Tuesday, April 19, 2011
EASTERN WESTERN
Today's film was Johnnie To's
This is a NYTimes Critics' Pick
To directed Election, Triad Election and Breaking News which I have already seen. He is a great film maker. The technique is not intrusive but it is obvious enough to appreciate. Feel the tension in the choreography. Look at the night scenes in the city. Cuts that kill. Well, yes. Kill.
This is a western that takes place in Macau and Hong Kong maybe last week. The big bad guy has killed the hero's daughter, husband and kids. The father hero comes to avenge them. A former hit man himself, he is Johnny Hallyday who, a lifetime ago, was Europe's Elvis. A rock star of huge proportions.
Now, look at his face. His whole life is written on it. A latter day Yves Montand. Great. Gary Cooper if he had done a lot of drugs and had the life of the real road on him.
Even if you don't like this kind of stuff, he is a great reason to watch the film.
He has only been in a couple other films and he is not asked to do much here but he has terrific charisma and just stands there very well. To uses him to maximum iconic advantage. But he has close friends which he makes almost instantly. They are the muscle. Usually the stars of such endeavors.
There is nothing redeeming about the violence here. It is gratuitous and quite explicit. But sometimes, different. Like a night time scene in woods that goes on and on. Bad versus good guys look alike. What is happening? We do not really see the results of all the shooting but we hear its effects. Very bravely done. Hold an audience with darkness. Well choreographed.
Hallyday has a problem. He is losing his memory bit by bit so he actually ends up only with his knowledge that he is on a revenge path. There are enough brain cells left for him to finish the job he came for. What an idea!
The villain is despicable. Killing innocent children. Punishing slights and misbehavior of his own men.
We have seen all of this before many times. Nothing new here. But quite excitingly done. We care about Mr. Hallyday and want him to succeed. Even on one brain cell.
I enjoyed it. A good time was had by all. I will give it a 3 out of Netflix5.
I loved to listen to Hallyday and then, I sort of lost him.
He emerged years later as a kind of crooner. It says here, a chanteur, well of course, in the style of Jaques Brel or Montand or so many French icons.
I don't understand a word of what he is singing but it is very good to listen to.
I figure that he is middle aged here.
Listen to those screams. One of them is mine.
Everyone all wet?
OK!!
Labels: films
