Streep shows ‘Iron Lady’ style at film poster launch

LONDON (AFP) ― Meryl Streep showed her credentials for the role as former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher when the launch of the poster for her new biopic “The Iron Lady” went awry in London on Monday.The Oscar-winning actress was supposed to pull on a length of rope to unveil the poster on a mobile billboard atop a truck opposite the Houses of Parliament ― but she broke the rope clean off. Streep, however, in Thatcher-like style was unperturbed. With the help of director Phyllida Lloyd

Nov. 15, 2011

Pitt muses on acting, growing older

Hollywood star Brad Pitt won’t quit acting at 50, enjoys getting older and will always focus on telling stories that are “significant to our times.” So said the actor during his first visit to Korea on a promotional tour for baseball drama “Moneyball,” Tuesday.“I do not have the exact deadline on my

Nov. 15, 2011

Best is yet to come: Yang Hyo-joo

After winning Silver Bear in Berlin, young director struggles to once again prove herselfThis is the second of a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean filmmakers. ― Ed.Just about 30 minutes before the interview, director Yang Hyo-joo sends an SMS.“There is a wall on the second floor of the cafe,” it says. “I’m hiding right behind it.”Stepping into the busy cafe in Hannam-dong, southern Seoul, there indeed is a gray wall. The 25-year-old is totally drawn into her own thoughts behind the wall

Nov. 14, 2011

Box Office

Horrible Bosses (U.S.)Opening Nov. 17Comedy. Directed by Seth Gordon. Two friends, Nick (Jason Bateman) and Dale (Charlie Day) have one thing in common: they hate their bosses with passion. While Nick works at a financial firm for Dave (Kevin Spacey), who would say, “this may help you get promoted,” whenever giving him too much extra work, Dale works for dentist Julia (Jennifer Aniston), who almost every day sexually harasses him -- by threatening she would falsely tell his girlfriend that he’s

Nov. 11, 2011

Eastwood, DiCaprio talk about making ‘J. Edgar’

For nearly five decades, J. Edgar Hoover was the face of law enforcement in the U.S., but to most Americans, the longtime Federal Bureau of Investigations director remains an enigma. “J. Edgar,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hoover, chronicles the FBI founder’s controversial tenure as a hunter of gangsters and a collector of secrets and explores his mystery-shrouded private life, defined by a devoted relationship to his colleague Clyde Tolson (Armie Hammer).Last we

Nov. 11, 2011

Professor examines Korea’s theater district

Daehangno ― Theater District in Seoul By Lee Chin-A(Hollym) Upon exiting Hyehwa Subwaty Station in Seoul, there is Daehangno, the most famous theater district in the city.Filled with big and small theater venues, and performance art-themed events, Daehangno attracts people of all ages all year long with its artistic flair and energy. Lee Chin-A’s English-language book, “Daehangno: Theater District in Seoul” delves into the past and present of this artistic district, exploring how it has transfor

Nov. 11, 2011

The ‘Catcher’: Yoon Sung-hyun

Director delves into psyche of his generationThis is the first of a series of articles on up-and-coming Korean filmmakers. ― Ed.Director Yoon Sung-hyun has been watching a lot of soccer games on TV lately. It’s always been his favorite sport, and he’s been an avid fan since he was a child. And though it’s only been two weeks since he won a prestigious film award, what pops in his head, when asked about recent days, is watching the sport, not winning his trophy.“I’ve been watching a lot of soccer

Nov. 8, 2011

Oscars, Jones to honor Redgrave in London

BEVERLY HILLS, California (AP) ― Decades after her provocative Oscar acceptance speech, Vanessa Redgrave will be honored at the film academy’s first European tribute to an actor.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it will honor Redgrave on Sunday in London, where she is starring with James Earl Jones in the stage production of “Driving Miss Daisy.”Jones is to receive an honorary Oscar on Saturday at the academy’s Governors Awards, but the 80-year-old actor is skipping that cerem

Nov. 8, 2011

Korean cinema goes Down Under

South Korea and Australia are celebrating the last stretch of their Year of Friendship, with this year marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, bringing more attention to the second annual Korean Film Festival in Australia.Organized by the Korean Cultural Office in Sydney, KOFFIA is a fledgling film festival that showcased 13 feature films and seven shorts this year. It hoped to show the diversity of Korean cinema today, as well as provide a true Korean cultural

Nov. 7, 2011

‘A Chinese Tale’ wins top prize at Rome Film Festival

ROME (AFP) ― The sixth Rome Film Festival, marred by protests over cuts in arts funding and struggles to attract big stars, ended Friday with the top prize going to Sebastian Borensztein’s “A Chinese Tale”.The film stars Ricardo Durin as a lonely hardware store owner whose life is upturned by the appearance of a young Chinese man.France’s Guillaume Canet won the festival’s best actor prize for his performance, widely applauded in the Italian press, in “A Better Life” directed by Cedric Kahn.Cane

Nov. 6, 2011

Box Office

Couples (Korea)Opened Nov. 2Comedy. Directed by Jeong Yong-gi. Five young single men and women living in Seoul run into each other and go through a series of unexpected events. Yoo-seok (Kim Joo-hyeok) is desperate to get a hold of his girlfriend who would not return his calls, while Ae-yeon (Lee Yoon-ji) can’t bring herself to throw out her fake-diamond ring given by her long-time ex. Meanwhile, Nari (Lee Si-young), a hopeless romantic, travels across the country in search of her one and only s

Nov. 4, 2011

Eddie Murphy: Comedy in action

Director Brett Ratner says that when he set out to erect “Tower Heist,” his new caper-adventure starring Eddie Murphy, he wanted to emulate the kind of action comedies that he had loved as a kid ― the kind of movies that might have starred Eddie Murphy.“Eddie kind of invented the genre,” Ratner said, referring to “48 HRS.” and the “Beverly Hills Cop” series ― films that sandwiched Murphy’s early, breakthrough years on “Saturday Night Live” and as a standup comedian.“‘Rush Hour,’ which was part o

Nov. 4, 2011