Once again, the Academy Awards have blundered. In 2008 the Oscar for Best Foreign Film landed on an obscure, but safe Japanese flick that no one saw or cared to see, overlooking two stunning competitors, The Class by Laurent Cantet (winner of the Palme d'Or) and Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman. Same stunt this year: the Academy annointed the Argentinian film The Secret in their Eyes by Juan Jose Campanella, an unfocused, overwrought thriller larded with philosophical truisms (see my forthcoming review in Film Journal) that will attract only modest niche business -- and this over The White Ribbon by Michael Haneke and A Prophet from Jacques Audiard, two way superior works of far-reaching gravitas.
Last year the Academy's impaired judgment seemed like an anomaly. This year maybe not. What's the deal here? Putting on my conspiracy theory hat, I'd like to suggest that the Academy's choices reflect a not so subtle impulse to discount and dismiss world cinema. Hollywood blockbusters rack up a lot of dough by reaching their long tentacles into foreign markets (one of the few places it doesn't dominate is South Korea). Perhaps the Academy's thinking -- not necessarily conscious -- is, why give its imprimatur to important works of artistry that might detract from stories for fourteen-year-olds with game-changing effects? Also, cinematically-savvy audiences may gradually get turned off by tent pole fare, so let's keep 'em dumb with films like Shutter Island, which equate a wholly implausible final twist with intellectual stimulation.
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March 8, 2010
HuffPost Review: Fiercely protective Mother
Everybody has a mother. One can only hope to have one as fierce and protective as the one in Bong Joon-ho's Mother.
A surprising story from South Korea that builds in suspense, Mother is about the extremes to which one mother is willing to go to save her child from harm. By the end, you can't help but admire her blind devotion to her offspring, if not her methods.
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A surprising story from South Korea that builds in suspense, Mother is about the extremes to which one mother is willing to go to save her child from harm. By the end, you can't help but admire her blind devotion to her offspring, if not her methods.
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March 2, 2010
Choco Pies vs. Cold Noodles
In the blockbuster 2000 film JSA, two South Korean soldiers accidentally find themselves on the North Korean side of the Joint Security Area, at the border between the two countries. They meet their North Korean counterparts. But instead of fighting, the four soldiers become friends and arrange several midnight get-togethers. At the height of their secret fraternization, one of the South Korean soldiers brings over several Choco Pies, cookies with marshmallow covered in chocolate that are wildly popular in South Korea.
The North Korean soldiers are delighted. "Why can't our Republic make Choco Pies like this?" one of the North Koreans says wistfully.
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The North Korean soldiers are delighted. "Why can't our Republic make Choco Pies like this?" one of the North Koreans says wistfully.
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February 26, 2010
Vancouver Olympics 2010: Magnificent Moments From February 25 (PHOTOS)
Figure skating highlighted Thursday's Olympic events. South Korea's Kim Yu-na won gold with a record-setting performance, while Canada's inspirational Joannie Rochette captured a bronze just days after the sudden death of her mother.
There was also plenty of action elsewhere, too. Canadian women beat Team USA in the hockey gold-medal game, which means Robert Gibbs lost a bet. Afterwards, the players celebrated on the rink with booze and cigars, angering the IOC.
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There was also plenty of action elsewhere, too. Canadian women beat Team USA in the hockey gold-medal game, which means Robert Gibbs lost a bet. Afterwards, the players celebrated on the rink with booze and cigars, angering the IOC.
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Figure Skating Hotties: 11 Sizzling Skaters (PHOTOS)
The Vancouver Olympics figure skating events came to a close Thursday night with Kim Yu-na of South Korea winning gold after a record-setting performance. Earlier in the week, the short program saw plenty of drama -- Canadian Joannie Rochette skated beautifully just two days after her mother suddenly died.
As the final weekend of the Olympics approaches, it's time to look back at some of the most attractive skaters to take the ice. Scroll down to see 11 female figure skater hotties -- including several ice dancers.
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As the final weekend of the Olympics approaches, it's time to look back at some of the most attractive skaters to take the ice. Scroll down to see 11 female figure skater hotties -- including several ice dancers.
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February 24, 2010
Vancouver Olympics 2010: Phenomenal Photos From February 23
The Vancouver Olympics continued Tuesday with a full slate of events and story lines. Sven Kramer, the Dutch speedskater famous for asking a reporter if she is stupid, stunned observers when an unbelievable gaffe cost him a gold medal. Meanwhile, Team USA picked up another Nordic medal. Tuesday was not as kind to Bode Miller, who skied out during the giant slalom.
Tuesday night's figure skating short program held plenty of drama. 16-year-old American Mirai Nagasu's performance was interrupted by a bloody nose, while Canadian Joannie Rochette turned in a terrific performance just two days after the sudden death of her mother. Ultimately it was Kim Yu-na of South Korea who finished the evening with the best score. Scroll down for photos from Tuesday's events.
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Tuesday night's figure skating short program held plenty of drama. 16-year-old American Mirai Nagasu's performance was interrupted by a bloody nose, while Canadian Joannie Rochette turned in a terrific performance just two days after the sudden death of her mother. Ultimately it was Kim Yu-na of South Korea who finished the evening with the best score. Scroll down for photos from Tuesday's events.
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February 16, 2010
Robot Actress EveR-3 Stars On The Stage (VIDEO)
A petite robot capable of 16 facial expressions will soon be taking more theater roles in South Korea.
South Korean robot EveR-3 (Eve Robot 3) made her stage debut last year in the government-sponsored production of "Robot Princess and the Seven Dwarfs."
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South Korean robot EveR-3 (Eve Robot 3) made her stage debut last year in the government-sponsored production of "Robot Princess and the Seven Dwarfs."
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February 1, 2010
January 28, 2010
Obama Skirts the Real Jobs Issue: Industrial Employment
A Miller Lite TV commercial currently airing features a young fellow unable to disgorge the word "love" to his adoring female companion. President Obama appeared plagued by a similar inability to say the word "manufacturing" in his State of the Union address, ostensibly designed to exhibit a renewed focus on jobs.
Instead of a call for revitalizing manufacturing, we heard of the need for more "production" in pursuit of exports. Coupled with the speech's unmistakable endorsement of the status quo on trade policy - specific references to South Korea and Colombia that were impossible to miss as affronts to the industrial unions who oppose those deals -- the president's aversion to addressing manufacturing left little doubt that deference to the financialization of the economy continues to trump any hope of reinvigorating industrial employment.
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Instead of a call for revitalizing manufacturing, we heard of the need for more "production" in pursuit of exports. Coupled with the speech's unmistakable endorsement of the status quo on trade policy - specific references to South Korea and Colombia that were impossible to miss as affronts to the industrial unions who oppose those deals -- the president's aversion to addressing manufacturing left little doubt that deference to the financialization of the economy continues to trump any hope of reinvigorating industrial employment.
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January 20, 2010
The Wonder of South Korea
I've embarked on a world journey, perhaps my tenth, to learn more about Planet Earth and humanity. My first stop is Seoul, South Korea. I've been here at least annually for the past quarter century, and sometimes twice or thrice a year. I would like to share some current insights and gain the views of the HuffPost readership through your comments.
With regard to region's economy, it has recovered remarkably well. While we are stuck at 10% unemployment, similar to that of Europe, the unemployment rate of Singapore is 3.4%, South Korea 3.6%, China 4.3% and Japan 5.2%. Exports for Singapore, for example, jumped 26% last month from the previous December.
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With regard to region's economy, it has recovered remarkably well. While we are stuck at 10% unemployment, similar to that of Europe, the unemployment rate of Singapore is 3.4%, South Korea 3.6%, China 4.3% and Japan 5.2%. Exports for Singapore, for example, jumped 26% last month from the previous December.
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