As a cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the captivating world of global cinema, I am beyond thrilled to see the prolific and visionary South Korean auteur Park Chan-wook embarking on yet another groundbreaking project. The news that he will be directing “I Can’t Help It,” an adaptation of Donald Westlake’s novel “The Ax,” featuring none other than Lee Byung-hun and Son Ye-jin, is nothing short of exhilarating.
Renowned Korean director Park Chan-wook is gearing up to start filming his upcoming movie titled “I Can’t Help It,” which is based on Donald Westlake’s novel “The Ax.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, production for this film is set to begin this weekend. In this project, Director Park collaborates with Squid Game star Lee Byung-hun and renowned South Korean actress Son Ye-jin. Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Lee Byung-hun has worked with Director Park; he previously starred in the director’s debut feature film, the critically acclaimed thriller “Joint Security Area.”
Back in 1996, I came across Westlake’s riveting novel, “The Ax,” which centers around me, Burke Devore, who unfortunately lost my job at a paper company. After an extended period of joblessness, I found myself in a desperate situation, resorting to a chilling series of murders against other potential candidates for a new position. Interestingly enough, this gripping tale was once translated onto the silver screen by Costa Gavras in 2005, with the French-language film adaptation maintaining its original suspenseful allure. The official description goes as follows:
As a mid-aged manager at a paper company, I found myself unexpectedly out of work when the company decided to cut costs. After eighteen grueling months of job hunting without success, I decided to approach my search in an unconventional way. With great caution and anguish, I identified the seven men in my vicinity who could potentially take the position that was rightfully mine. One by one, I metamorphosed from a mild-mannered manager into a relentless killer, discovering hidden talents within myself that surfaced far too effortlessly.
Park Chan-wook, a renowned figure in the film industry, has gained significant recognition for introducing South Korean cinema to western audiences. His 2003 movie, Oldboy, remains one of his most admired works and is often hailed as one of the greatest thrillers ever made. Movies like Lady Vengeance, Decision to Leave, and The Handmaiden have also garnered high praise from both critics and audiences. Director Park ventured into English-language cinema with Stoker, a Gothic thriller featuring Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, and Matthew Goode. In recent times, he has returned to television co-directing the critically acclaimed HBO series The Sympathizer, starring Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. (who played four distinct characters). Earlier, he directed AMC’s adaptation of John le Carré’s The Little Drummer Girl, featuring Florence Pugh and Alexander Skarsgård.
Park Chan-wook Is Remaking His Most Famous Film
Enthusiasts of filmmaker Park Chan-wook have much to anticipate in the near future. Not only is he set to direct his first movie since 2020’s “Decision to Leave,” but he’s also expanding his horizons in television. Following his collaborative effort on “The Sympathizer,” Park Chan-wook is also revamping his most successful film, “Oldboy,” into a serial drama. This upcoming series, produced by Lionsgate Television, aims to reinvent the grim South Korean suspense into an English narrative for a broader audience. In response to the project’s unveiling, Director Park commented:
“I’m thrilled that Lionsgate Television shares my creative ideas for adapting ‘Oldboy’ for television. I can’t wait to collaborate with a studio known for daring, innovative, and audacious narratives.”
Park Chan-wook’s groundbreaking movie “Oldboy,” initially based on a Japanese manga by Garon Tsuchiya, has gained such widespread popularity that many viewers are unaware of its origins. This intense thriller revolves around Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), who embarks on a vengeful journey against those who inexplicably imprisoned him for 15 years. “Oldboy” played a significant role in boosting the popularity of South Korean cinema in the West, and it showcases one of the most remarkable single-take action sequences ever filmed. Interestingly, Park’s upcoming series isn’t the only adaptation of “Oldboy”; in 2013, renowned director Spike Lee remade “Oldboy,” with Josh Brolin taking the lead role. Regrettably, the remake fell short of replicating the original’s enigma, complexity, and weightiness. The disappointing outcome was allegedly due to studio meddling, leading Lee to omit his traditional credit – “A Spike Lee Joint” – from the film.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-08-16 20:31