Shanghai (2010)

A '40s period piece which revolves around an American expat who returns to Shanghai in the months before Pearl Harbor due to the death of his friend.

Director:

Mikael Håfström

Writer:

Hossein Amini

Stars:

John Cusack, Li Gong, Yun-Fat Chow

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cusack	...	Paul Soames
Li Gong	...	Anna Lan-Ting (as Gong Li)
Yun-Fat Chow	...	Anthony Lan-Ting (as Chow Yun-Fat)
David Morse	...	Richard Astor
Ken Watanabe	...	Tanaka
Franka Potente	...	Leni Müller
Jeffrey Dean Morgan	...	Conner
Hugh Bonneville	...	Ben Sanger
Yuan On	...	Yuan
Hon Ping Tang	...	Chen
Benedict Wong	...	Juso Kita
Christopher Buchholz	...	Karl Müller
Ronan Vibert	...	Mikey
Nicholas Rowe	...	Ralph
Michael Culkin	...	Billy

Storyline

An American man returns to a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor and discovers his friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and discovers a much larger secret.

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Plot Keywords:

shanghai | undercover | murder | triad | criminal | 

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Taglines:

In a world filled with secrets, solving a mystery can be murder.

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, some drug use and brief language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

China USA

Language:

English Mandarin Japanese German

Release Date:

2 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Shanhai

Filming Locations:

Bangkok, Thailand

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$26,604, 4 October 2015, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$44,689, 11 October 2015

Company Credits

Production Co:

Living Films,Phoenix Pictures,TWC Asian Film Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The brainchild of Mike Medavoy, who was born in Shanghai in 1941, and who developed the story through his Phoenix Pictures shingle. The project was subsequently bought by Harvey Weinstein, while still at Miramax. It took eight years to get it made.

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Quotes

Paul Soames: Conner and I had joined the Navy like our fathers and grandfathers before us. Our lives were set. Birth, school, Yale, war. The great American tradition.

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Soundtracks

Grand Hotel Waltz
Written by' John Cacavas and Jennifer Jean
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

A captivating drama about spies in the turbulent Shanghai in the 1940's

This film is about the lives of several spies from America and China in the turbulent Shanghai in the 1940's.

"Shanghai" is a mesmerising film that successfully recreates the 1940's feel of Shanghai. The film is engaging throughout, with no unnecessary scenes. It is also straightforward and easily understandable, which is a rarity for spy dramas. It is also captivating, as it beautifully captures the stress of people living deceitful lives, not knowing who to trust, without any back up. Even your best friend can be someone entirely different, befriending you only for intelligence.

Gong Li is great in "Shanghai", she radiates beauty and charm, and yet at the same time her extraordinary elegance seems to be begging for pity and mercy. She is rightly cast for her role.