Lee Byeong-woo (이병우)

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

Source | 2009/10/23 | 0 comments | Permalink |

46th Annual Daejong Film Awards Nominees

- Best Movie: "Take Off", "Mother - 2009", "The Divine Weapon", "Sky and Sea", "Haeundae"

- Best Director : Kim Yong-hwa ("Take Off"), Yoon Je-kyoon ("Haeundae"), Jeon Yoon-soo ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Jeong Gi-hoon ("Ae-ja"), Bong Joon-ho ("Mother - 2009")

- Best Actor : Kim Myeong-min ("Closer to Heaven"), Kim Yoon-seok (Running Turtle), Seol Kyeong-gu ("Haeundae"), Jeong Jae-yeong ("The Divine Weapon"), Ha Jeong-woo ("Take Off")

- Best Actress : Kim Min-seon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Kim Hye-ja ("Mother - 2009"), Soo-ae ("Sunny"), Jang Nara ("Sky and Sea"), Choi Kang-hee ("Ae-ja")

- Best Supporting Actor : Kim In-kwon ("Haeundae"), Jin Goo ("Mother - 2009"), Jeong Kyeong-ho ("Sunny"), Jang Geun-seok ("The Case of Itaewon Homicide"), Kim Nam-gil ("Modern Boy")

- Best Supporting Actress : Kim Bo-yeon ("Living Death"), Kim Hae-sook ("Thirst"), Kim Yeong-ae ("Ae-ja"), Choo Ja-hyeon ("Portrait of a Beauty"), Nam Neung-mi ("Clos...| More

'Mother - 2009' : A Must See

Source | 2009/10/12 | 0 comments | Permalink |

Howard Shumann rates "Mother - 2009" by Bong Joon-ho an A. Editor's Note

After a night of drinking, Do Joon (Won Bin), an intellectually-challenged young man, encouraged by his reckless buddy Jin-tae (Jin Goo), attempts to pick up a young high school girl Ah-jung walking home alone. Shockingly, the next day, Do Joon is arrested for the girl's murder as his mother looks on helplessly. Seen at the Vancouver Film Festival, Bong Joon-ho's Mother is an intelligent, suspenseful, and darkly comic revelation of the lengths to which an overbearing but deeply loving mother will go to pursue justice for her son who, she believes, has been wrongly convicted of murder.

Though there is an evocative score by Lee Byeong-woo, the film's use of ambient sounds such as the slashing of a herb chopper and the rustling of leaves add to an ominous mood, though it often clashes with the absurdist events seen on screen. Set in a small Korean town, the elderly mother, played by Korean TV star Kim Hye-ja in...| More

Bong Joon-ho's Latest Challenge in 'Mother - 2009'

Source | 2009/07/04 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Kyu Hyun Kim

Kim Hye-ja marvels in an overwhelming thriller

Small country town, Korea. Do-joon (Won Bin, returning to the screen after four years of military service) is a pretty-faced young man, treated as a village idiot and perpetually causing minor havoc with his ne'er-do-well friend Jin-tae (Jin Goo). Do-joon's devoted mother Hye-ja (Kim Hye-ja) is left to clean up the aftermath.

Then one day everyone is stunned to find Do-joon arrested for the murder of a high school girl Ah-jung (Moon Hee-ra). The evidence seems incontrovertible, but Hye-ja launches her own awkward investigation into the murder case, hoping to nab the real culprit. However, everyone in the town, including Hye-ja and Doo-jun themselves, seems to harbor some dark secret, threatened to be uncovered by her sleuthing.

While the film's plot and set-up superficially resemble Bong's based-on-real-life police procedural "Memories of Murder", "Mother - 2009" is even more emotionally shocking and devilishly ...| More

Bong's 'Mother - 2009' Highlights Maternal Love

Source | 2009/05/21 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter

"Mother - 2009", coming to theaters May 28, had its world premiere at the 62nd Cannes International Film Festival. Variety magazine was not kidding when it said the Bong Joon-ho film was "unjustly denied a competition berth" in the prestigious French event.

The film is certainly not as edgy as "Memories of Murder" nor does it have the mainstream appeal of the blockbuster "The Host".

But, featuring South Korea's symbolic Kim Hye-ja as a mom with a formidable mission and heartthrob Won Bin in the improbable role of her vulnerable "baby", Bong brings an arresting tale that is at once quintessentially Korean yet universally classic, and uniquely visionary.

Complete with composer Lee Byeong-woo's film score bearing hints of "trot" (Korean country music) beats and landscapes of rural Korea, Bong constantly surprises the viewer with unexpected outbursts of violence ― Kim offering a most Shakespearean "mad scene" ― and an ironically dista...| More

Guitarist Lee to Perform For Fans

Source | 2008/10/20 | 0 comments | Permalink |

By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter

Prepare for a romantic evening with the jazzy guitar licks of Korea's best guitarist Lee Byeong-woo.

Lee, a successful guitarist and music producer for various dramas and movies, is holding his 2008 Lee Byeong-woo Guitar Concert for fans.

The 43-year-old musician has been in the industry for more than 20 years, and has gained popularity with his work in various areas, from drama and films to orchestras.

At this concert, guests will be able to watch Lee play the "dual guitar" - a guitar that has two necks. This special guitar was designed by Lee himself, allowing the player to obtain two different sounds. One neck was designed as a classical version, while the other acoustic.

The guitarist will offer his favorite numbers from his albums, including "Bird" and "Voyage" along with a classic guitar concerto. Guests will also have the chance to listen live to his famous numbers that appeared in hit movies. The original soundtracks from the movi...| More