Month: February 2020

The black comedy “Parasite” is a tale of two South Korean families – the wealthy Parks and the poor Kims – mirroring the deepening inequality in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.The film made history as the first non-English language movie to win the Oscar for best picture on Sunday, prompting South Korean social media to erupt in celebration.The film’s message resonated with many South Koreans who identify themselves as “dirt spoons,” those born to low-income families who have all but given up on owning a decent house or climbing the social ladder, as opposed to “gold spoons,” who are from better-off families.While inequality in South Korea is not necessarily worse than many other countries, the concept has exploded onto the political scene in recent years amid runaway home prices and a stagnating economy, undermining support for President Moon Jae-in.Moon, in his congratulatory message, said “Parasite” had “moved the hearts of people around the world with a most uniquely Korean story.”But the film’s message is a sharp critique of South Korea’s modern society, and director Bong Joon-ho turned to many familiar scenes around Seoul to highlight the divide between the city’s haves and have-nots.Across South Korea the divide is visible as some of the old neighborhoods of crumbling brick slums contrast with the gleaming high-life of Seoul’s more swanky spots.The film uses many of those visual cues to illustrate the competition going on in society, and the sometimes “parasitic” relationships between the rich and poor.”The uncomfortable exchanges in the movie sparked mixed feelings by hitting a sore spot in society and pitting the rich against the poor,” said Kim Chang-hwan, a 35-year-old Seoul resident.Fake Diploma South Korea’s economic inequality is higher than many members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), on par with Britain and Latvia, and has worsened in recent years.Still, its Gini coefficient, a commonly used measure of how evenly income is distributed across the population, is better than places such as the United States, according to the OECD.But after years of economic growth that powered the country’s recovery from the 1950-53 Korean War, South Korean’s economic future is more uncertain, causing growing concerns for many.A 2019 survey by the government affiliated Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found more than 85% of South Korean respondents felt there were “very big” income gaps in society and people needed to be from a wealthy family in order to be successful.Young people have become especially pessimistic amid a highly competitive education system and job market.That has sent support for Moon plummeting to as low as 45% in early February, as his younger supporters express dissatisfaction with their economic prospects. While Moon is constitutionally barred from running again, a key parliamentary election is due to be held in April, posing a test for his ruling party.In “Parasite,” one character fakes a diploma for her brother to get a job as a tutor for a rich family.The scene reminded some South Koreans of an ongoing scandal that led to the resignation of Justice Minister Cho Kuk.Cho resigned in December and is being prosecuted for falsifying documents regarding family investments and efforts to gain university admissions for his children. He has denied wrongdoing.”Parasite’s win is a really great thing, but it was bitter to see the father impressed with his children’s forgery skills and their plans to get the jobs,” one Twitter user wrote, referring to one of the main characters.The scandal struck a chord in South Korea where young people, who compete furiously through school and university, are increasingly finding themselves scrambling for a dwindling number of positions in a slack job market, in a system they see as plagued by systemic unfairness and biased in favor of the elite.The issue was a particular disappointment to the young people who supported Moon and his party when he became president on a platform of cleaning out corruption in the government and business.
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Actor Robert Conrad, who starred in several hit television series from the 1950s through the 1970s, has died just a month short of his 85th birthday.The Chicago-born Conrad came to Hollywood in the late 1950s to work as a stuntman, but soon became the star of 1959’s Hawaiian Eye, a police detective series whose setting was the newest American state.The show with its exotic backgrounds and simple plots became a huge success and ran for five years.Conrad was back the following season with his best-remembered role — James T. West in The Wild Wild West. Conrad’s West was teamed with disguise master Artemus Gordon, played by the late Ross Martin. The pair played secret agents employed by U.S. President Ulysses Grant.The surrealistic series was set in the 1870s, but featured 20th century gadgets and strange villains, all done with a sense of humor that kept the series on for another five years.Conrad also played real-life World War II pilot Gregory “Pappy” Boyington in TVs Baa Baa Black Sheep, renamed Black Sheep Squadron from 1976 thorough 1978.The short but powerfully built Conrad had an off-screen reputation for arguments and fistfights. But his daughter said that was because her father was a hard worker who had no patience for people who weren’t doing their jobs.Conrad enjoyed making fun of his tough-guy persona and told an interviewer in 2008, “If you treat me nicely, I’ll treat you nicer.”
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Here are the big winners in major categories at the 92nd Academy Awards.Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Brad Pitt for “One Upon a Time.. in Hollywood”Best Actress in a Supporting Role – Laura Dern for “Marriage Story”Best Original Screen Play – Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won (Korea) for “Parasite”Best Documentary Feature – Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert and Jeff ReichertInternational Feature Film – “Parasite”Best Original Screenplay – “Parasite” – Bong Joon Ho, Han Jin Won; Story by Bong Joon HoBest Original Song – “I’m Gonna Love Me Again” – from Rocketman; Music by Elton John; Lyric by Bernie Taupin   
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Hollywood stars will walk down the red carpet Sunday to attend the Oscars, the movie industry’s biggest award night.FILE – Actor George MacKay, from left, director Sam Mendes and actor Dean-Charles Chapman pose for photographers upon arrival at the World premiere of the film ‘1917,’ in central London, Dec. 4, 2019.Nine films will be vying for the Academy Awards most coveted prize — best film. Industry insiders say the favorite to win is World War I film “1917,” which won several prizes in the past few weeks.However, there are other strong contenders for the prize, including South Korean social satire “Parasite” and sentimental Hollywood favorite “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” from Quentin Tarantino.Also in the mix is the comic book movie “Joker,” which leads in all categories with 11 nominations. Lead actor in the film, Joaquin Phoenix, is favored to win in the category of best actor.FILE – Director Martin Scorsese and cast members Al Pacino and Robert De Niro pose as they arrive for the screening of “The Irishman” during the 2019 BFI London Film Festival at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, Oct. 13, 2019.Martin Scorsese’s mob saga “The Irishman” lost momentum during the award season by failing to take home major prizes in the acting or directing categories in previous ceremonies, but is still in contention for 10 Oscars, including best picture.”Parasite,” a Korean-language film, is the favorite to win in the international film category. It would make history if it won in both the international category and for best picture.The best director category is all male this year, sparking controversy. Those up for the award include Sam Mendes (“1917”), Martin Scorsese (“The Irishman”), Todd Phillips (“Joker”), Quentin Tarantino (“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”) and Bong Joon Ho (“Parasite”).FILE – Renee Zellweger poses with the award for best performance by an actress in a motion picture drama for “Judy” at the 77th annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California.Renee Zellweger is the favorite to win in the category of best actress for her role playing an aging Judy Garland in “Judy.” Another women up for best actress, Cynthia Erivo, is the only person of color to be nominated in any of the actor categories, renewing the criticism of the last few years that the academy’s membership is not diverse enough.Oscar night, broadcast from Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, will not have a host for the second year in a row. Presenters of the awards will include many stars, such as Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda and Diane Keaton.The show will also include live performances by musicians vying for best original song: Elton John, Idina Menzel, Randy Newman, Chrissie Metz and Erivo. Five-time Grammy winner and upcoming James Bond singer Billie Eilish will also perform.
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