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omonatheydid
A week ago I learned a very interesting thing about Korean cinema from a TEDx talk: did you know that the Korean government actively supports its own cinema industry? There is a government-supported, self-administered body called the Korean Film Council (KOFIC) and they make sure two things happen: (1) there is a set quota of how many Korean-made films to be played at their theaters every year and (2) they invest money in studios and give grants to independent filmmakers. In the last twelve years they have invested 43 million USD in 602 films. This means that in a large pool of creative resources a lot of good ideas get funded (unlike Hollywood and its investors who only go after high-profile projects, not really guaranteeing quality but still would like to see $$$$ in the bank) which is good for all of us. Think about that the next time you watch a Korean film.
Going by the Book (released in 2007, but only got a North American distribution this year thanks to 5 Points Pictures) is a brilliant idea. In essence this is a heist film, in which a police chief named Lee Seung-woo faces off against the bank robber Jung Do-man. The twist? It's a simulated bank robbery set up by Chief Lee. Due to a string of bank robberies in the area, the citizens have lost faith in the local police force. Instead of just taking care of it the normal way, Chief Lee orchestrates a simulation as training for the cops. Everybody is in on it: the banks, the cops, the media. Do-man is like the straightest straight man you could think of: he is a disciplined traffic cop who --are you ready for this?-- goes by the book. By lottery, he was chosen to be the bank robber. Do-man of course is hesitant, Chief Lee tells him "do your best" and he gets more than he bargained for. Check out the trailer for more info:
You are guaranteed a few laughs out of this and there might be one groan-worthy moment especially for the members of this community. At the beginning of the film, Going by the Book starts to go the typical route of obsessive, lawful-good type cop who might need to loosen up but I'm so glad it didn't play into that been there-done that trap. In fact, it's that type of alignment that makes you wonder about the roles we were meant to play, and what would happen if we started playing for the other team. The meticulous nature of Jung Jae-young's Do-man is played both seriously and for laughs and it's a really enjoyable and exciting thing to watch. It's always a plus when I couldn't even try to predict what will happen next, which I often do. It was fun to watch the hostage situation and how the police force handles it and that is just something you're going to have to see for yourself!
As always, go out there and find this movie. Sit back and enjoy this great unraveling of a traditional heist film before Hollywood finds this film and remakes it to a less superior but more flashy version.
FILM INFO, AWARDS, FESTIVALS
Presented by: CJ Entertainment
Produced by: Film It Suda (The Recipe; Welcome to Dongmakgol)
Directed by: RA Hee-chan (Mr. Idol)
Original story by: Kunihiko TOI, Hiroshi SAITO (Japanese film "Bang!" a.k.a. "Asobi no Jikan wa Owaranai")
Screenplay by: JANG Jin (Guns and Talks; Righteous Ties), LEE Gyu-bok
Cast:
JUNG Jae-young (Moss; Righteous Ties; Castaway on the Moon; Glove)
SON Byung-ho (The Good, The Bad, The Weird; May 18; R-Point; Spider Forest)
LEE Young-eun (Doomsday Book; To the Beautiful You TV)
Awards
2008 Max Movie Awards
Best Actor: Jung Jae-young
Festivals:
2008 Udine Far East Film
2008 Filmasia Film Festival
2008 Fantasia Film Festival
5POINTSPICTURES, 2 for the info, review by moi
The way it usually works is that I get a package for the prizes along with the DVD but I didn't get one for this one and the next movie. T.T sorry. But check it out anyway~ let's just make each movie review post a Korean film recc post, shall we???
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no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 11:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 10:42 pm (UTC)Its super interesting. There's actually a really scary experiment that was done in the 70s (I think every psych student knows this one), called the Stanford Prison Experiment. tl;dr version: its easy for someone to fall into a role (whether good or bad) if they know there will be no consequences or they have no other choice.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 10:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 11:19 pm (UTC)I'll have to check this out.
As for Korean film recommendation:
I got the Thieves on DVD recently so I finally got to watch that. It felt so kitchen sink at times, but it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the actors as their characters. They really kind of hold up the film.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 11:23 pm (UTC)Since OP mentioned movie recommendations I'm going to go with another Jung Jae Young movie and suggest Castaway on the Moon. Really incredible movie (one of my favorite movies ever and I'm tempted to buy the blu ray of it that YesAsia has, but it's like $40) and it's available for instant streaming on Netflix. It's about a man (Jung Jae Young) who jumps off a bridge in the beginning of the movie in an attempt to kill himself, however instead of succeeding he wakes up on a island in the middle of a river. While he's stuck on this island a girl who is a recluse and likes taking pictures of the moon, spots his HELP sign written in the sand and begins watching him and taking pictures of him. That's all I want to say about the plot and what's already in the synopsis for the movie's IMDB and AsianWiki page :)
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 03:58 am (UTC)Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-07 11:32 pm (UTC)I watch this film years ago, and it was pretty decent tbh, one of Uhm Jung-hwa's better roles.
Anyway, the film has a lot to do with plagiarism and whatnot.
The movie felt very familiar, the plot, the twist/climax, everything.
It was a good movie, but even after all these years I still can't shake the idea that I've seen it done before.
I mean, maybe I have, it's not the most original premise for a movie.
I don't know if I seen a movie, or watch a tv show that mirrored this film.
What do you guys think?
Maybe it was a book, the film was very Stephen King-like, however to my knowledge the film isn't based on a novel.
That would be quite meta though, right.
A movie about plagiarism, plagiarism another movie or book.
Of course I know nothing is original, this is just a thought really.
I dunno...the film is good though.
Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-07 11:50 pm (UTC)But anyway is this on Netflix? Sounds interesting.
Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-08 12:00 am (UTC)But over the years I realized, ain't nobody got time for that...
I dunno if it's on Netflix, I haven't had Netflix since 2007.
You can watch it here if your okay with streaming. (http://www.1channel.ch/watch-355764-Bestseller)
Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-07 11:51 pm (UTC)Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-07 11:56 pm (UTC)But after the dark-age of SOPA ACT, all the hosting sites either went on "hiatus" or just shut down.
So now, I have like none...
Here is my go to for K-Flicks (http://www.1channel.ch/?country=South%20Korea)
Or I just google and pray for some direct links or streams.
Do you have any sites?
Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-08 12:13 am (UTC)Re: Flick question.
Date: 2013-05-08 12:18 am (UTC)I truly love K-Films, they were/are a huge part of my interest towards K-Entertainment.
So, I understand the struggle...
No problem, I love sharing and talking about Korean films.
Just spreading the gossip, one charm at a time~
;-)
no subject
Date: 2013-05-07 11:59 pm (UTC)"unlike Hollywood and its investors who only go after high-profile projects"
This isn't really true, there are plenty of independent films being released by the US but the market is struggling due to the overseas market just wanting big spectacle CGI fests. Probably why the likes of Battleship which flopped in the US, did well else where. In the end to invest money, you need to be making money. And Hollywood is a business.
Also most Independent UK films are funded by a film council, government grants or the Lottery. Which is great.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:11 am (UTC)Time is great, you have such flaw-free taste per usual.
Speaking of Kim Ki Duk, have you seen Beautiful (http://www.hancinema.net/korean_movie_Beautiful.php)?
Holy shit balls, that movie is fucking messed up. After watching it I couldn't look at Lee Chun-hee the same for a while, it was weird watching him on Family Outing at the time.
LOL
Kim Ki Duk is one truly peculiar man...
His films/writing/though process is something.
Anyway, great taste.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:24 am (UTC)I was kinda looking for some twisted stuff so thanks for that, I'll check it out. There's one film I saw recently called Sleep tight, it's Spanish but god it's really good and twisted.
Yep I love Kim Ki Duk, he has such strange scenarios yet at the same time they're mesmerising. Have you seen Bow? That's one beautifully messed up film. And 3-Iron is one of my favs.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:38 am (UTC)No problem, I love tragic/dark/psychological/suspenseful K-Films, Korea does it like no other.
I haven't seen Sleep Tight, but I will now, so thanks!
Oh yeah, 3 Irons is a legit classic, I love that film.
Though I haven't seen Bow...yet.
Another film to check out.
I'm sure you've already seen Samaritan Girl, being that it's one of his more popular films.
I feel like going on a Kim Ki Duk film kick now.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:27 am (UTC)(frozen) no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:43 am (UTC)You can watch parts of it on Youtube, some of it is missing from the looks.
But honestly, I doubt it matters too much...
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 01:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 12:47 am (UTC)I use to have so many link and sites to run too.
Now it's hopeless.
It's like the Wild Wild West when it comes to finding K films download/stream...
This is all I got have or Google...sorry. (http://www.1channel.ch/?country=South%20Korea)
no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 01:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-05-08 05:12 am (UTC)as usual for k-movie, slow start, but the absurd plot will make you literally ROFLMAO.
One of my fave Kmovie so far.
no subject
Date: 2013-05-09 12:09 am (UTC)