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Song Kang-Ho 송강호 [“Broker”, “Emergency Declaration”]


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Thanks to the highlight by Shirley

Song Kang Ho - The Choco Pie Guy

written by Russell Edwards

Published 2005/07/25

If he is lucky, an actor might get such a scene once in a lifetime.

A North Korean guard of the 38th parallel is being visited (such is the central conceit of the film) by two South Korean guards. They are buddies by now, having shared many secrets and laughs. On this visit, the senior, chubby-faced guard with a knife scar under one eye is given a South Korean confection, a Choco Pie. Like a guilty child, the North Korean stuffs the chocolate disc into his mouth. One of his visitors suggests that if he defected to the south, he could eat Choco Pies until he burst.

Defection. It's been a subject that their joyful, clandestine, friendship has successfully avoided... until now. The North Korean, cheeks puffed out by their contents, offers a galled look to his chocolate benefactor, before spitting the chewed gift into his own palm.

Sternly he says to the visiting soldier: "I'm only going to say this once, so listen well. My dream is that one day our republic makes the best damn sweets on the peninsula. Got it?"

A long pause as the camera rests on the shocked expression of the South Korean guard, then the North Korean looks down at the masticated Choco Pie in his hand. "Until then," the North Korean continues," all I can do is dream about these Choco Pies."

And after a moment's reflection, the offended but dignified soldier shovels the chewed confectionery back into his mouth.

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The film, well-known to fans of modern Korean cinema, is JSA (or Joint Security Area). The actor is Song Kang Ho and it is the golden, star-making moment in a career of distinction. Once you've been told, it is obvious that Song Kang Ho never trained professionally as an actor. But that doesn't diminish his talent. Rather, theatrical schooling often interferes with the art of being natural on screen. Song's presence seems so raw in his early mid-90s films, like early Robert DeNiro, Song has that animalistic quality of an actor performing by sheer instinct.

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Song's theatrical career first gathered momentum when he joined a troupe with an emphasis on improvisation. Given that such skills are usually honed rather than taught, I'm willing to assume that Song was already a powerful performer when he signed up. His film acting debut came in Hong Sang Soo's The Day a Pig Fell into the Well. The film is constructed in four overlapping parts and in the first quadrant, Song plays a rather coarse colleague in a publishing company that employs one of the film's major characters. With his rough and tumble ways, Song creates a vivid first impression.

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The chronology gets a bit hazy for the next three movies. Depending on who you want to believe it is No 3 or Green Fish. For the sake of argument, let us assume that it is, as some people claim, Jang Sun Woo's Timeless Bottomless Bad Movie. Despite requests from the audacious auteur for professional actors to appear in his three hour-plus film, most turned Jang down. The virtually unknown Song, possibly seeking an opportunity to work with Korea's then most internationally famous director, is in a single scene where a homeless man sings a religious tune. Song claps his hands in time to the music. Total running time? One minute tops!

In DeNiro terms, Song Neung Nan's No. 3 (1997) is Song's Mean Streets, and the actor gives an explosive performance as a knife toting gangster who trains a group of young criminal recruits with a bullying attitude and a belligerent stupidity. It resulted in a Best Actor award from the Korean film industry, and gave audiences a full serving of Song's malevolent side.

Arriving the same year as No. 3 was Green Fish, the directing debut of Lee Chang Dong, who would go on to direct Peppermint Candy and Oasis as well as to become the government minister for culture. Here, Song is the mustachioed owner of a strip club whose demeanour changes from moment to moment. One minute he's beating up the lead, then offering him a cigarette, then blowing smoke in his face. Loud Hawaiian shirts and a leering grin are the only constants in his performance. When he attacks he kicks like a dancer, graceful and deadly accurate.

Song widened his range to include black comedy in the gruesome laffer The Quiet Family. Song is the son of the family who in their incompetent efforts to run a hotel, end up becoming serial killers of unfortunate guests. While some of the characters are more sly than others, no single character in this film is particularly bright and Song is lovably dopey in this hilarious bloodbath.

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In 1999, if there was any film a Korean actor would have wanted to be in, Shiri was it. Demoting James Cameron from King of the World to a runner-up, the espionage thriller beat Titanic's local box office record and became an international news story. Song was the secret agent partner of Han Suk Kyu and acquits himself well in this subsidiary role. There is a confidence in his acting that seems to be expressing itself for the first time.

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But as important as Shiri is to Korean film's rebirth, the real breakthrough for Song was The Foul King in which he got to play the male lead for the first time. The Foul King is like the Shall We Dance? of wrestling flicks. Song is a put-upon salaryman who begins wrestling because his lambasting boss dishes out discipline in the form of a headlock. DVD slow-mo indicates Song did his own backflips and probably other stunts as well. But it's more than athletics that makes Song worth watching. His wrestling ferocity is frightening, but comedic sequences like the Las Vegas Elvis dream that has Song adorned in sideburns and a disco chest are memories hard to shake.

With the success of The Foul King under his belt, by the time Park Chan Wook's fabulous JSA hit Korean screens, Song was now a national celebrity. While both Shiri and JSA reflect the internal schism of the South Korean people, the role of Sgt. Oh in JSA is an embodiment of the other. The aforementioned Choco Pie scene is of course a favourite, but his Sgt. Oh's encounter with the Swiss-born investigator (Lee Young Ae) in which he brags about his scars and then comes across as bashful when she calls his bluff is also highly memorable. In brief, Song's performance is a high point in a film that absolutely brims with them.

Song was recruited by Park Chan Wook again for the dark Sympathy for Mr Vengeance. While JSA is an affirmation of the Korean spirit tinged with sadness and grief, the latter film is a confronting gaze into the face of evil that has an Old Testament-flavoured bloody finale. Riddled with jet black comedy, Vengeance is a film that is definitely not for everybody. The film essentially has two narrative threads, one which has Song playing a wealthy businessman whose daughter has been kidnapped, and the other featuring the kidnappers (played by Shin Ha Kyun and Bae Du Na), who have undertaken their ill-fated mission in order to finance a child's kidney transplant. Song is powerful as the enraged businessman, but also displays a vulnerability because his character is unprepared for the type of people who assail him.

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After that intense experience, YMCA Baseball Team cannot help but be thought of as an anti-climax. A cute little period film about Korea's first baseball team, Song gives a serviceable turn but the local hit was never likely to cross over to non-Korean markets. Memories of Murder, however, heralded a return to form for Song. An intense depiction of a real-life murder investigation that occurred in 1980s rural Korea, Song plays a rough and tumble detective who is willing to jail the first person tailor-made to take the fall.

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The opening shows Song arriving at a roadside farm where a woman's body has been discovered. The quality of the police work is instantly apparent and played for laughs as the yokels and incompetent patrolmen contaminate the crime scene and jeopardise the existence of evidence. The ability of Song to work both the comedic and dramatic sides of the street, stand him in good stead here and he acts as an anchor, preventing the film from tipping too far in one direction or the other. Memories of Murder is like a compelling modernisation of Orson Welles's Touch of Evil with a bloodless dash of Seven.

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And that almost leads us to the present day. The President's Barber a Forrest Gump-like film made in 2004, marks Song's third period film in a row, this time set in the pre-democracy Korea of the 60s and 70s. Knowledge of Korean politics would help, but once you realise that Korea was home to repressive regimes, all the details you require are right in front of you. Song plays the titular role of Han Mo, an unsophisticated, but patriotic barber who has never asked too many questions. Because his barber shop is a mere hair toss away from the seat of government, Han Mo is drawn into the junta's inner circle and becomes the hairdresser laureate. At first he cuts hair with ignorant pride. Later the consequences of being closely allied with one (highly paranoid) political party becomes apparent. Unlike Gump, who remains apolitical, Han Mo is slowly radicalised by the environment thrust upon him, and appears to symbolise a Korean everyman who upon waking up to government corruption is ready for a more transparent system. Symbolic roles are difficult to convincingly carry off but Song meets the challenge of the required nuances admirably.

Source: http://global.yesasia.com/en/mc/-/Aq33f02X...x/articleId-35/

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Guest kdramafanusa

Looks like SKH wins again.. at the 10th Director’s CUT Awards :D Hahaa.. perhaps, it's time to create a 'second Best Actor' award.. :P

Btw, anyone knows which movie he won the award for?

According to papers, he's awarded for "Secret Sunshine".

SKH won Director's CUT Best Actor Award for the 4th time: "JSA" (2000), "Memories Of Murder" (2003), "The Host" (2006), "Secret Sunshine" (2007). Actress Jeon Do-yeon also won Best Actress from Director's CUT for the 4th time: "Happy End" (1999), "My Mother, The Mermaid" (2004), "You Are My Sunshine" (2005), "Secret Sunshine" (2007).

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According to papers, he's awarded for "Secret Sunshine".

SKH won Director's CUT Best Actor Award for the 4th time: "JSA" (2000), "Memories Of Murder" (2003), "The Host" (2006), "Secret Sunshine" (2007). Actress Jeon Do-yeon also won Best Actress from Director's CUT for the 4th time: "Happy End" (1999), "My Mother, The Mermaid" (2004), "You Are My Sunshine" (2005), "Secret Sunshine" (2007).

Thanks kdramafanusa for the awards' info, definitely appreciate the details.

Wow.. SKH's Best Actor list is clearly getting longer and looooonger! :lol:

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December 23, 2007

[Year-end Review (1): Movies] 'Sunshine' offers hope to Korean cinema in 2007

The Korean movie industry got off to a shaky start this year, due to the weakened market position of local flicks versus Hollywood blockbusters, but it received a big shining ray of hope from director Lee Chang-dong's thought-provoking drama, "Secret Sunshine."

Jeon Do-yeon, the heroine of "Secret Sunshine," grabbed the prestigious Best Actress award at the 60th Cannes Film Festival in May, setting the upbeat tone for the domestic film industry.

The 34-year-old actress won international acclaim for her brave and inspiring depiction of a grieving Korean woman struggling to rebuild her life in a new city in "Secret Sunshine," the first picture in four years by Lee Chang-dong, a former Korean culture minister.

Despite the positive turn on the filmfest front, the local movie market faced increasing pressure this year. Although the market volume of the Korean film industry remains relatively solid, with 104 films released between January and November this year, the number of moviegoers is steadily declining, and the profitability of major production houses is worsening, leaving a slew of projects stranded.

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"The number of Korean movies with box-office influence is going down, and the campaign to export Korean films to foreign markets is nowhere near the target level," said Shim Young-seop, a leading movie critic. Meanwhile, Hollywood blockbusters led by "Transformers" and "Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End" made a strong comeback this year, mounting a strong competition against Korean counterparts at the box office.

Meanwhile, "D-War," a graphics-rich monster flick directed by Shim Hyung-rae, created plenty of ripples both in Korea and the United States. The film sold a whopping 8.43 million tickets here, setting a record as the biggest hit this year, thanks largely to director Shim's unabashed efforts to stress that it is the first-ever Korean film to achieve a wide release in the U.S. market.

Starring Jason Behr and Amanda Brooks, the English-language film revolves around a Korean legend about a huge snake-like creature known as "imoogi." The serpent-like monster smashes its way to downtown Los Angeles in the hope of finding a girl destined to transform it into a dragon.

Film critic Kang Yu-jeong said, "The so-called 'D-War' phenomenon was a great chance to discuss the important issues facing the Korean movie industry, but it quickly fizzled out amid frivolous disputes about the movie's quality and national pride."

Another landmark was that Korea's top filmmaker Im Kwon-taek received the title of knight in the Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government, a recognition for his lifetime contribution in the field of visual arts. Im has already won numerous awards, including the Best Director award at the 53rd Cannes Film Festival, but he achieved another milestone by putting out his 100th film, "Thousand-Year Crane," this year.

On the artistic front, maverick director Kim Ki-duk showcased his talent with "Breath," a peculiar story about love, starring Park Ji-ah and Chang Chen. Kim, who received numerous awards for his unique perspective, drew keen interest from critics and audiences with his softened approach in "Breath."

Another representative Korean stylist, Lee Myung-se, recently released "M," a psychodrama that featured top-rated stars such as Gang Dong-won. At the box office, much attention was given to Gang, a heartthrob who is highly popular in Korea, and critics also showed great interest in director Lee who has built up his fame through stylized features like "Nowhere to Hide" and "Duelist," but it was not a commercial success, suggesting that Korean audiences are still inclined to favor friendlier dramas like "Le Grand Chef," a cook-oriented drama that is based on a popular comics series. Directed by Jun Yoon-soo, "Le Grand Chef" secured a solid spot, in terms of ticket sales.

Other notable films include "Voice of a Murderer," director Park Jin-pyo's sophisticated kidnapping drama that hit it big at the box office early this year. "Our Town," directed by Jeong Gil-young, handles a similarly gruesome topic with a style that accentuates the talent of Oh Man-seok, former musical actor.

Daniel Henney also proved his commercial appeal with his role in "My Father," a drama that pulled at the heartstrings of audiences by focusing on the universal theme of father-son affection that goes beyond borders and prison walls.

"Gold Digger Miss Shin," starring Han Ye-seul, a bilingual actress, is also jockeying for position in the domestic film market toward the end of the year, highlighting Han's versatility and sex appeal.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com)

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

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Thanks to the highlight by Shirley

Gangster Films: The Yin and Yang of Korean Film Culture

written by X

Published 2007/12/10

- only pics related to SKH posted; for full complete captures please refer link of source provided below

Gangs have always been one of cinema's favorite arguments, not only in the West where the mafia gave Hollywood decades of stories to tell, but also in Asia, where some of the oldest crime organizations have become the subject of countless films. What would Japanese Cinema be without the yakuza films of Fukasaku Kinji and Kitano Takeshi, or Hong Kong without its triad films? Even Korea has its hoodlums and assorted gangsters populating films and TV dramas for decades. Called "jopok" (short for "jojik poknyeokbae", organized crime society), these gangs have made their mark in Korean history ever since the colonial period, but how can we explain the last ten years' boom, bringing to the forefront a genre that rarely made much of a mark in Korean Cinema history?

Formation Years

By definition organized crime societies, be it to fight off Japanese imperialism in the early 20th century or each other during the brutal and tragic Korean War, have been active in Korea for over a century. But why did Chungmuro suddenly wake up and smell the roses, pumping money and ideas into this new cash cow called jopok films? To understand that, we should go back to the late 90s when, thanks to the IMF crisis, Koreans lost most of the faith they had in the government. With many businesses closing down, harsh economic conditions after decades of continued growth, and dim prospects for the future (expectations which thankfully didn't prove right), it's easy to understand why gangsters suddenly lost much of the negative aura they had in the past. After all, most of Fukasaku Kinji's crime films were based on the fact that with poverty and anger comes crime. Saying gangsters suddenly became the new hottest thing in town would be silly, but they were far from the Public Enemy No.1 they were pictured as for most of Korea's economic growth.

If we consider Kim Doo Han the first true gangster in Korean history, then all the movies made in the 70s representing him as the epitome of machismo kitsch proved the genre is not too young. Legendary director Im Kwon Taek filmed a trilogy of films centered around the figure of Kim Doo Han, who was a gangster, but also a freedom fighter who ruled the streets of JongRo during the Japanese colonial period. The General's Son and its sequels were big successes, not only anticipating the impressive industry growth starting in 1996, but also reviving the country's interest in action films, a genre which had been largely ignored for most of the 80s, at least when it came to mainstream films.

The early to mid 90s were years of transition, when just about everything was changing in Chungmuro, from distribution methods to production values, even film culture itself. During those turbulent years, a few classics of the genre emerged, such as Rules of the Game with a young Park Joong Hoon in splendid form, and The Terrorist which starred Choi Min Soo, fresh off the incredible success of the landmark TV drama The Sandglass and shedding his comic image once again for a role which would change his career forever. Terrorist was also one of the first films to show the talent of master action choreographer Jung Doo Hong, a mainstay on most of Korea's most famous films of the genre.

Also interesting was Kim Sang Jin's Hoodlum Lessons, a strange hybrid of gangster film tropes and Korean style-comedy, urging some critics to hail Kim as the Korean Kitano, even though his move to straightforward comedies in later years would wash off those expectations. Still, the true turnaround came with No. 3, one of the most brilliant black comedies Korea has ever seen. Starring Han Suk Kyu and Choi Min Sik, the film is a brutally honest, hilariously irreverent look behind the scenes of Korean gangs, their delusion of grandeur, and the backstabbing and corruption. No. 3 is not only famous for its near perfect script, but also for the phenomenal display of ad-lib by a certain Song Kang Ho, who back then was just a theater actor trying to make it in the film world. His legendary delivery (all over TV shows for years, with comedians trying to copycat his stuttering gangster wannabe persona) eventually led him to gain exposure, another reason to be thankful to director Song Neung Han.

Another shot in the arm for a genre that needed serious momentum came from the most unlikely of directors. Putting together a bunch of shorts with a budget that would likely not even cover catering for the latest blockbusters, Ryoo Seung Wan made history with Die Bad. A Scorsese meets Chang Cheh with a touch of Chungcheong Province flavor, Ryoo's debut shocked everyone in the industry, bringing to their attention his younger brother Ryoo Seung Bum as well. Ryoo would later go on to become one of the top directors in the country, and some still contend that Die Bad is his greatest achievement. But then 2001 came, and the word jopok became a trend in a way nobody could ever expected.

My Film Needs a Gangster

Hi, Dharma, My Boss, My Hero, Kick The Moon, My Wife is a Gangster, and of course Friend. If you're a Korean cinema fan you should know more or less all of these films, but the fact that all of them were tremendously successful gangster films released in 2001 is quite remarkable. Even within a genre that had just started as a mainstream trend, diversity was above the norm. Hi, Dharma was about a group of gangsters finding refuge in a Buddhist temple, mixing with the completely opposite customs of the local monks in what's still one of the most enjoyable Korean comedies of recent memory. My Boss, My Hero brought gang boss Jung Jun Ho back to high school, with all the salad dressing that comes with it. Directed by one of the most successful comedy directors in the country, Yoon Je Gyun of Sex is Zero, the film led to two sequels (My Boss, My Teacher and The Mafia, The Salesman) and even a Japanese TV drama of the same title.

My Wife is a Gangster, if anything, was another chance to see how underrated actress Shin Eun Kyung was. Playing a hard character for most actresses, Shin not only excelled, but also rebuilt her image around the tough woman leading a gang of pathetic losers. Kick The Moon, another success for director Kim Sang Jin of Attack the Gas Station, paired two old schoolmates in a strange situation, with the outcast becoming gang boss and the tough guy ending up as teacher. But of course the biggest sensation were the eight million tickets sold by Kwak Kyung Taek with Friend. A touch of Scorsese and that incomparable smell of the streets of Busan made the film one of the first Korean works to crack the international market, and of course made its stars Jang Dong Gun and Yoo Oh Sung even more popular.

The years between 2001 and 2003 saw a lot of interesting gangster films, perhaps the most underrated being Cha Seung Won and Kim Seung Woo's Break Out. But the other side of the coin also emerged, with countless comedies bringing back the same old characters: country bumpkins with little brain and quick tempers throwing themselves around with the help of their pungent dialect. Add a few sex scenes, the customary action piece here and there, and you're served. First it was critics doing their job and bringing up the issue, but then the public also followed through: gangster comedies not only were all too similar, the image Korean Cinema created around gangsters was a little outside the realm of reality. It was time for a little change.

The Not So Sweet Life of Gangsters

Take any of the major gangster franchises in Korean Cinema and you'll come up with a certain idea of what their life might be. The My Wife is a Gangster (now at three films), Marrying the Mafia (three as well), My Boss My Hero (three again), and Hi, Dharma (only two) series all present the gangster as the stupid big brother you never had. He fights well, he's even a little cute, and most importantly, deep down inside is not such a bad person. He's after all a sort of Robin Hood in designer clothes. Only he swears a lot more. A lot.

Thankfully Friend's director Kwak Kyung Taek wasn't the only one thinking the world of gangster was just the perfect opportunity to make silly comedy, as shown in his follow-up Mutt Boy, much smarter than its title might suggest. With jopok comedies outside of the major franchises almost always failing, some directors started exploring the dark side of the crime world, with not surprisingly excellent results. Most impressive of them all might just be Kim Ji Woon's masterpiece A Bittersweet Life, part Melville but also with Kim's unmistakable wit and his usual visual splendor. The film showed Lee Byung Hun had all the cards to succeed as a serious actor, when he didn't worry about Korean Wave TV dramas pumping up his name value and wasting his talents.

Also notable is Yoo Ha's A Dirty Carnival, brutally violent but also with a strange, quiet power emerging throughout the film. Choi Ho's magnificent Bloody Tie, starring a stunning Hwang Jung Min, showed the drug underworld and gangs controlling the Busan of the post IMF with admirable panache. Han Jae Rim's recent The Show Must Go On sees Song Kang Ho as a middle-aged gangster struggling to balance family and work.

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It seems gangster films are finally starting to mature a little, escape the easy trappings that brought the genre to the limelight. It's a sign that the industry has understood the traps hidden under such a tempting theme. The fact current films are exploring the underworld with a little more intelligence shows Chungmuro has finally cracked the surface, and is now ready to bring the genre to new heights.

Source: http://global.yesasia.com/en/mc/-/9K361xy9.../articleId-156/

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December 26, 2007

"Stop, Jeon Do-yeon!" the male actors are coming back to screen in 2008

Article translated by hancinema.net

There had been true 'Woman's power' in Korean cinema this year. The 'Cannes Lady', Jeon Do-yeon, who is sweeping through all year-end film awards, is the 2007's queens of the Queen without any further questions. From "200 Pounds Beauty"'s ' Cinderella ' Kim Ah-joong; 'Shadows in the Palace"'s heroin Park Jin-hee and the returned world star Kim Yoon-jin in "Seven Days"; Kim Hye-soo, who never stops being one character in films such as "The War Of Flower", "A Good Day to Have an Affair", "Shim's Family" and "Eleventh Mom"; Kim Tae-hee in "Venus and Mars", who tries to take off her angelic image built from various commercial films; to the newbie Han Ye-seul with her debut film, "Miss Gold Digger". Countless beautiful female actors made their own characteristic appeals and produced good results in both local and international arena.

On upcoming New Year, the top male actors are returning to screen, already heating up the atmosphere. First of all, the two most popular Hallyu stars, Song Seung-heon and kwon Sang-woo's new film, 'Destiny' is to be released early next year. 'Destiny' is Song Seung-heon's coming back to the screen after completion of his military service. It's an action noir based on four friend's friendship, loyalty and betrayal. 'Destiny' is the second film of Director Kim Hae-gon, who wrote the scenario of "Failan" and directed "The Unbearable Lightness of Dating". In addition to these two top stars, other casts include Ji Seong, Kim In-kwon and Park Han-byeol.

There is no other film which has greater naming value than "The Good, the Bad and the Weird" with the 'Big 3', Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-Heon and Jeong Woo-seong. The film is set in the Manchuria Plain in tumultuous 1930s where the three men are chasing and being chased by each other. It is directed by Director Kim Ji-woon, who is well-known for his previous films including "A Tale of Two Sisters" and "A Bittersweet Life". Already the movie fans are excited by the Korean style Western movie produced by these four men.

Director, Kwak Gyeong-taek, who made a comeback with his latest film "a LOVE", is preparing for his next film", Eye for an eye". Han Seok-Kyu plays the role of animal-instincted police while Cha Seung-won plays a bold thief who is daring enough to steal before one's eye.

One top of this, the 'pretty boy' Jo In-Seong, and Joo Jin-mo's new film 'Ssanghwa Store' by Director Yoo Ha is also on 2008's waiting list. The excitement is building up largely due to the fact that these two handsome actors are in a homosexual relationship in the film.

Moreover, it's interesting to see the transformation of the 'cool guys' into 'villains'. First time ever in his acting career, Kwan Sang-woo play the villain who betrays his friend; while Lee Byeong-Heon plays as a hired murderer, 'the Bad'; and Cha Seung-won as a cold-hearted criminal. They are determined to give a double pleasure to the movie fans through their new transformation.

Original Korean article at news.naver.com

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January 3, 2008

The Host, Secret Sunshine on Many Critics’ Best of 2007

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BONG Joon-ho’s The Host, which had its US release earlier last year, has found its way to many critics top ten best of lists for 2007. Among those who gave it nods were Manhola Dargis of The New York Times, Kim Morgan of MSN Movies, Slate Magazine’s Dana Stevens, Ella Taylor of The LA Weekly, Kimberly Chun and Jeffrey M Anderson of the San Francisco Bay Guardian, Glenn Kenny of PREMIER, Benjamin Strong at The L Magazine, and Matt Singer and Alison Willmore of the Independent Film Channel.

Meanwhile LEE Chang-dong’s Secret Sunshine was also mentioned on many lists. 34 of the 106 critics surveyed in the 2007 indieWIRE Critics' Poll put the film on their list as one of the best undistributed films of the year. This marks the second year in a row that a South Korean film has topped indieWIRE best undistributed list with last year going to HONG Sang-soo’s Woman on the Beach.

Nigel D’Sa (KOFIC)

http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/

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January 3, 2008

Korean filmmakers bet on large-scale projects

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Many local movie productions suffered setbacks last year, due to increased costs and the strengthened position of Hollywood blockbusters. In 2008, leading filmmakers are betting on large-scale projects to turn things around for the embattled local film industry.

At the forefront of Korean films' counterattack is Kim Jee-woon's oriental western "The Good, The Bad, The Weird," whose production cost is estimated at a whopping 15 billion won ($16 million). Hedging the huge financial risk is none other than a star-studded cast. Well-known Korean Wave stars Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho and Jung Woo-sung play central characters for the film set in Manchuria of the 1930s.

Lee, who is enjoying soaring popularity in Japan, takes the role of a bandit, while Song turns into a train robber and Jung becomes a bounty hunter. The trio stumbles onto a treasure map in the Manchuria region, a sort of Korean western -- a peculiar genre which is yet to be tested at the box office. The film is scheduled be released around the summer vacation season.

Another big-scale film set in the 1930s is director Jung Ji-woo's "Modern Boy," a retro-style drama that harkens back to the vibrant days of Korea despite the suffocating colonial rule of Japan. Park Hae-il and Kim Hye-soo have embraced the title roles for the film featuring Korea's then penchant for Western culture typified in cafes, coffee and department stores.

Shingijeon, a rocket machine developed and used during the Joseon Dynasty period, is a key subject of veteran director Kim Yu-jin's historical action film "Shingijeon." Top-rated actors Jung Jae-young, Ahn Sung-ki and Huh Jun-ho play central characters in the big-budget movie to be released around July.

Another much-anticipated film is award-winning director Lee Joon-ik's latest feature "Nimeun meonkotae," a Vietnam War drama that revolves around a wayward woman. High-profile actors such as Sue Ae, Jung Jin-young and Eom Tae-woong have signed on to the film project whose release is slated for July.

"Ssanghwajeom," another period drama, is directed by Yu Ha, and what is notable is that it is set in the Goryeo period which preceded Joseon. Heartthrobs Jo In-sung and Ju Jin-mo play the fictional king and his body guard, with a homosexual theme thrown into the turbulent swirl of historical events.

While big-budget movies are expected to shape the domestic film industry in 2008, small-budget art-house features also aim to carve out a position. Director Lee Yoon-ki's "The Great Day" is a case in point. Jeon Do-yeon, who grabbed the prestigious best actress award at the 2007 Cannes International Film Festival, plays a 30-year-old woman who reunites with her former boyfriend only for a day, with the cinematic emphasis placed on her mental landscape.

Director Kim Ki-duk's new feature "Bimong" is also a small-budget feature, but the public attention drawn to this Korea-Japan joint project is not so small. The reason is that Kim has pulled off a high-profile casting. Once top Japanese actor Joe Odagiri was confirmed to play the title role for the film numerous Korean female actors reportedly applied to play his counterpart.

Korean production companies are keen to reclaim their market share in the domestic market after suffering a bleak period last year. Even though a couple of big-budget Korean films led by "D-War," a monster flick by former comedian Shim Hyung-rae, sailed well at the box office, the majority of homegrown films failed to turn a profit last year, heightening a sense of crisis about the Korean film industry's overall competitiveness.

Meanwhile, Hollywood movies are increasingly expanding their share in the Korean film market, capitalizing partly on the reduced screen quota that allows local theaters to screen fewer domestic films.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com), image from chosun & empas.com

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

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January 9, 2008

Fresh new start for Korean film industry!

Veteran directors are coming back

Upon the spirits of the New Year 2008, the Korean films are preparing a big counterblow against the Hollywood films. One after another, the talented veteran directors are coming back with a huge bag of New Year's surprises for the movie fans.

The reporter Nam Sang-seok will give you more information about their big comebacks. <8 o'clock news>

Director Lim Soon-rye had been capturing the dark side of our society with a warm gaze in her previous films such as "Three friends" and "Waikiki Brothers". Her latest film, "Forever the Moment" is the first female sport film ever made in the history of Korean films and is based on a true story of female handball team in the Athene Olympics, 2004.

[Director Lim Soon-rye: Many people are having difficult time these days and I wish the movie inspire them to have courage, hope and the strength to overcome their hardships.]

Director Jeong Yoon-chul of "Marathon" is coming back with "A man who was Superman" (starring Hwang Jeong-min and Jeon Ji-hyeon). It is a story of an absurd man who believes himself to be a Superman and gives out laughter and deep sensation to his neighbours.

Director Kim Ji-woon's "The Good, The Bad, The Weird" is a 12 billion-won worth large-scaled action film set in the Manchurian Plain in the 1930s. The genre of the film is 'Manchurian Western' where a train robber (Song Kang-ho), a mounted bandit (Lee Byeong-Heon) and a prize hunter (Jeong Woo-seong) are fighting over a treasure map.

Director Jeong Ji-woo of "Close to You" is coming back with a historical film, "Modern Boy" (starring Kim Hye-soo and Park Hae-il), which is set in the period of the Japanese colonisation in Korea.

Director Kim Yoo-jin is also preparing a large-scaled action-historical film based on a secret weapon, Singijun, which was developed at the time of King Seo-jong of Chosun dynasty.

[Oh Dong-jin (film critic): Even though the success of the films may not be guaranteed, in an aspect of preparing for next ten years, the directors should continue to seek chances to experiment with new things and bring new changes to the scene.]

It will be interesting to see whether the comebacks of these veteran directors who are prepared with new styles and new materials would become a green light for the resurrection of Korean Film industry in 2008.

Translation credits www.hancinema.net, Original article at news.naver.com

---

If I'm not mistaken, there's some news update today about SKH changing (?) his management agency. As I'm not sure which is his current agency, anyone knows better.. who can clarify on this? Thanks.

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JSA ALL STARS

Song Kang Ho . Lee Byung Hun . Shin Ha Kyun . Kim Tae Woo

JSA05.jpg

JSA04.jpg

JSA07.jpg

image credits to the original fan-sharing, copied from JSA thread

SKH & LBH during their JSA days, to be reunited in 'The Good, The Bad, The Weird' (GBW) coming real soon! ^^

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Thanks to summer0323-EverythingLBH thread, original sharing by bhjwlove.com

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Previous articles on SKH, copied from JSA thread

August 25, 2006 Japanese Newspaper Praises Song Gang-ho

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A Japanese newspaper lavished acclaim on Korean actor Song Gang-ho, advising Japanese moviegoers to take note of any film with the actor's name on its list of credits.

The Japanese daily Mainichi Shimbun said Thursday, "If there are two types of Korean actors popular in Japan, one consists of actors like Bae Yong-jun and the other of character actors like Song Gang-ho. Song is an actor who devotes himself to acting."

The Japanese newspaper reported, "Song played a wide range of roles from a soldier to a wrestler, murderer, barber and explorer. In particular, the movie 'Memory of Murder' served as a turning point for him. Recognized for his brilliant capability to portray various characters, his work schedule is booked tight for the next two years." The newspaper told movie fans to pay attention to any film in which Song appears.

The newspaper quoted the Korean actor as saying, "I don't choose a work based on what message the film conveys. In a movie, the director's worldview is what counts most for me. So I decided to appear in the films 'Host' and 'Memory of Murder' with only a rough sketch of the movies' storylines, since I learned that Bong Jun-ho would direct them."

Song told the Japanese newspaper, "I don't like monster movies and the plot of the movie 'Host' was utterly strange. But I decided to appear in the movie since I trust director Bong."

Source: KBS Global

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March 28, 2007 Song Kang-ho tests his versatility again

Song Kang-ho played an eccentric yet strangely charming gangster in "No. 3" (1997), when he gave a funny lecture to his underlings about how to beat up enemies: "A long time ago, there was a man named Choi Young-ui, and he staged a showdown with the entire world, you know. His style is like this. Just walking and walking. Then the enemy tries to - saying 'uh, uh' - block his move. Just then, he grabs the arm of the enemy. He asks, 'Is this your arm?' And he just keeps smashing down the enemy's arm. Until it breaks, you know."

Song's characterization was so dramatic and distinctive that his gesture and accent was repeatedly parodied and imitated on television shows. Song also became a famous star overnight, a feat for an actor who'd made a feature debut just one year before.

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Song Kang-ho in "Show Must Go On," to be released on April 5

Fast forward 10 years: Song's stature is now far bigger than a mere Korean star. Just recently, he won the best actor award at the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong for his role in "The Host." In the blockbuster horror-family-comedy film directed by Bong Joon-ho, Song played Gang-du, a slob who has yellow hair, runs a food stand and falls asleep at any time. Song's "No. 3" gangster character and Gang-du in "The Host" have three things in common. First, they are fairly dim-witted. Second, they are deeply charming despite their weaknesses. Third, the most important, is that Song has brought to life the peculiar characters with his talented versatility.

Indeed, the 40-year-old actor is versatile. In "Shiri" (1997), he was a good cop; in "The Foul King" (2000), he was a soft-hearted businessman who wants to be a professional wrestler; in "Joint Security Area" (2000), he was a playful North Korean solider; and in "Memories of Murder" (2003), he showcased a skillful kick and much more.

Expectations are mounting over whether he can pull off a commercial and cinematic success again in director Han Jae-rim's "Show Must Go On." Song plays In-gu, a mid-level mob boss who struggles to save his career and family, apparently symbolizing many Korean fathers who battle to survive in a tough society.

In the latest film, Song's In-gu faces a series of problems. He has to kidnap and blackmail a company president to snatch a construction contract, but the scenario does not play out as he expects.

Meanwhile, he drives a big car as a mid-level mobster, but remains worried about lethal attacks from rivals. He feels he's getting old and his confidence in fighting knife-wielding enemies is fast declining.

In-gu's day job is always bordering on criminal acts and death threats, but his role as a father does not have many surprises. He has to take care of his family. His son is studying abroad, which means he has to secure the burdensome schooling expenses just like tens of thousands of lonely Korean fathers who have sent off their family members abroad in the name of getting a better education for their children.

In-gu is despised by his daughter who knows what her father is really up to. But In-gu tries to play the typical Korean father figure, to no avail. He ventures out to meet with the daughter's teacher for discussing her wayward behaviors, but ends up making the situation almost hopeless.

Just like any other Korean father, In-gu also wants to get a decent house for his family. He knows that his wife is having a hard time in the old apartment where taking a shower often means a soap-and-no-water adventure.

The crisis facing a middle-aged Korean father in "Show Must Go On" involves a weakening status in the workplace, soaring education costs for children, an elusive dream to own a big house, and a marriage that is steadily breaking apart.

Whether the dramatic power of the movie is up to the ambitious English title is not certain. What's clear, however, is that regardless of the movie's commercial success, Song will certainly keep exploring his versatile talent.

By Yang Sung-jin (insight@heraldm.com)

https://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/htm...00703290014.asp

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January 13, 2008

Must-See Films in 2008

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

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Star Power Reigns Big Screen

This year, a long lineup of star-studded movies, both homegrown and Hollywood imports, awaits release with Korea's hottest stars and bona fide actors gracing the silver screen throughout 2008.

While a high profile cast hasn't always guaranteed a sellout, it would be hard to walk past movie posters featuring top stars.

The New Year starts off with a bang. Jun Ji-hyun (also known as Gianna Jun) makes her long-awaited comeback after a two-year hiatus opposite Hwang Jung-min in "A Man Who Was Superman," to open across theaters Jan. 31.

The movie garnered attention by butchering down Jun's "wholesome" image for the role of a chain-smoking, tomboyish filmmaker. Meanwhile, fans are anxious to see how Hwang will pull off his interesting role as Superman.

The red poster of "Hellcats" features three female stars representing their own generation: 47-year-old actress Lee Mi-suk ("Untold Scandal," 2003), whose sex appeal seems to grow stronger with each passing year; 25-year-old fashion icon Kim Min-hee, who appears onscreen for the first time in six years; and 15-year-old Ahn So-hee of the sensational K-pop group Wonder Girls, who is making headlines with her acting debut.

Tracing the highflying romances of these three women, this ultimate "chick flick" is slated for release Jan. 17.

A host of films boasting macho star power will be released this year. In March comes "Nuneneun Nun, Ieneun I" (Eye for an Eye, Tooth for a Tooth) starring two household names, Han Seok-gyu ("Shiri," 1998) and Cha Seung-won ("My Teacher, Mr. Kim," 2003). In his 16th film, Han gives an edge to his soft charisma as a merciless cop while Cha pumps up his muscles to play the perfect criminal.

The poster for "Sukmyeong" (Destiny) steals women's hearts and provokes men's jealousy as two "momjjang" or "hot body" actors appear together _ topless. Song Seung-heon makes a big comeback _ after serving in the military _ opposite Kwon Sang-woo in this action-packed drama about a friendship that goes sour.

Director Kim Jee-woon ("A Bittersweet Life," 2005) brings a "Korean-style Western" movie to the screens starring three of Korea's A-list male celebrities: "certified" actor Song Kang-ho, hallyu megastar Lee Byung-hun and heartthrob Jung Woo-sung.

The movie is set in the 1930s, during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Far away in Manchuria, the Good (Jung), the Bad (Lee) and the Weird (Song) become entangled in a train robbery case over a treasure map. This larger than life story becomes even more complicated as Japanese authorities and Korean independence fighters enter the scene.

Another highly anticipated film is "Ssanghwajeom," coming to theaters this summer. It combines the star power of Zo In-sung ("A Dirty Carnival," 2006) and Joo Jin-mo ("200 Pounds Beauty," 2006). Director Yoo Ha takes the two handsome actors back to Goguryeo Kingdom (37 B.C.-A.D. 668). Zo and Joo play the parts of a king and bodyguard, respectively, who become involved in a homosexual romance.

Other long-awaited films include low-budget projects that still shine with star power. Korea's celebrated director Kim Ki-duk brings together Korea's popular actress Lee Na-young and Japan's heartthrob in "Bimong" (Sad Dream), which will be in theaters in the fall/winter.

Actress Jeon Do-yeon, undoubtedly the biggest headline maker of 2007, continues her post-Cannes acting career through a small, mellow film "Meotjin Haru" (One Fine Day, working title), which is also slated for release in the fall/winter.

Filmmaker Park Chan-wook, whose name alone is enough to attract crowds, has fans anxiously waiting with "Bakjwi" (Bat, scheduled to show this spring) as well as a "Hongdangmu" (Carrot), a film he is producing for the first time.

Meanwhile, Hollywood films starring top Korean talent make 2008 an exciting year for fans: "Speed Racer" starring pop star Rain (Jung Ji-hoon) and Joon Park (Park Joon-hyung), the former member of K-pop group G.O.D.; "Laundry Warrior" with hot actor Jang Dong-kun (Jang Dong-gun); "Blood: The Last Vampire" with Jun Ji-hyun (Gianna Jun); and "Fetish" with Song Hye-kyo.

Other big movies to look forward to this summer are the latest installments of Hollywood blockbusters: the 22nd of the James Bond series and the fourth Harrison Ford classic "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" in May, as well as the Sylvester Stallone-helmed "Rambo 4" (release date in Korea to be announced).

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2.../141_17200.html

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Guest kdramafanusa

Actor Song Kang-ho won Best Actor at The 19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival!

source: http://www.psfilmfest.org/news/detail.aspx...0&year=2008

19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Announces Festival Winners

1/13/2008

2008 Palm Springs International Film Festival

Palm Springs, CA – The 19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival came to a successful close on Sunday, January 13, 2008 and announced this year’s award winners at a luncheon at Spencer’s Restaurant. The Festival, which ran from January 3-14, 2008, screened 212 films from 66 countries, including 65 premieres and 55 of the 63 foreign entries for this year’s Academy Awards. Palm Springs’ increasingly popular Festival continues to expand its diverse programming of quality independent and foreign films, setting the stage for this year’s film festival circuit.

Festival chairman Earl Greenburg stated, “The success of this year’s awards gala and Festival is amazing. During the past few years, we have been cautious about releasing numbers, however we can’t avoid doing it this year. For the first time in the Festival’s history both receipts for film ticket sales and the awards gala each exceeded one million dollars.”

Festival director Darryl Macdonald said, “With record-breaking attendance, a star-studded Gala that featured appearances by talents like Daniel Day-Lewis, Sean Penn and Halle Berry and an ecstatic audience response to the film line-up, this year’s Festival surpassed our already high expectations for the event. It sets a perfect stage for next year’s 20th anniversary edition of the event.”

Awards

.....

Song Gang-ho received FIPRESCI Award Best Actor for his performance in Secret Sunshine (South Korea) directed by Lee Chang-dong and Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu received FIPRESCI Award Best Actress for their performances in 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days (Romania) directed by Cristian Mungiu. This year’s FIPRESCI jury members include Ronald Bergen (UK), Isabelle Danel (France) and Adam Nayman (Canada).

....

Founded in 1990 by then Mayor Sonny Bono, the PSIFF is one of the largest film festivals in North America. The Festival has an attractive film sales and distribution record and is seen by American distributors as one of the best Academy Award campaign marketing tools. The Festival also features cultural events, filmmaker tributes, industry seminars and an annual black-tie gala award presentation.

Renewing their support of this year’s Festival is Title Sponsor, The City of Palm Springs and Presenting Sponsors, Spencer’s Restaurant, The Desert Sun, the City of Indian Wells, the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, Entertainment Tonight and Wessman Development. Producing Sponsors include Mercedes-Benz, the Official Vehicle of the Festival, Integrated Wealth Management, Bank of America, Regal Entertainment, Ciroc/Don Julio/Johnnie Walker and Wells Fargo.

The 20th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival is scheduled from January 8-19, 2009, for additional information call 760-322-2930 or 800-898-7256 or www.psfilmfest.org.

Photos from the Festival are available upon request at www.wireimage.com.

Contact:

Steven Wilson / Ron Hofmann

BWR Public Relations

(310) 550-7776

swilson@bwr-la.com / rhofmann@bwr-la.com

David Lee

Palm Springs International Film Society

(760) 322-2930

david@psfilmfest.org

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Actor Song Kang-ho won Best Actor at The 19th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival!

WOW! That's awesome! :w00t: Another international recognition for SKH!

Thanks kdramafanusa for the info, wow.. the award list is growing.. and growing! :lol:

Hahaa.. the first one in 2008! That's a really good sign, huh! :rolleyes:

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January 16, 2008

Song Kang-ho Named Best Actor at Palm Springs

By Lee Hyo-won

Staff Reporter

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Actor Song Kang-ho

Actor Song Kang-ho, who turns 41 on Jan. 17, received a memorable birthday present: His role in Lee Chang-dong's "Secret Sunshine" landed him the International Critics' Prize for Best Actor at the Palm Springs International Film Festival in California, the festival organizers announced Sunday.

Held for the 19th time, Jan. 1-14, Palm Springs is different from other festivals in that the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) judges the official entries for the Best Foreign Language Film in the upcoming Academy Awards.

It is a central event for showcasing foreign language films in the United States, and is considered to be one of the best marketing tools for the Academy Awards. This year, the jury had to watch over 50 works from around the world and among them was the story about a traumatized widow.

"Secret Sunshine" was on the world cinema map last year as its lead actress Jeon Do-yeon won a string of prizes including Best Actress at Cannes.

"One hopes, though, that similar consideration will be accorded her co-star, Song Kang-ho," wrote jury member Adam Nayman in the FIPRESCI Web site. While Song had swept major film awards in Korea with Jeon, he had been slightly overshadowed by the glory of his co-star, much like his obscure stalker/guardian character in the film.

Nayman noted, however, that the film's "big, frightening emotions require a compelling counterpoint to ward off melodrama. This spot can be located in Song's performance, an uncanny portrait not of passive-aggression, but rather a species with fewer cinematic precedents ― call it aggressive passivity."

Song, currently shooting his next work, was unable to attend the award ceremony.

The FIPRESCI Award for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year went to "Armin" from Croatia, directed by Ognjen Svilicic, and the award for Best Actress went to Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu for their roles in "4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days" from Romania, directed by Cristian Mungiu.

Apart from the three jury prizes, Palm Springs gives out various awards chosen by the audience and special mentions to stars.

Song's recent filmography includes the critically acclaimed crime story "The Show Must Go On" (2007) and "The Host" (2005), one of Korea's biggest grossing films. The actor will appear opposite Lee Byung-hun and Jung Woo-sung in the "Korean-style Western" movie "The Good, the Bad, the Weird" by Kim Jee-won, due for release this summer.

Credits: hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/speci.../139_17430.html

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January 17, 2008

Actor Song Gang-ho Wins Best Actor Award

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Actor Song Gang-ho received the FIRESCI Award for Best Male Actor for his performance in 'Secret Sunshine' at the 2008 Palm Springs Film Festival held in California in the United States.

The Palm Springs Film Festival is a major U.S. film festival which was first held in 1990. FIRESCI, a federation of film critics, chooses the award recipients each year.

The Best Actress Award was given to Anamaria Marinca and Laura Vasiliu while the Best Foreign Film Award went to Croatia's 'Armin.'

Source: KBS Global

http://english.kbs.co.kr/mcontents/enterta...2249_11692.html

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Thursday, 17 January 2008

"Lust," "Warlords" dominate Asian Film Awards

Written by Patrick Frater

HONG KONG – "Lust, Caution" and "The Warlords" collected the most nominations for the upcoming Asian Film Awards. Ceremony, in its second year, will take place in Hong Kong March 17.

The two pics, which are among the biggest Asian box office winners in the fall-winter so far, each garnered six nods and will compete for the best film award.

Nudging the leading pair is Chinese helmer Jiang Wen's "The Sun Also Rises," which has five nods, followed by Korea's "Secret Sunshine" and "I Just Didn't do it," pic which was Japan's Oscar nominee, with four nods each.

These five pics dominate the lists for best film and best director, though also in the running for best film is Iran's "Buddha Collapsed out of Shame," and Zhang Lu also gets a best director nod for Korean-French pic "Desert Dream."

Surprising by its complete absence from the nominations list is "The Assembly," Feng Xiaogang's war story, which rivals "Warlords" at the Chinese B.O., was the Pusan fest opener and boasts stunning tech work in its battle scenes.

Otherwise, the selection is slightly wider and fractionally less art-house than last year. Indian megahit "Om Shanti Om" gets two nods and art-house pic "Frozen" gets one, for cinematography. "Tokyo Tower: Mom and me, and Sometimes Dad," and "Always: Sunset on Third Street 2" each get three nominations.

Source: Variety Asia

http://www.varietyasiaonline.com/content/view/5326/53/

Related sites

http://www.asianfilmawards.org/eng/nominations.html

http://www.asianfilmawards.org/pdf/AFA%202...Release-Eng.pdf

LIST OF NOMINEES (re: Nominee Film Title Country/Territory)

Best Film

1 Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame Iran

2 I Just Didn't Do It I Just Didn't Do It Japan

3 Lust, Caution Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

4 Secret Sunshine Secret Sunshine South Korea

5 Sun Also Rises, The Sun Also Rises, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

6 Warlords, The Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

Best Director

1 Peter CHAN Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

2 JIANG Wen Sun Also Rises, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

3 Ang LEE Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

4 LEE Chang-Dong Secret Sunshine South Korea

5 SUO Masayuki I Just Didn't Do It Japan

6 ZHANG Lu Desert Dream South Korea/ France

Best Actor

1 Jack KAO God Man Dog Taiwan

2 KASE Ryo I Just Didn't Do It Japan

3 Tony LEUNG Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

4 Jet LI Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

5 Joe ODAGIRI Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad Japan

6 SONG Kang-ho Secret Sunshine South Korea

Best Actress

1 Joan CHEN Home Song Stories, The Singapore/Australia

2 JEON Do-Yeon Secret Sunshine South Korea

3 KIKI Kirin Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad Japan

4 KIM Yunjin Seven Days South Korea

5 Deepika PADUKONE Om Shanti Om India

6 TANG Wei Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

Best Supporting Actor

1 CHUN Ho-jin Skeletons in the Closet South Korea

2 KOBAYASHI Kaoru Tokyo Tower: Mom and Me, and Sometimes Dad Japan

3 Mario MAURER Love of Siam Thailand

4 SUN Honglei Mongol Mongolia/ Kazakhstan/ Germany/ Russia

5 TSUTSUMI Shin'ichi Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Japan

Best Supporting Actress

1 Joan CHEN Sun Also Rises, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

2 KONG Hyo-jin Happiness South Korea

3 KIM Hye-soo Skeletons in the Closet South Korea

4 Apinya SAKUJAROENSUK Ploy Thailand

5 YAKUSHIMARU Hiroko Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Japan

Best Screenwriter

1 AU Kin Yee / WAI Ka-Fai Mad Detective, The Hong Kong

2 IM Sang-soo Old Garden, The South Korea

3 PENG Tao Little Moth Chinese Mainland, The

4 James SCHAMUS/ WANG Hui-Ling Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

5 SUO Masayuki I just Didn't Do it Japan

Best Cinematographer

1 Hooman BEHMANESH Those Three Iran

2 Chankit CHAMNIVIKAIPONG Ploy Thailand

3 LIAO Pen-jung Help Me Eros Taiwan

4 Shanker RAMAN Frozen India

5 Arthur WONG Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

Best Production Designer

1 CAO Jiuping / ZHANG Jian Qun Sun Also Rises, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

2 KIM Yu-Jeong/ LEE Min-Bok Epitaph (Gidam) South Korea

3 IWAKI Namiko Sakuran Japan

4 Pisut PARIWATTANAKIT/ Thanakorn PONGSUWAN Opaptika Thailand

5 TSAI Ming-liang Help Me Eros Taiwan

Best Composer

1 the August band/ Flure/ Witwisit HIRUNWONGKUL/ Chukiate SAKVEERAKUL/ Passakorn WIROONSUP Love of Siam Thailand

2 Vishal DADLANI/ Shekhar RAVJIANI/ Pyarelal Ramprasad SHARMA Om Shanti Om India

3 Alexandre DESPLAT Lust, Caution Taiwan/ Chinese Mainland, The / USA

4 Xiao He Mid-Afternoon Barks Chinese Mainland, The

5 SHIINA Ringo Sakuran Japan

Best Editor

1 Charliebebs GOHETIA Slingshot Philippines, The

2 HIRASAWA Shogo Maiko haaaan!!! Japan

3 LEE Eun-soo Old Garden, The South Korea

4 Wenders LI Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The

5 David RICHARDSON Eye In the Sky Hong Kong

Best Visual Effects

1 HYUNG Rae Shim D-War South Korea

2 Thomas DUVAL Sun Also Rises, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

3 NG Yuen Fai Warlords, The Chinese Mainland, The/ Hong Kong

4 SESHITA Hiroyuki Dainipponjin Japan

5 YAMAZAKI Takashi Always: Sunset on Third Street 2 Japan

Source: http://www.asianfilmawards.org/eng/nominations.html

SKH won BEST ACTOR at the 1st Asian Film Award in March 2007 for 'THE HOST'. He's nominated again this year's AFA for 'SECRET SUNSHINE' in the company of awesome Asian actors such as Jet Li, Joe Odagiri and Tony Leung especially.

Will he win again? May the Best Man be the Best Actor. :D

Photos from AFA 2007 in Hong Kong, March 2007

44afa.jpg

67afa.jpg

45afa.jpg

Source: www.asianfilmawards.org

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Seriously, I wouldn't mind seeing SKH and LBH, JWS too (and the cool Dir. Kim as well ^^).. in a anything at all.. promoting their upcoming Western flick. :rolleyes: :blush:

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Elsewhere.. an interesting read..

They’re A-list for a reason

Jan 19th, 2008 by javabeans

This isn’t too different from the Hollywood system of things, if you substitute “talk show circuit” for the Korean variety programming mentioned below. You know, if an actor or personality appears on Letterman, Conan, or any of the other late-night (or early-morning) programs, chances are they’re hawking something, whether it’s a new movie, new book, new fragrance, new vanity athletic shoe line, new healthy-cooking meat griller, whatever. And similarly, in Hollywood, the bigger the star, the rarer the appearances (and the bigger the deal when they do appear). So to the following, I say, (1) makes sense, and (2) DUH.

Active stars who don’t appear on variety shows…?

“I’m not close with Jang Dong Gun. Please talk with his management.” “Please ask Mr. Jang Dong Gun and get him to appear.” Those are the words of [host] Kang Ho Dong on MBC’s popular program Goldfish. Kang Ho Dong never fails to ask for Jang Dong Gun to appear whenever the opportunity arises or a star connected to him comes on the show. In truth, he’s said that PD Lim Jung Ah is negotiating to get Jang Dong Gun to appear.

Jang Dong Gun’s absence from variety programs in today’s pop culture is unusual. These days, when an celebrity has a film coming out, it’s customary practice for them to promote them on the variety programs on each of the three major networks.

The reason is because variety show appearances have a rather large influence on the film industry. In some cases, such as with D War’s Shim Hyung Rae, the appearance creates a huge marketing effect, while others, like Kim Tae Hee, fall short of expectations. However, it’s undeniable that appearing on these shows has an effect on movie promotion.

Criticism over actors needing to appear on these programs for film promotion is on the decline, and thus it’s becoming more common for them to appear around the time of a film’s release.

For this reason, these days even stars like Seol Kyung Gu, who rarely come out to variety shows, have been putting in appearances. However, despite the growing trend, there are some stars who still don’t. For instance, there’s the aforementioned Jang Dong Gun, who doesn’t make the program circuit even when he’s about to release a new movie.

There are others similar to Jang, such as Jeon Ji Hyun, Song Kang Ho, and Lee Byung Heon. After appearing in the drama Happy Together and stepping into the film world, Jeon has concentrated on her projects and promotion for her films without stepping foot onto these kinds of variety shows. With her upcoming movie The Man Who Was Superman opening on the 31st, she’s stuck to her pattern and stayed away from the programs.

The same goes for Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Heon, Ahn Sung Ki and others. They do participate in interviews when entertainment news programs visit film sets, but they don’t seek out the shows on the broadcast networks.

The reason for this could be that these stars’ personalities don’t mesh with the characteristics of these variety shows, or that they feel that it’s burdensome to have to delve into telling stories, but depending merely on the film for success or shunning variety shows works against them.

Oh yeah? Sounds like sour (or bitter?) grapes to me.

Korean article from http://www.mydaily.co.kr/news/read.html?ne...1119&ext=na

Full credits to www.dramabeans.com for more + fans/readers' feedback

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