Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Edohotep
Director: Wong Ching-Po.
Writer: To Chi-long.
Cast: Andy Lau, Jacky Cheung, Shawn Yue, Edison Chen
The types of films coming out of Hong Kong are usually a unique class of their own. They can belong to one of several categories and the most prominent exports are historical fantasy, martial-arts, and gangster. If they're not on local Chinese community TV, then there are DVDs.
While Kung Fu Hustle (功夫) is the most original take on making the gangster hip and chic by strutting their stuff in the 40's, Triad Underworld (江湖; Gong Wu or Jiang Hu in Chinese) drives home a different image by using the modern day era to romanticize the world of the Triads.
Strangely, however, is that while Hustle was fast tracked for international release, Gong Wu took seven more years. Both products were released in the same year in its native country. Hustle succeeded in turning Stephen Chow into a superstar and until director Ching-Po Wong built up his reputation with Revenge: A Love Story (復仇者之死), Jiang Hu is almost all but forgotten.
Also, thanks to Warlords (aka "The Blood Brothers"), Andy Lau finally became a recognized name outside of Hong Kong, China. He has no problems back home, where his resume spans three decades, but to go up against a powerhouse like Chow, who has equal experience, must have been weighing heavily on some mafia-style entertainment industry bigwigs. They probably decided to put a hold on this film's international release.
Without the help of Palisades Tartan, distributor for independent and art house cinema in the UK and USA, these films are finally getting the release it deserves.
In this film, the triads are center stage in two narratives. One is about Mr. Hung's (Lau) relationship with his second-in-command, Lefty (Jacky Cheung). After Hung's wife has a baby, Lefty thinks it's time for him to leave. A family has no place in the life they lead, as leaders of a powerhouse triad, and tensions arise.
But there's also another plot about two youths, Yik (Shawn Yue Man-lok) and Turbo (Edison Chen) who are planning a hit. Their desire is to make it all the way to the top, and be the next generation.
If viewers can’t figure out why these juxtapositions are happening within minutes of this movie's start, keep watching. To spoil this product would ruin the fun of defining what all four of these characters represent to each other.
Sadly, the cinematography becomes too forced when all this tale needs is careful attention to the relationships in this film. There are times where the camera should stay still. The attempts to create cinema noir don’t quite work against the disco edged clichés when Yik and Turbo's story is in the spotlight. The performances are high calibre, and the pairings between the two sets of men couldn't be any better. But for those viewers still guessing at the constant jumps between the two narratives, if the realization doesn't come now, it'll never come it all.
At least the younger stars performances can be enjoyed: Man-lok does a great job of being emo and Chen imbues his role with a touch of narcissism. When contrasted to Hung and Lefty, the question of who they are and if these two young punks will mean anything in their rise to power will only get quickly answered. The answer, if it hasn’t been figured out yet, will either hit viewers or it won't.
The beauty of this movie lies in the script, but not in its execution. Ching-Po Wong could do better.
Overall: 6 out of 10.
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