling of no judgment in the movie for their gay relationship.
11. and for the last, seunghoon again, he is so sweet and adorable, don’t understand how the hell he is not famous.

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Sad but Real

B (Actor): Young Woo
T (Actor): Jae Ha

"Method" unfolds the narrative of an actor and an idol engaging in a clandestine affair while collaborating on a play, reflecting a story that resonates with the often intricate reality of such relationships. True to life, the connection dissolves once the curtains fall on the play, mirroring the transient nature of these romances. The film, while okay in its portrayal, adeptly captures the emotional journey of the characters. Though the reasons behind their mutual attraction remain unclear, one certainty emerges—both characters undergo profound transformation. This isn't a tale of happiness but a raw depiction of real-life complexities. The film concludes fittingly, acknowledging the impermanence of such relationships in reality, unless one is prepared to sacrifice everything.

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This story won’t leave my head.

I watched this movie with not so high expectations. The reason is simple: because most bl movie I see are so gosh darn EMPTY. Most of the bl movies or tv shows that I see lack depth. They have such a cringe plot, there’s such a lack of excitement, and the pinnacle of the movie is the cuteness between the couple.

This movie was not cute, but rather melodramatic. It was beautiful.

The acting was great, the characters intriguing.

I felt like I was so invested in the forbidden romance that bloomed between the characters, key word being forbidden, because forbidden entices things so much.

It was like watching an artist paint an oil on canvas. But at the very end, happiness is not reached, and the oil painting becomes smudged.

That’s probably why I didn’t give this movie a 10/10, because although great, the couple just had to be ripped apart. This doesn’t always happen in bls, but it had to happen in the mix of this melodramatic drama.

I still loved this movie. I know that I did because even after months of mulling over it, it still stays in my mind as my favorite bl. It didn’t leave me resorting to the same cookie cutter structure of a basic bl movie, but it rather constructed its own, leaving a full mind, and heavy heart as I had to watch the ending play out in a sad manner.

I recommend this movie to anyone and everyone, because even if you don’t like this specific genre, or rather type of movie, you may find yourself taking a different point of view on the world after finishing watching it.

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This movie is honestly the most groundbreaking of all BLs I have ever seen. The fact that it touches the love between coworkers, people of a different age and also how hard being a good actor is, makes me think of it as a masterpiece. The feeling towards the main characters change along the plot which is definitely entertaining. The actual performence held on stage kept me on my toes, it was amazing. I dont want to spoil anything but Im going to go ahead and say that the bittersweet ending was also very emotional and that is why Im never going to forget it. I definitely recommend watching it.

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This is seriously an amazing story. It portrays LGBTQ and also an unhealthy relationship that should send out an important message to all in a relationship . I was honestly quite surprised that Korea would be making a bl movie , using quite popular actors . Since Korea isn’t very opened towards LGBT, this is a very rare case to see this type of movies to be produced . I really hope this movie could make more people accept the rainbow community through its popularity . We are all people regardless of what are our sexuality and races . The only deference between each other are the bad people and the good people . We should not discriminate but instead learn to accept. So , am very proud of the director and the actors who played apart in making this wonderful movie !!!

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