It’s true that queer representation in cinema has come a long way from what it used to be, and society has evolved enough to make way for important and timely conversations on the LGBTQ+ community. Now, if you take a look at the highest-rated queer movies of all time, you’ll come across titles like Bpm, Moonlight, God’s Own Country, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Shiva Baby, The Half of It, The Handmaiden, Dog Day Afternoon, Love Lies Bleeding, The Power of the Dog, Carol, and more. Upon closer examination, you’ll realize that a lot of these films are very White or they are centered around stories set in first-world countries because they are either more marketable and more accessible than queer tales from the disenfranchised sections of society. This phenomenon is not only hindering the queer discourse but also preventing the queer cinema of third-world countries from progressing.
- 10/25/2024
- by Pramit Chatterjee
- Film Fugitives
They say there are only three certainties in life: death, taxes, and the release of at least one new Hong Sang-soo film each year. In a career marked by extreme prolificness—”By the Stream” is his ninth film to come out this decade, which, need I remind you, is less than halfway through completion—Hong’s directorial approach has equally been marked by its own set of developments coinciding with his personal journey; minor adjustments for anyone just popping in periodically on one of his many features, but for those accustomed to his propensity for self-reflection and jarring zooms, these changes may as well be signs of a whole new artist.
In particular, this new decade seems to have brought with it a more seasoned shade of that contemplative attitude—one that recognizes the internal faults Hong would begin to examine in the previous decade, but with a newfound understanding...
In particular, this new decade seems to have brought with it a more seasoned shade of that contemplative attitude—one that recognizes the internal faults Hong would begin to examine in the previous decade, but with a newfound understanding...
- 10/14/2024
- by Julian Malandruccolo
- High on Films
Netflix showcased its Korean film slate for the coming year at an event in Busan, including Lost In Starlight, the first Korean-language animated feature to be produced by the streamer.
Directors from seven films set to release on the platform next year attended the event, held during Busan International Film Festival, to discuss their upcoming projects.
Lost In Starlight will mark the feature debut of director Han Ji-won and follows the long-distance relationship between an astronaut, voiced by Kim Tae-ri of The Handmaiden, and a musician, voiced by Hong Kyung of TV’s Revenant.
Also on the slate is Revelations,...
Directors from seven films set to release on the platform next year attended the event, held during Busan International Film Festival, to discuss their upcoming projects.
Lost In Starlight will mark the feature debut of director Han Ji-won and follows the long-distance relationship between an astronaut, voiced by Kim Tae-ri of The Handmaiden, and a musician, voiced by Hong Kyung of TV’s Revenant.
Also on the slate is Revelations,...
- 10/5/2024
- ScreenDaily
The opening night of the 29th Busan International Film Festival (Biff) saw a starry audience of more than 4,500 guests in fits of laughter as well as reduced to tears at a ceremony tonight (October 3).
Staged under the illuminated roof of the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea, directors, actors and producers from more than 70 films in Biff’s official selection walked the red carpet, including Thai star Billkin from blockbuster How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, India’s Banita Das from Village Rockstars 2 and Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae was also in attendance as well as Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes,...
Staged under the illuminated roof of the Busan Cinema Center in South Korea, directors, actors and producers from more than 70 films in Biff’s official selection walked the red carpet, including Thai star Billkin from blockbuster How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, India’s Banita Das from Village Rockstars 2 and Filipino director Brillante Mendoza. Squid Game star Lee Jung-jae was also in attendance as well as Portuguese filmmaker Miguel Gomes,...
- 10/2/2024
- ScreenDaily
South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is set to begin shooting his adaptation of US novel The Ax on Saturday (August 17), according to distributor Cj Enm.
The English-language title of the film is No Other Choice (the Korean title directly translates as I Can’t Help It).
It will mark the first feature from the Oldboy director since 2022 noir melodrama Decision To Leave, which premiered in Competition at Cannes where Park won best director and subsequently secured nominations at the Baftas and Golden Globes. He has since made US drama series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey Jr. for HBO.
The upcoming...
The English-language title of the film is No Other Choice (the Korean title directly translates as I Can’t Help It).
It will mark the first feature from the Oldboy director since 2022 noir melodrama Decision To Leave, which premiered in Competition at Cannes where Park won best director and subsequently secured nominations at the Baftas and Golden Globes. He has since made US drama series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey Jr. for HBO.
The upcoming...
- 8/15/2024
- ScreenDaily
Following up his noir melodrama Decision to Leave, Park Chan-wook ventured into the world of American television with the forthcoming Max series The Sympathizer, adapting Viet Thanh Nguyen’s acclaimed novel and teaming with Robert Downey Jr. As revealed earlier this year, he’s now set to return to South Korea for his next feature and as production begins this week more details have been unveiled.
Set to begin shooting this Saturday, August 17, Park will be adapting Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax, which the legendary Costa-Gavras first adapted in 2005. The black comedy thriller follows a man laid off from the paper company he worked at for 25 years. Some time later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition. Adapted by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyung-mi, Don McKellar (The Sympathizer), Lee Ja-hye, the cast includes Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran,...
Set to begin shooting this Saturday, August 17, Park will be adapting Donald E. Westlake’s 1997 novel The Ax, which the legendary Costa-Gavras first adapted in 2005. The black comedy thriller follows a man laid off from the paper company he worked at for 25 years. Some time later and still jobless, he hits on a solution: to genuinely eliminate his competition. Adapted by Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyung-mi, Don McKellar (The Sympathizer), Lee Ja-hye, the cast includes Lee Byung-hun, Son Ye-jin, Park Hee-soon, Lee Sung-min, Yeom Hye-ran,...
- 8/12/2024
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Edgar Wright’s Last Night in Soho is a kaleidoscopic plunge into the past, drenched in neon hues and haunted by the specters of dreams deferred. The film stars Thomasin McKenzie as Eloise, a young, aspiring fashion designer who leaves the bucolic comfort of Cornwall for the bustling, vibrant chaos of London, only to find herself swept away into the swinging sixties each night. This transportive experience begins as a glamorous escapade but swiftly spirals into a chilling descent, revealing the sinister underbelly of an era often romanticised for its glitz and glamour.
From the outset, Wright establishes his film with a visual bravado that is both mesmerising and unsettling. Eloise’s journey is punctuated by the infectious beats of 60s music, her connection to her late mother palpable in every note. This musical motif is not just a nostalgic flourish but a conduit for Eloise’s temporal voyages, with...
From the outset, Wright establishes his film with a visual bravado that is both mesmerising and unsettling. Eloise’s journey is punctuated by the infectious beats of 60s music, her connection to her late mother palpable in every note. This musical motif is not just a nostalgic flourish but a conduit for Eloise’s temporal voyages, with...
- 7/19/2024
- by Tom Atkinson
- Love Horror
The ReportImage: Amazon
Even if it might be harder to navigate than any of its top-tier streaming peers, Amazon Prime Video still boasts a wide selection of films, including plenty of older movies that places like Netflix simply don’t care to host. That said, its turnover is frequent and subtle.
Even if it might be harder to navigate than any of its top-tier streaming peers, Amazon Prime Video still boasts a wide selection of films, including plenty of older movies that places like Netflix simply don’t care to host. That said, its turnover is frequent and subtle.
- 7/1/2024
- by The A.V. Club
- avclub.com
The last few years have not only brought LGBTQ films and stories further into the mainstream, but queer movies have dominated awards seasons and found commercial success in unlikely places.
Lydia Tár — played by “Carol” star and esteemed lesbian (adjacent?) icon Cate Blanchett — dominated the 2022 Oscars race and became a well-worn touchstone in the year’s critical film and cancel culture conversations. The summer before that, Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller made history with Universal Pictures’ “Bros,” among the first ever gay rom-coms funded by a major studio: an important victory — even if that film did go, uh, soft at the box office.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg on another banner year for queer film: at least one win in a hard-fought cultural movement, seemingly poised to face new challenges in the not-so-distant future.
New Queer Cinema was a major influence on the indie film boom of the ’90s,...
Lydia Tár — played by “Carol” star and esteemed lesbian (adjacent?) icon Cate Blanchett — dominated the 2022 Oscars race and became a well-worn touchstone in the year’s critical film and cancel culture conversations. The summer before that, Billy Eichner and Nicholas Stoller made history with Universal Pictures’ “Bros,” among the first ever gay rom-coms funded by a major studio: an important victory — even if that film did go, uh, soft at the box office.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg on another banner year for queer film: at least one win in a hard-fought cultural movement, seemingly poised to face new challenges in the not-so-distant future.
New Queer Cinema was a major influence on the indie film boom of the ’90s,...
- 6/27/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Two South Korean superstars Gianna Jun and Gang Dong-won head the cast of “Tempest,” an espionage action drama series being readied by streaming service Disney+ for release next year.
The contemporary Korea-set story sees Jun portray a highly-accomplished diplomat and former ambassador to the U.S. Gang portrays an international man of mystery, a former mercenary and special agent but of unknown nationality. Together, they race to uncover the truth behind a lethal attack that threatens the future stability of the Korean peninsula.
“Tempest” (previously known as “North Star”) is directed by Kim Heewon and co-directed by Korea’s leading martial arts director Heo Myunghaeng (“The Outlaws 4”). The screenplay is by Park Chan-wook’s regular partner Chung Seokyung, who has writing credits including “Decision to Leave,” “The Handmaiden” and “Little Women”.
Jun (real name Jeon Ji-hyun) has credits including “My Sassy Girl,” “My Love From the Star” and “Kingdom: Anshin of the North.
The contemporary Korea-set story sees Jun portray a highly-accomplished diplomat and former ambassador to the U.S. Gang portrays an international man of mystery, a former mercenary and special agent but of unknown nationality. Together, they race to uncover the truth behind a lethal attack that threatens the future stability of the Korean peninsula.
“Tempest” (previously known as “North Star”) is directed by Kim Heewon and co-directed by Korea’s leading martial arts director Heo Myunghaeng (“The Outlaws 4”). The screenplay is by Park Chan-wook’s regular partner Chung Seokyung, who has writing credits including “Decision to Leave,” “The Handmaiden” and “Little Women”.
Jun (real name Jeon Ji-hyun) has credits including “My Sassy Girl,” “My Love From the Star” and “Kingdom: Anshin of the North.
- 5/29/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Warsaw-based sales agency New Europe Film Sales has teamed up with Spade, the production arm of the French genre label The Jokers, and leading German distribution company Plaion Pictures to create Cherry, a development fund for edgy films with crossover potential.
The partners declined to reveal any figures but emphasised Cherry was a development rather than production fund
The three companies previously worked together on Valdimar Jóhannsson’s folk horror hit Lamb, and will now tighten their collaboration and enter projects at an earlier stage.
Cherry will focus on finding edgy, auteur -driven projects with breakout possibilites. The fund will...
The partners declined to reveal any figures but emphasised Cherry was a development rather than production fund
The three companies previously worked together on Valdimar Jóhannsson’s folk horror hit Lamb, and will now tighten their collaboration and enter projects at an earlier stage.
Cherry will focus on finding edgy, auteur -driven projects with breakout possibilites. The fund will...
- 5/18/2024
- ScreenDaily
Following in the wake of the Spike Lee-directed remake in 2013, Park Chan-wook’s South Korean masterpiece Oldboy (2003) is getting a small screen adaptation, we’ve learned.
Lionsgate Television is partnering with renowned filmmaker Park Chan-wook to develop his acclaimed film Oldboy for television, marking the first English-language series adaptation of the iconic property. This comes as Park’s The Sympathizer just debuted on HBO.
Park Chan-wook, who of course directed and co-wrote the original South Korean film, is attached to produce the upcoming “Oldboy” TV series along with producing partner Syd Lim.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,...
Lionsgate Television is partnering with renowned filmmaker Park Chan-wook to develop his acclaimed film Oldboy for television, marking the first English-language series adaptation of the iconic property. This comes as Park’s The Sympathizer just debuted on HBO.
Park Chan-wook, who of course directed and co-wrote the original South Korean film, is attached to produce the upcoming “Oldboy” TV series along with producing partner Syd Lim.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,...
- 4/17/2024
- by John Squires
- bloody-disgusting.com
Lionsgate Television is partnering with renowned Korean filmmaker and television creator Park Chan-wook to develop his acclaimed film Oldboy for television. This marks the first English-language series adaptation of the iconic property.
Park, who directed and co-wrote the original film, is attached to produce the series along with producing partner Syd Lim.
Oldboy has earned numerous accolades, becoming the first South Korean film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004 and being named to numerous lists of the greatest movies of all time. The movie was re-released by Neon last year for its 20th anniversary, landing in the top ten at the domestic box office in its opening week, a rare feat for a re-release.
Adapted from a Japanese manga of the same name, the film follows a man who is released from prison after 15 years, only to find that he must find his captor in five days. The...
Park, who directed and co-wrote the original film, is attached to produce the series along with producing partner Syd Lim.
Oldboy has earned numerous accolades, becoming the first South Korean film to win the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004 and being named to numerous lists of the greatest movies of all time. The movie was re-released by Neon last year for its 20th anniversary, landing in the top ten at the domestic box office in its opening week, a rare feat for a re-release.
Adapted from a Japanese manga of the same name, the film follows a man who is released from prison after 15 years, only to find that he must find his captor in five days. The...
- 4/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Get ready to witness cinema's most stomach-churning twist all over again: "Oldboy" is coming to television. The 2003 Park Chan-Wook masterpiece (which was based on a manga by Garon Tsuchiya) is going to be remade as an English-language TV show, /Film has learned, and Park will be directly involved in crafting this new version.
Park is partnering with Lionsgate Television to develop a series adaptation of the impressively f***ed-up story and will produce the show along with his frequent collaborator Syd Lim. "Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing 'Oldboy' into the world of television," Park said in a press release. "I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original, and risk-taking storytelling." Past Lionsgate Television productions range from "Mad Men" to "Party Down" to "Yellowjackets," and given the company's wide-ranging list of past streaming and network partners, it's still too soon...
Park is partnering with Lionsgate Television to develop a series adaptation of the impressively f***ed-up story and will produce the show along with his frequent collaborator Syd Lim. "Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing 'Oldboy' into the world of television," Park said in a press release. "I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original, and risk-taking storytelling." Past Lionsgate Television productions range from "Mad Men" to "Party Down" to "Yellowjackets," and given the company's wide-ranging list of past streaming and network partners, it's still too soon...
- 4/17/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
Park Chan-wook is developing his acclaimed film Oldboy for the first time as an English-language series in partnership with Lionsgate Television. Park, who directed and co-wrote the original film, is set to produce the series alongside producing partner Syd Lim.
The 2003 feature is an adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name written by Garon Tsuchiya. It follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man taken off the streets and imprisoned for 15 years who is one day released and given 5 days to find his captor.
Oldboy is the second title in Park’s Vengeance trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and preceding Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). It earned multiple accolades including the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, a first for a South Korean film. Spike Lee remade the film in 2013 with Josh Brolin portraying the lead character, Joe Doucett.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,...
The 2003 feature is an adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name written by Garon Tsuchiya. It follows Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man taken off the streets and imprisoned for 15 years who is one day released and given 5 days to find his captor.
Oldboy is the second title in Park’s Vengeance trilogy, following Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) and preceding Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005). It earned multiple accolades including the Grand Prix at Cannes in 2004, a first for a South Korean film. Spike Lee remade the film in 2013 with Josh Brolin portraying the lead character, Joe Doucett.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,...
- 4/17/2024
- by Rosy Cordero
- Deadline Film + TV
Korean auteur Park Chan-wook is set to adapt his 2003 masterpiece “Oldboy” as an English-language TV series alongside Lionsgate Television, the studio announced on Wednesday, April 17.
Park, who directed and co-wrote the original action mystery film, is attached to produce the “Oldboy” series adaptation alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.
Park is fresh off “The Sympathizer,” his limited series starring Robert Downey Jr. that just debuted on HBO this past weekend. And while it’s not the first English-language remake of “Oldboy” following Spike Lee’s 2013 film starring Josh Brolin, it will be the first time the film will be adapted for the small screen.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” Park said in a statement. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
“Oldboy” was adapted from a Japanese manga of the same...
Park, who directed and co-wrote the original action mystery film, is attached to produce the “Oldboy” series adaptation alongside his producing partner Syd Lim.
Park is fresh off “The Sympathizer,” his limited series starring Robert Downey Jr. that just debuted on HBO this past weekend. And while it’s not the first English-language remake of “Oldboy” following Spike Lee’s 2013 film starring Josh Brolin, it will be the first time the film will be adapted for the small screen.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing ‘Oldboy’ into the world of television,” Park said in a statement. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
“Oldboy” was adapted from a Japanese manga of the same...
- 4/17/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is partnering with Lionsgate Television to develop a series version of his 2003 revenge thriller Oldboy.
The project would be an English-language adaptation of the story, which was loosely based on a magna with the same name.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
In addition to directing The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, Park previously produced the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer which was likewise adapted into a series. He’s also directing and producing HBO’s new limited series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey, Jr.
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” added Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development,...
The project would be an English-language adaptation of the story, which was loosely based on a magna with the same name.
“Lionsgate Television shares my creative vision for bringing Oldboy into the world of television,” said Park. “I look forward to working with a studio whose brand stands for bold, original and risk-taking storytelling.”
In addition to directing The Handmaiden and Decision to Leave, Park previously produced the dystopian thriller Snowpiercer which was likewise adapted into a series. He’s also directing and producing HBO’s new limited series The Sympathizer starring Robert Downey, Jr.
“Park is one of the most visionary storytellers of our generation, and we’re excited to partner with him in bringing his cinematic masterpiece to the television screen,” added Scott Herbst, EVP and Head of Scripted Development,...
- 4/17/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Miky Lee, vice chair of Korean media giant Cj, is set to give the USC School of Cinematic Arts 2024 commencement address, organizers said Tuesday.
As a pioneer of the Korean movie wave, Lee has championed Korean directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho, and has executive producer credits that include Lady Vengeance, The Host, Snowpiercer, The Handmaiden and Parasite, the latter of which was the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for best picture.
She will give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony set for May 10 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement.
Organizers also announced that the veteran Hollywood director, writer and...
As a pioneer of the Korean movie wave, Lee has championed Korean directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon Ho, and has executive producer credits that include Lady Vengeance, The Host, Snowpiercer, The Handmaiden and Parasite, the latter of which was the first non-English-language film to win the Oscar for best picture.
She will give the commencement address at the graduation ceremony set for May 10 at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
“Miky Lee is a true pioneer and ambassador of collaborative global filmmaking, and we are so happy to have her share her insight and expertise with our graduating students,” Elizabeth M. Daley, dean of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, said in a statement.
Organizers also announced that the veteran Hollywood director, writer and...
- 4/16/2024
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Not long after winning an Oscar for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. is starring in perhaps his most challenging project to date: another high-profile one. The Iron Man star, 59, is starring in a new HBO Max series called The Sympathizer, in which, he is playing four antagonist roles combined.
In addition to playing a CIA agent, Downey Jr. portrays a professor, a congressman, and a film director (who was influenced by Francis Ford Coppola). Meanwhile, Hoa Xuande plays The Captain (a Vietnamese spy) in the HBO series, which is based on the critically acclaimed book of a similar title by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
Behind The Sympathizer is Park Chan-wook, a renowned filmmaker best known for movies like Oldboy, and The Handmaiden. In a recent interview, the South Korean director and former film critic expressed his disappointment and regret at...
In addition to playing a CIA agent, Downey Jr. portrays a professor, a congressman, and a film director (who was influenced by Francis Ford Coppola). Meanwhile, Hoa Xuande plays The Captain (a Vietnamese spy) in the HBO series, which is based on the critically acclaimed book of a similar title by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
Behind The Sympathizer is Park Chan-wook, a renowned filmmaker best known for movies like Oldboy, and The Handmaiden. In a recent interview, the South Korean director and former film critic expressed his disappointment and regret at...
- 4/16/2024
- by Siddhika Prajapati
- FandomWire
If you felt the instinct to pause, rewind, or repeat part of the premiere to HBO’s “The Sympathizer” on its April 14 premiere, showrunner Park Chan-Wook is one step ahead of you.
The Korean director best known for films like “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden” and the recent “Decision to Leave” was a critical mind in shaping “The Sympathizer,” based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s bestseller, which required anticipating how the audience would receive the story. In Episode 1, we meet our unnamed protagonist, The Captain (Hoa Xuande), whose interrogation frames the flashbacks that follow.
The Captain’s confession was one element of adapting Nguyen’s story, Park told IndieWire over Zoom with a translator, but the second piece of that framework was particularly exciting: The Commandant’s (Quinn Hoàng) interruptions.
“Sometimes the commandant might get angry at the captain, or sometimes be criticizing — that is how he engages himself in this storytelling,...
The Korean director best known for films like “Oldboy” and “The Handmaiden” and the recent “Decision to Leave” was a critical mind in shaping “The Sympathizer,” based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s bestseller, which required anticipating how the audience would receive the story. In Episode 1, we meet our unnamed protagonist, The Captain (Hoa Xuande), whose interrogation frames the flashbacks that follow.
The Captain’s confession was one element of adapting Nguyen’s story, Park told IndieWire over Zoom with a translator, but the second piece of that framework was particularly exciting: The Commandant’s (Quinn Hoàng) interruptions.
“Sometimes the commandant might get angry at the captain, or sometimes be criticizing — that is how he engages himself in this storytelling,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Proma Khosla
- Indiewire
“I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces.”
So begins Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer,” which, when released in 2015, was hailed for its humorous, biting interrogation of American perspectives on the Vietnam War.
Integrating elements of the espionage thriller à lá John le Carré with a heavy sense of irony reminiscent of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” “The Sympathizer” is told from the viewpoint of an officer in the U.S.-supported South Vietnam army who secretly reports back to communists in North Vietnam. Framed as a confession to the people for whom he has ostensibly been spying, the narrator — who goes unnamed in the novel — chronicles the story of his journey to Southern California, where he joins the Vietnamese refugee community settling there and grapples with questions of loyalty and assimilation.
In a 2015 interview, Nguyen, who is a professor at the University of Southern California,...
So begins Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Sympathizer,” which, when released in 2015, was hailed for its humorous, biting interrogation of American perspectives on the Vietnam War.
Integrating elements of the espionage thriller à lá John le Carré with a heavy sense of irony reminiscent of Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man,” “The Sympathizer” is told from the viewpoint of an officer in the U.S.-supported South Vietnam army who secretly reports back to communists in North Vietnam. Framed as a confession to the people for whom he has ostensibly been spying, the narrator — who goes unnamed in the novel — chronicles the story of his journey to Southern California, where he joins the Vietnamese refugee community settling there and grapples with questions of loyalty and assimilation.
In a 2015 interview, Nguyen, who is a professor at the University of Southern California,...
- 4/14/2024
- by Rachel Seo
- Variety Film + TV
Rights to “I, The Executioner,” which will premiere as a Midnight Screening at the Cannes Film Festival this year, have been picked up by South Korea’s Cj Enm.
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
The crime-action film directed by Ryu Seung-wan (also written Ryoo Seung-wan) is a sequel to Ryu’s 2015 hit “Veteran” and in Korea goes by the title “Veteran 2.”
Few details of the story have yet been disclosed, but Cj describes the film as “combining Ryu’s trademark action with observations and messages about social change.” Ryu last year enjoyed major box office success with crime comedy “Smugglers.”
Hwang Jung-min, who recently enjoyed box office success in “12.12: The Day,” reprises his role from “Veteran.” He is joined in the sequel by Jung Hae-in (“Tune in for Love”) as a new member of the film’s Violent Crime Investigation Squad.
“I, The Executioner” was produced by Filmmaker R & K, the production shingle owned...
- 4/12/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The upcoming HBO series “The Sympathizer” is bringing an unsung voice to a story that has been told and retold from the American point of view, providing actors like Sandra Oh a chance to finally be involved in a project that puts the Vietnamese refugee experience into focus.
“This perspective has been missing for 50 years,” said Oh, who plays the recurring role of Sofia.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the miniseries boasts a majority-Vietnamese cast and crew, including celebrated “The Handmaiden” director and screenwriter Park Chan-wook and esteemed “The Joy Luck Club” actress Kieu Chinh.
Many of the acclaimed talent included are making their American film debuts, and others are getting their big breaks on the international stage. Duy Nguyen was raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, and later immigrated to Montreal, Canada. His story encapsulates Oh’s commitment to the series.
“He has such a deep emotional connection to this project,...
“This perspective has been missing for 50 years,” said Oh, who plays the recurring role of Sofia.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the miniseries boasts a majority-Vietnamese cast and crew, including celebrated “The Handmaiden” director and screenwriter Park Chan-wook and esteemed “The Joy Luck Club” actress Kieu Chinh.
Many of the acclaimed talent included are making their American film debuts, and others are getting their big breaks on the international stage. Duy Nguyen was raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, and later immigrated to Montreal, Canada. His story encapsulates Oh’s commitment to the series.
“He has such a deep emotional connection to this project,...
- 4/10/2024
- by Rance Collins
- Variety Film + TV
Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook’s last foray into the television medium was for an adaptation of a John Le Carré novel, so it should come as no surprise that his next venture is also a spy thriller adaptation. The Sympathizer is an incredibly involved miniseries with many moving pieces, but thanks to an incredible team behind and in front of the camera, the pieces mostly come together in spectacular fashion.
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer tells the story of a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States as a refugee, kicking off a web of lies and deceit. Although it has the premise of an espionage thriller, there’s so much more here, and the result is thoroughly entertaining.
The show does struggle to explore some of its themes with the depth they deserve. There are...
Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, The Sympathizer tells the story of a North Vietnamese plant in the South Vietnamese army who flees to the United States as a refugee, kicking off a web of lies and deceit. Although it has the premise of an espionage thriller, there’s so much more here, and the result is thoroughly entertaining.
The show does struggle to explore some of its themes with the depth they deserve. There are...
- 4/10/2024
- by Sean Boelman
- FandomWire
Park Chan-wook is speaking out on the Academy’s decision to not include his 2022 noir film “Decision to Leave” on the Oscar ballot.
While fellow international filmmaker Justine Triet won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Anatomy of a Fall” and landed both Best International Feature, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Picture nominations, “Decision to Leave” was entirely iced out of the 2023 ceremony.
Now, Park is admitting that his career may have looked a little differently without that “Decision to Leave” Oscars snub. Park told The New Yorker that it would be hypocritical to deny the fact that awards are paramount to a filmmaker’s power trajectory in Hollywood.
“It would be hypocrisy to say that art is the only thing that matters,” Park said. “If you get an award, it might mean you have more power, more creative freedom, in your next project. It might mean you can have a bigger budget.
While fellow international filmmaker Justine Triet won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for “Anatomy of a Fall” and landed both Best International Feature, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Picture nominations, “Decision to Leave” was entirely iced out of the 2023 ceremony.
Now, Park is admitting that his career may have looked a little differently without that “Decision to Leave” Oscars snub. Park told The New Yorker that it would be hypocritical to deny the fact that awards are paramount to a filmmaker’s power trajectory in Hollywood.
“It would be hypocrisy to say that art is the only thing that matters,” Park said. “If you get an award, it might mean you have more power, more creative freedom, in your next project. It might mean you can have a bigger budget.
- 4/8/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook is regarded as one of the most prominent filmmakers in South Korean cinema and in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Chan-wook’s work has garnered attention for its cinematography, framing, black humor, and brutal themes.
Park Chan-wook directed, co-wrote, and produced 2022’s critically acclaimed South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery movie Decision to Leave, starring Tang Wei and Park Hae-ii. The movie was named one of the top five international movies in 2022 by the National Board of Review and was selected as a South Korean entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. The brilliant filmmaker Park Chan-wook is reportedly working on his passion project after he recently collaborated with a Marvel actor.
Tang Wei and Park Hae-ii in Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave
Park Chan-wook to start production on his ‘lifelong passion project’ in fall of 2024
According to World of Reel, after...
Park Chan-wook directed, co-wrote, and produced 2022’s critically acclaimed South Korean neo-noir romantic mystery movie Decision to Leave, starring Tang Wei and Park Hae-ii. The movie was named one of the top five international movies in 2022 by the National Board of Review and was selected as a South Korean entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards. The brilliant filmmaker Park Chan-wook is reportedly working on his passion project after he recently collaborated with a Marvel actor.
Tang Wei and Park Hae-ii in Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave
Park Chan-wook to start production on his ‘lifelong passion project’ in fall of 2024
According to World of Reel, after...
- 4/2/2024
- by Avneet Ahluwalia
- FandomWire
The Sympathizer: Robert Downey Jr’s TV Comeback (Photo Credit – IMDb)
Robert Downey Jr has come back to television after over two decades. The legendary actor famous for suiting up as Iron Man is gearing up for a big return to TV screens. He’s set to headline an HBO series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s award-winning novel, The Sympathizer, as per reports.
Downey is getting ready to dive into several supporting characters in The Sympathizer, embodying various antagonists such as “an up-and-coming Orange County congressman, a CIA agent, and a Hollywood film director, among others,” as revealed in a press release. Casting for the main role is currently in full swing.
Deadline broke the news first. This gig signals Robert Downey Jr’s comeback to TV after two decades, making it his first regular small-screen role since his stint on Ally McBeal back in 2002.
Trending The First...
Robert Downey Jr has come back to television after over two decades. The legendary actor famous for suiting up as Iron Man is gearing up for a big return to TV screens. He’s set to headline an HBO series based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s award-winning novel, The Sympathizer, as per reports.
Downey is getting ready to dive into several supporting characters in The Sympathizer, embodying various antagonists such as “an up-and-coming Orange County congressman, a CIA agent, and a Hollywood film director, among others,” as revealed in a press release. Casting for the main role is currently in full swing.
Deadline broke the news first. This gig signals Robert Downey Jr’s comeback to TV after two decades, making it his first regular small-screen role since his stint on Ally McBeal back in 2002.
Trending The First...
- 4/2/2024
- by Hari P N
- KoiMoi
“Quiet on Set” Docuseries to Launch New Episode
The gripping Investigation Discovery docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will release one more episode next month.
The recent four-episode unscripted series details the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s at Nickelodeon, including “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” and at the hands of TV producer Dan Schneider.
The surprise fifth episode will reportedly feature new interviews with earlier subjects, including Drake Bell and “All That” cast members Giovonnie Samuels, to build off the revelations from the first four episodes. The episode will also feature new interviewee and “All That” cast member Shane Lyons, who will be interviewed by journalist Soledad O’Brien for a discussion about where the industry can next.
Watch the trailer for “Quiet on Set” below:
According to ID, the first four...
The gripping Investigation Discovery docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV” will release one more episode next month.
The recent four-episode unscripted series details the toxic culture behind some of the most iconic children’s shows of the late 1990s and early 2000s at Nickelodeon, including “The Amanda Show” and “Drake & Josh,” and at the hands of TV producer Dan Schneider.
The surprise fifth episode will reportedly feature new interviews with earlier subjects, including Drake Bell and “All That” cast members Giovonnie Samuels, to build off the revelations from the first four episodes. The episode will also feature new interviewee and “All That” cast member Shane Lyons, who will be interviewed by journalist Soledad O’Brien for a discussion about where the industry can next.
Watch the trailer for “Quiet on Set” below:
According to ID, the first four...
- 3/29/2024
- by Ashley Steves
- The Streamable
Robert Downey Jr. recently raised headlines when he ended his award run for Oppenheimer with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. It looks like the Iron Man actor whose acting credibility is often ignored due to his MCU affinity has transformed his script choices. His latest appearance in The Sympathizer trailer proves it.
Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
The Sympathizer is an upcoming limited series featuring Robert Downey Jr. alongside Sandra Oh and Hoa Xuande, made by the renowned South Korean filmmaker, Park Chan-wook. The 60-year-old is known for making critically acclaimed films like Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and The Handmaiden. It has convinced the fans that Rdj will have another award season to his name.
The Sympathizer trailer promises another Robert Downey Jr. acting masterclass Robert Downey Jr. will portray several role(s) in The Sympathizer
Robert Downey Jr. looked entirely different when he portrayed Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.
Robert Downey Jr. in The Sympathizer
The Sympathizer is an upcoming limited series featuring Robert Downey Jr. alongside Sandra Oh and Hoa Xuande, made by the renowned South Korean filmmaker, Park Chan-wook. The 60-year-old is known for making critically acclaimed films like Oldboy, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, and The Handmaiden. It has convinced the fans that Rdj will have another award season to his name.
The Sympathizer trailer promises another Robert Downey Jr. acting masterclass Robert Downey Jr. will portray several role(s) in The Sympathizer
Robert Downey Jr. looked entirely different when he portrayed Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.
- 3/29/2024
- by Subham Mandal
- FandomWire
Robert Downey Jr. may newly be wearing the title of Oscar winner, but the “Oppenheimer” star is shedding all semblance of self for Park Chan-wook’s “The Sympathizer.”
Downey is a chameleon in multiple roles for the HBO seven-episode limited series, co-showrun by Park and Don McKellar who both executive produce. “The Sympathizer” is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and is at once an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy (Hoa Xuande) during the final days of the Vietnam War. As he starts his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
“The Sympathizer” cast also includes Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong. The series is a co-production between A24 and HBO,...
Downey is a chameleon in multiple roles for the HBO seven-episode limited series, co-showrun by Park and Don McKellar who both executive produce. “The Sympathizer” is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name and is at once an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy (Hoa Xuande) during the final days of the Vietnam War. As he starts his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles he learns that his spying days aren’t over.
“The Sympathizer” cast also includes Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, and Alan Trong. The series is a co-production between A24 and HBO,...
- 3/28/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Blue Finch Film Releasing presents A Bittersweet Life, The Foul King and The Chaser on digital platforms from 8 April. These must-see modern Korean cult cinema classics from acclaimed filmmakers Kim Jee-woon and Na Hong-jin, are exploding back onto screens, with The Foul King available in the UK and Ireland for the very first time.
A Bittersweet Life
Gangster Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) has worked his way up the ranks in his organisation, earning the trust of his callous crime boss Mr. Kang, who assigns him to spy on his mistress fearing she may be having an affair. When Mr Kang's suspicions are found to be true, Sun-woo finds his life on the line when his choice to spare the mistress and her secret lover's lives starts an irreversible gang war.
This ultra-stylish neo noir is written and directed by renowned filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, and features a career-defining performance from international star Lee Byung-hun,...
A Bittersweet Life
Gangster Sun-woo (Lee Byung-hun) has worked his way up the ranks in his organisation, earning the trust of his callous crime boss Mr. Kang, who assigns him to spy on his mistress fearing she may be having an affair. When Mr Kang's suspicions are found to be true, Sun-woo finds his life on the line when his choice to spare the mistress and her secret lover's lives starts an irreversible gang war.
This ultra-stylish neo noir is written and directed by renowned filmmaker Kim Jee-woon, and features a career-defining performance from international star Lee Byung-hun,...
- 3/15/2024
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
From the three Korean filmmakers that first made the step towards Hollywood, Park Chan-wook with “Stoker”, Kim Jee-woon with “The Last Stand”, and Bong Joon-ho with “Snowpiercer”, the first one was the most controversial film among the critics, since others considered it a masterpiece and others leveled it lower than Park's South Korean productions. Evidently, Park's English debut has some issues, as the South Korean did not adapt fully to Hollywood aesthetics, but “Stoker” remains a very competent film, while the things Park learned from its shooting definitely helped him change his style for the better in “The Handmaiden”
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The article contains heavy spoilers
The story begins on the 18th birthday of India, a laconic and detached girl who loses her father in a car accident on the same day. At the funeral, Charles, a mysterious uncle whose existence India ignored,...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
The article contains heavy spoilers
The story begins on the 18th birthday of India, a laconic and detached girl who loses her father in a car accident on the same day. At the funeral, Charles, a mysterious uncle whose existence India ignored,...
- 2/21/2024
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
In The Sympathizer, Robert Downey Jr. is everywhere.
HBO released a new trailer for the espionage thriller on Thursday showcasing executive producer Downey Jr. playing multiple characters. The upcoming limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will premiere on Sunday, April 19 at 9 pm Et.
More from TVLineEvil to End With Season 4 - Watch Trailer, Find Out When It'll PremiereX-Men: The Animated Series Sequel Gets Release Date - Watch TrailerTVLine Items: Brittany Snow Joins Malin Åkerman in Starz Thriller, Outlander Prequel Casting and More
With Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Joint Security Area) and Don McKellar (Michael: Every Day) serving as its co-showrunners,...
HBO released a new trailer for the espionage thriller on Thursday showcasing executive producer Downey Jr. playing multiple characters. The upcoming limited series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel will premiere on Sunday, April 19 at 9 pm Et.
More from TVLineEvil to End With Season 4 - Watch Trailer, Find Out When It'll PremiereX-Men: The Animated Series Sequel Gets Release Date - Watch TrailerTVLine Items: Brittany Snow Joins Malin Åkerman in Starz Thriller, Outlander Prequel Casting and More
With Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden, Joint Security Area) and Don McKellar (Michael: Every Day) serving as its co-showrunners,...
- 2/15/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
You know what I love? I love seeing actors act. That sounds incredibly obvious laid out like that, but I swear it makes a weird amount of sense when it comes to Robert Downey, Jr. Nobody could ever doubt the man's talent or ambition, pulling himself up by his bootstraps to go from persona non grata in Hollywood to one of the biggest stars on the planet. But even the biggest fans of his performances as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe would have to admit that he hadn't exactly been given the most challenging material in the years since he starred in David Fincher's "Zodiac". But now that his superhero tenure is behind him, Downey, Jr. has been free to deliver powerhouse performances like in last year's blockbuster "Oppenheimer" or, even more intriguingly, the upcoming HBO series "The Sympathizer."
And to think that he's not even the biggest draw.
And to think that he's not even the biggest draw.
- 2/15/2024
- by Jeremy Mathai
- Slash Film
New York's Metrograph Theater is proud to announce the details of Novel Encounters: the Films of Lee Chang-dong, their upcoming retrospective headlined by the New York Premieres of four new 4K restorations of Lee Chang-dong's directorial works; Green Fish (1997), Peppermint Candy (1999), Oasis (2002), and Poetry (2010). The series begins April 5th and also includes Lee's critically acclaimed Burning, South Korea's entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards, and his 2007 Cannes Award-Winning Secret Sunshine, alongside a filmmaker-curated duo of his most celebrated and valued writing and producing efforts: Ouni Lecomte's A Brand New Life and July Jung's A Girl at My Door. Each restoration title, which are being released by Film Movement Classics in North America, will have a week-long run at the esteemed Lower East Side repertory and first-run cinema, marking their US Theatrical Premieres.
Poetry
Filmmaker, playwright, and novelist, Lee Chang-dong has been a vital force...
Poetry
Filmmaker, playwright, and novelist, Lee Chang-dong has been a vital force...
- 2/14/2024
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Yoonhee Choi has been named CEO at Barunson E&a, the South Korean sales and production outfit that is heading to this week’s European Film Market with major international expansion ambitions.
Choi joined the company in 2021 as managing director, overseeing domestic and international operations, and was promoted to COO in April 2023. She was previously head of international sales at Cj Enm, where she worked for eight years, leading overseas distribution of films such as Parasite, The Handmaiden and The Spy Gone North.
She takes over the role from Gene Hong (Brian) Park and Kwak Sin Ae.
Barunson E&a is...
Choi joined the company in 2021 as managing director, overseeing domestic and international operations, and was promoted to COO in April 2023. She was previously head of international sales at Cj Enm, where she worked for eight years, leading overseas distribution of films such as Parasite, The Handmaiden and The Spy Gone North.
She takes over the role from Gene Hong (Brian) Park and Kwak Sin Ae.
Barunson E&a is...
- 2/13/2024
- ScreenDaily
Following years of delays and pandemic restrictions, and now celebrating a post-strike awards season, what better way to kick off the 35th annual Palm Springs Intl. Film Festival than with a “fun and naughty film,” says festival director Lili Rodriguez.
Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters” will enjoy its U.S. premiere Jan. 5 at the desert fest, followed by 179 films from 74 countries including 47 premieres, while showcasing a lineup of 40 international feature film Oscar submissions.
“The real excitement is that we’re back to a full-on festival with all pre-pandemic offerings, and 100% venue capacity. The moment we saw ‘Wicked Little Letters,’ we knew we needed it as our opener,” says Rodriguez.
Among films earning attention at Psiff include the world premieres of “A Look Through His Lens,” which details the life of Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, and “All About the Levkoviches,” from debuting director Adam Breier. The event closes with “Ex-Husbands,...
Thea Sharrock’s “Wicked Little Letters” will enjoy its U.S. premiere Jan. 5 at the desert fest, followed by 179 films from 74 countries including 47 premieres, while showcasing a lineup of 40 international feature film Oscar submissions.
“The real excitement is that we’re back to a full-on festival with all pre-pandemic offerings, and 100% venue capacity. The moment we saw ‘Wicked Little Letters,’ we knew we needed it as our opener,” says Rodriguez.
Among films earning attention at Psiff include the world premieres of “A Look Through His Lens,” which details the life of Oscar-winning cinematographer Philippe Rousselot, and “All About the Levkoviches,” from debuting director Adam Breier. The event closes with “Ex-Husbands,...
- 1/2/2024
- by Nick Clement
- Variety Film + TV
Following the story of a wealthy man in 1945, Netflix’s Gyeongseong Creature is a period drama that combines history with horror and brings about an intriguing show that poses questions about humanity and the perils of survival in a monster-infested world. South Korea has been well known for making some incredible thrillers over the years, and Gyeongseong Creature does not disappoint on that front either. Although it’s a plot that is rather predictable, there are a lot of thrills to keep one occupied. The show is also set in Japan-occupied Korea, a dark time for the country, and does a decent job of representing the time period. Whether you’re looking for something historical or monstrous, this list will serve you well.
Sweet Home
The most obvious choice when it comes to a double feature with Gyeongseong Creature would be Sweet Home, the TV show about a virus that turns humans into monsters.
Sweet Home
The most obvious choice when it comes to a double feature with Gyeongseong Creature would be Sweet Home, the TV show about a virus that turns humans into monsters.
- 12/26/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Graphic: The A.V. Club A year ago we couldn’t have said definitively whether Wonka would be a delightful musical extravaganza or a total disaster. Either outcome seemed plausible. After all, was anyone actually clamoring for yet another version of the mysterious, magical chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved book series?...
- 12/5/2023
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Timothée Chalomet in WonkaPhoto: Jaap Buittendijk/Warner Bros.
A year ago we couldn’t have said definitively whether Wonka would be a delightful musical extravaganza or a total disaster. Either outcome seemed plausible. After all, was anyone actually clamoring for yet another version of the mysterious, magical chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved book series?...
A year ago we couldn’t have said definitively whether Wonka would be a delightful musical extravaganza or a total disaster. Either outcome seemed plausible. After all, was anyone actually clamoring for yet another version of the mysterious, magical chocolatier from Roald Dahl’s beloved book series?...
- 12/5/2023
- by Cindy White
- avclub.com
Gene Wilder delivered such a perfectly eccentric performance in 1971's beloved classic "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" that it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp tried to make Roald Dahl's world their own back in 2005 with mixed results and a much more zany, quirky take on the character went in a much different direction.
When it comes to "Wonka," director Paul King, best known for the delightful "Paddington" movies, attempts to bring a dose of joy and kindness to the chocolatey world of Willy Wonka with an origin story that finds Hollywood's young heartthrob Timothée Chalamet taking on the role of the young chocolatier as he tries to carve out a name for himself in the candy industry in a European town dominated by a chocolate cartel. Run by three titans of the industry, Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and...
When it comes to "Wonka," director Paul King, best known for the delightful "Paddington" movies, attempts to bring a dose of joy and kindness to the chocolatey world of Willy Wonka with an origin story that finds Hollywood's young heartthrob Timothée Chalamet taking on the role of the young chocolatier as he tries to carve out a name for himself in the candy industry in a European town dominated by a chocolate cartel. Run by three titans of the industry, Slugworth (Paterson Joseph), Prodnose (Matt Lucas), and...
- 12/4/2023
- by Ethan Anderton
- Slash Film
Park Chan-wook's Decision to Leave is exclusively showing on Mubi in many countries in the series Luminaries.Decision to Leave.It’s been a great pleasure and privilege to talk with Park Chan-wook for my ongoing interview project. This project, which has involved 4,000 conversations with visual artists, architects, poets, film directors, and novelists, aims at bringing all the art forms together, pooling knowledge to create a polyphony of art and culture of our time.In these interviews, there are often recurrent questions about unrealized projects and advice for future artists, but I particularly emphasize beginnings: How does an artist begin? How does someone come to art, or to cinema, or to architecture? What’s the first film, the first artwork, that the artist feels is when they found their own language?I’ve known director Park Chan-wook since Joint Security Area (2000) all the way through Lady Vengeance (2005) and The Handmaiden...
- 12/4/2023
- MUBI
Always one to juggle a handful of projects in development, as Todd Haynes’ delightfully entertaining drama May December finally arrives in theaters this week, the director has been sharing updates on what he’s working on. While it seems like his Joaquin Phoenix-led 1930s-set gay drama is next on the docket, the director has revealed another project he’s working on.
Speaking to Indiewire, Haynes revealed he’s developing an adaptation of Sarah Waters’ 2014 novel The Paying Guests. “It’s a three-part limited series that would need to be a British production, but it’s a really great novel.” Set in post-wwi London, the drama is part lesbian love story and part murder mystery following a down-and-out widow and her daughter, the latter taking up a relationship with one of their lodgers. Waters also wrote Fingersmith, which was adapted into The Handmaiden by Park Chan-wook. Meanwhile, Haynes also confirmed...
Speaking to Indiewire, Haynes revealed he’s developing an adaptation of Sarah Waters’ 2014 novel The Paying Guests. “It’s a three-part limited series that would need to be a British production, but it’s a really great novel.” Set in post-wwi London, the drama is part lesbian love story and part murder mystery following a down-and-out widow and her daughter, the latter taking up a relationship with one of their lodgers. Waters also wrote Fingersmith, which was adapted into The Handmaiden by Park Chan-wook. Meanwhile, Haynes also confirmed...
- 11/16/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Korea’s Cj Enm has announced a partnership with Saudi Arabian animation studio Manga Productions. Under the new pact, the studios will “co-produce and distribute content across all areas of media and entertainment including animation, TV series, films, webtoons, infrastructure and more. The partnership also aims to “mutually enhance talents and human resources,” according to an official release.
Manga Productions is known primarily for its animation and game production. Cj Enm is a Korean entertainment and retail giant that began life as Cj O Shopping in 1994. It has been known as Cj Enm since 2018. Its film division has been responsible for modern Korean classics like “Memories of Murder,” “Oldboy,” “Secret Sunshine” and “The Handmaiden.”
Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said in a statement that the partnership “would enable the two creative forces to merge and offer exceptional entertainment content to audiences worldwide. The partnership would be an essential...
Manga Productions is known primarily for its animation and game production. Cj Enm is a Korean entertainment and retail giant that began life as Cj O Shopping in 1994. It has been known as Cj Enm since 2018. Its film division has been responsible for modern Korean classics like “Memories of Murder,” “Oldboy,” “Secret Sunshine” and “The Handmaiden.”
Dr. Essam Bukhary, CEO of Manga Productions, said in a statement that the partnership “would enable the two creative forces to merge and offer exceptional entertainment content to audiences worldwide. The partnership would be an essential...
- 11/2/2023
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Locked In is a mystery thriller film directed by Alex Baranowski, from a screenplay by Rowan Joffé. The Netflix film revolves around Lina, an unhappy newlywed woman who has a hostile relationship with her mother-in-law Katherine. An affair starts a chain reaction that ends up in betrayal and murder. Locked In stars Famke Janssen, Rose Williams, Anna Friel, Finn Cole, and Alex Hassell. So, if you loved the Netflix film here are some similar movies you could watch next.
Gone Girl (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn, unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s...
Gone Girl (Max & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – 20th Century Fox
Synopsis: Gone Girl, directed by David Fincher and based upon the global bestseller by Gillian Flynn, unearths the secrets at the heart of a modern marriage. On the occasion of his fifth wedding anniversary, Nick Dunne (Ben Affleck) reports that his beautiful wife, Amy (Rosamund Pike), has gone missing. Under pressure from the police and a growing media frenzy, Nick’s...
- 11/2/2023
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
Now a household name in the Korean entertainment industry, Kim Tae-Ri’s humble beginnings may come as a shock to many for the actress, who has an impressive resume for just a seven-year career. While technically, she hasn’t been acting for just 7 years, her mainstream film debut was in 2016, and she was clearly set up for success right from the start. The 33-year-old actress, who is known for looking youthful and even played a 21-year-old just last year, discovered her love for acting back in college. She began as a theatre actress in her second year of university and starred in a couple of music videos thereafter. She auditioned with over 1500 other women to play the important role of an orphan in acclaimed director Park Chan Wook’s erotic thriller The Handmaiden. She hasn’t looked back since, won many awards for the role, and proved her place in the industry.
- 7/30/2023
- by Ruchika Bhat
- Film Fugitives
Park Chan-wook, the Korean filmmaker behind “Oldboy” and last year’s “Decision to Leave,” has joined as producer and co-writer of historical drama film “War and Revolt.” The film is Park’s first collaboration with Netflix, the global streaming platform that is market leader in Korea and which has been instrumental in the global success of Korean contemporary culture.
“War and Revolt” tells the story of two childhood friends, portrayed by Gang Dong-won and Park Jeong-min, who become adversaries. It is directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight F.M.”) from a script by Shin Chul and Park Chan-wook.
Production is by Moho Film, the powerhouse indie behind Park’s “Decision to Leave,” “The Handmaiden” and the 2013 Bong Joon Ho-directed “Snowpiercer” film, in collaboration with Semicolon Studio.
Gang takes center stage as the enigmatic Cheon-young, a character whose remarkable martial prowess defies his humble origins as a slave. Struggling to break free from the chains of servitude,...
“War and Revolt” tells the story of two childhood friends, portrayed by Gang Dong-won and Park Jeong-min, who become adversaries. It is directed by Kim Sang-man (“Midnight F.M.”) from a script by Shin Chul and Park Chan-wook.
Production is by Moho Film, the powerhouse indie behind Park’s “Decision to Leave,” “The Handmaiden” and the 2013 Bong Joon Ho-directed “Snowpiercer” film, in collaboration with Semicolon Studio.
Gang takes center stage as the enigmatic Cheon-young, a character whose remarkable martial prowess defies his humble origins as a slave. Struggling to break free from the chains of servitude,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
The director of ‘Oldboy’ and ‘Decision To Leave’ will also co-write the period feature.
South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook is to produce and co-write period thriller War And Revolt, marking his first collaboration with streaming giant Netflix.
The director of Oldboy and last year’s Cannes award-winner Decision To Leave has co-written the script with Shin Chul.
Set more than 400 years ago during Korea’s Joseon dynasty, the film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for 2010 action-thriller Midnight FM.
It will be produced by Park’s own Moho Film – the Seoul-based production company behind Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden...
South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook is to produce and co-write period thriller War And Revolt, marking his first collaboration with streaming giant Netflix.
The director of Oldboy and last year’s Cannes award-winner Decision To Leave has co-written the script with Shin Chul.
Set more than 400 years ago during Korea’s Joseon dynasty, the film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for 2010 action-thriller Midnight FM.
It will be produced by Park’s own Moho Film – the Seoul-based production company behind Decision to Leave, The Handmaiden...
- 6/7/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Acclaimed South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook has set up his first project with Netflix. The director of Old Boy and last year’s stunning romantic noir Decision to Leave will co-write and produce the period thriller War and Revolt, set during Korea’s Joseon dynasty.
The film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for his well-received 2010 action thriller Midnight FM. Kim also is an accomplished art director, having done production work on Park’s landmark action drama Joint Security Area (2000) and I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Ok (2006).
War and Revolt is described as being set against the chaos of war, taking viewers on a gripping journey through the lives of two childhood friends turned adversaries.
A-list Korean actor Gang Dong-won (Broker, Peninsula) co-stars as the enigmatic Cheon-young, a character whose remarkable martial prowess defies his humble origins as a slave. Opposite Gang, Park Jeong-min (Deliver Us from Evil,...
The film will be directed by Kim Sang-man, known for his well-received 2010 action thriller Midnight FM. Kim also is an accomplished art director, having done production work on Park’s landmark action drama Joint Security Area (2000) and I’m a Cyborg, But That’s Ok (2006).
War and Revolt is described as being set against the chaos of war, taking viewers on a gripping journey through the lives of two childhood friends turned adversaries.
A-list Korean actor Gang Dong-won (Broker, Peninsula) co-stars as the enigmatic Cheon-young, a character whose remarkable martial prowess defies his humble origins as a slave. Opposite Gang, Park Jeong-min (Deliver Us from Evil,...
- 6/7/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Neon is returning “Oldboy ” to theaters just in time for its 20th anniversary.
Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed and influential psychological thriller will return to U.S. theaters August 16. It debuted in five theaters in March 2005 (it opened in South Korea in November 2003) and at its peak played in just 28 auditoriums for a domestic total of $707,481 before finding a cult fandom. It can be presumed that this theatrical reengagement will play a bit wider than the first release.
A loose remake of Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi’s Japanese manga of the same name, “Oldboy” stars Choi Min-sik as a general lout of a human being who is mysteriously kidnapped and kept in a single room for 20 years before being just as randomly released from captivity. He has no idea who took him or why, but he is unleashed back into the world with little to live for save for revenge and moral absolution.
Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed and influential psychological thriller will return to U.S. theaters August 16. It debuted in five theaters in March 2005 (it opened in South Korea in November 2003) and at its peak played in just 28 auditoriums for a domestic total of $707,481 before finding a cult fandom. It can be presumed that this theatrical reengagement will play a bit wider than the first release.
A loose remake of Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi’s Japanese manga of the same name, “Oldboy” stars Choi Min-sik as a general lout of a human being who is mysteriously kidnapped and kept in a single room for 20 years before being just as randomly released from captivity. He has no idea who took him or why, but he is unleashed back into the world with little to live for save for revenge and moral absolution.
- 5/11/2023
- by Scott Mendelson
- The Wrap
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