And now to conclude the Big 3 Broadcaster awards with SBS, featuring some of the most popular dramas of the year. Tree With Deep Roots was the big winner of the night, winning six trophies in total, including the Daesang for Han Seok-kyu, and the Top Excellence Award for Best Drama. There were no big upsets in any category, because they kind of have a category for everyone, but that’s the name of the game. I’m just happy for Han Seok-kyu’s big win, and the fact that he didn’t have to share the glory with any split-award hullabaloo.

Protect the Boss cleaned up as well, winning Best Couple and acting awards for the stars, as well as an additional netizen popularity award for Choi Kang-hee. As expected, Thousand Day Promise had a strong showing in the acting categories, as did fellow melodrama Scent of a Woman. It certainly was the year for tearjerkers. The winners…

(...)
Read the rest of 2011 SBS Drama Awards (1,653 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 139 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Choi Kang-hee, Eom Ki-joon, Gu Hara, Han Seok-kyu, Im Soo-hyang, Jaejoong, Jang Hyuk, Jeon Gwang-ryul, Ji Chang-wook, Ji Sung, Jung Kyeo-woon, Jung Yumi (2), Kim Rae-won, Kim Sun-ah, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Min-ho, Lee So-yeon, Lee Yo-won, Seo Hyo-rim, Shin Hyun-bin, Shin Se-kyung, Song Joong-ki, Su Ae, Wang Ji-hye, Yoon So-yi

Awards, awards, awards! And tons of pretty people.

As with yesterday’s MBC Drama Awards, note that winners are decided in part due to popularity, in part due to ratings and politics. That said, I don’t think anyone will argue with their Daesang winner, Shin Ha-kyun (below), who has been tearing it up on Monday and Tuesday nights with medical drama Brain.

Also no surprise was the awarding of runner-up acting prizes to The Princess’s Man‘s pair, Park Shi-hoo and Moon Chae-won (above), which bagged a number of awards.
As did weekend hit Ojakkyo Brothers.

(...)
Read the rest of 2011 KBS Drama Awards (2,271 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 98 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Chun Jung-myung, Daniel Choi, Eugene, Han Eun-jung, Han Hye-jin, Hong Soo-hyun, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, Jang Nara, Joo-won, Jung Jin-young, Jung Woong-in, JYP, Kim Min-seo, Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Jang-woo, Lee Jong-hyuk, Lee Shi-young, Lee Yoon-ji, Moon Chae-won, Moon Jung-hee, Park Jung-ah, Park Min-young, Park Shi-hoo, Shin Ha-kyun, Suzy, UEE

Oh, MBC. I can always count on you for some awards-time whatthefuckery. Three years ago it was split Daesangs (daesang = Grand Prize), giving the same award to Kim Myung-min and Song Seung-heon and doubling awards in every category. Two years ago, there were more split awards, and last year we had the bizarre “Character Daesangs” (“Crude Language Award,” “Hot Temper Award,” and so forth).

This year, no actors were forced to share the Daesang…because it basically went to a drama instead. What the what? (Last year, Drama of the Year was a viewers’ pick award. This year it took the place of the Daesang, even if it wasn’t officially called one.)

Part of what makes MBC such a weird award in my opinion is that they never seem to know what they’re doing. If you’re going to make weird categories a thing, then stick with it — but if you’ll compare past years with each other, you’ll see that they keep changing things around. It makes them seem desperate, scrambling to appease everyone. Add to that the fact that in recent years, MBC has typically had the weakest drama performances of the three broadcast stations (remember when MBC was the Drama Kingdom?). So with weak competition, you get awards being doled out to some middling dramas, while others are overlooked entirely.

It must be noted that these awards are hardly ever based strictly on merit. They’re given out by the broadcaster, so they’re more a measure of which dramas and stars they want to thank/bribe/flatter. It’s partially a popularity contest, and partially politicking; it’s a given that the big ratings hits will rake in a lion’s share of awards. I still reserve the right to gripe about their choices.

You’ll see that this year, the broadcaster has once again introduced new categories and done away with others. They’ve gotten a lot of flak in past years for splitting awards, so this year they haven’t split many… because instead, they split award categories, which essentially achieves the same thing. Oh, MBC, always trying to please everyone and therefore pleasing no one. Maybe you’ll get a decent hit in 2012.

(...)
Read the rest of 2011 MBC Drama Awards (1,593 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 119 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Cha Seung-won, Gong Hyo-jin, Honey Lee, Hwang Jung-eum, Ji Hyun-woo, Jo Yoon-hee, Jung Bo-seok, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Jae-won, Kim Jung-tae, Lee Bo-young, Micky Yoochun, Nam Goong-min, Park Yoo-hwan, Shin Aera, Yoon Tae-young

Must be something in the water this year: Another award event has been cancelled (following the Korea Film Awards earlier this winter) with the Director’s Cut Awards announcing that it’ll be skipping what would’ve been its 14th annual event.

The Director’s Cut would’ve been the last film awards doled out in 2011, although they won’t be the last of this award cycle (Baeksangs come in spring). The only reason given for this decision, according to a source with the organization running the ceremony, the Korea Film Directors Network, is “internal issues.” Hmm, I’m putting my money on…well, money, as the culprit, which was also a big factor in the Korea Film Awards cancellation.

The source added that this isn’t a permanent cancellation, however, and that the organization intends to continue in the future. Too bad for that, since it’s always interesting seeing how different organizations select their honors, whether it’s a newspaper, broadcast station, producers’ organization, cinematographers, or directors. Maybe better luck next year.

Via Osen

RELATED POSTS

• Korea Film Awards cancelled
• Mother, Thirst take home Director’s Cut awards
• The 11th Director’s Cut Awards
   

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 7 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards

Awards, awards, awards! Friday, November 25, was the night of the 2011 Blue Dragon Film Awards, and — no surprise — the winners list was dominated by one of the biggest films of the year, sageuk-action-thriller Bow: The Ultimate Weapon. The film is a David and Goliath story of one man (Park Hae-il) taking down the enemy with his exceptional prowess with the bow and won awards for most of its leading stars.

A few other films also nabbed multiple awards, with best picture going to the thriller Bad Deal. (which also won for director and screenplay).

(...)
Read the rest of 2011 Blue Dragon Film Awards (1,639 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 65 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Byun Jung-soo, Go Soo, Gong Yoo, Han Chae-young, Jo Sung-ha, Jung Ryeo-won, Kim Haneul, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Je-hoon, Lee Jung-jin, Lee Min-ho, Lee Min-jung, Lee Shi-young, Moon Chae-won, Nam Gyuri, Park Bo-young, Park Hae-il, Ryu Hyun-kyung, Ryu Seung-ryong, Su Ae, Yoo Sun, Yoon Kye-sang

Holiday season means awards season, but this year will have one less ceremony with the cancellation of the Korea Film Awards. Hosted by MBC, the show would have been in its ninth year after being established in 2002, but ran into issues with “sponsorship and other complicated problems.”

Related parties state that money isn’t the only reason, but basically it’s the big one, considering that the Korea Film Awards ran into a similar problem in 2009 and cancelled the event that year due to a lack of sponsorship. You can see that there’s a year between the 7th and 8th events (links below).

The issue stems from the sizable capital needed to host an awards event in the first place; awards that don’t receive government funding have to come up with prize purses and judge invitations on their own. In this case, the total award money would have topped 200 million won, which is just under $200K. On top of that, the production costs to hold and televise the show are substantial.

A source explained, “The Korea Film Awards has a short history and isn’t very different from other film awards, so it had difficulty finding sponsorship.” It’s uncertain if or when the Korea Film Awards will be able to come back, although an MBC official made certain to clarify that it wasn’t a permanent cancellation.

Other than the Korea Film Awards, we’ve also got the upcoming Blue Dragon, to be held later this month, while the Grand Bell has already been held. Then there are each of the broadcast station’s drama awards (MBC, SBS, and KBS each hold their own) at the end of the year, as well as the separate ceremonies honoring their entertainers and variety programming. Way off in spring is one of the big ones, the Baeksang.

Ah, well. That’s too bad; one less red carpet to snark.

Via 10 Asia, Oh My News

RELATED POSTS

• 8th Korea Film Awards
• 7th Korea Film Awards
• 6th Korea Film Awards

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 16 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards

October 17 was the night of the 48th Grand Bell Awards (or, per its Korean name, Daejong Awards), and it was a big event for a few films in particular. And while the Joseon-era David-versus-Goliath action sageuk Bow: The Ultimate Weapon didn’t sweep the categories, it did take home a nice chunk of them.

But Best Picture (and a few others) went to the Korean War film The Front Line (which is probably a good thing, since it’s this year’s entry to the Academy Awards — not that I expect it’ll win or even make final cut. Korean films rarely — never? — do).

A couple of other notable winners: bright, touching comedy Sunny, and the moody, pensive Bleak Night. All are on my Must Watch ASAP list.

(...)
Read the rest of 48th Grand Bell Awards (1,343 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 102 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Bae Jong-ok, Cha Tae-hyun, Choi Kang-hee, Daniel Choi, Go Chang-seok, Jang Seo-hee, Jang Young-nam, Jo Hee-bong, Jo Sung-ha, Jung Soo-young, Kang So-ra, Kim Haneul, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Sumi, Lee Je-hoon, Lee Min-jung, Moon Chae-won, Park Hae-il, Park Hyo-joo, Seo Young-hee, Shin Hyun-bin, Shin Hyun-joon, Song Sae-byuk, Won Bin, Yoon Kye-sang

After considering a number of buzz projects released in the past year, South Korea has decided on the blockbuster war thriller The Front Line by director Jang Hoon (Secret Reunion, Rough Cut) to be its pick for foreign language film at the 84th Academy Awards.

It beat out other films like Poongsan (aka Phungsan Dog) starring Yoon Kye-sang, the adorable-sounding ’80s girl-power-and-friendship movie Sunny, the Ha Jung-woo crime thriller The Yellow Sea, director Hwang Sang-soo’s The Day He Arrives, and director Im Kwon-taek’s Hanji (Scooping Up the Moonlight).

I haven’t seen The Front Line yet, but I’ve been intrigued ever since hearing about it, with its suspenseful plot about a South Korean unit during the Korean War that may possibly be fraternizing with the enemy, led by an enigmatic Go Soo. He comes into conflict with his old friend Shin Ha-kyun, a soldier sent from the capitol to investigate the suspicious death of an officer. While I’ve read some mixed reviews about the film, it seems to be a taut thriller that is entertaining but not quite as successful as another famous North-vs-South military-investigation film, JSA: Joint Security Area.

According to the Korean Film Council, Poongsan was lauded for its unusual story and intensity, but its storyline was deemed to be enough on the outside of realistic that there was concern not all viewers would appreciate it. The Front Line racked up a high score from its judges with its topic of the Korean War and the high quality of the ending. The Yellow Sea had an overall high score — it was neck in neck with The Front Line till the end — but its level of violence kept it from winning out.

This isn’t perhaps as high-profile a submission as some previous entries like Bong Joon-ho’s Mother or Cannes prize-winner Secret Sunshine or then-biggest-Korean-box-office-hit The King and the Clown, and I’m not sure how much reception it’ll get abroad, but I’m still eager to see the movie when I can get my grubby hands on it. Those brother-against-brother, horrors-of-war movies always get me right *there* in the heart.

Via Mk.co.kr

RELATED POSTS

• Summer blockbuster The Front Line opens to high expectations
• Go Soo and Shin Ha-kyun’s new movie

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 28 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Go Soo, Shin Ha-kyun

It’s too bad that Hyun Bin was missing from the 47th Baeksang Arts Awards, since he and his drama picked up a bunch of awards. (Alas, there’s that whole mandatory military thing.)

Not only did he grab a Daesang in the TV portion (film Daesang went to Lee Byung-heon for his thriller I Saw the Devil), both his projects won awards as well: Tang Wei for film Late Autumn, who’s pictured above with Ha Ji-won, his co-star in Secret Garden, which won top honors for the drama category. Looks like he’s on a roll, even in absentia. Do the Marines allow celebratory Baeksang parties for their celeb enlistees? Surely he earned a drink or two, at least.

The awards were held on the evening of May 26 in Seoul, and hosted by actors Ryu Shi-won (Style) and Kim Ah-joong (Sign).

WINNERS LIST

FILM SECTION

Daesang: Lee Byung-heon (I Saw the Devil)
Best Picture: Ajusshi (The Man From Nowhere)
Director: Lee Chang-dong (Poetry)
Top Excellence, Actor: Ha Jung-woo (The Yellow Sea)
Top Excellence, Actress: Tang Wei (Late Autumn)
New Actor: Choi Seung-hyun (TOP) (Into the Fire)
New Actress: Shin Hyun-bin (He’s On Duty)
New Director: Kim Young-taek (Hello Ghost)
Screenplay: Yook Sang-hyo (He’s On Duty)
Popularity Award, Actor: Choi Seung-hyun (TOP) (Into the Fire)
Popularity Award, Actress: Park Shin-hye (Cyrano Dating Agency)

TV SECTION (...)
Read the rest of 47th Baeksang Arts Awards (1,697 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 195 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Cha Tae-hyun, Go Hyun-jung, Ha Ji-won, Ha Jung-woo, Han Hyo-joo, Hong Su-ah, Hwang Jung-eum, Hyun Bin, Ji Chang-wook, Jo Ahn, Jo Hyun-jae, Jo Yeo-jung, Jung Bo-seok, Jung Il-woo, Jung Yong-hwa, JYP, Kim Ah-joong, Kim Nam-joo, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Soo-hyun, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Min-jung, Lee Shi-young, Lee Su-geun, Micky Yoochun, Min Hyo-rin, Moon Geun-young, Nam Gyuri, Park Ha-sun, Park Min-young, Park Shin-hye, Ryu Shi-won, Seo Young-hee, Shin Hyun-bin, Song Joong-ki, Suzy, Taecyeon, TOP, Yoo Inna, Yoon Shi-yoon

Director Kim Ki-duk has picked an award at Cannes International Film Festival for his film Arirang, taking home the top prize in the Un Certain Regard section along with Andreas Dresen’s Halt Auf Freier Strecke (Stopped On Track).

The film received a standing ovation at Cannes when it screened to approximately 2,000 viewers there, and it’ll be interesting to see how that affects its response in Korea, if at all, as it’s been peppered with criticism there. (Here’s a well-written review in English, from The Hollywood Reporter.)

Kim has long had a contentious relationship with the industry in Korea, while being lauded overseas for his indie arthouse films (3-Iron, Samaritan Girl, Coast Guard and Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…And Spring are some of his more well-known films). While other Korean directors like Park Chan-wook and Bong Joon-ho are respected both at home and abroad, it’s not quite the case for Kim, whose movies are often commercial flops domestically. He’s developed a reputation for being a “bad boy” of cinema, and Arirang takes that reputation, inflates it by about a thousand percent, and flings it back in the faces of his detractors.

The film is documentary-style and features himself in a cabin, edited in an experimental fashion as a dialogue with himself (in three distinct personas), reflecting on his 15-year-long career. He doesn’t hold anything back, and at points swears and rails at the camera, and himself, about the pains and betrayals he’s felt by moviegoers and others in the industry, including his protégé Jang Hoon (who left to work on a major film production).

Kim was reportedly spurred to make Arirang after the traumatizing accident on set of his 2008 film Dream, in which Lee Na-young almost died while filming a suicide (hanging) scene. In a letter posted on the film festival website, Kim wrote, “The countless people I’ve meet while making films…Human relationships that come together as if forever only to rip apart like tissue paper…All of us entangled by love, passion, hate and the urge to kill…To me all this is Arirang.”

Via 10 Asia, Hollywood Reporter, Wall Street Journal Scene Asia

RELATED POSTS

• Poetry wins for best screenplay at Cannes
• Ha Ha Ha takes prize at cannes
• Preview press event for Bimong (Sad Dream)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 21 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, directors, film festivals, Kim Ki-duk