Loading...

KstarPick
Good News (2025)

Good News (2025)

8.4Action · Thriller · Mystery · Crime

It is 1970. Shortly after departing Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a commercial aircraft bound for Itazuke is taken over by members of the Red Army Faction, armed with pistols and blades and demanding that the flight be rerouted to Pyongyang. The fact that Japan and North Korea share no infrastructure to facilitate such a landing is only one among a rapidly growing list of kinks in the zealous hijackers’ plan. Meanwhile, in Seoul, a mysterious figure known only as “Nobody”— a man whose work turns up on the nightly news but whose name is never uttered — is called in to advise on a secret intervention. Intelligence and military agencies from Japan, South Korea, and the US deploy several strategies, from double parking on the runway during refueling to attempting to hijack a radio signal. They might just bring the hostages to safety — if they don’t create an even bigger disaster with their insane shenanigans. (Source: TIFF) ~~ Release Dates: Sep 6, 2025 (Festival) || Oct 17, 2025 (Online)

굿뉴스 | 공식 예고편 | 넷플릭스

Synopsis

It is 1970. Shortly after departing Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a commercial aircraft bound for Itazuke is taken over by members of the Red Army Faction, armed with pistols and blades and demanding that the flight be rerouted to Pyongyang. The fact that Japan and North Korea share no infrastructure to facilitate such a landing is only one among a rapidly growing list of kinks in the zealous hijackers’ plan. Meanwhile, in Seoul, a mysterious figure known only as “Nobody”— a man whose work turns up on the nightly news but whose name is never uttered — is called in to advise on a secret intervention. Intelligence and military agencies from Japan, South Korea, and the US deploy several strategies, from double parking on the runway during refueling to attempting to hijack a radio signal. They might just bring the hostages to safety — if they don’t create an even bigger disaster with their insane shenanigans. (Source: TIFF) ~~ Release Dates: Sep 6, 2025 (Festival) || Oct 17, 2025 (Online)

Reviews
8.4
11 reviews
Acting/Cast
0
Music
0
Story
0
Rewatch Value
0
Comments 11
By SaraMartins

uma sátira política se baseando em fatos reais do sequestro de um avião japonês, o diretor e roteirista souberam explorar o aspecto político muito bem nesse enredo.recheado até a tampa de sátira, várias piadinhas e políticos de alto escalão extremamente patéticos, o filme vai acabar te arrancando nos risadas.a Estela do filme sem dúvida é o HongKyung, que mais uma vez dá um show de atuação. todos nós o conhecemos pelo papel de “vilão” em WEAK HERO CLASS 1, e aqui ele tb tem uma desenvoltura absurda. deslizando entre o coreano, japonês e inglês ele não deixa nada a desejar pra ninguém.e por falar em ninguém, o ator SolKyungGu é um lobbysta de se tirar o chapéu! ele manipula todo o alto escalão para conseguir os fins que precisa.o filme é muito bem escrito, a fotografia é linda e as atuações impecáveis! valeu a pena a tarde do meu sábado

DUHguabiru

O que devo dizer? Essa história cara, realmente cresce o ódio nos personagens e em como funciona toda a estrutura social coreana, saber que simplesmente eles podem só se safar das responsabilidades só por causa dos seus cargos, meu irmão... O protagonista desse filme sofre e sofre muito, mas ao mesmo tempo é muito informativo, por mais que tenha a parte fictícia que são as piadas e literalmente toda a história, ainda assim, eles realmente fazem muita crítica cabeça e é muito bom, pra quem é estudante de sociologia ou só curte mais mesmo essa parte política é muito bom.

Adess

Détournement, chaos et rires improbables... j’ai été surprise Avec "Good News", on plonge direct dans une histoire complètement dingue inspirée de faits réels 😮‍💨 (le détournement du vol ✈️ Japan Airlines 351). On est en 1970, un avion japonais est pris d’assaut et des tensions entre le Japon, la Corée du Sud et la Corée du Nord explosent en plein ciel 💥. Au milieu de ce chaos politique, débarque “Nobody”, un personnage insaisissable chargé d’orchestrer une mission secrète pour sauver la situation. Autant dire qu’on est loin du simple film d’action... "Good News" joue clairement la carte de la satire intelligente, entre bureaucratie absurde, politique kafkaïenne et plus de 100 personnes prise en otage 😬Ce qui m’a scotchée, c’est cette vibe étrange mais géniale 😳. Tu sens que tout est grave, que les enjeux sont énormes… et pourtant, je me suis surprise à rire 😅. Les dialogues, les regards, les micro-gestes... tout est calibré pour te faire sourire même quand la tension est à son comble. Je trouve que ce contraste, entre drame et ironie, fonctionne à merveille 🔥. Ça lui donne un ton unique, qui lui permet de se différencier, mais du coup, je comprends que certains soient un peu déroutés 😁Les personnages sont écrits avec une vraie finesse 👌🏻. Sol Kyung-Gu incarne ce fonctionnaire paumé, constamment tiraillé entre la morale et le devoir. Hong Kyung, lui, apporte une sincérité désarmante, le jeune homme perdu dans ce jeu politique, mais dont la naïveté rend chaque scène un peu plus touchante 🥹. Et puis, y’a Nobody… Ryoo Seung-Beom est fascinant dans ce rôle mi-ombre, mi-observateur cynique. Tu ne sais jamais s’il agit par conviction ou par pur amusement, et c’est exactement ce qui le rend aussi captivant 😏💫Franchement, je m’attendais pas à ce genre de vibe, mais j’ai passé un vrai bon moment devant "Good News". C’est un film qui te laisse un peu perplexe, un peu pensif… mais dans le bon sens du terme 🫰🏻✨. C’est innovant, déroutant, un peu absurde mais intelligent... bref, une bonne surprise pour moi "Made in Korea" 😉✌🏻

Videos: Trailer & Teasers
굿뉴스 | 공식 예고편 | 넷플릭스
《굿뉴스》 첫 예고편 떴다..🔥 [류승범, 설경구] 미친 조합으로 돌아온 '실화 바탕'의 역대급 대작..ㄷㄷ (+ 한국 OTT 엄선 라인업 총정리》
납치 여객기 착륙을 위한 지상최대의 사기극이 시작된다!┃굿뉴스, MBC 251012 방송
굿뉴스 | 공식 티저 예고편 | 넷플릭스
굿뉴스 | 공개일 발표 | 넷플릭스
Cast
Sul Kyung Gu

Sul Kyung Gu

"Nobody" (주연)

Hong Kyung

Hong Kyung

Seo Go Myeong (주연)

Ryu Seung Beom

Ryu Seung Beom

Park Sang Hyeon (주연)

Kasamatsu Show

Kasamatsu Show

Denji [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Yamada Takayuki

Yamada Takayuki

Ishida Shinichi [Japanese vice minister of Transport] (조연)

Kim Sung Oh

Kim Sung Oh

Maeda Seigo [First officer of Japan Airlines Flight 351] (조연)

Shiina Kippei

Shiina Kippei

Kubo Takahiro [Captain of Japan Airlines Flight 351] (조연)

Yamamoto Nairu

Yamamoto Nairu

Asuka [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Hiiragi Hinata

Hiiragi Hinata

Yuuki [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Hyun Bong Sik

Hyun Bong Sik

Choi Bong Sik [Chief of staff of the Air Force] (조연)

Nagayama Eita

Nagayama Eita

Tadashi (조연)

Park Young Gyu

Park Young Gyu

Kim Gap Seop [Chief of staff to the President] (조연)

Choi Deok Moon

Choi Deok Moon

[South Korean minister of National Defense] (조연)

Yoon Se Woong

Yoon Se Woong

[Airport protest anchor] (조연)

Oh Min Ae

Oh Min Ae

[Abducted woman] (조연)

Yoon Kyung Ho

Yoon Kyung Ho

[Film director] (조연)

Cha Soon Bae

Cha Soon Bae

[Minister of Foreign Affairs] (조연)

Kwon Da Ham

Kwon Da Ham

[Film assistant director] (조연)

Sano Shiro

Sano Shiro

[Japanese minister of Transport] (조연)

Moon Jung Dae

Moon Jung Dae

[Minister of Justice] (조연)

G

100M for HEYA?? Our girls are legends, honestly the most consistent group ever 💙

1h

More Drama News

🔥

Where to Watch

Netflix

Netflix

Synopsis

It is 1970. Shortly after departing Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a commercial aircraft bound for Itazuke is taken over by members of the Red Army Faction, armed with pistols and blades and demanding that the flight be rerouted to Pyongyang. The fact that Japan and North Korea share no infrastructure to facilitate such a landing is only one among a rapidly growing list of kinks in the zealous hijackers’ plan. Meanwhile, in Seoul, a mysterious figure known only as “Nobody”— a man whose work turns up on the nightly news but whose name is never uttered — is called in to advise on a secret intervention. Intelligence and military agencies from Japan, South Korea, and the US deploy several strategies, from double parking on the runway during refueling to attempting to hijack a radio signal. They might just bring the hostages to safety — if they don’t create an even bigger disaster with their insane shenanigans. (Source: TIFF) ~~ Release Dates: Sep 6, 2025 (Festival) || Oct 17, 2025 (Online)

Reviews0

0.0
10

Overall Rating

(0 reviews)

Rating Distribution

10
0%
9
0%
8
0%
7
0%
6
0%

Featured Reviews

9.5
conan
17 days ago

SUPERB CAST, STORY, AND HONG KYUNG'S STANDOUT PERF...

SUPERB CAST, STORY, AND HONG KYUNG'S STANDOUT PERFORMANCE This story mixes suspense, tension, and bits of dark humor so well that keeps you engage all throughout. It was honestly so good. The setting captured the time period perfectly, the cast nailed their roles, and the comedic timing was just perfect. The operation scenes are tense but often undercut by absurd political bickering and clever dialogue that made me laugh a few times. The cast delivered great performances across the board. The real highlight was Hong Kyung. He plays a young air force officer caught between duty and conscience, and he absolutely nails it. It's definitely his strongest performance since Innocence (2020). You can really see how much he's grown as an actor and I have always thought he had something special, and this movie confirms it.I love how this movie combines serious political tension humor in such a natural way. It's not just funny for the sake of being funny. Even during the more intense part, it never loses its wit and humanity.The climax is handled so well, unpredictable, fast paced. The direction, the performances, the humor, the visuals, and especially Hong Kyung's acting make it one of the stand out Korean films of the year. Overall, it's an absolutely a very good quality type of film. A must watch!Plot 9/10Acting and Characters 10/10Cinematography 9.5/10Writing 9.5/10Pacing 9/10OST/Score 9/10Overall 9.5/10

Read more
9
Cora
16 days ago

Hijackers Land in a Fake North Korea and Everyone ...

Hijackers Land in a Fake North Korea and Everyone Loses Their Minds #The Good News about Good News:-A sharp, stylish satire that turns a grim 1970s hijacking into a hilarious, chaotic political farce.-Sul Kyung-gu delivers a powerhouse performance as “Nobody”: sly, unhinged, magnetic.-Byun Sung-hyun juggles genres with swagger: part Dr. Strangelove, part newsroom meltdown, part existential comedy.-The film’s wit and absurdism cut deep, making you laugh and wince at the same time.-A genre-mashing brilliance with fantastic, multi-layered performances.#The Bad News about Good News:-At over two hours, the pacing sags; some scenes drag the punchline too long.-The third act loses momentum, repeating beats that dull the satire’s edge.#Verdict:Good News is funny, brilliant, and unapologetically strange, the kind of film that flies straight into chaos and lands safely.____________________________________________________#Japan Airlines Flight 351 Hijacking Incident:On March 31, 1970, Japan Airlines Flight 351, a Boeing 727-89 (registration JA8315) nicknamed "Yodogo" after the Yodo River, was hijacked by nine members of the Japanese Communist Alliance Red Army Faction. The flight, en route from Tokyo's Haneda International Airport to Fukuoka Airport, carried 129 people, including 113 passengers and seven crew members. This incident, known as the Yodo Hijacking, marked Japan's first aircraft hijacking. The hijackers, led by Takamaro Tamiya, aimed to defect to North Korea to establish a base for a communist revolution in Japan. Armed with toy weapons, including Japanese swords, pistols, and bombs, they initially demanded to fly to Havana, Cuba, but due to the aircraft's limited range, they redirected to Pyongyang, North Korea.At approximately 7:33 a.m., the Red Army Faction members, armed with imitation weapons, seized control of the aircraft shortly after takeoff. They tied up passengers and directed the captain to fly to Havana. Due to fuel limitations, the Boeing 727, designed for short- to medium-haul flights, could not reach Cuba. The captain convinced the hijackers to land at Itazuke Airport (now Fukuoka Airport) for refueling.At 8:58 a.m., the plane landed at Itazuke Airport. The hijackers demanded fuel and a map to Pyongyang. Japanese authorities attempted to block the runway with Self-Defense Forces, escalating tensions. The captain negotiated the release of 23 hostages, including women, children, elderly, and sick passengers. The hijackers, unaware of the poor quality of the provided map, continued their demand to fly to North Korea.The aircraft departed Itazuke and crossed the Korea Strait. The hijackers believed they were entering North Korean airspace after crossing the 38th parallel, but South Korean air traffic controller Chae Hee-seok, posing as a Pyongyang controller, tricked them into landing at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul. South Korean authorities camouflaged the airport with North Korean flags and personnel dressed as North Korean soldiers to maintain the deception. The hijackers, unable to speak Korean, initially fell for the ruse but grew suspicious upon seeing a Northwest Airlines plane, American soldiers, and other inconsistencies. They demanded Kim Il-sung photos and North Korean flags, which South Korea could not provide, leading them to realize they were in Seoul. Negotiations ensued, with the hijackers holding the remaining passengers and crew hostage.South Korean authorities, unable to communicate effectively in English, negotiated in Japanese. The hijackers demanded immediate departure to Pyongyang, but the aircraft's auxiliary power unit required external power, which South Korea refused to provide. Japanese officials, including Vice Minister of Transport Shinjiro Yamamura, arrived in Seoul to assist. After three days of negotiations, the hijackers agreed to release all passengers in exchange for Yamamura volunteering as a hostage. On April 3, 1970, at 6:05 p.m., the Yodogo, carrying nine hijackers, three crew members, and Yamamura, took off for North Korea.The aircraft landed at Pyongyang's Mirim Airfield at 7:20 p.m. on April 3, despite the airfield lacking nighttime lighting. North Korean authorities disarmed the hijackers, revealing their weapons were toys. The nine hijackers, three crew members, and Yamamura were detained. North Korea initially promised to return the crew and aircraft but later delayed, citing a changed situation. After negotiations, the crew and Yamamura were released and returned to Japan on the Yodogo, while the hijackers remained in North Korea. The 99 passengers released in Seoul arrived safely in Fukuoka via a Japan Airlines DC-8-62.South Korea's handling of the crisis earned praise from Japan. The government disguised Gimpo Airport as Pyongyang and avoided military force, prioritizing hostage safety. Air traffic controller Chae Hee-seok played a critical role in redirecting the plane, but his contributions were initially suppressed by the South Korean government to avoid acknowledging involvement. Public sentiment in South Korea was critical of Japan, with some media and officials, including former Prime Minister Kim Jong-pil, condemning Japan's historical and ongoing actions.The nine hijackers were granted North Korean citizenship and placed under the Workers' Party of Korea's United Front Department, receiving ideological training in Juche and Kim Il-sung worship. Some were allegedly involved in North Korean espionage, including Japanese abductions. By 2024, three hijackers: Takamaro Tamiya, Takeshi Okamoto, and Kintaro Yoshida, had died in North Korea. Yoshimi Tanaka was arrested in Thailand in 2000 for counterfeiting and died in Japan in 2007. Yasuhiro Shibata was arrested in Japan in 1988 and died in 2011. The remaining four: Takahiro Konishi, Kimihiro Uomoto, Moriaki Wakabayashi, and Shiro Akagi are believed to reside in Pyongyang, with some wanted by Interpol for abduction-related charges. Their children, born in North Korea, returned to Japan in the early 2000s.

Read more
9
mauvecages
17 days ago

Watched it yesterday, am definitely rewatching it ...

Watched it yesterday, am definitely rewatching it today. one thing i absolutely loved about good news was they were shitting on EVERY THING. like, zero pulling back their punches. communism? you'll be made fun of. capitalism? democracy? you'll be made fun of. america? you'll be made fun of. japan? you'll be made fun of. north korea? you'll be made fun of. south korea? GUESS WHAT? you'll be made fun of. leaders? you'll be made fun of. you're religious? you'll be made fun of. you're ambitious? you'll be made fun of. you exist? yes. you'll be made fun of.also, not to be a fan but this is such a great performance before enlistment because i’m so sure directors would remember this. man spoke three different languages, went through the entire emotional spectrum, had breakdowns, and a whole lotta sass. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT?!

Read more
8
Lo42
17 days ago

Good News: Hijacked by Humor I did not have any p...

Good News: Hijacked by Humor I did not have any previous knowledge of the real-life 1970s hijacking, so when I learned that Good News is inspired by true events, I was expecting a heavy drama. I was pleasantly surprised to discover this was not only an action film but also a black comedy that leaned heavily on the satire.The film definitely embraced the comedic genre, often following intense scenes with witty dialogue, physical humor and absurd scenarios when least expected. The back and forth between the two tones felt like a rollercoaster ride, providing enough laughs to break the previously built tension, but always maintaining an underlying sense of urgency, never allowing the viewers to fully let their guards down. This film's bold use of unconventional music and sometimes "over-the-top" visual effects works perfectly with the narrative and makes Good News stand out among many others in this genre. Although the balance of dramatic and comedic scenes was masterfully calculated, the film's length was a significant drawback. Around the halfway point, the narrative began to drag, and a quicker pace would have improved the viewing experience. Despite a runtime that could have been shorter, don't let the serious premise discourage you. It's a surprisingly entertaining watch, thanks to its masterful use of music and visual effects, and its clever way of blurring the line between suspense and comedy. Overall: 4/5Quality: 4/5Enjoyability: 3.5/5

Read more
8
QueenMaka
16 days ago

Good news, Bad news, which do you want first? Loo...

Good news, Bad news, which do you want first? Looking for a beautifully shot film with a grounded, human story? This is it. I went in with no prior knowledge of the historical events that inspired Good News, yet I never felt lost or disconnected, the storytelling kept me fully engaged from start to finish.Though it runs for over two hours, the pacing is deliberate and rewarding, making every moment worth it. I especially enjoyed its subtle satire — how it invites you to observe events from the outside, finding humor even in the most serious situations.The performances were exceptional, with Hong Kyung delivering a breakout role that truly stood out. Good News is the kind of movie that lingers after the credits roll , heartfelt, sharp, and beautifully made. I’m genuinely grateful that it exists, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Read more
9.5
Sharva
14 days ago

The moon is still the moon I saw some edits and s...

The moon is still the moon I saw some edits and started watching this movie just for the actor hong kyung as I liked his previous movie our summer. but that and this movie are so different so I didn't really think I'll like this film that much and went in to watch it without much expectations. I really didn't expect this film to be so good and I didn't think I'll like it so much that I re-watched it like three times already. This deserves to be known by a lot of people. Every actors and actresses did their job well the casting is really 10/10. The dark comedy and the political satire was so perfect I really don't have any words other than saying that this film was so good.The music really helped the execution of the humorous scenes. The tension between the characters and everything was good I think if you like dark humour or satire you'll like it so much.After mantis, I really didn't have much expectation for this movie from the same director but unlike mantis there is plot here so yeah. Definitely worth it.

Read more
7.5
DUHguabiru
6 days ago

O que devo dizer? Essa história cara, realmente c...

O que devo dizer? Essa história cara, realmente cresce o ódio nos personagens e em como funciona toda a estrutura social coreana, saber que simplesmente eles podem só se safar das responsabilidades só por causa dos seus cargos, meu irmão... O protagonista desse filme sofre e sofre muito, mas ao mesmo tempo é muito informativo, por mais que tenha a parte fictícia que são as piadas e literalmente toda a história, ainda assim, eles realmente fazem muita crítica cabeça e é muito bom, pra quem é estudante de sociologia ou só curte mais mesmo essa parte política é muito bom.

Read more
8
Adess
17 days ago

This review may contain spoilers Détournement, c...

Détournement, chaos et rires improbables... j’ai été surprise Avec "Good News", on plonge direct dans une histoire complètement dingue inspirée de faits réels 😮‍💨 (le détournement du vol ✈️ Japan Airlines 351). On est en 1970, un avion japonais est pris d’assaut et des tensions entre le Japon, la Corée du Sud et la Corée du Nord explosent en plein ciel 💥. Au milieu de ce chaos politique, débarque “Nobody”, un personnage insaisissable chargé d’orchestrer une mission secrète pour sauver la situation. Autant dire qu’on est loin du simple film d’action... "Good News" joue clairement la carte de la satire intelligente, entre bureaucratie absurde, politique kafkaïenne et plus de 100 personnes prise en otage 😬Ce qui m’a scotchée, c’est cette vibe étrange mais géniale 😳. Tu sens que tout est grave, que les enjeux sont énormes… et pourtant, je me suis surprise à rire 😅. Les dialogues, les regards, les micro-gestes... tout est calibré pour te faire sourire même quand la tension est à son comble. Je trouve que ce contraste, entre drame et ironie, fonctionne à merveille 🔥. Ça lui donne un ton unique, qui lui permet de se différencier, mais du coup, je comprends que certains soient un peu déroutés 😁Les personnages sont écrits avec une vraie finesse 👌🏻. Sol Kyung-Gu incarne ce fonctionnaire paumé, constamment tiraillé entre la morale et le devoir. Hong Kyung, lui, apporte une sincérité désarmante, le jeune homme perdu dans ce jeu politique, mais dont la naïveté rend chaque scène un peu plus touchante 🥹. Et puis, y’a Nobody… Ryoo Seung-Beom est fascinant dans ce rôle mi-ombre, mi-observateur cynique. Tu ne sais jamais s’il agit par conviction ou par pur amusement, et c’est exactement ce qui le rend aussi captivant 😏💫Franchement, je m’attendais pas à ce genre de vibe, mais j’ai passé un vrai bon moment devant "Good News". C’est un film qui te laisse un peu perplexe, un peu pensif… mais dans le bon sens du terme 🫰🏻✨. C’est innovant, déroutant, un peu absurde mais intelligent... bref, une bonne surprise pour moi "Made in Korea" 😉✌🏻

Read more
8.5
andjel
16 days ago

Pyongyang Yes or No The description puts this mov...

Pyongyang Yes or No The description puts this movie into the genres of Action, Thriller, Mystery, and Crime, but it is actually an artistic comedy in the style of Wes Anderson. So it is quite unique for Korean cinema.In the plot, the hijackers want to go to Pyongyang, but it seems like no one really knows what to do. Director Byun Sung-hyun took a strange historical story and turned it into an absurd and satirical comedy where all the ridiculous things you could think of find their place. This is good news if you enjoy this kind of comedy, but bad news if you expect something serious and realistic (like the “news” in the movie’s title). For me, the jokes were interesting, especially the intellectual ones, though a few gags felt cringy. Still, once or twice I did laugh out loud.I appreciate the movie’s artistic style and the detailed production — even the insert shots or flashback scenes that last only a few seconds clearly took effort. (Were some of them maybe made by AI?)As a religious person, I didn’t like how the movie portrayed prayer, but I admit that it fits the tone of this kind of satirical cinema, which offers viewers a bit of light-hearted escape from a boring reality. Overall, this movie is a good choice for when you have some spare time and just want to relax.

Read more
8.5
By SaraMartins
10 days ago

uma sátira política se baseando em fatos reais d...

uma sátira política se baseando em fatos reais do sequestro de um avião japonês, o diretor e roteirista souberam explorar o aspecto político muito bem nesse enredo.recheado até a tampa de sátira, várias piadinhas e políticos de alto escalão extremamente patéticos, o filme vai acabar te arrancando nos risadas.a Estela do filme sem dúvida é o HongKyung, que mais uma vez dá um show de atuação. todos nós o conhecemos pelo papel de “vilão” em WEAK HERO CLASS 1, e aqui ele tb tem uma desenvoltura absurda. deslizando entre o coreano, japonês e inglês ele não deixa nada a desejar pra ninguém.e por falar em ninguém, o ator SolKyungGu é um lobbysta de se tirar o chapéu! ele manipula todo o alto escalão para conseguir os fins que precisa.o filme é muito bem escrito, a fotografia é linda e as atuações impecáveis! valeu a pena a tarde do meu sábado

Read more
9
Dg457
16 days ago

Laughing through political chaos Isn't it fascina...

Laughing through political chaos Isn't it fascinating when a movie ends up becoming one of your most favourites, despite having zero expectations prior watching it? That's Good News to me, for it has become one of the best movies I've watched this year. Good News is about a hijacking story from 1970. Members of the the Red Army Faction hijacked a commercial aircraft and demanded that the flight be rerouted to Pyongyang. Japan, South Korea, and the US deploy several strategies in order to hijack a radio signal from the airplane. The main characters, "Nobody", a mysterious man and the South Korean Seo Go Myung, work for South Korea and they're trying to bring the airplane to their country. Before I watched Good News, I didn't have a lot of expectations. I was interested to watch it after learning that Hong Kyung and Sul Kyung Gu were in it and the story seemed interesting enough. But apart from that, I went blindly into it. I didn't even watch the trailer and I overall had a very vague impression of the story. Looking back at it, I think I made the right decision. On the surface, Good News might appear to be a typical Korean thriller based on real events. I was aware of the fact that the movie was based on a real hijacking event, therefore I expected it to be a sort of Hijack: 1981 film. But the film quickly proved me wrong in the best way possible. I didn't foresee that instead of a serious, historical thriller I would watch a satirical political movie, with plenty of humor. The jokes were spot on and the dialogues and interactions between the characters added more layers to the absurd events. The comedy never felt forced and the jokes flew by smoothly. I genuinely did not expect to have as much fun as I did, I laughed so hard during some scenes to the point I could feel my abs burning! What I really liked with this film is that it poked fun at everyone. No one was excluded from its sharp humor and satire, be it South or North Korea, Japan, US, communists, marxists etc. Instead of taking sides and making fun of a specific country or political ideology, Good News portrays each side in the most bizarre and laughable way. It was a very bold and daring approach but the writers pulled it off magnificently. Comedy and history were blended together, resulting in an overall light-hearted movie. But the message never got lost in translation (figuratively and metaphorically). Through its excessive and witty humour, Good News' ultimate goal is to show the hypocrisy of politicians and make fun of their thirst for power. While the story is centered around a hijacking event, it's not the hijackers who get framed as the villains. Throughout the whole movie, we observe how agencies in South and North Korea and Japan move their pawns in order to benefit from the hijack. Politicians from both sides claim that the ultimate goal is to save the lives of the passengers. But underneath the surface, it becomes clear that their intentions are not as humanitarian as they seem. Corruption, greed, lies, manipulation...These are only a few of the defying traits of people in power. We see how men in powerful positions try to infiltrate people's minds for their own benefit. In order to do so, they utilize three aspects, as stated by "Nobody": real events that happened, a little bit of creativity and the willingness to suspend disbelief. Once you give people something to be afraid of, things are bound to escalate rapidly. Fear, anger and mistrust are sufficient tools at the hands of politicians, especially if they want to ensure their power and influence. Apart from the well-written script, the film had excellent cinematography and editing. There were many great transitions and the way some scenes were filled enhanced the comedic elements. I especially liked the scenes that took place in Go Myeong's imagination, they were so hilarious and I loved how they were made. Of course a good story needs a good cast to elevate it. Good News is one of this type of movies where every actor nailed their roles. There wasn't a single moment where I thought that an actor had been a miscast, everyone did their part so well. The interactions between the characters never felt forced and all performances managed to leave a lingering impression on me, with one way or another. I'll start with Sul Kyung Gu, whom I already knew from The Merciless, Kill Bok Soon, Mantis and Memoir of a murderer. Good News is the fourth project with the director Byun Sung Hyun and once again, Kyung Gu didn't disappoint. He was so good as the mysterious and quirky "Nobody". He carried himself with the required type of arrogance and cleverness. "Nobody" followed orders but he also set up his own rules. Despite his comedic parts, Kyung Gu's performance added more depths to his character through his body language and tone, especially after "Nobody" 's backstory became known. It was one of my most favourite Kyung Gu's roles and I always looked forward to see him. Ryu Seung Bum was amazing as Park Sang Hyeon, the head of KCIA. He was charming, confident and meticulous. A politician who was after power and who didn't hesitate to manipulate other people, like Go Myung, in order to establish his dominance. Even though the character was unlikeable for the most part, both the writing and Seung Bum's performance made it impossible to look away when Sang Hyeon appeared on screen. It was fascinating watching him speak and act all so full of himself, as if he knew that he would eventually have his way around. Another actor who caught my attention was Show Kasamaru as the leader of the Red Army Faction. He played the comedic parts very naturally and he was very charismatic. Despite his funny scenes, he was equally good in the more dramatic parts too, making the viewers sympathise a little with him or at least try to understand his goal. Other remarkable performances were Kim Sung Oh's, who has started becoming one of my most favourite actors and Takayuki Yamada's. Both of them nailed their parts and they were very fun to look at. A very unexpected yet welcome surprise was Jeon Do Yeon's cameo, she ate the 10 minutes of screen time she had like a queen. But the gem of this movie was undoubtedly Hong Kyung. I doubt that I can do justice to his performance by describing it in mere words. He was so versatile in this role. He didn't just portray Go Myung, he transformed into him. He was absolutely captivating in the funny parts but he was also excellent in the more dramatic scenes, especially during the final act. I could feel Go Myung's emotions pour out of Hong Kyung. His confusion andannoyance at "Nobody's" antics, his fear towards his superiors, his empathy towards the passengers and his desperation to save them, his ambition to be recognised. He was a very complex character who underwent a big development and to whom I became attached until the end of the film. All thanks to Hong Kyung's spectacular performance. Good News is not just a movie that covers a hijacking event. It's a political comedy that reminds us of the hypocrisy of politicians. It's about following orders and taking matters into your own hands. Ambition over ethics. And above all, it's a reminder of all the untold heroes out there who will never get recognised for their contributions. By the end of the movie, I found myself in deep thoughts, thinking about all the "Nobodies" out there who offer their service to powerful people, only to see their names being ignored by history and letting others take the credit. How far are people willing to go in the name of duty and power? And at the end of the day, does it matter if you get recognised for your actions as long as you're helping others unconditionally? These are only some of the questions the film attempts to answer. The only reason the film doesn't get a 10 is that during the middle part, there were some scenes that felt like fillers or that didn't kept me interested. Additionally, while the combination of humor and political commentary was done masterfully, I think that the film would have benefited even more from some more "serious" scenes, without any comedic interruptions. Nevertheless, the movie never lost its spark and until the last second, it had my undivided attention. Good News is by far one of the best movies I've watched this year. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did and I certainly did not expect it to handle so many important topics regarding politics. I couldn't recommend it enough, even if you're not a fan of this genre allow yourselves to give it a try. You will not forget it.

Read more

Videos: Trailers & Teasers

굿뉴스 | 공식 예고편 | 넷플릭스
《굿뉴스》 첫 예고편 떴다..🔥 [류승범, 설경구] 미친 조합으로 돌아온 '실화 바탕'의 역대급 대작..ㄷㄷ (+ 한국 OTT 엄선 라인업 총정리》
납치 여객기 착륙을 위한 지상최대의 사기극이 시작된다!┃굿뉴스, MBC 251012 방송
굿뉴스 | 공식 티저 예고편 | 넷플릭스
굿뉴스 | 공개일 발표 | 넷플릭스

Cast

Sul Kyung Gu

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Sul Kyung Gu

"Nobody" (주연)

Hong Kyung

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Hong Kyung

Seo Go Myeong (주연)

Ryu Seung Beom

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Ryu Seung Beom

Park Sang Hyeon (주연)

Kasamatsu Show

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Kasamatsu Show

Denji [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Yamada Takayuki

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Yamada Takayuki

Ishida Shinichi [Japanese vice minister of Transport] (조연)

Kim Sung Oh

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Kim Sung Oh

Maeda Seigo [First officer of Japan Airlines Flight 351] (조연)

Shiina Kippei

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Shiina Kippei

Kubo Takahiro [Captain of Japan Airlines Flight 351] (조연)

Yamamoto Nairu

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Yamamoto Nairu

Asuka [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Hiiragi Hinata

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Hiiragi Hinata

Yuuki [Communist League Red Army Faction member] (조연)

Hyun Bong Sik

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Hyun Bong Sik

Choi Bong Sik [Chief of staff of the Air Force] (조연)

Nagayama Eita

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Nagayama Eita

Tadashi (조연)

Park Young Gyu

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Park Young Gyu

Kim Gap Seop [Chief of staff to the President] (조연)

Choi Deok Moon

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Choi Deok Moon

[South Korean minister of National Defense] (조연)

Yoon Se Woong

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Yoon Se Woong

[Airport protest anchor] (조연)

Oh Min Ae

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Oh Min Ae

[Abducted woman] (조연)

Yoon Kyung Ho

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Yoon Kyung Ho

[Film director] (조연)

Cha Soon Bae

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Cha Soon Bae

[Minister of Foreign Affairs] (조연)

Kwon Da Ham

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Kwon Da Ham

[Film assistant director] (조연)

Sano Shiro

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Sano Shiro

[Japanese minister of Transport] (조연)

Moon Jung Dae

Known for roles in Korean dramas and films

Moon Jung Dae

[Minister of Justice] (조연)