2016 Blue Dragon Awards

by girlfriday

The 37th Blue Dragon Awards opened with a star-studded red carpet and awarded the biggest films of the past year, which included The Wailing, The Handmaiden, Dongju: The Portrait of Poet, and Train to Busan. The big winner among them was Inside Men, the timely political thriller about uncovering the shady relationship between a chaebol and a presidential candidate.

The film won Best Picture and its lead actor Lee Byung-heon picked up the Best Actor trophy as well, over Song Kang-ho, Kwak Do-won, Jung Woo-sung, and Ha Jung-woo. Lee made a political statement in his acceptance speech, saying, “When I read the screenplay for Inside Men, I wondered if the film’s subject was too exaggerated. I thought that it was making the social condition too dramatic. But now I think reality has overtaken the movie,” in reference to South Korea’s presidential scandal, which many have compared to the film’s plot.

Kim Min-hee beat out nominees Sohn Ye-jin, Yoon Yeo-jung, Han Ye-ri, and Kim Hye-soo for Best Actress in Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden, though she was not in attendance for the ceremony. The red carpet was full of up-and-comers though, many of whom have spent the last year in both film and dramaland, and for me the highlight was Park So-dam winning Best Supporting Actress for The Priests, and Park Jung-min winning New Actor for Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet. It was extra amusing to see him arrive with Dongju director Lee Jun-ik, following the director’s recent cameo stint in Entourage. Park Jung-min isn’t all that new—not like New Actress winner Kim Tae-ri, who debuted in The Handmaiden—but he’s certainly breaking out this year. It’s about time.

 
WINNERS LIST

Best Picture: Inside Men
Best Director: Na Hong-jin (The Wailing)
Best Actor: Lee Byung-heon (Inside Men)
Best Actress: Kim Min-hee (The Handmaiden)
Supporting Actor: Kunimura Jun (The Wailing)
Supporting Actress: Park So-dam (The Priests)
New Actor: Park Jung-min (Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet)
New Actress: Kim Tae-ri (The Handmaiden)
New Director: Yoon Ga-eun (The World of Us)

Lighting: Asura: The City of Madness, Lee Mo-gae
Editing: The Wailing, Kim Sun-min
Music: The Wailing, Jang Young-kyu
Art Direction: The Handmaiden, Ryu Sung-hee
Technical effects: Train to Busan, Kwak Tae-yong
Screenplay: Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, Shin Yeon-shik
Short Film Award: Summer Night
Box Office Audience Award: Train to Busan
Popularity Award: Jung Woo-sung, Kunimura Jun, Bae Doo-na, Sohn Ye-jin

Sohn Ye-jin looks regal and stunning on the red carpet. The dress is on the safe side, but it fits and flows perfectly, and she looks so elegant in it. Sohn was nominated for Best Actress for her period film The Last Princess, and everyone was waiting to see if Kim Min-hee or Sohn Ye-jin would take home the win. Kim Min-hee ended up the winner but didn’t show up to collect her trophy, while Sohn Ye-jin was the princess of the red carpet. I guess they both won.

Tunnel’s husband and wife Ha Jung-woo and Bae Doo-na arrived together, both with nominations for the film. They certainly make a stunning couple, though her dress is as confusing as it is eye-catching. Bae Doo-na has a flair for more daring fashion, but I kind of wish the non-see-through parts weren’t as patchworky.

There should be a red carpet trophy at these things, don’t you think? Or would it be moot, because Jung Woo-sung would win it every year? He was nominated for Asura: The City of Madness, and arrived looking like he walked out of a magazine spread, in a tux with a white jacket, and a long black coat to top it off. So pretty.

Chun Woo-hee was nominated in the supporting actress category for spine-tingling mystery The Wailing. The dress is a miss, despite liking the neckline and the gold—I think the overall effect is just too heavy for her tiny frame, making it look like heavy brocade curtains. A little less material would’ve done wonders.

Now this gold dress is adorable and perfect. Han Ye-ri had a fantastic year in film and television (A Quiet Dream, The Hunt, Age of Youth, Six Flying Dragons), and was nominated for Best Actress for Worst Woman. I love seeing her looking so fresh and lovely in a swingy mid-length dress. Her hair is a perfect match for the look, and I want those shoes.

Yay, Park Jung-min, here to pick up his trophy for Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet. He cleans up nicely, especially after seeing him dressed so plainly as the best friend manager to a hot star in Entourage every week. I’ve been waiting for him to break out since Bleak Night, and though it took him six years to win a New Actor award, I’m just happy that he’s getting the recognition now. His Entourage buddy Seo Kang-joon was also there, dressed to impress. Don’t you think Seo Kang-joon should’ve been Park Jung-min’s entourage, just once?

Park So-dam opted for sleek, black, and sophisticated. I don’t love the dress, but she really works the overall look, with her slicked-back hair and red lipstick, making her look chic and confident. It’s a nice departure from the pastel bridal ingenue staples that we’ve seen her in. She’s been picking up multiple Best Supporting Actress wins for her daring performance in The Priests, so it’s been a very eventful year for the young actress, who only just debuted three years ago.

Last year’s bright new face Park So-dam has passed the torch on to Kim Tae-ri, otherwise known as the new It Girl who managed to beat the odds and make her debut in Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden. She picked up a New Actress win, and wore white, of course. I like this dress though—it’s intricate, perfectly fitted, and has a vintage vibe that keeps it from looking like your average young starlet wedding gown.

Choi Woo-shik, last year’s New Actor winner, was in Train to Busan this year. Thankfully he has many more projects lined up for the coming year: sageuk film Compatibility, Bong Joon-ho’s monster movie Okja, and the new drama The Package, among others.

Ryu Joon-yeol and Ji-soo were co-stars in the youth movie One Way Trip (Glory Day), and Ji-soo was nominated in the New Actor category for the film. I love Ryu Joon-yeol’s velvet tux, and Ji-soo’s awkward smile (when will he ever stop looking so uncomfortable on the red carpet?). They’ve both had busy years juggling films and dramas, and next up is crime thriller The King for Ryu Joon-yeol, while Ji-soo will be in the JTBC drama Strong Woman Do Bong-soon with Park Bo-young, who presented an award with Ryu Joon-yeol.

Ji-soo’s Sassy Go Go buddy Lee Won-geun was also nominated in the New Actor category for his role in Kim Ki-duk’s The Net. Lee Won-geun is definitely at ease strutting down the red carpet in a classic tux, and stopped to flash his adorable smile at all the cameras.

Dimples! Lee Sang-yoon, believe it or not, is considered a newbie at these awards, and was nominated in the New Actor category for his thriller Insane. When you’ve basically made an entire career out of television dramas, I guess it’s not that strange to be considered a rookie in the film industry. Selfishly, I hope he does at least one movie a year, so that I can keep seeing him on the red carpet for all of the film awards. *grabby hands*

MCs Kim Hye-soo and Yoo Joon-sang. Kim Hye-soo was nominated in the Best Actress category for her comedy Goodbye Single, and looks sexy as hell in a power suit. I just love everything about this look on her, but it’s mostly because she wears anything with such confidence, and you can’t fake that.

Best Actor nominee Song Kang-ho (The Age of Shadows), and last year’s winner Yoo Ah-in, who came to present this year’s Best Actor award. With no hair!

Here’s the full gallery. Click to enlarge!

Via Naver, Joongang

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