INTERVIEW Why Jo Woo-jin regards his 'Hard Hit' role as highlight of his career Actor Jo Woo-jin / Courtesy of CJ ENMBy Kwak Yeon-sooFor actor Jo Woo-jin, who toiled in obscurity for 16 years before his breakthrough as a merciless villain in the 2015 film, “Inside Men,” his late-blooming success feels like “a miracle.”Since making his acting debut in 1999 through a stage play called “Last Embrace,” the 42-year-old actor has played supporting roles on the big and small screens.More TV and movie roles followed until “Inside Men” brought him a level of recognition he had never experienced before. As his career progressed, Jo has taken a couple of opportunities to stretch his acting chops. In “Steel Rain” (2017), he played a North Korean agent and in “The Drug King” (2018), he played a notorious gang boss. More recently, he played bigger roles in the heist caper film, “Collectors” (2020), and sci-fi thriller, “Seobok” (2021).On how he endured difficulties as an obscure actor for nearly two decades, he said his easy-going attitude and lofty dream kept him going.“I'veJun 20, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Kevin Costner celebrates 30 years of 'Prince of Thieves' A scene from "Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves" / Korea Times fileFilm star Kevin Costner celebrated the 30th anniversary of his medieval adventure movie, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, with a Twitter post."This week marked 30 years since Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves has been in the world. Hard to believe three decades have passed! I've loved hearing from fans their personal memories surrounding this movie. Is it a special one to you? Tell me why," Costner, 66, tweeted Friday, along with photos from the 1991 film.Costner ― who now stars on Yellowstone and was recently seen in the film Let Him Go ― played the titular hero in the blockbuster, which co-starred Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Lady Marian, Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham, Morgan Freeman as Azeem, Christian Slater as Will Scarlett and Sean Connery as King Richard.The film's theme song, Bryan Adams' "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You," became a huge radio hit and won a Grammy. (UPI)Jun 20, 2021
'Quiet Place 2' takes No. 1 spot on Korean box office A scene from American horror film “A Quite Place: Part II,” which has been topping the Korean box office. Courtesy of Lotte EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwaAmerican horror movie, “A Quite Place: Part II,” has secured the top spot on the Korean box office after opening on June 16. The flick, starring Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy among others, drew 40,827 theatergoers on Thursday, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). It has attracted 108,030 viewers nationwide. “A Quite Place: Part II” is the sequel to the 2018 film “A Quite Place.” Both works revolve around a family struggling to survive in a post-apocalyptic world packed with sightless aliens who hunt their prey via sound. Directed, produced and written by John Krasinski, it is the first movie to exceed $100 million at the American box office during the COVID-19 pandemic.Disney's “Cruella,” which premiered on May 26, ranked second on the box office, selling 23,413 tickets on Thursday. It has drawn 1.06 million viewers. The live-action adaptation zeroes in on the life Jun 18, 2021By Dong Sun-hwa
INTERVIEW Romantic comedy 'Sweet & Sour' tells unconventional love story Filmmaker Lee Gye-byok / Courtesy of NetflixBy Kwak Yeon-sooDirector Lee Gye-byok's latest romantic comedy, “Sweet & Sour,” tells an unconventional love story. Unlike coming-of-age stories filled with heartwarming romance, he unfolds the “nasty breakup” of a couple who try to sort out what went wrong.“Some people say it's an 'anti-romantic comedy' because of the way that the film ends, but it's not really an anti-romantic comedy. I tried to depict one modern couple's bittersweet relationship in a realistic way,” he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times via Zoom.A remake of the Japanese film, “Initiation Love” (2016), “Sweet & Sour” revolves around Jang-hyuk (Jang Ki-yong), who is in a long-distance relationship with his girlfriend, Da-eun (Chae Soo-bin). As the popular saying goes, “out of sight, out of mind,” the couple drift apart and eventually break up.“Although it's a remake of a Japanese movie, I tried to reinvent the story so that it resonates with Korean audiences. I brought inJun 18, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Review: In Pixar's 'Luca,' young life as a stolen adventure Scenes from Luca / Courtesy of Walt Disney Company KoreaA brisk and bright sun-dappled fable of above-ground adventure and below-the-surface identity, Enrico Casarosa's ``Luca'' a summery, shimmering fish-out-of-water fairy tale ― is one of Pixar's most pure and condensed enchantments. Pixar has plunged into the sea before, of course, in the aquatic ``Finding Nemo'' and ``Finding Dory.'' Lushly detailed waters have been sprinkled through many of the studio's films, from the rushing river of ``The Good Dinosaur'' to the frothy seaside surf of ``Piper.'' One personal favorite: how, after the frantic Paris chase in ``Ratatouille,'' the diminutive Chef Skinner bobs furiously in the Seine.But in ``Luca,'' we're in the ocean to look longingly upon another world, which happens to be our own. Luca Paguro (Jacob Tremblay) is a 13-year-old sea monster who lives off the coast of the Italian Riviera. He's a farm boy, like many protagonists before him, with dreams of another, forbidden realm ― only Luca shepherds goatfish, instead of goats, on rolling underwater pastures. To him, the surface is aJun 17, 2021
Bucheon Int'l Fantastic Film Festival to open in July under 'Stay Strange' theme From left, the BIFAN Organizing Committee General Manager Eom Yong-hoon, Chairman Jung Ji-young, Festival Director Shin Chul and Head Programmer Ellen Y.D. Kim attend a press conference for the 25th Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, scheduled July 8-18. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-sooThe Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), the country's annual film festival devoted to fantasy, horror and sci-fi genres, will screen a total of 258 films from 47 countries this year. The 25th BIFAN will run from July 8-18, under the theme, “Stay Strange,” with special attention to films that tell “scary tales,” according to the organizing committee. During the festival, a total of 146 films (61 features, 85 shorts) will be streamed online via the local streaming platform, Waave, as part of social distancing efforts amid the COVID-19 pandemic.“In the midst of uncertainty, our message to the audience is 'it's okay to be weird.' Weirdness can be a powerful vehicle Jun 15, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
Movie review: A star-studded retirement home in 'Queen Bees' This image released by Gravitas Ventures shows Ann-Margret, left, and Loretta Devine in a scene from "Queen Bees." AP-YonhapThere are two genres I tend to approach with extra caution: Slashers and retirement home comedies. Both have found me covering my eyes for not entirely unrelated reasons. Yes, the dismembering is more metaphorical in the latter, but sometimes it's equally hard to stomach seeing a great group of actors reduced to incontinence jokes. Also, I'm still recovering from the Diane Keaton movie ``Poms.''The latest retirement home comedy is `` Queen Bees,'' about Helen (played by the majestic Ellen Burstyn), who reluctantly moves into a senior community while her beautiful suburban house is being fixed up after an accidental kitchen fire. Helen is still sharp and active and capable of living alone, but her real estate agent daughter (Elizabeth Mitchell) just seems to want to get the inevitable transition to out of the way. Helen, for her part, suspects her daughter just wants to sell her home and she may not be wrong.For as lovely as Helen's house is, the retirement commuJun 13, 2021
Most anticipated movies this summer, from 'Escape from Mogadishu' to 'Black Widow' From left, posters for films “Escape from Mogadishu,” “Hostage: Missing Celebrity” and “Black Widow” / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment, NEW, Walt Disney Korea By Kwak Yeon-sooWith Hollywood films like “F9” and “Cruella” doing better than expected at the box office and the country's vaccination rate picking up quickly, delayed blockbusters are finally hitting the big screen in time for the summer blockbuster season. The action blockbuster “F9” has sold over 2 million box office tickets here since its release on May 19, becoming the highest-grossing film of the year. Disney's “Cruella” has attracted over 760,000 moviegoers, grossing 7.2 billion won ($6.4 million) so far. The country's inoculation rate has been rising with some 20 percent of the population having received at least their first COVID-19 vaccine shots since February. Under these conditions, Lotte Entertainment announced its plans to release the big-budget action blockbuster “Escape from Mogadishu,” featurJun 11, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Parasite' actor Song Kang-ho selected to Cannes' jury Actor Song Kang-hoSouth Korean actor Song Kang-ho has been named a jury member of this year's Cannes Film Festival, industry sources said Friday.The "Parasite" star recently accepted an offer to join the competition jury of the 74th edition of the world's most prestigious film festival, according to the sources.The full list of the jurors led by American filmmaker Spike Lee will be announced next week.Song will be the fifth Korean to be a member of Cannes' jury, following director Shin Sang-ok in 1994, director Lee Chang-dong in 2009, actress Jeon Do-yeon in 2014 and director Park Chan-wook in 2017.He is also expected to visit Cannes as a cast member of the disaster film "Emergency Declaration," which was invited to the out of competition section of the film fest.This year's Cannes festival will take place from July 6-17. (Yonhap)Jun 11, 2021
Jin Ki-joo plays deaf person who confronts serial killer in thriller film 'Midnight' From left, actors Wi Ha-jun, Jin Ki-joo, Kim Hye-yoon and Park Hoon, pose during an online press conference for the film “Midnight,” Wednesday. Courtesy of CJ ENM, TvingBy Kwak Yeon-sooActor Jin Ki-joo said she discovered the hidden charms of the thriller genre by starring in “Midnight,” which offers a suspense-laden plot that alternates between vigorous action and cerebral riddle-solving.“I was a little hesitant at first because I'm not a huge fan of thrillers. But after watching the completed film over and over again, to the point that I can watch from beginning to end with my eyes open, I now understand why thrillers are such a popular genre,” she said during a press conference for the film on Wednesday.“Midnight” revolves around a deaf woman named Kyung-mi (Jin) who engages in a battle of wits with serial killer Do-sik (Wi Ha-jun). After Kyung-mi witnesses a crime, Do-sik begins to stalk and hunt her down.Jin explained that the deafness of her character Kyung-mi serves as a major strength in the film. In the film, Kyung-mi is able tJun 10, 2021By Kwak Yeon-soo
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