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Uhm Tae-woong caves to the dark side of showbiz in Top Star

Among the many films that are currently debuting at the Busan International Film Festival, Top Star seems to be getting a lot of fanfare and positive reviews. The trailer and stills show a much darker story than I had anticipated, about a top star’s manager who dreams of becoming an actor, and grows dangerously ambitious after one taste of fame. It’s basically All About Eve the male version, and it looks like a dark twisty portrayal of celebrity and showbiz.

The casting’s always a head-spinner in these movie-about-movies projects, because of course you cast the bigger star in real life as the underling in the movie. So Uhm Tae-woong (Sword and Flower) headlines as the lowly manager with a lifelong unfulfilled dream of becoming an actor, and Kim Min-joon (Romance Town) plays the top star he and everyone else in the country idolizes. So Yi-hyun (Who Are You) plays a drama producer and Kim Min-joon’s girlfriend.

Uhm Tae-woong’s big break comes one night when Kim Min-joon causes a car accident on a rainy night, and manager Uhm Tae-woong steps up to take responsibility in his place. In exchange, the big star gives him a small role in an upcoming project, and Uhm Tae-woong’s star begins to rise. It eventually reveals a frightening ambition to overtake the top star’s status, but also to have everything that was his, including the girlfriend. Once Kim Min-joon realizes what he could lose (because his ex-manager knows the truth about the accident), he’ll stop at nothing to protect himself. Yeesh, I’m not sure which one is the scarier of the two.

The film is the directorial debut of actor Park Joong-hoon (Arrest King, Haeundae), who also penned the script. Hell, if anyone should know what life as a top star is like, it’s the guy who’s headlined movies since the mid-eighties. Though I sincerely hope this isn’t a ripped-from-the-pages-of-my-diary kind of thing, because, uh, scary. Park Joong-hoon does a lot of comedies, so it’s a bit of a surprise that his first outing as a director is so dark, but I’m definitely intrigued by the insider look at the glitz and glam (and seedy underbelly) of show business.

Top Star opens in theaters October 24.

Via Joy News

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The posters are gorgeous and perfect for the theme. The suffocating atmosphere...

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We need to officially change his name after looking at that bottom poster - Yum Tae-woong!

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Preach Sister! Preach!!!

When I see Yum Taewoong in roles like this one... I ask my self why don't I always think of him as smoking hot... and then I remember 1D2N and well... lets just say then man is sure a chameleon.

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Gosh, he is so adorable as the shy cute manager and then he changes on a dime. I'm always so impressed by his range and how CONVINCING he is as kind/ambitious.

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Second this. YUM tae woong indeed. YUM FORCE!!! ♡

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I like YumForce lol.

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YumForce!!! Hahahaha just perfect :D

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yeeees! Seriously fanning my face. why is it so hot in here.

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Great posters, I love the way they use the bright flashes (and I want to see what So Yi-hyun does, this looks like her year to branch out)

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The posters sure are pretty.

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Uhmforce, my love!!! This looks awesome, too bad it'll be a while before I get to watch it :/

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Why do all three of them have the same hairstyle in the first poster?

The camera angles and flashes are well done! Very pretty :)

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Oh my, yes. This will be watched.

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Taewoong oppa! So glad that he's got a good one after the disastrous Sword and Flower.

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Ah Kim Min-joon...he broke my heart to bits in Damo.

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What a story! The phrase "Top Star" is such a Korean one. Keep hearing it being repeated in Korean dramas.

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So Yi Hyun is in everything lately and I don't understand the appeal?

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you and me both my friend,,,,you and me both...

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I don't get it either.

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I was about to say the same thing. She just finished Who Are You, is in Top Star, and will be in Man From The Stars. How did she manage to get so many roles?

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she's making the right people happy and satisfied.

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Thanks GF.

Love the pics.

Think the storyline is interesting. And UTW will make a good scary dude.

Looking at the first poster though I thought So Yi-hyun was the star they were referring to. She definitely looks like she's all that in it:)

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소이현 is goood

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Wow, the posters look great! I even have to admit that Uhm Tae-woong, whom I never really thought was attractive or appealing, looks pretty darn sexy and cool here. Can't wait for this movie to be subbed.

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Once you see UTW in a good role, you will fall in love with him. He acts with a beautiful balance of intensity and vulnerability.

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UTW was a bit dweeby-looking in is younger days, but he's one of those actors who gets better-looking as he ages (kinds like Richard Dreyfuss before he got really old).

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I think it going to be good i like the plot

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Don't know about the movie... but the trailer and the posters are GREAT. That's some great promo material!

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ditto! i couldn't understand a word said in the trailer except for "top sta" (lol) but it made me totally want to see the movie.

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Uhm tae woong ♡

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Dang, So Yi Hyun looks gorgeous!

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HOLY CRAP, I just realized that UTW and SYH are reuniting after they starred together in Resurrection! :O

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I love the male leads, but when I see this woman, I get a strong urge not to watch...I've never been able to finish anything she's in....when will I ever warm up to her acting...I want to soooo much...

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Then, watch Resurrection. Even if you can't stand her and/or some others you just want to finish and watch it because of Uhm Tae Woong. It's a great drama.

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the promotional stills look really good and the premise is very intriguing. I love to watch this!

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That last poster of Uhm Tae Woong is so Bad Ass, totally Awesome

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This made me think of another dark movie about the movies: Rough Cut. That was a great film!

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i just watched that movie to wean myself from SJS... which was funny cos it was originally im My Watchlist due to KJH (I stopped at Fireworks). good movie, glad i can finally striked it from the list but hated the ending

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ooh. me likes. kim and minjoon and uhmforce? yes please.

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i think Kim Min Joon is the most handsome and gorgeous man on the earth. I wish the movie the best Fighting !

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Wow... I like the posters.
Actors in the back seats, while the manager at front...
Anyway, So Yi hyun is very booming lately.

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Did i say i love him??I do!

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oh posters are really good, and the storyline is interesting...
and i just love Uhm Taewoong & Kim Minjoon.

looking forward for this one..

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"Kim Min-joon (Romance Town) plays the top star he and everyone else in the country idolizes"

Heck yeah! Kim Min-joon was soooooo incredibly sexy in Damo! Any woman who's ever seen that would naturally idolize the guy. :D

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Am I the only person who doesn't fancy Uhm Tae Woong?
Yeah, probably.

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LOL. I got excited because I just skipped to the pictures and though Park Joong Hoon and Yoo Ji Tae were in it too and thought "what a star studded cast." hahaha.

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Oh wow. That last poster. That stare. Wow.

Yeah, so this looks bad-ass and I really want to watch.

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Wanna watch this! It looks mysterious and full of crazy and scheming. I am here for it.

Kim Min Joon has always been kinda creepy to me, I have no idea! Maybe it's because I think the first thing I saw him in was Someday (with Bae Doo Na and Lee Jin Wook) and he was kind of an obsessed fan--I really can't picture him as anything else, I think.

Uhm Tae Woong looks good, too!

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first saw him in Pretty Insoon, like him a lot. he was ok in Romance Town. then came this movie where he was a gangster w a scar face and was dang crazy, and i was like he was that guy?

love UTW..

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I think Uhm Tae Woong is a very versatile actor. You can't help but be sucked in by the roles that he plays...

Gotta ask though, is Yoo Ji Tae in the movie or was he just visiting the set?

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Park Joong-hoon is an awesome actor, so I have high hopes for his directorial career.

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One word U-H-M-F-OR-C-E!!!!!! *Back to Work*

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Oh look, they're eating at Heaven! :D

(49 Days Pasta-House-slash-Architect's-Office-slash-Wandering-Soul-Shelter)

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his friend Yoo Ji-tae visited him, the director i mean. It seems like the top-stars are now pursuing directing as an alternative career. I wonder who will have the guts to direct a kdrama.

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So Yi-hyun always wear the same make up in her recent dramas. the same dark eyes. I wish she can change her make up into something light.

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Why is Uhm Tae-woong everywhere, I'm sick of seeing his name in every single drama and movie. Dude is getting old and ugly, his acting ain't that special either, just retire already

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Woah! That was uncalled for, you know if you dislike someone or something that much, you could just ignore them and move on with your life. Nobody forced you to look at this article, you could have just ignore it.

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Why bash on someone, just avoid them.
Truthfully speaking I never liked him in DGCH and never understood his appeal but after watching his other works I'm a fan of his talent even if I don't find him that appealing visually. Sort of like kim myung min, my bias :-0

But on a side note I can see why he has such a fan following and that last poster...........

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Even he's old n you think ugly, I guess people in movie n drama bussiness see he's good actor that's why he got many project, he's not young actor who got cast in drama/movie because he's popular

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OMG! My sentiments exactly, he's everywhere, he's on my tv, he's on the news, he's on every drama and every movie ever made. He was just in masters sun and two weeks and good doctor and shark and goddess of fire and suspicious housekeeper and kings family and I summon you gold. Hes in EVERY SINGLE DRAMA. And dont even get me started on the movies part. He's like in every single movie too.

He is getting old, I mean just this year he got married and had a baby, I mean HOW DARE HE right? He's not allowed to get old and mature, I mean he's totally messing up time, doesn't he know that you're not supposed to get old if time passes. You're suppose to be like benjamin button and just reverse the process.

He is getting ugly, so ugly that whenever I look at him, I just want to tear all his clothes and ravage him on the spot. Those ugly eyes that looks deep into your soul, those ugly lips that you just wanna kiss all day long, that jawline that you just wanna caress, those muscular arms that you just wanna wrap around you, those broad shoulders that you just wanna feel up.......I could go on and on about HOW UGLY HE IS BUT POOR GUY, HE PROBABLY ALREADY KNOWS THAT. He's so ugly that just by looking at him you're gonna drool until you drown, and your jaw will drop so low creating a hole all the way to china, and probably also your panties too.

And don't even get me started on his acting, he is without a doubt ONE OF THE WORST ACTORS ON THE PLANET, if you have seen sword and flower, you will know what I mean, I have never seen an actor exhibit such horrible acting stills, he played the character yeon choong with such raw emotions and subtlety that we could feel the characters pain and suffering like we are experiencing it firsthand. The intense way he played that line between being vulnerable and fervently passionate was almost palpable that it like we were sucked in to his drama world. We rooted for him despite being an anti hero in the latter part of the drama to get his happy ending and we cried in anguish when he didn't. A role that made a lot of non fans before appreciate him and ended up being fans after all. I mean if that's not an example of a horrible actor, then I don't know what is.

...So to quote you, yeah! He should just retire just because he's everywhere, he's old and ugly and his acting isn't that special.

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I totally aggree. BTW, Rwy.Nica, you're so funny..

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Ha ha. This is hilarious, way to subvert the negative comment. Bravo!

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I wish I could like this comment

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LOL <3.

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BEST.COMMENT.I.EVER.READ.

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Bwahahaha. I was ready to post an equally long reply to yours in defense of tae woong(my ultimate bias) even though I've only skimmed your post and those words in capital letters are the only one I really read but I decided to read the whole post and I almost cried from so much laughter, ha ha. Thanks for that and agree on all points. Tae woong is one sexy mother effing hunk and his got the amazing acting skills to back it up.

To dalena nguyen: you just got owned!!!

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ohh...

I was just warming and all puffed up to defend him and then I don't know why but I read it unto that benjamin button part, scratched my head in confusion, read up and down once again and THEN I deflated with a huge burst of laughter

I wish dramabeans had a like button

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@ Rwy. Nica

TWO THUMBS UP!

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I usually don't read long comments but when I do they turn out to be really poop-in-your-pants funny.

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A thousand likes for you! :)

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awesome reply!

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you deserve all the awards.

*slow clap*

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Rwy. Nica You are the best!!!

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Read this and then decide if he doesn't have acting talent.

He is the only actor (I've heard of) that has a very important nickname; not even in Hollywood. I'm not talking about nicknames like "cutie, hottie etc."

Other veteran and important actors(esp. ASG, KYC and PJH) love his acting.
(These have been written in happening order)

1. While they were filming Silmido, during an interview AHN SEUNG GI talked about UTW (who had a very little supporting role in the movie) and said "That kid is going to turn into a true actor."
2. KIM YOUNG CHUL was asked to name the reason behind Equator Man's popularity and he directly said that UTW did a very great job.
3. In 1n2d, CHA TAE HYUN said that he loved UTW as an actor.
4. PARK JOONG HOON, the director of this movie, said that UTW is an amazing actor and that IT WAS AN HONOR WITH HIM. (normally the younger actor would say that; not the more veteran one who is also directing the movie)

And you're saying that this guy is bad?!
He is not only a good actor but there's something in him (I don't know what:)) that makes other actors adore him and his talent.

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"but there’s something in him (I don’t know what:)) that makes other actors adore him and his talent"

I believe that something is called the "Uhm force"

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Well said :D

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WOW UHMFORCE.

What I love about Taewoong is the fact that he can do any role. Whether it's the protagonist or the antagonist... he'll always do well.

So Yihyun is really everywhere these days. Good for her, I'd like to see her develop more.

I'm looking forward to this

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ohhhh, can't wait. posters looks amazing.

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So I'm the only one who realizes about Uhm Tae Woong and So Yi Hyun's reunion after 8 years since Resurrection!!

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Not only one ;P

18.1 mk October 7th, 2013 at 4:54 pm

HOLY CRAP, I just realized that UTW and SYH are reuniting after they starred together in Resurrection! :O

19.1 nedenuleyn October 8th, 2013 at 4:49 am

Then, watch Resurrection. Even if you can’t stand her and/or some others you just want to finish and watch it because of Uhm Tae Woong. It’s a great drama.

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I'm in!!
Hope some one subs it when possible! Looks really good! And the cast is really attractive!

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Me too!!!

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Crazy idea:
I will go to Korea (hitchhiking) to see the premiere. It is nothing that I do not know at all Korean XD

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oh interesting..I might check it

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yeah some of the people think he is not that pretty right?

OMG he is just pure charisma!!!!

i mean i can look at him and see that he is really not pretty if you ask me objectively (lol my first pretty boy crush is siwon, and ultimate one is SJK).
but i just cant help myself and fall in love with Uhm Tae Woong whenever i see him, and i dont even know why :D
is he perhaps a scorpio!!??? *gone to check

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