Korean crime thriller sold to 56 overseas markets A scene from “Deliver Us From Evil.” Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentThe South Korean crime thriller "Deliver Us From Evil" has been sold to more than 50 overseas markets, according to its distributor on Friday.The film, which has topped the local box office since its release on Aug. 5, was sold to 56 countries and territories, including the United States, Germany, Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to CJ Entertainment.With the movie hitting Taiwanese screens this Wednesday, the distributor said it is in talks with its counterparts to fix the release date in each country.Starring Hwang Jung-min and Lee Jung-jae, the crime action film has attracted 2.7 million moviegoers in South Korea as of Thursday, with a total revenue of 23.4 billion won (US$19.7 million).Directed by Hong Won-chan, the film follows the story of an assassin, played by Hwang, who becomes embroiled in unexpected incidents as a mysterious killer, played by Lee, pursues him to avenge his dead brother. (Yonhap)Aug 14, 2020
'Deliver Us from Evil' soars at local box office The crime-action film “Deliver Us from Evil” topped the local box office after its release on Aug. 5. Courtesy of CJ ENMBy Lee Gyu-leeThe crime-action film “Deliver Us from Evil” has topped the local box office for a week since it hit theaters on Aug. 5. The film, which opened with 2.9 billion won ($2.4 million) in ticket sales, has sold about 2.6 million tickets as of Wednesday, grossing 22.2 billion won ($18.8 million).A poster for the movie. / Courtesy of CJ ENMThe hard-boiled action thriller, directed by Hong Won-chan, whose work includes the thriller “Office,” revolves around hitman In-nam ― played by Hwang Jung-min ― who is about to retire.But before he can carry out his last hit, he learns that he has a nine-year-old daughter and she has been kidnapped in Thailand. Searching for his daughter in Bangkok, he gets pursued by contract killer Ray ― played by Lee Jung-jae ― who is seeking revenge on In-nam for killing his brother. The palm-sweating action ― car chases, gunfights and hand-to-hand combat ― develops as the hitman and the contract kilAug 13, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Ha Ji-won starring 'Pawn' adds new flair to 'tear jerker' films Director Kang Dae-gyu, second from left, poses with actors Sung Dong-il, left, Kim Hee-won, right, Ha Ji-won and Park So-yi during a press event held in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Kwak Yeon-sooThe family drama “Pawn” is a “tear-jerker” film that offers a unique yet touching exploration of a family, according to the film's cast. It revolves around Doo-seok (Sung Dong-il) and Jong-bae (Kim Hee-won), debt collectors who look intimidating but are actually kind-hearted.The two go to collect debt from an illegal immigrant named Myung-ja (Kim Yun-jin), who offers her 9-year-old daughter Seung-yi as collateral. But Myung-ja gets deported and the two are left to look after Seung-yi. The younger Seung-yi is played by child actor Park So-yi, and actress Ha Ji-won plays the older version of the character.Sung explained that “Pawn” isn't about the traditional definition of a family, it holds a message that highlights the importance of caring for our neighbors.“As a father of three children, I feel responsible to tell a warm story wAug 12, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
Jin Goo, Gong Seung-yeon to host Jecheon film fest opening Actors Jin Goo, left, and Gong Seung-yeon will host the opening ceremony of the upcoming Jecheon International Music & Film Festival. / Courtesy of JIMFFBy Kwak Yeon-sooActors Jin Goo and Gong Seung-yeon will host the opening ceremony of the upcoming Jecheon International Music & Film Festival (JIMFF), which will kick off Aug. 13 in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province.Under the slogan “Green Again,” the 16th JIMFF will run until Aug. 17 but without the presence of an audience due to the COVID-19 pandemic.“The decision to shift to an online festival has been made due to growing concern about the new wave of COVID-19 infections and the government's strengthened distancing efforts,” the organizing committee said in a press release. However, key events such as support for film productions and a film music academy will proceed as scheduled. These events will be attended by festival-related officials only, in consideration of public health and safety.The film fest will open with director Shim Chan-yang's “Da Capo,” which finds Tae-il (played by IAug 10, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Deliver Us From Evil' dominates box office Film “Deliver Us From Evil.” Courtesy of CJ EntertainmentBy Dong Sun-hwa Action movie “Deliver Us From Evil” has topped the local box office for four consecutive days as of Sunday, according to the Korean Film Council (KOFIC). The council said Sunday that the film had drawn more than 560,000 theatergoers on Saturday, outperforming the action flick “Steel Rain2: Summit” and the zombie thriller “Peninsula,” which sold more than 81,000 and 40,000 tickets, respectively, on the same day. As of Sunday, Deliver Us From Evil has attracted 1.5 million filmgoers since its premiere on Aug. 5. The star-studded movie revolves around hitman In-nam ― played by Hwang Jung-min ― who is chased by villain Ray ― played by Lee Jung-jae. The two co-starred in the 2013 hit crime drama “New World.” The movie is directed by Hong Won-chan, who was behind the success of the thriller “Office” (2014). “Deliver Us From Evil is a story of characters who are living in cold and heartless world,” he said in a recent interview. Aug 9, 2020By Dong Sun-hwa
Virus-hit Korean cinema prepares for next 100 years Korean film industry experts attend the “Post-coronavirus Era: Korean Cinema Prepares for the Next 100 Years” forum held in a seminar room at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. / Korea Times photo by Kwak Yeon-sooBy Kwak Yeon-sooExperts and government officials met on Friday to analyze the impact of the coronavirus on Korea's film industry and to discuss ways to revive domestic cinema.The “Post-coronavirus Era: Korean Cinema Prepares for the Next 100 Years” forum was organized by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and hosted by Rep. Lim O-kyeong of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).About 100 people attended, including Vice Culture Minister Oh Young-woo, DPK Rep. Do Jong-hwan and KOFIC Chairperson Oh Seok-geun.“Several summer blockbuster films like 'Peninsula' and 'Steel Rain 2' opened in theaters as planned and they're performing pretty well at the box office, but we're still uncertain as to when cinemas will return to normal,” said Choi Jeong-hwa, the head of the Producers Guild of Korea.“Although the number of moviegoers rose forAug 7, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
When stage play meets cinema: SAC unveils its first stage movie 'Story of Old Couple' Cha Yoo-kyung, right, and Kim Myung-gon in a scene from the stage movie “The Story of an Old Couple.” / Courtesy of Seoul Arts CenterBy Kwak Yeon-sooIn a pandemic-stricken world where live-streamed performances have become the norm, the Seoul Arts Center (SAC) has found a new way to deliver its theater performances to audiences not familiar with its work.As part of its “SAC on Screen” project, which aims to record its plays and other theatrical productions for screening in cinemas, the arts center has unveiled its first “stage movie” titled “The Story of an Old Couple.”It follows a couple in their 60s falling in love. Mischievous Park Dong-man (played by Kim Myung-gon) visits foul-mouthed Lee Jum-soon (Cha Yoo-kyung), to rent a room in her home. Park, who lost his wife two decades ago, tries to win the heart of Lee, who lost her husband 30 years ago and raised three daughters on her own, and the two eventually fall in love.SAC CEO Yoo In-taek said the latest move to expand its theater program and use digital technology to engage audiencAug 7, 2020By Kwak Yeon-soo
'Cocoon' actor Wilford Brimley dies age 85 In this Monday, Dec. 14, 2009 file photo, Actor Wilford Brimley attends the premiere of 'Did You Hear About The Morgans' at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini, File)Actor Wilford Brimley, best known for his roles in the Oscar-winning movie "Cocoon" and "The Firm" has died at the age of 85, U.S. media reported.Utah-born Brimley found his way into the film industry through stunt work around horse riding, before taking on successively larger roles in his 40s and 50s which brought him fame playing sometimes gruff but lovable moustachioed seniors.In Ron Howard's 1985 Sci-Fi feature "Cocoon", Brimley played a man in his 70s who together with the other residents of a Florida retirement home, discovers an alien energy source that rejuvenates them.Another memorable role came alongside Tom Cruise in the 1993 legal thriller, "The Firm", where Brimley played a sinister security official for a law firm.Actor Barbara Hershey, who starred with Brimley in several films, described him on Twitter as a wonderful man and actor who "always made me laugh". (Reuters) Aug 7, 2020
'Parasite' actress' new film set for August 27 release Poster for the upcoming film “Fukuoka.” / Courtesy of IndiestoryBy Lee Gyu-leeThe film “Fukuoka,” starring Oscar-winning “Parasite” actress Park So-dam, is set to hit local movie theaters on Aug. 27, after a long delay due to the coronavirus. Indiestory, the film's distributor, announced the new date Wednesday, saying, “the release date has finally been set.” The drama was originally planned to premiere on March 12, but was canceled as virus infections surged in the country. The movie, directed by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Lu, follows two friends from college ― Hae-hyo, played by Kwon Hae-hyo, and Je-Moon (Yoon Je-moon) ― who lost touch a long time ago. In the film, a mysterious woman ― played by Park ― approaches Je-moon and talks him into finding his old friend in Fukuoka with her, beginning a strange journey. The film premiered at the Berlin International Film Festival in February.Aug 5, 2020By Lee Gyu-lee
Song Joong-ki's 'Space Sweepers' to premiere Sept. 23 “Space Sweepers.” Courtesy of Merry ChristmasBy Dong Sun-hwa“Space Sweepers,” a sci-fi movie set in space and starring Song Joong-ki and Kim Tae-ri, is set to hit local theaters on Sept. 23. Distributor Merry Christmas unveiled the film's teaser video, Monday. The clip features “The Victory,” a space junk sweeper, and its crew. Watch the video: bit.ly/33ngNVXSet in 2092, the film revolves around the crew of The Victory, who have been searching for lucrative space debris. After they spot the humanoid “Dorothy” ― a weapon of mass destruction ― the members begin a “risky deal.” Song appears as the shuttle's pilot Taeho, while Kim plays Captain Jang. Jin Sun-kyu and Yoo Hai-jin also feature in the movie, which is known to be the first Korean sci-fi set in space. Filmmaker Jo Sung-hee, who worked with Song for the fantasy romance "A Werewolf Boy" in 2012, directed “Space Sweepers.”Aug 4, 2020By Dong Sun-hwa
