FLY HIGH (2009)

Blown away by Kim Bum since the K-drama "Boys Over Flowers", I was anxious to see Fly High (aka Flight in South Korea).  Here he plays an aspiring actor who works at a gas station, in general leading a lonely life until one night in a club he finds a kindred spirit in a beautiful girl with whom he immediately falls in love.  When tragedy befalls her and she ends up in a care facility, mentally traumatized, all he wants to do is care for her ... and, sadly, must take work as a male host (read: gigolo) in a teahouse to support both himself and her care, telling her in his visits that his acting career is blossoming.  Kim is great here, but the film is somewhat a downer, with his character getting the snot beat out of him on more than a couple occasions ... and an ending that, literally within the last few minutes of the film, is nothing short of anger-inducing.  Nice performances, but with an ending that just blew it for me; watch Kim in The Gifted Hands (reviewed on this blog) instead. (not rated)  C-

FLY HIGH trailer (Korean only; could not find one w/English subs, sorry!)