2011.9.23 NOW PLAYING
The Crucible (18)
Based on the novel of the same name written by star author Gong Ji-young, “The Crucible” follows a group of children with disabilities who suffer physical and sexual abuse at the hands of their teachers.
Gong is one of a few star authors in Korea whose novels have sold more than a million copies. When her novel was published in June 2009, it became an instant hit not only because it was written by Gong but because it is based on a true story.
The film begins as Gang In-ho (Gong Yoo), who is working to earn money for his daughter’s surgery, is appointed to a school for hearing-impaired children in Gwangju. But what he discovers there is an ugly truth: the children are being physically and sexually abused by their teachers. When he decides to fight for the children’s rights and expose the crimes being committed at the school, In-ho teams up with human rights activist Seo Yu-jin (Jung Yu-mi). But he and Yu-jin soon realize the school’s principal and teachers, and even the police, prosecutors and churches in the community are actually trying to cover up the truth.
Director Hwang Dong-hyuk, who previously directed the 2007 hit film “My Father,” has received rave reviews for turning a successful novel into a well-made motion picture.
Marrying the Mafia 4: Family Ordeal (15)
In this fourth installment of “Marrying the Mafia,” Hong Deok-ja (Kim Soo-mi), the head of the notorious White Tiger Family of Jeolla Province, has quit the crime syndicate to start her own food company, Mother’s Handmade Food. The business has become wildly successful based on its reputation, providing Hong with a great deal of money and peace of mind.
Hong then makes the impromptu decision to go on an overseas trip to rally the family together once again. The members of her family, who had been prohibited from leaving the country as punishment for being involved in gang-related incidents, start preparing for their first trip and the fun begins.
Much of the cast from the first three films is reunited here, including Kim Su-mi, Shin Hyun-jun, Tak Jae-hoon and Jeong Joon-ha. Although many of them have found success as comedians in film and on television, critics say the comedy in this film is overdone and immature, indicating this could be the final outing for a series that has so far been successful.
The film is directed by Jeong Tae-won, who produced the first three movies.
Killer Elite (18)
Jason Statham, Clive Owen and Robert De Niro team up in this tough-guy, shoot-’em-up thriller based on Ranulph Fiennes’ 1991 book “The Feathermen,” which claimed to describe real-life events that took place within the British SAS. Apocryphal or not, the plot makes for some classic Statham scenes, including one in which he knocks out Owen and launches himself through a glass window all while tied to a chair.
The elite cast is joined by lesser-known director Gary McKendry, who won an Academy Award for his short film “Everything in this Country Must” but hasn’t previously helmed a major-budget production.
In “Killer Elite,” two world-class spy agents are up against one another in a cat-and-mouse game in which the best man lives. Owen (Spike), the leader of a secret military society, is matched up against ex-special operatives Statham (Danny Bryce) and De Niro (Hunter) in a fast-paced film that jumps from Australia to the Middle East to Western Europe.
Contagion (12)
A man across from you on the subway sneezes. A woman coughs. Today, you might not even notice, but after seeing “Contagion,” you’ll likely feel the urge to move very far away.
The thriller draws on health fears that have been at the top of everyone’s minds since scares like the 2009 swine flu outbreak and portrays a disaster scenario where a mysterious virus quickly kills millions of people across the world.
The film’s storyline is surprisingly plausible in today’s health-obsessed society and is based on real-life public health principles, allowing it to avoid the all-too-common cheesy pitfalls of more traditional sci-fi movies and arouse true concern in audiences.
Gwyneth Paltrow leads the super-star cast as Beth, an American businesswoman who, while on business in China, becomes the first human to contract the deadly MEV-1 virus. She quickly spreads the virus to others and sparks a worldwide outbreak. Beth dies just days after falling ill, as do most others who become infected.
As the virus spreads, panic sets in, and governments around the world struggle to make sense of what exactly is happening. Dr. Ellis Cheever (Laurence Fishburne) leads the American government’s investigation and is forced to confront the possibility that the outbreak is the result of a terrorist attack, just as his real-life counterpart would have to. At the same time, naysayers accuse the government of unleashing the deadly epidemic to make a profit.
In rapid-fire succession, more plot complexities are introduced, all based on the worst-case scenario for a disease outbreak. Riots break out. Doctors lack necessary supplies for research.
And, in a move reminiscent of present-day antivaccine campaigns, rogue blogger Allen (Jude Law) convinces millions of people to find their own remedies instead of relying on government scientists’ advice.
But, in the end, it is the government doctors that save the day and - despite the fear invoked by the film - viewers should leave the theater with a renewed appreciation for the work they do and the complexity of health threats that face the world. The ability of the film to move beyond conventional scares and inspire true reflection is what truly sets it apart.
Shark Night 3-D (15)
Action, Thriller / 91 / English
The title of the film alone should be enough to sell it. And I can imagine this is exactly what the 3-D boffins had in mind when they came up with the idea of 3-D. Big, gnashing teeth jumping out of the screen at you - what’s not to like? Of course, the acting is likely to be horrible and the scenarios ridiculous but that’s all forgiven because there are sharks. In 3-D.
A group of teenagers looking for the ultimate summer holiday decide to isolate themselves miles from shore on an idyllic island in the middle of a lake. There is beer drinking, loud music, scantily clad young women, buff young men, water skiing and sharks.
From the producers of “Hostel,” the producers of “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and the director of “Final Destination,” “Shark Night 3-D” might just be the perfect date movie.
It will have your date gripping onto your arm tighter than a great white on a white girl.
한글 관련 기사 [뉴스엔]
‘도가니’ 진실의 힘이 관객을 움직였다
진실의 힘이 관객을 움직였다.
충격적인 실화를 다룬 영화 ‘도가니’가 개봉 첫 날 13만명을 동원하며 박스오피스 1위에 등극했다.
개봉 전날 50%가 넘는 예매율을 기록하며 심상치 않은 조짐을 보인 ‘도가니’는 개봉 첫 날인 22일 13만8,552명(영화진흥위원회 영화관입장권통합전산망 23일 집계 기준)을 불러모으며 박스오피스 1위를 차지했다. 게다가 54.3%에 달하는 좌석점유율을 기록하며 압도적인 1위에 등극했다.
‘도가니’의 박스오피스 1위는 관객들의 공분이 반영된 결과라 더욱 의미 있다. 영화를 본 관객들은 충격적인 실화에 분노와 안타까움을 호소하는 한편, 공유, 정유미의 열연과 베스트셀러 원작 소설을 바탕으로 한 탄탄한 스토리, 수준 높은 완성도에 호평과 지지를 보내고 있다.
또 각종 포털사이트의 네티즌 평점 역시 9점 대로 높은 기록을 유지하고 있어 이번 주말 흥행 성적에 관심이 집중되고 있다.
“보다 많은 사람들에게 진실을 알리고 공감하고 싶다”고 밝힌 황동혁 감독과 공유, 정유미는 관객들에게 감사 인사를 전하기 위해 23일부터 25일까지 무대인사를 진행한다.
공유 정유미 주연의 ‘도가니’는 무진의 한 청각장애학교에 새로 부임한 미술교사(공유)가 교장과 교사들에게 성적 학대를 당하던 아이들을 위해 진실을 밝히는 과정을 그린다. 2005년 한 청각장애학교에서 실제 발생한 사건을 토대로 하고 있다.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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