Three Cheers for Kim Myung-Min and Ha Ji-won ( and Gamsa-hamnida to Kwon Sang-woo!)

Great to have two favourites in the same movie and even better to hear that Kim Myung-min and Ha Ji-won have won the awards for Best Actors in the movie, Closer to Heaven ( also known as My Love by My Side) in the most recent  Blue Dragon Film Awards held on 2 December, 2009.

Kim Myung-min ( Maestro Kang of  Beethoven Virus fame) probably suffered more than Rain ( who couldn't eat rice for 6 months apparently for Ninja Assassin)  in terms of the physical preparation for his role. As someone suffering from Lou Gehrig's Disease, he had to lose 20 kg during the course of the shooting to depict his character's debilitating condition. Talk about taking Method Acting to the max. Click here  and here for more on his hunger pangs.

BTW, a big Gamsa-hamnida to Kwon Sang-woo for dropping out of the role. No idea why you chose to leave the production set but you earn brownie points for being partly responsible for Kim Myung-min getting this part. Don't know if you're kicking yourself for passing up the opportunity of a lifetime or you're relieved that you didn't have to go through so much rigorous fasting for the role, but I'm so glad Kim did it instead of you!

As for Ha Ji-won, her other film, Haeundae probably has gotten more attention but I'm thrilled that she's getting this recognition for her role her as a funeral director who falls in love with Kim's character. She's been growing from strength to strength as well and I hope even more meaty roles will be offered to this versatile actor.

Update: Fans of Kim Myung-min have created a website. You can read his acceptance speech  at the Blue Dragon Film Awards at http://www.myungmininternational.com/



Source:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/12/2009-blue-dragon-film-awards/
http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/01/kim-myung-min-takes-a-method-approach-to-weight-loss/