Dramabeans » Won Bin

48th Grand Bell Awards

javabeans — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:18:28 +0000

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.

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© 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

Movie Review: The Man From Nowhere

only1tony — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 03:11:39 +0000

[Please join us in welcoming the newest guest blogger to Dramabeans -- our own resident movie reviewer, only1tony. We've been wanting to cover movies for so long, but barring cloning and/or dangerous 4th dimension travel, we had to find someone awesome who loves dramas and movies and the DB community just as much as we do. He'll be reviewing movies on a regular basis and we'll be joining in the fun with films we've been dying to see, so be on the lookout for new features. APPLAUSE! Without further ado, here's tony! -girlfriday]

Compelling, passionate, thrilling, heart-warming, dark, and above all well-acted, it is no surprise why The Man From Nowhere (aka Ajusshi) swept the board with awards last year. The partnership of Won Bin and Kim Sae-Ron is excellent, and their chemistry as mysterious man and the little girl who loves him is incredible.

This movie is beautifully constructed in both visual and story aspects. The sheer emotion this movie elicits is simply unspeakable: from the pain of societal rejection, to hopelessness, to unadulterated anger, and finally a sense of what it means to purely love. It is definitely a must-see.

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Won Bin’s next move: to Chungmuro or Hollywood?

girlfriday — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 20:21:50 +0000

Last year was definitely Won Bin‘s year: tops at the box office, aces on the red carpet, and well, he’s Won Bin. ‘Nuff said. So it comes as no surprise that he’s got his pick of new projects for the coming year, from dramas to movies…and he might soon be adding a Hollywood film to that list.

He’s reportedly being courted by agencies stateside, which isn’t surprising given how popular Ajusshi / The Man From Nowhere has been in the last year in screenings worldwide. Is it possible that he’ll be the next actor to attempt the very elusive crossover star-making turn in Hollywood?

At the same time, there’s speculation that he might sign on to star in the next film by director Jang Jin (The Recipe, Quiz King, Good Morning President), a Korean-Japanese co-production called Asian Beauty. The director has publicly been wooing Won Bin as his one and only choice for the leading role.

Is it too much to ask for him to return to dramaland instead of sailing away to either filmlandia? I know he’s probably going to be making films for a good long while (as well he should, of course), but I’m just greedy like that.

Via DongA

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Won Bin’s Ajusshi at SF Asian American film fest

girlfriday — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 13:28:15 +0000

For those of you in the San Fransisco area who didn’t get the chance to see Won Bin in all his badass glory, now’s your shot. Seriously, see it on the big screen while you can. Ajusshi / The Man From Nowhere is playing tomorrow as a special presentation at the 29th San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, described as “the largest and most prestigious international showcase of Asian and Asian American films.”

The screening will be at the historic Castro Theatre in San Francisco on Sunday, March 13, at 12pm. Tickets are $12 (and $11 for students/seniors). More info on the screening here.

The SF Asian American Film Fest is presented by the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), a national non-profit organization “dedicated to presenting stories that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences to the broadest audiences possible.” This year’s festival will run from March 10-20, 2011 and will feature 110 films from over 20 countries as well as a variety of panels and interactive events.

For more info on the festival: caamedia.org

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2010 Blue Dragon Film Awards

javabeans — Sat, 27 Nov 2010 04:09:40 +0000

More awards!

The Blue Dragon Film Awards took place on November 26, and the many of the same films that have been winning lately were rewarded once again: Some of the big winners were for films such as crime drama Moss, dark thriller I Saw the Devil, romantic comedy Cyrano Dating Agency, stark action movie Ajusshi, and the much-lauded Poetry.

Kang Dong-won and Song Kang-ho’s Secret Reunion prevailed to win best picture over nominees Ajusshi, The Housemaid, Moss, and Jeon Woo Chi.

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 92 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Choi Kang-hee, Daniel Choi, Han Hye-jin, Jin Gu, Jo Yeo-jung, Jo Yoon-hee, Jung Jae-young, Jung Soo-young, Kim Hye-soo, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Sung-soo, Lee Beom-soo, Lee Min-jung, Nam Gyuri, Park Bo-young, Park Hee-soon, Park Jin-hee, Park Min-young, Sohn Ye-jin, Song Joong-ki, Won Bin, Yoo Joon-sang, Yoo Sun, Yoon Shi-yoon

8th Korea Film Awards

javabeans — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:16:18 +0000

The 8th Korea Film Awards was a big night for the folks affiliated with dark thriller Ajusshi (aka The Man From Nowhere) and the Cannes winner (for screenplay) Poetry, both of which took home multiple awards.

To wit: Ajusshi was nominated in 11 categories and won in seven, including acting awards for both its leads, Won Bin and Kim Sae-ron. Meanwhile, Poetry won three, two of which were the top honors of the night, Best Picture and Director.

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 62 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Daniel Choi, Eom Ki-joon, Jung Yumi, Kim Sae-ron, Lee Seon-kyun, Lee Yo-won, Park Hee-soon, Park Joong-hoon, Park Shin-hye, Seo Ji-hye, Seo Woo, Seo Young-hee, Song Chang-eui, Song Sae-byuk, Won Bin, Yoon So-yi, Yoon Yeo-jung

47th Grand Bell Awards

javabeans — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:27:13 +0000

Aie, is it that time of year again? We’re heading into the holiday months, which also means that awards season is about to descend upon us. (It’s still early, but I bet you’ll tire of them soon enough!) Here we have the 47th Grand Bell (Daejong) Awards, which were held on the evening of October 29, giving out awards to films in 22 categories.

The event was emceed by comedian Shin Dong-yub and actress Kim Jung-eun (I Am Legend), and big winners included Poetry, which notably won the best screenplay prize at Cannes; Moss, the dark thriller from the director of Silmido; Ajusshi, the dark thriller starring Won Bin, who picked up two awards; and Lee Min-jung, who likewise took home two trophies.

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 97 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: awards, Cha Ye-ryun, Chu Ja-hyun, Daniel Choi, Eom Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Jeon Do-yeon, Jin Gu, Jung Jae-young, Kim Heung-soo, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Yun-jin, Lee Min-jung, Min Hyo-rin, Oh Ji-ho, Park Hee-soon, Seo Young-hee, Shim Eun-kyung, Song Seung-heon, TOP, Won Bin, Yoon Yeo-jung

U.S. screenings for Won Bin’s The Man From Nowhere

javabeans — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 23:20:16 +0000

The Man From Nowhere, the English title for Won Bin‘s latest movie, Ajusshi, will be screening nationwide in the U.S. in the month of October, and now’s your chance to see it.

The gritty thriller premiered in Korea in August and was a hit at the box office. Won Bin has taken his darkest role to date as a man with a bleak life and a hidden past, who has shut himself off from all contact with the world with the exception of a neighbor girl with whom he bonds. When she’s kidnapped, he goes after her gangster captors to rescue her.

Here’s a great review of the film over at Twitchfilm (note: spoilers!).

Screening at:

10/08- Regal Edwards Cerritos Stadium 10 (Cerritos, CA)
10/15- Regal Cinemas Garden Grove Stadium 16 (Garden Grove, CA)
10/15- AMC Rolling Hills 20 (Torrance, CA)
10/15 – AMC Rolling Hills 20 (Torrance, CA)
10/15 – AMC Santa Anita 16 (Arcadia, CA)
10/15 – AMC Bay Terrace 6 (NY)
10/15 – AMC Empire 25 (NY)
10/15 – AMC Ridgefield Park 12 (NJ)
10/15 – AMC Rios 18 (D.C)
10/15 – AMC Cinemark Century 16 (Seattle – Federal Way)
10/15 – AMC Alderwood 16 (Seattle – Lynwood)
10/15 – AMC Cupertino 16 (SJ)
10/15 – AMC Discover Mills 18 (Atlanta)
10/15 – AMC Northbrook Court 14 (Chicago)
10/15 – AMC Showplace Niles 12 (Chicago)
10/15 – Alamo Drafthouse Lamar 6 (Austin)
10/15 – AMC Younge & Dundas 24 (Toronto)
10/15 – Cinemark (Vancouver) TBD!
10/29 – Consolidated Ward (Honolulu)

Website: www.mannowhere.com

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Ajusshi attracts 1 million viewers in first week

javabeans — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:35 +0000

Won Bin‘s latest project, thriller-action movie Ajusshi (English title: The Man From Nowhere) released last Wednesday and looks poised to become a success. In its first week it beat out Inception (and also Salt, Toy Story 3) to take #1 at the box office with 1 million admittances.

Its first day (Wednesday) recorded 130,000 admittances, and the movie had solid word-of-mouth going for it all weekend, with sold-out screenings in many theaters. The movie centers around a secretive loner (Won Bin) who is drawn out of his reclusiveness when his next-door neighbor, a young girl, is kidnapped by gangsters.

It’s hard to believe that this is Won Bin’s first film as lead actor, but it’s true. (Even in movies where he played a pivotal role, such as Taegukgi and Mother, he wasn’t the main lead.)

Now, when will he come back with a drama series?? I sense that he’s going to be sticking mostly with films now, but one can always hope.

Via Star News, KD Press

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© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2010. | Permalink | 31 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: box office, Kim Sae-ron, Won Bin

Movie Still by Won Bin

girlfriday — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 16:10:14 +0000

Elle TV is collaborating with Won Bin on a program called Movie Still, where they take a look at fashion in film and tv through the eyes of its stars.

Won Bin will be showing a completely different side of himself: his sense of fashion and taste in music.

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