‘The King’ delves into mania of power and corruption

What is it like for a person of power to live in Korean society?Apparently, it’s like being royalty, according to director Han Jae-rim’s latest flick “The King.”From childhood, protagonist Park Tae-su yearned for power. He reigned over fellow students with his fist before he caught a glimpse of what he called “real power” -- the sight of his thug father being beaten up by a pencil-neck prosecutor. It was then that he decided to pursue a career in law.Park soon realizes that real power comes at a

Jan. 13, 2017

Films to look forward to in 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Hollywood might still be patting itself on the back for its 2016 films, but there‘s a lot to look forward to in film this year -- in all genres. Here are some films to put on your radar for the year. “John Wick: Chapter 2” (Feb. 10), “The Fate of the Furious” (April 14) Two franchises, both unlikely, both silly and both endlessly watchable get new installments this year. Keanu Reeves is back as the vengeful hit man John Wick in the sequel to the 2014 sleeper hit. And the Fast

Jan. 13, 2017

[Movie Review] In uplifting ‘Hidden Figures,’ three women’s rise

Theodore Melfi’s buoyant “Hidden Figures” is an old-fashioned feel-good movie with powerful contemporary relevance, spearheaded by a trio of unstoppable actresses playing black women who wouldn’t be stopped. Set in 1961 Virginia, the fact-based “Hidden Figures,” adapted from Margot Lee Shetterly’s non-fiction book, is about three peripheral characters at NASA who made important contributions to the space race. Their workplace, at Langley, is segregated (with separate bathrooms and drinking fount

Jan. 13, 2017

[Box Office] Movies in theaters this week

Moana(US)Opened Jan. 12Animation, adventure. Directed by Ron Clements, John MuskerMoana, the strong-willed daughter of the chief of a Polynesian tribe, has been chosen by the ocean to deliver a mystical stone relic to the goddess Te Fiti. When calamity strikes her island, its vegetation dying out and fish becoming scarce, Moana ventures out into the ocean in search of the demigod Maui, in hopes of saving her people. Your Name(Japan)Opened Jan. 4Fantasy, animation. Directed by Makoto Shinkai Mits

Jan. 13, 2017

Hong Sang-soo’s ‘On the Beach’ to compete at Berlin Film Fest in February

Director Hong Sang-soo’s upcoming film “On the Beach at Night Alone” has been invited to be screened in the competition category at the 67th Berlin International Film Festival, scheduled for Feb. 9-18, the film’s international distributor Finecut said Tuesday.The invitation marks director Hong’s third foray to Berlin, after “Night and Day” (2008) and “Nobody’s Daughter Haewon” (2013), which both screened in the competition section. Actress Kim Min-hee stars in “On the Beach at Night Alone.” (Fin

Jan. 11, 2017

[Herald Review] ‘Confidential Assignment’ is familiar but entertaining mix of humor, drama, action

“Confidential Assignment” offers the staple formula of one mission and two cops -- with a twist: one is from South Korea while the other hails from the neighbor to the north.The film starts out in North Korea as Lim Cheol-ryeong (Hyun Bin), an investigator from the North Korean special forces, witnesses his superior Cha Ki-seong (Kim Joo-hyuk) murder his wife and fellow team members. Cha, tired of the North Korean system of unquestioning obedience, dreams of “eternal freedom” and defects to the

Jan. 11, 2017

North-South bromance in ‘Confidential Assignment’

At a press screening of “Confidential Agreement” in Seoul on Tuesday, the lead actors said they concentrated on working out and perfecting their action sequences in preparation for filming.Directed by Kim Sung-hoon, “Confidential Agreement” tells the story of a South Korean cop burdened by the pressures of work and family, played by Yoo Hae-jin, and a duty-bound investigator from the North Korean special forces, played by Hyun Bin. When North Korean criminal gang members defect to the South, the

Jan. 10, 2017

‘La La Land’ waltzes to huge victory at Golden Globes

LOS ANGELES (AFP) -- Whimsical modern-day musical “La La Land” pirouetted its way into major Oscars contention Sunday as it swept the board at the Golden Globes, the glitziest party of the showbiz year.Damien Chazelle’s nostalgic tribute to the Golden Age of Hollywood musicals picked up all seven of the statuettes for which it was nominated -- giving the film momentum as it launches its campaign for next month’s Academy Awards.The film’s influence was felt from the opening moments of the three-h

Jan. 9, 2017

Somber stars attend Reynolds-Fisher memorial

Friends and family members gathered at the next-door homes of Debbie Reynolds and daughter Carrie Fisher on a gloomy Thursday in Hollywood Hills for an intimate memorial to mourn the late actresses. The service was held at Fisher’s home and the eulogies were delivered by her daughter, Billie Lourd, and friends, such as Meryl Streep, Tracey Ullman and Stephen Fry, while the 125 guests dined on fried chicken, collard greens and cornbread, according to People magazine. Streep, who starred in the ad

Jan. 6, 2017

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

Your Name(Japan)Opened Jan. 4Fantasy, animation. Directed by Makoto Shinkai Mitsuha, a high school girl living in the Japanese town of Itomori, becomes restless from her quiet life in the country and prays to be born a boy in bustling Tokyo in her next life. Miraculously, she wakes up one day to find her body switched with that of Taki, a man working in the city. The two use the situation to change each other’s lives. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story(US)Opened Dec. 28Epic, sci-fi. Directed by Gareth

Jan. 6, 2017

[Movie review] Loach film is a searing call for humanity, decency

Just like a Michael Moore documentary, there’s nothing subtle about a Ken Loach drama. The 80-year-old British director and social critic has long been an ardent, insistent, eloquent champion of the more vulnerable members of society -- particularly working-class folks who are trying to do the right thing but just can’t catch a break. Whether he’s exploring homelessness, poverty or other social ills, Loach’s arguments, and emotions, are always crystal clear.Loach has been making movies for a hal

Jan. 6, 2017

‘Django’ biopic to open Berlin film fest

BERLIN (AFP) -- The Berlin film festival will open next month with the premiere of a biopic about Gypsy-jazz great Django Reinhardt, focusing on his family’s persecution by the Nazis, organizers said Wednesday. The French production “Django” marks the directorial debut of Etienne Comar, a screenwriter and producer behind hits such as “Of Gods and Men” and “My King” and co-producer of the award-winning film about radical Islam “Timbuktu.”“Django” will compete for the Golden Bear top prize at the

Jan. 6, 2017

Journalists fired for anti-government protests release documentary

Six former journalists gathered for the press screening of documentary “Seven Years -- Journalism Without Journalist” at CGV Wangsimni in Seoul on Tuesday.　The documentary traces the unfair firing of 14 journalists -- some of whom were restored to their positions after court rulings -- in their seven-year battle against their employers, state-owned broadcaster MBC and partially state-owned broadcaster YTN.　“Administrations have strategically stifled state-owned media,” said Choi Seung-ho, a form

Jan. 3, 2017

'Too Close to Home’: Tyler Perry on all-white starring cast

ATLANTA (AP) -- Tyler Perry is known for creating opportunities for black actors. But recently the African-American filmmaker weathered a backlash for assembling an all-white starring cast for the TLC drama series “Too Close to Home.”　  Perry rejects the criticism, much of it on social media. Some questioned his casting choices, with one calling the show an “all time low” for the producer when the series aired this year.　  But by the end of the season, those harsh words turned mostly into praise

Jan. 1, 2017