The Taste of Money

South Korean filmmaker Im Sang-soo's The Taste of Money is an overheated tale of wealth, class distinctions, sex, and emotional power. Handsome and hunky Young-jak (Kim Kang-woo) lands a job as personal secretary to business tycoon Yoon (Baek Yoon-sik), but quickly learns that Yoon's wife Keu-mok (Youn Yuh-jung) is the genuine power broker in the family. When Keu-mok discovers her husband's infidelities, she immediately zeroes in on handsome Young-jak, deciding that he will be her lover. While Young-jak embraces Keu-mok's advances, he also finds himself attracted to her daughter Nami (Kim Hyo-jin). Interwoven is a subplot concerning some dubious financial shenanigans involving an American entity. The Taste of Money certainly lives up to its rich title, offering endless displays of sumptuous surroundings and an expensively dressed ensemble enjoying the best that South Korean money can buy. And the film keeps the emotional heat dialed to the higher end of the cinematic thermostat, especially during Keu-mok's unapologetic cougar activity with Young-jak. But, ultimately, it all seems a little silly, so while this might appeal to fans of trashy soap operas, it will likely disappoint serious lovers of Korean cinema. Optional. (P. Hall)