A superhero CPA in Ben Affleck’s ‘The Accountant’

In Gavin O’Connor’s “The Accountant,” starring Ben Affleck, the paper-pushing CPA -- roughly the exact opposite of Schwarzenegger or Stallone -- gets his shot at action hero stardom. If we pull out our calculators, we can deduce that the odds of this are slim. Carrying the one and rounding up, you might even conclude that it’s a patently ridiculous premise. Just imagine the tagline possibilities. “The only thing he knows better than the tax code is his moral code!” “Don’t write him off!” “He’s t

Oct. 14, 2016

Kids brought J.K. Simmons to film, and maybe back to theater

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Fans of J.K. Simmons’ work in television and film may have the actor’s two children to thank.A veteran of New York theater, Simmons moved into TV and movie work after his two children were born.During a recent interview to promote his new film, “The Accountant,” Simmons recalled turning down an interesting play with a compelling co-star soon after he became a father.“There was no reason not to do (the play) except for the fact that I had a little baby and a 3-year-old who wan

Oct. 14, 2016

[Herald Interview] Greek crises brought to screen at BIFF in ‘Amerika Square’

Busan -- Director Yannis Sakaridis portrays a Greece in crisis through the prism of one small Athens neighborhood in “Amerika Square,” which held its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival on Tuesday.The director sat down alongside actor Yannis Stankoglou, who plays coffee bar and tattoo parlor owner Billy, with The Korea Herald before the premiere.“(Amerika Square) was the Via Veneto of Athens -- a lot of artists ... actors, all the sort of cultural establishment was there,” Sa

Oct. 13, 2016

‘The Net’ to open Tokyo FILMeX

Art-house filmmaker Kim Ki-duk’s drama “The Net” is heading to Japan.　The 17th annual international film festival Tokyo FILMeX will be opening on Nov. 19 with Kim’s latest film, according to distribution company Next Entertainment World on Thursday. 　This is not Kim’s first time at the festival. Most recently, his 2014 thriller “One on One” was featured at the event, and his personal documentary “Arirang” received the Agnes B. Audience Award in 2011. 　Tokyo FILMeX, which has a heavy focus on Asi

Oct. 13, 2016

Film fest sheds light on migrants’ lives in European cities

In the Polish documentary “Kim Ki-dok,” filmmaker Patrick Yoka and journalist Jolanta Krysowata try to uncover the forgotten story behind the grave of 13-year-old girl Kim Ki-dok in Wroclaw, Poland, a country some 8,000 kilometers away from Kim’s birthplace in North Korea. Organized by the Seoul Museum of History and the European Union National Institutes for Culture, this year’s EUNIC Film Festival, titled “Migrants in European Cities,” explores the history of the migrant crisis in Europe with

Oct. 11, 2016

‘Asura’ to open across North America

Crime thriller “Asura: The City of Madness” will soon be shown on screens across North America.　Since its screening at the Toronto International Film Festival last month, the film has caught the attention of the global cinema industry. 　It made its US debut in Los Angeles on Oct. 7 and will open in 30 major cities in North America, including New York, Chicago, Toronto, Houston and Washington D.C. on Oct. 14, according to CJ Entertainment. 　 Currently preparing for its Asia rollout, “Asura” will

Oct. 11, 2016

With 3 NYFF films, Kristen Stewart admits she’s a workaholic

NEW YORK (AP) -- Three films at this year’s New York Film Festival certainly qualify Kristen Stewart as a workaholic, but the actress doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing. “Oh yeah, I’m totally addicted, man. ... I get super obsessed with stuff, you know, and which is to a fault. But it’s served me well,” said Stewart. Since the Twilight franchise, the actress has quietly amassed an impressive body of work, including a trio of very different films at this year’s festival. She has already premie

Oct. 11, 2016

BIFF opens Korean indie films up to international audiences

BUSAN -- Huge blockbuster hits keep churning out of Korean cinema in recent years, and all the while Korea’s indie film scene keeps on producing quality films exploring aspects of Korean life on a smaller budget, if no less a smaller scale.This year’s Busan International Film Fest, running Oct. 6-15, presents 301 films from 69 countries, maintaining its position as Asia’s largest. In addition to international cinema and local blockbusters, the spotlight will also shine on lesser-known directors

Oct. 10, 2016

Actress Kim Yun-jin returns to local production in upcoming thriller

Actress Kim Yun-jin is returning to the big screen in Korea for the first time in two years after her role in the 2014 historical drama “Ode to My Father.”Directed by horror filmmaker Lim Dae-woong, the upcoming “House Above Time” will star Kim, K-pop boy band 2PM’s Ok Taec-yeon and actor Jo Jae-yun, who most recently appeared in romantic comedy “Mood of the Day” earlier this year. 　“I chose this film not only because of the script, but also because it’s a new genre for me,” said Kim in a statem

Oct. 10, 2016

Busan Film Fest’s role is to support budding Asian filmmakers: executive director

BUSAN -- Despite its political struggles, Busan International Film Festival strived to “return to the essentials” by spotlighting socially relevant Asian films in its main competition category New Currents this year.“As everyone knows, this event has begun with great anxiety and worries,” said BIFF’s executive director and actress Kang Soo-youn at a press conference with the New Currents jurors Friday morning at Busan’s Dongseo University Centum Campus. Earlier this year, many questioned whether

Oct. 7, 2016

[Box Office] Latest movie releases

The Net(Korea)Opened Oct. 6Drama. Directed by Kim Ki-dukHumble North Korean fisherman Nam Chul-woo (Ryoo Seung-beom) accidentally crosses the maritime border into South Korean waters when his fishing boat is caught in strong tides. Bacchus Lady(Korea)Opened Oct. 6Drama. Directed by E J-Yong Elderly sex worker So-young (Youn Yuh-jung), who frequents parks to pick up old men seeking her services, begins getting requests for a different type of service from her aging clientele. Asura: The City of M

Oct. 7, 2016

‘Miss Peregrine’ is familiar, yet fun

The very best Tim Burton films feature a charismatic weirdo at the center of the story who is either preternaturally innocent (Edward Scissorhands, Pee-Wee Herman), or charged with the protection of innocence (Batman). Enter Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine (Eva Green) into the canon of Burton heroes of this type. She’s the headmistress of a Home for Peculiar Children, which is a sort of mashup of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters and Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.“Miss Peregrine’s Hom

Oct. 7, 2016

Busan Film Fest opens with muted fanfare

BUSAN -- The opening ceremony of the 21st Busan International Film Festival was held quietly, without its usual display of fireworks, but to enthusiastic applause in a packed outdoor theater at the Busan Cinema Center on Thursday evening.　While some 160 prominent filmmakers and actors graced the red carpet,  including veteran Korean actor Ahn Sung-ki and Japan’s Watanabe Ken, many hard-hitting celebrities were noticeably absent due to a Korean film industry boycott of the event following dispute

Oct. 6, 2016

Busan Film Fest kicks off amid foreseen, unforeseen complications

BUSAN -- The 21st edition of the Busan International Film Festival, Asia’s largest, kicked off Thursday amid a number of complications both unexpected and long-standing -- outdoor facilities damaged by Wednesday’s Typhoon Chaba and local filmmakers’ ongoing boycott over BIFF’s artistic autonomy.Sets at BIFF Village, the venue on Haeundae Beach which was to host many of the festival’s outdoor events, were almost completely destroyed when the typhoon swept through the southeastern tip of the Korea

Oct. 6, 2016