McGregor and Beaufoy find vocal harmony in ‘Salmon Fishing’

Hearing Ewan McGregor as an uptight salmon fisheries expert in the comedy “Salmon Fishing in the Yemen,” you might think that you’re hearing the real Ewan ― the one whose voice isn’t the put-on American, British or what-have you accents he so often manages in the movies.“But nooo, that’s not me,” he says. “I didn’t want to use my own accent ― exactly.”He took a suggestion from “Salmon Fishing’s” Oscar-winning screenwriter, Simon Beaufoy (“Slumdog Millionaire”). Beaufoy’s one word idea?“Morningsi

March 9, 2012

Director explores financial, social horrors

Byeon returns with ‘Helpless,’ adaptation of Miyabe’s thrillerIt’s been 17 years since director Byeon Young-joo made her controversial feature debut.The 45-year-old director impressed the film scene in 1995, showcasing her non-fiction film about elderly women who were forced to be sex slaves for the Japanese military during World War II. Now, Byeon is back with her third commercial, yet socially-conscious, film ― following her not-so-successful “Ardor” (2000) and “Flying Boys” (2004) ― a gruesom

March 8, 2012

Harvey Weinstein: French film’s golden age is now

PARIS (AP) ― Harvey Weinstein says “The Artist’’ is just the beginning.“France is about to have a golden age of cinema,’’ said the Hollywood titan, who produced the French-born silent film that captured the world’s attention and five Academy Awards, including best picture.Weinstein told the Associated Press on Wednesday that his optimism is driven in part by a French law cracking down on the Internet piracy that has strangled the U.S. movie and music industries.The expansive New Yorker was feeli

March 8, 2012

Former teen star returns to big screen

Kim So-yeon stars as Joseon’s first barista in ‘Gabi’Just a day before the press premiere of her upcoming film “Gabi,” actress Kim So-yeon could not hide her nervous excitement. It was a rainy day in Seoul, and Kim said she listened to singer Sim Soo-bong’s melodramatic song “Binari” on her way to the cafe in Samcheong-dong to calm herself down.“I’ve been waiting for the release date so badly,” the 32-year-old told The Korea Herald on Monday. “But now I’m rather worried a little. I really don’t

March 7, 2012

Mixed reaction for Fox’s foray into local market

Major American film studio announces plans to invest and distribute K-filmsFollowing Fox International Productions’ announcement of its foray into the Korean film market as a distributor and investor last month, there are mixed reactions here to the possible changes to be brought to the scene.An international production umbrella unit of America’s major film production house Fox Filmed Entertainment, FIP produces and distributes local language films around the globe. Known as one of the world’s l

March 6, 2012

Rookie director heads to Miami, Hong Kong fests

Rookie director Kim Joong-hyun has been invited to two international film festivals for his feature debut “Choked,” according to the film’s production house. The work will be featured at the Miami International Film Festival and the 36th Hong Kong International Film Festival. The film was featured at last year’s BIFF and this year’s Berlinale. It tells the story of a young man whose mother suddenly disappears and leaves him a trail of debts.“Late Autumn” director Kim Tae-yong worked with Kim Joo

March 5, 2012

Box Office

Howling (Korea) Opened Feb. 16Crime. Thriller. Directed by Yoo Ha. Detective Sang-gil (Song Kang-ho), who is desperate for promotion, gets annoyed when he is assigned to work with an inexperienced junior Eun-young (Lee Na-young) for what looks like a suicide case. Eun-young finds out that it is a murder case involving a giant wolf-dog. Being the only female detective in her team, socially inept Eun-young endures low expectations, lewd jokes and even sexual harassment by her macho team members. W

March 2, 2012

At 50, Lea Thompson’s hitting her stride

As an actress, Lea Thompson considers herself a “long-distance runner” ― someone who keeps up a steady pace instead of a sprint.“I always felt like my best years would be from 50 to 65 years old,” Thompson said. “I don’t know why. It was a feeling I had even when I was really young. My kids are kind of all grown up now and I can be in a difference space where I can put everything into it.”Just a few months shy of her 51st birthday, the gamin former ballerina could easily pass as a 30-something.

March 2, 2012

‘Planet of Snail’ touching in many ways

IDFA-winning documentary delves into human connection to the universeOf all our senses, the sense of touch arguably is the most intimate. It develops before all the other senses, and it’s one of the first ways in which children learn about their environment and bond with others. It brings pleasure, protection and emotional support. Even after our sight weakens and hearing fades, this sense usually stays with us. Director Yi Seung-jun’s award-winning documentary, “Planet of Snail,” is an exquisit

March 1, 2012

Everything old was new again at the Oscars

Justin Bieber wasn’t mincing words. “I’m here to bring you the 18 to 24 demographic,’’ the teen pop star told Billy Crystal in the opening Oscar montage. “So, how long do you want me to stay here for?’’The two were spoofing “Midnight in Paris,’’ a film about time travel, and actually it did feel like Bieber had swooped in from the future. Because everything else about this year’s Oscars had a distinct vintage feel, from the honored films harking back to early years of cinema, to the longevity of

Feb. 28, 2012