Jeff Lau – Chinese Odyssey

As I’m always looking for asian movies, I recently found this one, starring Tony Leung (Chiu Wai, not to be mistaken with Tony Leung Ka-Fai) and Faye Wong.
I’m a huge fan of Wong Kar Wai’s films, and the idea of seeing my two favorite Hong Kong actors who already met for Chungking Express and 2046, (Leung also played in several Wong Kar Wai’s masterpieces) in another movie and discover the work of another director quite excited me !
Well, I know Faye Wong is more a singer/pop star than an actress, but if you don’t fall in love with her after seeing Chungking Express, you’re probably a girl, or you’re more attracted by men, or maybe you have something against asian people ?
Tarantino would agree with me. She’s awesome on the screen, she even won several awards for the best actress.

This movie is a kind of comedy, I don’t like to say that but maybe I should say a family movie. It feels like a fairy tale or something you used to watch during the christmas period when you were a kid mostly because of the singing parts and because it takes place during the Ming Dynasty, wu xia pian style.
After a few minutes watching the movie you progressively understand what it really is. It’s not only funny but touching, not ridiculous at all but really clever. You will notice several references to Wong Kar Wai’s movies (law n°2046, the main caracter says he learned much during his “days of being wild”, freeze frames and voiceovers… even the music played when “King Bully” Tony Leung comes back in town quite resembles the killing theme in Fallen Angels. “Cause i’m cool” Do you remember ?).
The reason is that the director Jeffrey Lau, is the man who founded Jet Tone films with Wong Kar Wai. And it’s produced by Wong Kar Wai. With Chinese Odyssey 2002, the two directors manage to make fun of their own work and affect us in the same time.
I won’t say much about the plot, it’s up to you to discover the film but I will only say that Faye Wong plays a princess who try to escape from her destiny and live the real life and, of course, she will fall in love with the character of Tony Leung.
The two other main characters are played by Chen Chang and Vicki Zhao.
The actors are really good as usual (especially Tony Leung who handles both the humor and the emotional moment well), costumes are great, production design is nice, the singing parts are fun, the movie had some feel good effect on me.



It’s funny how trailers don’t say anything about what movies really are.

by Jay. On novembre 23rd, 2010. Filed under A Film A Day.

Tags: china, faye, jeff, kar, lau, leung, movie, tony, wai, wong.

The Art Of Movie Titles Pt.4

Wolfen (Michael Wadleigh, 1981), Belle de Jour (Luis Buñuel, 1967), Blue Velvet (David Lynch, 1986), Cat People (Paul Schrader, 1982), The Himmel über Berlin (Wim Wenders, 1987), Faraway, So Close (Wim Wenders, 1993), Havana (Sidney Pollack, 1990), Inferno (Dario Argento, 1980), Je t’aime Je t’aime (Alain Resnais, 1968), Le Bunker de la Dernière Rafale (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, 1981), Nightbreed (Clive Barker, 1990), Suspiria (Dario Argento, 1976), Tenebre (Dario Argento, 1982), The Elephant Man (David Lynch, 1980), The Killing (Stanley Kubrick, 1956), The Omega Man (Boris Sagal, 1971).
Pt. 1 / Pt. 2 / Pt. 3

by YATS. On novembre 10th, 2010. Filed under Artworks.

Tags: Dario Argento, Davis Lynch, movie, Stanley Kubrick, still, titles.

Marco Ferreri – Il Seme Dell’Uomo

by YATS. On novembre 9th, 2010. Filed under A Film A Day.

Tags: 1960, Marco Ferreri, movie, video.