Free double header at this Tuesday's Korean Movie (Afternoon and) Night

Korean Cultural Service New York
presents
Korean Movie Night 2014
Series Five: Blown Away by Korean Blockbusters!

At the Tribeca Cinemas
54 Varick Street, on the corner of Canal, NYC
Near the A, C, E @ #1 Canal Street subway stops
Map
Admission: FREE!!!

Due to a technical hiccup at the October 14th screening of the Korean gambling action thriller  The Divine Move, it will be shown again this Tuesday, October 28th, at 4:00 PM. (The July 25, 2014 AsianCineFest review of The Divine Move can be found  here.)

Then, at 7:00 PM that same night, there will be the regularly planned screening of the hilarious comedy Miss Granny (The January 31, 2014 AsianCineFest review of Miss Granny is here).

So, depending on where you're coming from, get over, get down, or get up to the Tribeca Cinemas on Tuesday for a free double-dose of great Korean movie magic!

Korean gambling action flick THE DIVINE MOVE reviewed; opens today

CJ Entertainment

Presents

The Divine Move

CHO (a.k.a. JO) Beom-gu

South Korea, 2014, 118 minutes

South Korea’s highly anticipated gambling action film The Divine Move (a.k.a. God's One Move) opens in 15 theaters in the U.S. (including Hawaii) and Canada today, Friday, July 25th. (Click on the button on the film's webpage at CJ Entertainment for locations and showtimes.)

SONG Tae-seok (JUNG Woo-sung) is a professional GO (a.k.a. baduk) player. SONG Woo-seok, his older brother, entices him into a "Guidance Game" whereby Tae-seok "guides" Woo-seok's play from a remote location by using a hidden camera and communications devices. Things go horribly wrong, Tae-seok is framed for a murder and sent to prison. Through a fellow convict, for whom he's done a "solid," Tae-seok learns how to fight like a highly trained martial artist.

Tae-seok (seated left) and "Drinking Christ" (seated right)

Once released, Tae-seok seeks revenge. He enlists the aid of "Drinking Christ" (veteran actor AHN Sung-ki), a blind GO master, "Carpenter" (AN Kil-kang), a one-handed electronics expert, and Cheater (KIM In-kwon), another professional GO player.

Killer (LEE Bum-soo), left foreground, with cell phone

Tae-seok's target is Killer (LEE Bum-soo), the professional gambler who'd framed him. Among his gang are Player (CHOI Jin-hyuk), the manager of Killer's GO gambling house, and Kwon (actress LEE Si-young, the only female lead in the cast), a former professional GO player who runs the Goddess Bar and who is indebted to Killer.

Kwon (LEE Si-young)

Certain terms pertaining to GO are explained on occasion throughout the film. I happen to know a bit about the game, but think that just about anyone can enjoy this movie even without any familiarity with it.

Tae-seok in action

The director does a good job of keeping things interesting and moving along; I found myself really engrossed in the storyline and plot development. And the action scenes, of which there are several, are very well done.

The Divine Move is a really intelligent, sharp and well-paced action-thriller.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; highly recommended.

ACF 1478: Two-disc DVD release of Korean gambling drama TAZZA: THE HIGH ROLLERS coming Sept 18th

Film distributor 5 Points Pictures has announced that the two-disc, special-edition DVD of TAZZA: THE HIGH ROLLERS will be available on September 18, 2012. The release will feature an upgraded English translation of the film, plus approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes of translated and subtitled video extras from the South Korean limited-edition releases – all with on/off English subtitles!

This popular and critically acclaimed drama about master gamblers (“tazza”) and the games they play features direction from CHOI Dong-hoon (The Thieves, The Big Swindle, Woochi) and an all-star cast including CHO Seung-woo (The Sword With No Name, Marathon), KIM Hye-soo (The Thieves, Modern Boy), BAEK Yoon-sik (The Taste of Money, The Big Swindle), YOO Hae-jin (Moss, Public Enemy), and KIM Yun-seok (The Chaser, Punch).

 
Based on the comic illustrated by HUH Young-man and written by KIM Se-young, Tazza was produced by Sidus FNH and Charm Films. It is presented by CJ Entertainment and IM Pictures.  

Awards:
- Grand Prize (Daesang) and Best Director: Choi Dong-hoon, 2007 Baeksang Arts Award
- Best Actress: Kim Hye-soo, 2006 Blue Dragon Awards, 2006 Chunsa Film Art Awards, and 2007 Korea Visual Arts Festival

- Best Supporting Actor: Kim Yun-seok, 2007 Daejong (Grand Bell) Film Award
- Jury Awards for Best Feature, Best Director: Choi Dong-hoon, Best Actor: Cho Seung-woo, and Best Actress: Kim Hye-soo, 2007 Newport Beach Film Festival

- Jury Prize - Best Feature Film, 2007 Philadelphia Film Festival 

Synopsis: After losing his entire savings in an illegal, backroom card game, Goni (CHO Seung-woo, The Sword With No Name) discovers it was all a set up – he was swindled by professional gamblers. Enraged and desperate, he sets out to get his money back by any means necessary. 

Impressed by the young man’s determination, veteran gambler Mr. Pyeong (BAEK Yoon-sik, The Taste of Money) takes Goni on as his apprentice and teaches him all there is to know about hwatu, a card game also known as “The War of Flowers.” 

Now Goni is ready to make his debut in an underworld where the stakes are high and the rules are few: To win, you must be ruthless. The hand must be quicker than the eye. No game is safe. And there are no friends for life, just as there are no enemies for life.


Visit www.5pointspictures.com for more information about Tazza: The High Rollers, to sign up for 5 Points Pictures’ newsletter and press release lists, or to inquire about retail opportunities.