Roberta Torre with Anne-Katrin Titze on Gitt Magrini, Michelangelo Antonioni’s costume designer for Red Desert and with Bice Brichetto for L'Eclisse: “With Massimo Cantini Parrini we have thought a lot about this before making the film. So he went to all the beautiful costumes for Monica Vitti to see what remains today.”
A little over an hour and a half into Michelangelo Antonioni’s Red Desert, Monica Vitti’s Giuliana visits Richard Harris’s Corrado Zeller at his hotel. “Mi fanno male i capelli” she says, her hair hurts, as do her eyes, her throat and her mouth. Roberta Torre’s Mi Fanno Male I Capelli with a score by Wong Kar Wai’s longtime composer Shigeru Umebayashi takes the sentence as a starting point to investigate time and the mind, memory and the fluidity of identity.
Edoardo (Filippo Timi) with Monica (Alba Rohrwacher) in dress inspired by Monica...
A little over an hour and a half into Michelangelo Antonioni’s Red Desert, Monica Vitti’s Giuliana visits Richard Harris’s Corrado Zeller at his hotel. “Mi fanno male i capelli” she says, her hair hurts, as do her eyes, her throat and her mouth. Roberta Torre’s Mi Fanno Male I Capelli with a score by Wong Kar Wai’s longtime composer Shigeru Umebayashi takes the sentence as a starting point to investigate time and the mind, memory and the fluidity of identity.
Edoardo (Filippo Timi) with Monica (Alba Rohrwacher) in dress inspired by Monica...
- 5/31/2024
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
With Wong Kar-wai being one of the names that are always mentioned when people all around the world refer to Asian cinema, we thought it would be interesting to do another ranking, and having his movies, a number of which are definitely masterpieces. As such, we asked Amp writers who have seen at least 8 of his features to rank them from worst to best. Notably, the two first titles got the same amount of votes and the third had just one vote less. In case you are wondering, the number one was the one who got most first places in the vote. Here is what the votes of Adriana Rosati, Rhythm Zaveri, Rouven Linnarz, Panos Kotzathanasis, Andrew Thayne and Jean Claude resulted in.
11. My Blueberry Nights (2007)
A young lonely woman takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of off-beat characters along the way.
11. My Blueberry Nights (2007)
A young lonely woman takes a soul-searching journey across America to resolve her questions about love while encountering a series of off-beat characters along the way.
- 5/26/2024
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Tubi, Fox’s free streaming service, has announced its list of June titles. The June 2024 slate features new Tubi Originals as well as numerous action, art house, Black cinema, comedy, documentary, drama, horror, kids and family, romance, sci-fi and fantasy, thriller, and Western titles.
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi June 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action
Continental...
As a leading ad-supported video-on-demand service, the company engages diverse audiences through a personalized experience and the world’s largest content library: over 200,000 movies and TV episodes, a growing collection of Tubi Originals, and nearly 250 Fast channels.
You can watch the Tubi June 2024 lineup for free on Android and iOS mobile devices, Amazon Echo Show, Google Nest Hub Max, Comcast Xfinity X1, and Cox Contour.
You can also watch the service on connected television devices such as Amazon Fire TV, Vizio TVs, Sony TVs, Samsung TVs, Roku, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and on the Tubi site.
Tubi Originals
Action
Continental...
- 5/17/2024
- by Mirko Parlevliet
- Vital Thrills
Tony Leung will serve as the president of the international competition jury at the 37th Tokyo International Film Festival, organizers announced on Friday.
The Hong Kong acting icon, who gave a masterclass at the festival last year, will return to Tokyo to head up a jury that will be announced at a later date. Leung has a long history with Tokyo Film Festival and had attended the event for the screening of his 2013 film The Grandmaster.
Leung is widely considered one of the greatest actors Asia has produced. Best known globally for his work with Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai, the pair have worked on seven films together — Days of Being Wild (1990), Chungking Express (1994), Ashes of Time (1994), Happy Together (1997), In the Mood for Love (2000), 2046 (2004), and The Grandmaster (2013). Leung has also starred in three films — A City of Sadness (1989), Cyclo (1995) and Lust, Caution (2007) — that have won the Golden Lion prize...
The Hong Kong acting icon, who gave a masterclass at the festival last year, will return to Tokyo to head up a jury that will be announced at a later date. Leung has a long history with Tokyo Film Festival and had attended the event for the screening of his 2013 film The Grandmaster.
Leung is widely considered one of the greatest actors Asia has produced. Best known globally for his work with Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai, the pair have worked on seven films together — Days of Being Wild (1990), Chungking Express (1994), Ashes of Time (1994), Happy Together (1997), In the Mood for Love (2000), 2046 (2004), and The Grandmaster (2013). Leung has also starred in three films — A City of Sadness (1989), Cyclo (1995) and Lust, Caution (2007) — that have won the Golden Lion prize...
- 5/17/2024
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Shreyom Ghosh’s “The Vampire of Sheung Shui” is unique in that it is a Hong Kong-set horror-comedy with a protagonist of Indian origin.
It has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart.
Written by D.F.W. Buckingham (“Finding Love in Sisters”), the film will follow Lokesh, a slacker in his 30s, living with orthodox Jain parents in a sleepy Hong Kong suburb, waiting to take over the family jewellery store and move to the U.K. after selling it. When his father announces his retirement, Lokesh must show that he can be responsible and adhere to the values of his family’s traditions or lose the store to his annoying cousin. The problem is that Lokesh is turning into a bloodthirsty vampire. Now he must find a way to survive on blood without hurting people, while also...
It has been selected for the 22nd Hong Kong — Asia Film Financing Forum (Haf), the project market that operates concurrently with FilMart.
Written by D.F.W. Buckingham (“Finding Love in Sisters”), the film will follow Lokesh, a slacker in his 30s, living with orthodox Jain parents in a sleepy Hong Kong suburb, waiting to take over the family jewellery store and move to the U.K. after selling it. When his father announces his retirement, Lokesh must show that he can be responsible and adhere to the values of his family’s traditions or lose the store to his annoying cousin. The problem is that Lokesh is turning into a bloodthirsty vampire. Now he must find a way to survive on blood without hurting people, while also...
- 3/12/2024
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
‘In the Belly of a Tiger’, directed and cinematographed by Siddhartha Jatla is poised for its world premiere at the distinguished 74th Berlin International Film Festival. This film promises a captivating human narrative intertwined with visually stunning cinematography, a testament to Jatla’s profound connection with the art of filmmaking since his formative years.
Co-written by Siddhartha and Amanda Mooney, the story unfolds in rural India, delving into the resilience of the human spirit amidst the harsh realities of power dynamics where the vulnerable are exploited by the powerful. The film centres on the fundamental right of human dignity, as a family grapples with economic insecurity. The film contrasts the beauty of the human spirit, and a deeply personal love story, with this harsh reality and calls for human society to bring hope and dignity to families in need.
Siddharth, a cinematography graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India...
Co-written by Siddhartha and Amanda Mooney, the story unfolds in rural India, delving into the resilience of the human spirit amidst the harsh realities of power dynamics where the vulnerable are exploited by the powerful. The film centres on the fundamental right of human dignity, as a family grapples with economic insecurity. The film contrasts the beauty of the human spirit, and a deeply personal love story, with this harsh reality and calls for human society to bring hope and dignity to families in need.
Siddharth, a cinematography graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India...
- 2/13/2024
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
A decade after The Grandmaster, the wait for Wong Kar-wai’s next project has been lengthy, with his long-gestating Blossoms Shanghai first announced nearly five years ago. Now, after three years of filming, the series launches next week on China’s Tencent Video. Comprising 30 episodes of around 50 minutes each, the first four installments premiere on December 27, followed by two episodes per day.
Starring Hu Ge, Ma Yili, Tang Yan, and Xin Zhilei, Wong Kar-wai is credited as producer and director. The story based on Jin Yucheng’s novel and follows Hu Ge’s A Bao, a businessman in Shanghai in two time periods: the 1960s and 1990s. “Blossoms would be the third part of In the Mood for Love and 2046,” Wong previously said. “Jin Yucheng’s landmark novel Blossoms has been the perfect backdrop to visualize and share my love for my birth city,” said Wong Kar-wai. “With the series,...
Starring Hu Ge, Ma Yili, Tang Yan, and Xin Zhilei, Wong Kar-wai is credited as producer and director. The story based on Jin Yucheng’s novel and follows Hu Ge’s A Bao, a businessman in Shanghai in two time periods: the 1960s and 1990s. “Blossoms would be the third part of In the Mood for Love and 2046,” Wong previously said. “Jin Yucheng’s landmark novel Blossoms has been the perfect backdrop to visualize and share my love for my birth city,” said Wong Kar-wai. “With the series,...
- 12/17/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
The film is out of the running due to a “conflict of interest” among the selection committee.
The producer of Hong Kong film A Light Never Goes Out has spoken out following the disqualification of the feature from the 2024 Oscars race.
The drama was submitted by the Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong for the international feature film category of the 96th Academy Awards in September. But when the Academy revealed the list of eligible titles last Thursday, A Light Never Goes Out was not included and the Federation is trying to figure out why.
Despite the outcome,...
The producer of Hong Kong film A Light Never Goes Out has spoken out following the disqualification of the feature from the 2024 Oscars race.
The drama was submitted by the Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong for the international feature film category of the 96th Academy Awards in September. But when the Academy revealed the list of eligible titles last Thursday, A Light Never Goes Out was not included and the Federation is trying to figure out why.
Despite the outcome,...
- 12/12/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The Criterion Channel is closing the year out with a bang––they’ve announced their December lineup. Among the highlights are retrospectives on Yasujiro Ozu (featuring nearly 40 films!), Ousmane Sembène, Alfred Hitchcock (along with Kent Jones’ Hitchcock/Truffaut), and Parker Posey. Well-timed for the season is a holiday noir series that includes They Live By Night, Blast of Silence, Lady in the Lake, and more.
Other highlights are the recent restoration of Abel Gance’s La roue, an MGM Musicals series with introduction by Michael Koresky, Helena Wittmann’s riveting second feature Human Flowers of Flesh, the recent Sundance highlight The Mountains Are a Dream That Call To Me, the new restoration of The Cassandra Cat, Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar, Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster, and more.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Terry Gilliam, 1988
An American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli,...
Other highlights are the recent restoration of Abel Gance’s La roue, an MGM Musicals series with introduction by Michael Koresky, Helena Wittmann’s riveting second feature Human Flowers of Flesh, the recent Sundance highlight The Mountains Are a Dream That Call To Me, the new restoration of The Cassandra Cat, Lynne Ramsay’s Morvern Callar, Wong Kar Wai’s The Grandmaster, and more.
See the lineup below and learn more here.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Terry Gilliam, 1988
An American in Paris, Vincente Minnelli,...
- 11/13/2023
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Ten years after he attended the Tokyo International Film Festival for the screening of The Grandmaster, Tony Leung returned to the festival on Thursday to conduct a masterclass.
The Hong Kong acting icon, dressed in a black tailored suit and fashion-forward Kolor sneakers, was met with warm applause at a packed house at Tokyo’s Hulic Hall. Festival programmer Shozo Ichiyama began proceedings with Leung’s early years as an actor, namely his work with Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien on the classic A City of Sadness, which Ichiyama considered one of his personal favorites. A City of Sadness was notable as it was set in Taipei, and Leung, at the time, had no experience working outside of Hong Kong and couldn’t speak Mandarin.
“It was the start of my career, and I wanted to challenge myself,” Leung said through an interpreter on why he took on the role, given...
The Hong Kong acting icon, dressed in a black tailored suit and fashion-forward Kolor sneakers, was met with warm applause at a packed house at Tokyo’s Hulic Hall. Festival programmer Shozo Ichiyama began proceedings with Leung’s early years as an actor, namely his work with Taiwanese filmmaker Hou Hsiao-hsien on the classic A City of Sadness, which Ichiyama considered one of his personal favorites. A City of Sadness was notable as it was set in Taipei, and Leung, at the time, had no experience working outside of Hong Kong and couldn’t speak Mandarin.
“It was the start of my career, and I wanted to challenge myself,” Leung said through an interpreter on why he took on the role, given...
- 10/28/2023
- by Abid Rahman
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Xu Haofeng has emerged as one of the most renowned authors, scriptwriters and directors of martial arts titles, with his credits including “The Grandmaster” (as a script-writer), “The Hidden Sword” and “The Final Master”. His latest works in particular combine wuxia tropes with ultra stylish visuals, with the last among the aforementioned titles being a distinctive sample. The same applies to “100 Yards”, which he co-directed with Xu Junfeng, which had its international premiere in Toronto
100 Yards is screening at Toronto International Film Festival
The story is set in 1920s Tianjin, just as a respected martial artist and leader of a wushu Academy is about to die. A regulated duel between the top apprentice, Qi and the master's son, Shen, kickstarts the saga, with the former winning relatively easily, and thus earning the ownership of the academy, with Chairman Meng acting as the steward of the deceased, enforcing his will.
100 Yards is screening at Toronto International Film Festival
The story is set in 1920s Tianjin, just as a respected martial artist and leader of a wushu Academy is about to die. A regulated duel between the top apprentice, Qi and the master's son, Shen, kickstarts the saga, with the former winning relatively easily, and thus earning the ownership of the academy, with Chairman Meng acting as the steward of the deceased, enforcing his will.
- 9/13/2023
- by Panos Kotzathanasis
- AsianMoviePulse
Renowned Hong Kong actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai ditched his quiet, brooding persona on Saturday in Venice, where he is to receive a Golden Lion Lifetime Achievement Award.
Instead, at a press conference in his honor, Leung positively gushed about his upcoming first European movie role and about the strengths of the “golden era” acting training he received in Hong Kong in the 1980s.
Leung has made a speciality of saying little in many of his films. In his first Venice film, “City of Sadness,” Leung pays a mute. In “The Grandmaster” he lets his fists and feet do the talking. In “In the Mood for Love,” Leung’s facial expressions are far more expressive than words.
And on many public occasions, Leung keeps the repartee to a minimum, amps up the soulful glare and goes long on banal gratitude. Awarded the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at Busan in October,...
Instead, at a press conference in his honor, Leung positively gushed about his upcoming first European movie role and about the strengths of the “golden era” acting training he received in Hong Kong in the 1980s.
Leung has made a speciality of saying little in many of his films. In his first Venice film, “City of Sadness,” Leung pays a mute. In “The Grandmaster” he lets his fists and feet do the talking. In “In the Mood for Love,” Leung’s facial expressions are far more expressive than words.
And on many public occasions, Leung keeps the repartee to a minimum, amps up the soulful glare and goes long on banal gratitude. Awarded the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award at Busan in October,...
- 9/2/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Tony Leung Chiu-wai has starred in three movies that have scooped the top prize Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and today he is receiving his very own Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
The 61-year-old Hong Kong actor and singer is one of Asia’s most successful and internationally recognized stars. Among his major global credits are Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 romantic drama In the Mood for Love, for which he won the Best Actor prize in Cannes. His other collaborations with Wong include Chungking Express, Happy Together and The Grandmaster.
Leung also starred in the Academy Award-nominated film Hero by Zhang Yimou, and the box office hits Hard Boiled by John Woo and Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. The latter trilogy formed the basis for Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning The Departed.
Talking with the press today, Leung beamed of the Lifetime Achievement Lion, “Finally I can have it for myself,...
The 61-year-old Hong Kong actor and singer is one of Asia’s most successful and internationally recognized stars. Among his major global credits are Wong Kar-wai’s 2000 romantic drama In the Mood for Love, for which he won the Best Actor prize in Cannes. His other collaborations with Wong include Chungking Express, Happy Together and The Grandmaster.
Leung also starred in the Academy Award-nominated film Hero by Zhang Yimou, and the box office hits Hard Boiled by John Woo and Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak. The latter trilogy formed the basis for Martin Scorsese’s Oscar winning The Departed.
Talking with the press today, Leung beamed of the Lifetime Achievement Lion, “Finally I can have it for myself,...
- 9/2/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
"If there was trouble within 100 yards of the entrance, it was dealt with." The first teaser trailer is out for a Chinese martial arts action film titled 100 Years, co-directed by the filmmakers Xu Haofeng & Xu Junfeng. This is premiering as a centerpiece selection at the 2023 Toronto Film Festival coming up this fall, its first screening outside of China after showing at the Shanghai Film Festival. Two bitter rivals (starring Jacky Heung and Andy On) duel for stewardship of a wushu academy, in this "cool and calculated" martial arts caper from Xu Haofeng. It's set in the 1920s in Northern China, pre-wwii. With martial arts choreography by Duncan Leung, and cinematography by Shao Dan. The cast also includes Bea Hayden Kuo, Tang Shiyi, and Li Yuan. I'm digging the more minimalistic, refined style of this - clean shots, and clean dialogue. Bring it on. // Continue Reading ›...
- 8/11/2023
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Period feature stars Jacky Heung and Andy On.
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North America distribution rights to 100 Yards, a period martial arts drama directed by Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng.
The deal was negotiated directly with producer Rainbow Fong on behalf of the filmmakers. Well Go plans to release the feature in 2024, following a festival run that began with its world premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival in June.
Hong Kong-based My Way Film Company is handling sales for Asean countries, with Fortissimo Films managing all other international sales excluding North America and Southeast Asia.
Xu Haofeng is director of The Sword Identity,...
Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired North America distribution rights to 100 Yards, a period martial arts drama directed by Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng.
The deal was negotiated directly with producer Rainbow Fong on behalf of the filmmakers. Well Go plans to release the feature in 2024, following a festival run that began with its world premiere at Shanghai International Film Festival in June.
Hong Kong-based My Way Film Company is handling sales for Asean countries, with Fortissimo Films managing all other international sales excluding North America and Southeast Asia.
Xu Haofeng is director of The Sword Identity,...
- 8/9/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Mubi has announced its lineup of streaming offerings for next month, including the exclusive streaming premiere of Lars von Trier’s The Idiots in a new 4K restoration, Céline Devaux’s anti-romcom Everybody Loves Jeanne, and Tyler Taormina’s Happer’s Comet.
Additional selections include three films by Wong Kar Wai, a Robert Altman double feature, four works by Jacques Rivette, plus shorts by Mia Hansen-Løve and Yorgos Lanthimos.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
July 1 – Synecdoche, New York, directed by Charlie Kaufman
July 2 – 2046, directed by Wong Kar Wai | As Time Goes By: Three by Wong Kar Wai
July 3 – The Exiles, directed by Kent MacKenzie
July 4 – Ivansxtc, directed by Bernard Rose
July 5 – Un Pur Esprit, directed by Mia Hansen-Løve | Short Films Big Names
July 6 – Contemporary Color, directed by Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross | Turn It Up: Music on Film
July 7 – The Idiots, directed by Lars von Trier...
Additional selections include three films by Wong Kar Wai, a Robert Altman double feature, four works by Jacques Rivette, plus shorts by Mia Hansen-Løve and Yorgos Lanthimos.
Check out the lineup below and get 30 days free here.
July 1 – Synecdoche, New York, directed by Charlie Kaufman
July 2 – 2046, directed by Wong Kar Wai | As Time Goes By: Three by Wong Kar Wai
July 3 – The Exiles, directed by Kent MacKenzie
July 4 – Ivansxtc, directed by Bernard Rose
July 5 – Un Pur Esprit, directed by Mia Hansen-Løve | Short Films Big Names
July 6 – Contemporary Color, directed by Bill Ross IV, Turner Ross | Turn It Up: Music on Film
July 7 – The Idiots, directed by Lars von Trier...
- 6/26/2023
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
Actress Zhang Ziyi led a celebration of Chinese women in cinema at this week’s Shanghai International Film Festival, and urged the country’s next generation of female stars to be “fearless” when choosing their roles.
The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha star was taking part in a session titled “Her Film Era Forum: Life Without Limits” on the sidelines of the 25th edition of China’s preeminent festival, where she discussed her own career and shared some of the lessons she has learned across almost three decades in film.
“You should always be curious and stick to it as your profession once you decide to join this industry,” Zhang said. “When facing new challenges, [women] need to be fearless instead of being afraid of failure. Success will not be guaranteed, but we will never know the result if we never make a start.”
The hope, Zhang said,...
The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Memoirs of a Geisha star was taking part in a session titled “Her Film Era Forum: Life Without Limits” on the sidelines of the 25th edition of China’s preeminent festival, where she discussed her own career and shared some of the lessons she has learned across almost three decades in film.
“You should always be curious and stick to it as your profession once you decide to join this industry,” Zhang said. “When facing new challenges, [women] need to be fearless instead of being afraid of failure. Success will not be guaranteed, but we will never know the result if we never make a start.”
The hope, Zhang said,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Mathew Scott
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The technology of cinematography has undergone some of the most seismic shifts in film history this century, with what began in the 2000s as an almost entirely photochemical process transforming into the digitally captured, manipulated, and projected images of today. The art of cinematography, however — using light, color, and texture to express ideas and elicit emotional reactions from the audience — remains intact.
In 2017, IndieWire made a list of the best shot feature films of the century thus far; the list was updated in 2020, and what follows is the third and most extensive version of the list. It’s also the first to be spearheaded by the IndieWire Craft team, which has grown considerably since this list was first published. Ranking cinematography is, in some ways, a fool’s errand given the broad variety of genres, resources, and intentions encompassed by the films below, but these are 60 titles that IndieWire believes...
In 2017, IndieWire made a list of the best shot feature films of the century thus far; the list was updated in 2020, and what follows is the third and most extensive version of the list. It’s also the first to be spearheaded by the IndieWire Craft team, which has grown considerably since this list was first published. Ranking cinematography is, in some ways, a fool’s errand given the broad variety of genres, resources, and intentions encompassed by the films below, but these are 60 titles that IndieWire believes...
- 5/3/2023
- by Jim Hemphill, Chris O'Falt, Bill Desowitz and Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
The Chinese Wuxia feature is from the co-writer of Wong Kar Wai’s ‘The Grandmaster’.
Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to Chinese martial arts drama 100 Yards, directed by Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng, and will launch sales at the Cannes market this month.
The film, locally titled Men Qian Bao Di, is in post-production for release this summer, and Fortissimo has already secured a pre-sale of the feature with Splendid for Germany. It is produced by Beijing-based Lumen Art and Culture.
Xu Haofeng is director of The Sword Identity, which played Venice and Toronto...
Amsterdam and Beijing-based sales outfit Fortissimo Films has secured international rights to Chinese martial arts drama 100 Yards, directed by Xu Haofeng and Xu Junfeng, and will launch sales at the Cannes market this month.
The film, locally titled Men Qian Bao Di, is in post-production for release this summer, and Fortissimo has already secured a pre-sale of the feature with Splendid for Germany. It is produced by Beijing-based Lumen Art and Culture.
Xu Haofeng is director of The Sword Identity, which played Venice and Toronto...
- 5/3/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Rainn Wilson travels for a purpose — to find the happiest places on Earth. In the new Peacock docu-series “The Geography of Bliss,” the intrepid traveler traverses the globe in a humorous search for meaning. Based on Eric Weiner’s New York Times bestselling book, “The Geography of Bliss: One Grump’s Search for the Happiest Places in the World,” Wilson explores some of the happiest and unhappiest places on earth — from Iceland to Bulgaria to Ghana — in a profound and funny way that unpacks the science of happiness. All five episodes of the series will be available during Mental Health Awareness Month, beginning on May 18.
Watch the trailer for “The Geography of Bliss”:
Also arriving on the streaming service next month, Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, and Joe Pesci will star in “Bupkis,” a semi-autobiographical series about Davidson’s life. The show mixes reality and absurdity to capture the complexities...
Watch the trailer for “The Geography of Bliss”:
Also arriving on the streaming service next month, Pete Davidson, Edie Falco, and Joe Pesci will star in “Bupkis,” a semi-autobiographical series about Davidson’s life. The show mixes reality and absurdity to capture the complexities...
- 4/27/2023
- by Fern Siegel
- The Streamable
The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo portrays a teacher whose childhood was spent dealing with bullies. Done with the violence of her childhood, Song Hye-kyo’s character becomes a teacher who has the child of her former bully in her class. The ensemble cast of The Glory works well together to create drama, fear, and revenge. Song Hey-kyo’s role in The Glory is one of many television roles she has taken on since her career began in 1996. Song Hye-kyo also appears in must-watch Korean movies such as The Grandmaster and My Brilliant Life. Here are 10 things you might not know about
9 Things You Didn’t Know About The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo...
9 Things You Didn’t Know About The Glory’s Song Hye-kyo...
- 2/19/2023
- by Tiffany Raiford
- TVovermind.com
Harvey Weinstein failed today to get his Los Angeles trial on multiple sex crimes pushed back over an upcoming festival premiere and fall wide release of a movie about the investigation into his decades of abuse and sexual assaults.
In a downtown pre-trial hearing Monday morning, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench rejected a move by the defense to delay the incarcerated producer’s October trial start over the Maria Schrader-directed She Said. In a somewhat ironic scenario, the architect of the modern cutthroat awards campaign claimed that the marketing and publicity of the film based on the acclaimed journalism of The New York Times’ Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey would prejudice any City of Angels jury against him.
Lench wasn’t buying it, and she put pedal to the metal for the commencement of jury selection on October 10.
“Harvey and his attorneys will be prepared for trial,...
In a downtown pre-trial hearing Monday morning, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lisa Lench rejected a move by the defense to delay the incarcerated producer’s October trial start over the Maria Schrader-directed She Said. In a somewhat ironic scenario, the architect of the modern cutthroat awards campaign claimed that the marketing and publicity of the film based on the acclaimed journalism of The New York Times’ Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey would prejudice any City of Angels jury against him.
Lench wasn’t buying it, and she put pedal to the metal for the commencement of jury selection on October 10.
“Harvey and his attorneys will be prepared for trial,...
- 8/29/2022
- by Dominic Patten and Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Leading Korean film and TV star Song Hye-kyo will head the cast of “The Glory,” an epic revenge drama series being produced for Netflix.
The series is a change of direction for Kim Eun-sook, a screenwriter billed as the queen of Korean romance.
The project is also a reunion of sorts for the pair. Six years ago, Song starred in the Kim-penned “Descendants of the Sun” a lush Kbs series about a war-time romance between an army surgeon and a special forces office that also played on Netflix.
In “The Glory” Song portrays a woman who is extracting revenge on a group of school bullies who destroyed her childhood and the bystanders who failed to prevent the trauma.
Song has been a mainstay of Korean TV dram series including “That Winter The Wind Blows” “Full House” and “Encounter,” as well as internationally-produced movies including Wong Kar-wai’s “The Grandmaster” and...
The series is a change of direction for Kim Eun-sook, a screenwriter billed as the queen of Korean romance.
The project is also a reunion of sorts for the pair. Six years ago, Song starred in the Kim-penned “Descendants of the Sun” a lush Kbs series about a war-time romance between an army surgeon and a special forces office that also played on Netflix.
In “The Glory” Song portrays a woman who is extracting revenge on a group of school bullies who destroyed her childhood and the bystanders who failed to prevent the trauma.
Song has been a mainstay of Korean TV dram series including “That Winter The Wind Blows” “Full House” and “Encounter,” as well as internationally-produced movies including Wong Kar-wai’s “The Grandmaster” and...
- 7/22/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Hong Kong’s Entertaining Power reporting sales prices have returned to pre-Covid levels.
Hong Kong’s Entertaining Power has sold four anticipated star-led features to Taiwan’s Sky Films in a package deal closed during the Cannes market - where prices are understood to be returning to pre-Covid levels.
The titles include Lee Po Cheung’s As It Burns, a suspense thriller involving two fatal explosions that take place 15 years apart but are linked by two women that look alike. The cast is led by Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu, who shot to fame after 2018’s pan-Asian box office hit More Than Blue,...
Hong Kong’s Entertaining Power has sold four anticipated star-led features to Taiwan’s Sky Films in a package deal closed during the Cannes market - where prices are understood to be returning to pre-Covid levels.
The titles include Lee Po Cheung’s As It Burns, a suspense thriller involving two fatal explosions that take place 15 years apart but are linked by two women that look alike. The cast is led by Taiwanese actor Jasper Liu, who shot to fame after 2018’s pan-Asian box office hit More Than Blue,...
- 5/22/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
China-based actress Zhang Ziyi has starred in some of the most celebrated martial arts films of all time, and pulled off incredible feats in the process. She carried her weight against titans like Tony Leung, Jet Li and Maggie Cheung in Zhang Yi-mou's 2004 epic "Hero." She totally stole the show — while dangling 60 feet above the ground — in Ang Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." She even faced off with Ip Man (Tony Leung again) in Wong Kar-wai's "The Grandmaster." But according to the Zhang herself, one of her most difficult roles to date came in "House of Flying Daggers," her...
The post Zhang Ziyi Had Some Unique Training For Her House Of Flying Daggers Role appeared first on /Film.
The post Zhang Ziyi Had Some Unique Training For Her House Of Flying Daggers Role appeared first on /Film.
- 4/1/2022
- by Lyvie Scott
- Slash Film
Now completed, “The Silence of Smoke” has been added to the FilMart sales lineup of Hong Kong studio Media Asia. The family drama film is directed by Takita Yojiro, who won the best foreign-language film Oscar in 2008/9 with “Departures.”
The film was first teased by Media Asia at an event at the market in 2019 with the film’s lead actors Han Geng, Zhang Guoli and actress Xu Qing in attendance.
The story is a heart-wrenching tale of a young cake-maker’s growth and discovery following his father’s death.
Although the man is the heir to eight generations of bakers, his cakes lack standout quality. When his father refuses to divulge the family secret, he instead moves into mass catering for movie crews. The father dies before he is able to pass on the secret ingredient and the man only comes to understand his father, his methods and motivation when...
The film was first teased by Media Asia at an event at the market in 2019 with the film’s lead actors Han Geng, Zhang Guoli and actress Xu Qing in attendance.
The story is a heart-wrenching tale of a young cake-maker’s growth and discovery following his father’s death.
Although the man is the heir to eight generations of bakers, his cakes lack standout quality. When his father refuses to divulge the family secret, he instead moves into mass catering for movie crews. The father dies before he is able to pass on the secret ingredient and the man only comes to understand his father, his methods and motivation when...
- 3/14/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Jeff Huang and Carl Choi, entrepreneurs and lifelong fans of comic book, fantasy/sci-fi, and horror storytelling, have formed Six Studios as a genre-focused content company. In its first major content move, the company has acquired rights to the first six books in Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts’ international bestselling fantasy book series The Riftwar Cycle for television. Writers Hannah Friedman, Jacob Pinion and Nick Bernardone are attached to adapt the books for a potential series.
The Riftwar Saga series, considered one of the best known pieces of fantasy IP not yet adapted for the screen, started with the 1982 publication of Feist’s Magician, the first of what now spans more than 30 books and short stories. They have sold more than...
The Riftwar Saga series, considered one of the best known pieces of fantasy IP not yet adapted for the screen, started with the 1982 publication of Feist’s Magician, the first of what now spans more than 30 books and short stories. They have sold more than...
- 2/2/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
The final entry in Wong Kar-wai’s informal love trilogy after “Days of Being Wild” (1990) and “In the Mood for Love” (2000) is set in the 60’s and took 4 years to complete before it came out in 2004. As the informal sequel to “In the Mood for Love” which is considered as his masterpiece “2046” had a lot to live up to. Even with such hype “2046” lived up to the expectations and can be argued as even better than its predecessor.
“2046” Screened at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
Unlike any other films by Wong, “2046” has a much more complex story, told by jumping through time and reality. After the events of “In the Mood for Love”, Chow Mo-wan spends life as a writer and returns to Hong Kong after spending some years in Singapore. Getting over his idealized love for Su Li-zhen, he has become a womanizer. The hotel...
“2046” Screened at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
Unlike any other films by Wong, “2046” has a much more complex story, told by jumping through time and reality. After the events of “In the Mood for Love”, Chow Mo-wan spends life as a writer and returns to Hong Kong after spending some years in Singapore. Getting over his idealized love for Su Li-zhen, he has become a womanizer. The hotel...
- 11/19/2021
- by Jithin Mohan
- AsianMoviePulse
“Aided by the star magnetism of Yen and Tse and back in his element on the colorful streets of Hong Kong, Chan goes out with both guns blazing.” ~ G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chronicle
An explosive action thriller boasting a powerhouse cast headlined by international martial arts action superstars Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse (Shaolin, New Police Story), Raging Fire will debut exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-yah! on October 22, before hitting Digital, Blu-ray and DVD November 23 with a new English dub from Well Go USA Entertainment.
A “blistering action/thriller exploring police corruption, violent regret, and all the heroic bloodshed you can handle” and the last film from acclaimed action auteur Benny Chan, Raging Fire co-stars Patrick Tam, Kenny Wong (New Police Story), Deep Ng (Stool Pigeon), Jeana Ho, Angus Yeung, Bruce Tong, Henry Mak (Operation Red Sea), Yu Kang (Ip Man 3), German Cheung (The White Storm 2: Drug Lords...
An explosive action thriller boasting a powerhouse cast headlined by international martial arts action superstars Donnie Yen and Nicholas Tse (Shaolin, New Police Story), Raging Fire will debut exclusively on the martial arts streaming service Hi-yah! on October 22, before hitting Digital, Blu-ray and DVD November 23 with a new English dub from Well Go USA Entertainment.
A “blistering action/thriller exploring police corruption, violent regret, and all the heroic bloodshed you can handle” and the last film from acclaimed action auteur Benny Chan, Raging Fire co-stars Patrick Tam, Kenny Wong (New Police Story), Deep Ng (Stool Pigeon), Jeana Ho, Angus Yeung, Bruce Tong, Henry Mak (Operation Red Sea), Yu Kang (Ip Man 3), German Cheung (The White Storm 2: Drug Lords...
- 11/17/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
When it comes to Hong Kong cinema, there is very little question about the international significance of the works, which, besides being artistic accomplishment, made worldwide audiences notice the level of quality within the cinematic landscape of the director’s home country. Starting with one of his first directorial efforts, the 1988 action-drama “As Tears Go By”, you notice the way the filmmaker weaved together a story of two brothers, about betrayal, loyalty and growing up, while also maintaining a unique audiovisual approach, influenced by the works of film noir as well as the diversity of Hong Kong and its citizens. The movie proved to be a formidable commercial success too, and remained Wong Kar-wai’s most lucrative feature until it was overtaken by “The Grandmaster”.
“As Tears Go By” Will Screen at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly...
“As Tears Go By” Will Screen at Five Flavours Asian Film Festival
In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly...
- 11/15/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
This article contains some minor spoilers for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Shang-Chi is known as the “Master of Kung Fu.” So when Marvel Studios announced the character to help usher in MCU Phase 4, the one thought on every fan’s mind was that whoever gets cast in the lead role better really know Kung Fu.
In the wake of Netflix’s Iron Fist, Marvel’s other Kung Fu master, there was a lot of skepticism. Marvel had scored with the previous Netflix series Daredevil, which delivered some of the best small screen fight choreography we’d ever seen. But Iron Fist was sorely lacking. Finn Jones just couldn’t sell a punch as Danny Rand, leaving fans of Marvel martial arts masters overwhelmingly disappointed. If there’s one thing that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had to nail,...
In the pages of Marvel Comics, Shang-Chi is known as the “Master of Kung Fu.” So when Marvel Studios announced the character to help usher in MCU Phase 4, the one thought on every fan’s mind was that whoever gets cast in the lead role better really know Kung Fu.
In the wake of Netflix’s Iron Fist, Marvel’s other Kung Fu master, there was a lot of skepticism. Marvel had scored with the previous Netflix series Daredevil, which delivered some of the best small screen fight choreography we’d ever seen. But Iron Fist was sorely lacking. Finn Jones just couldn’t sell a punch as Danny Rand, leaving fans of Marvel martial arts masters overwhelmingly disappointed. If there’s one thing that Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings had to nail,...
- 9/3/2021
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
On the August 31, 2021 episode of /Film Daily, /Film senior writer Ben Pearson is joined by senior news editor Jacob Hall to talk about what they've been up to at the virtual water cooler.
Opening Banter:
At The Water Cooler:
What we've been Doing:
Jacob bought a new TV.
What we've been Reading:
Jacob read The Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe.
What we've been Watching:
Jacob watched Candyman and Are You Afraid of the Dark, and is rewatching New Girl.
Ben watched I May Destroy You and The Grandmaster.
What we've been Eating: What we've been Playing:
Jacob finally beat Control on the PS5.
Also mentioned:
The post Daily Podcast: Mini-Water Cooler: Candyman, New Girl, The Grandmaster, and More appeared first on /Film.
Opening Banter:
At The Water Cooler:
What we've been Doing:
Jacob bought a new TV.
What we've been Reading:
Jacob read The Snakehead by Patrick Radden Keefe.
What we've been Watching:
Jacob watched Candyman and Are You Afraid of the Dark, and is rewatching New Girl.
Ben watched I May Destroy You and The Grandmaster.
What we've been Eating: What we've been Playing:
Jacob finally beat Control on the PS5.
Also mentioned:
The post Daily Podcast: Mini-Water Cooler: Candyman, New Girl, The Grandmaster, and More appeared first on /Film.
- 8/31/2021
- by Ben Pearson
- Slash Film
Tony Leung, one of the greatest actors in the history of Hong Kong cinema, wants to make one thing clear about his role in “Shang-Chi” – his character may be a lot of things, including a “sociopath” and “a bigot,” but he’s not a villain.
Leung has spent four decades becoming a legend in Hong Kong. Now the man known for his performances in Wong Karwai’s “Chungking Express” and “The Grandmaster” is making his Hollywood debut with Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
While Leung has mostly skipped out on the press tour for the MCU’s next film, he discussed his latest role in a feature interview with Elle Singapore. In “Shang-Chi,” Leung plays Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, the immortal leader of an infamous criminal army known as The Ten Rings, named after ten mysterious armbands that give him incredible power. It was The...
Leung has spent four decades becoming a legend in Hong Kong. Now the man known for his performances in Wong Karwai’s “Chungking Express” and “The Grandmaster” is making his Hollywood debut with Marvel Studios’ “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.”
While Leung has mostly skipped out on the press tour for the MCU’s next film, he discussed his latest role in a feature interview with Elle Singapore. In “Shang-Chi,” Leung plays Shang-Chi’s father, Wenwu, the immortal leader of an infamous criminal army known as The Ten Rings, named after ten mysterious armbands that give him incredible power. It was The...
- 8/22/2021
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
(Welcome to Now Stream This, a column dedicated to the best movies streaming on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and every other streaming service out there.) Welcome back, streamers. As I mentioned last week, Now Stream This is now weekly, with new entries every Friday. And guess what? Today is Friday! Which means I have yet another round […]
The post The Best Movies Streaming Right Now: ‘The Grandmaster,’ ‘The Abyss,’ ‘Moonstruck,’ ‘Joe,’ ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’ appeared first on /Film.
The post The Best Movies Streaming Right Now: ‘The Grandmaster,’ ‘The Abyss,’ ‘Moonstruck,’ ‘Joe,’ ‘Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion’ appeared first on /Film.
- 8/20/2021
- by Chris Evangelista
- Slash Film
The Donnie Yen-starring action thriller “Raging Fire” will open in North American theaters on Aug. 13, its distributor Well Go USA Entertainment announced Friday.
The film is the final project of the late iconic Hong Kong film director Benny Chan, who passed away last summer. Chan was beloved for action films like “The White Storm” and Jackie Chan pictures like “New Police Story.”
“Raging Fire” will screen ahead of its broader theatrical outing on Aug. 9 as the Centerpiece film selection of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff). Later this year, it will land on the martial arts streaming channel Hi-yah!, prior to its physical and digital release.
“We have been long-time champions of both the late director Benny Chan’s work and Donnie Yen,” said Nyaff executive director Samuel Jamier. “The Centerpiece presentation is the keystone event of Nyaff, representing the tone and unique spirit of our festival, which...
The film is the final project of the late iconic Hong Kong film director Benny Chan, who passed away last summer. Chan was beloved for action films like “The White Storm” and Jackie Chan pictures like “New Police Story.”
“Raging Fire” will screen ahead of its broader theatrical outing on Aug. 9 as the Centerpiece film selection of the New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff). Later this year, it will land on the martial arts streaming channel Hi-yah!, prior to its physical and digital release.
“We have been long-time champions of both the late director Benny Chan’s work and Donnie Yen,” said Nyaff executive director Samuel Jamier. “The Centerpiece presentation is the keystone event of Nyaff, representing the tone and unique spirit of our festival, which...
- 7/30/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
When it comes to Hong Kong cinema, there is very little question about the international significance of the works, which, besides being artistic accomplishment, made worldwide audiences notice the level of quality within the cinematic landscape of the director’s home country. Starting with one of his first directorial efforts, the 1988 action-drama “As Tears Go By”, you notice the way the filmmaker weaved together a story of two brothers, about betrayal, loyalty and growing up, while also maintaining a unique audiovisual approach, influenced by the works of film noir as well as the diversity of Hong Kong and its citizens. The movie proved to be a formidable commercial success too, and remained Wong Kar-wai’s most lucrative feature until it was overtaken by “The Grandmaster”.
In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly (Jacky Cheung), try to make a living working for the mob.
In the streets of Hong Kong, two brothers, Wah (Andy Lau) and Fly (Jacky Cheung), try to make a living working for the mob.
- 7/19/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the North American rights to “Raging Fire,” the latest action thriller featuring martial arts superstar Donnie Yen.
The pic is set to hit U.S. theaters later this year before landing on martial arts streaming channel Hi-yah!.
“Raging Fire” is the final title from the late Hong Kong helmer Benny Chan, who passed away last August. He was best known for action and martial arts works, including crime thriller “The White Storm,” 2011’s “Shaolin, and Jackie Chan pictures “New Police Story” and “Robin B-Hood.”
It was produced by Emperor Film Production, Tencent Pictures and Super Bullet Pictures.
Yen, known for his roles in Disney’s live-action “Mulan” and the “Ip Man” franchises, appears alongside actors Patrick Tan, Nicholas Tse, Jeana Ho, and Ray Liu (“Flash Point”).
“We are thrilled to team up with Emperor, Tencent and Super Bullet Pictures to bring ‘Raging Fire’ to North American audiences,...
The pic is set to hit U.S. theaters later this year before landing on martial arts streaming channel Hi-yah!.
“Raging Fire” is the final title from the late Hong Kong helmer Benny Chan, who passed away last August. He was best known for action and martial arts works, including crime thriller “The White Storm,” 2011’s “Shaolin, and Jackie Chan pictures “New Police Story” and “Robin B-Hood.”
It was produced by Emperor Film Production, Tencent Pictures and Super Bullet Pictures.
Yen, known for his roles in Disney’s live-action “Mulan” and the “Ip Man” franchises, appears alongside actors Patrick Tan, Nicholas Tse, Jeana Ho, and Ray Liu (“Flash Point”).
“We are thrilled to team up with Emperor, Tencent and Super Bullet Pictures to bring ‘Raging Fire’ to North American audiences,...
- 6/24/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
Film fans will be able to immerse themselves in the ravishing, dreamlike World Of Wong Kar Wai on the big screen this July, with a complete retrospective of the Hong Kong master filmmakers presented by the BFI and the Institute of Contemporary Arts (Ica), in partnership with Janus Films. This complete retrospective will take place at BFI Southbank and the Ica from 7-31 July and will include 7 brand-new 4K restorations, 5 of which have been overseen by Wong Kar Wai himself. With his lush and sensual visuals, pitch-perfect soundtracks, and soulful romanticism, Wong Kar Wai has established himself as one of the defining auteurs of contemporary cinema. Titles screening will include offbeat love story Chungking Express (1994), breathtaking romance In The Mood For Love (2000), alluring period drama 2046 (2004), thrilling historical biopic The Grandmaster (2013) and many more. Whether tragically romantic, soaked in blood, or quirkily comedic, the films in this retrospective are an...
- 6/12/2021
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming TV series “Blossoms” has released its first trailer, giving viewers a peek at the first new work from the auteur in nearly a decade.
Though Wong is most often thought of as a Hong Kong director, he was born in Shanghai. The “Blossoms” series is his first of two long-anticipated adaptations of a celebrated eponymous novel by Jin Yucheng, and appears to be a stylish love letter to his hometown. A film version of “Blossoms” is also in the works.
The series will consist of 24 hour-long episodes, his production firm Jet Tone Productions confirmed to Variety. Though Wong has produced and directed the pilot, he will only produce and helm some of the future episodes. It remains unclear how many others are already completed or in the works, and the series does not yet have a release date.
“Blossoms” nonetheless marks his first turn behind the...
Though Wong is most often thought of as a Hong Kong director, he was born in Shanghai. The “Blossoms” series is his first of two long-anticipated adaptations of a celebrated eponymous novel by Jin Yucheng, and appears to be a stylish love letter to his hometown. A film version of “Blossoms” is also in the works.
The series will consist of 24 hour-long episodes, his production firm Jet Tone Productions confirmed to Variety. Though Wong has produced and directed the pilot, he will only produce and helm some of the future episodes. It remains unclear how many others are already completed or in the works, and the series does not yet have a release date.
“Blossoms” nonetheless marks his first turn behind the...
- 6/8/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
A first trailer for Wong Kar-Wai’s upcoming dramatic series “Blossoms Shanghai” emerged on the internet this weekend. While it lacks English subtitles, the first footage from this sweeping ode to Shanghai has plenty of the Hong Kong director’s visual panache. Watch below.
Written by award-winning Shanghainese screenwriter Qin Wen, with visuals from Academy Award-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” cinematographer Peter Pau, the series, according to the official synopsis, “tells the story of an enigmatic, self-made millionaire, Mr. Bao (Hu Ge), and his journey of reinvention from a young opportunist with a troubled past to the heights of the gilded city of Shanghai. Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in 1990s Shanghai, the series unveils the glamour that follows his dazzling wealth and his entanglement with four fabulous women that represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honor, love and innocence.”
The series is set to debut in 2022 internationally,...
Written by award-winning Shanghainese screenwriter Qin Wen, with visuals from Academy Award-winning “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” cinematographer Peter Pau, the series, according to the official synopsis, “tells the story of an enigmatic, self-made millionaire, Mr. Bao (Hu Ge), and his journey of reinvention from a young opportunist with a troubled past to the heights of the gilded city of Shanghai. Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in 1990s Shanghai, the series unveils the glamour that follows his dazzling wealth and his entanglement with four fabulous women that represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honor, love and innocence.”
The series is set to debut in 2022 internationally,...
- 6/7/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
In a spectacular Marvel twist, the first Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings trailer confirms a rumor that the film’s director, Destin Daniel Cretton dropped last year: the Mandarin is Shang-Chi’s father.
Typical for the MCU’s shared universe, this plays out well on multiple levels. In the original comics, Shang-Chi’s father was none other than Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu was created by Englishman Sax Rohmer with his pulp fiction book The Mystery of Doctor Fu-Manchu in 1913. It was a stark, racist portrayal of Asians, and Rohmer capitalized upon the ‘Yellow Peril’ xenophobia of the time by milking his Fu Manchu character for a long running serial of over a dozen books. Fu Manchu became the West’s preeminent orientalist villain, a ruthless mad scientist evil genius with a signature mustache. The character was depicted in dozens of films, always portrayed by Caucasian actors with...
Typical for the MCU’s shared universe, this plays out well on multiple levels. In the original comics, Shang-Chi’s father was none other than Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu was created by Englishman Sax Rohmer with his pulp fiction book The Mystery of Doctor Fu-Manchu in 1913. It was a stark, racist portrayal of Asians, and Rohmer capitalized upon the ‘Yellow Peril’ xenophobia of the time by milking his Fu Manchu character for a long running serial of over a dozen books. Fu Manchu became the West’s preeminent orientalist villain, a ruthless mad scientist evil genius with a signature mustache. The character was depicted in dozens of films, always portrayed by Caucasian actors with...
- 4/19/2021
- by Mike Cecchini
- Den of Geek
Li Liming’s film takes itself a bit too seriously, but fight fans will enjoy the nifty and inventive combat scenes
For those not up to date with the martial arts film canon, Ip Man was a real historical figure: a master of Wing Chun, a type of southern Chinese kung fu, who until relatively recently was best known for having trained the great Bruce Lee. The real Ip died just before Lee in 1972, but his colourful life has since served as a basis for a series of films that have taken varying amounts of liberty with the facts, starting with the Donnie Yen vehicle Ip Man from 2008.
In these films, Ip is more than just a historical figure: he’s a legendary character, a fighter for justice against rogue criminals and sinister foreigners, especially in the films that focus on his years as a policeman in Foshan after the second world war,...
For those not up to date with the martial arts film canon, Ip Man was a real historical figure: a master of Wing Chun, a type of southern Chinese kung fu, who until relatively recently was best known for having trained the great Bruce Lee. The real Ip died just before Lee in 1972, but his colourful life has since served as a basis for a series of films that have taken varying amounts of liberty with the facts, starting with the Donnie Yen vehicle Ip Man from 2008.
In these films, Ip is more than just a historical figure: he’s a legendary character, a fighter for justice against rogue criminals and sinister foreigners, especially in the films that focus on his years as a policeman in Foshan after the second world war,...
- 4/16/2021
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Guardian - Film News
Megan Ellison spared Scott Rudin no quarter today.
“This piece barely scratches the surface of Scott Rudin’s abusive, racist, and sexist behavior”, the Annapurna CEO said online after a scathing Hollywood Reporter cover story published today on alleged misconduct by the volatile Egot producer.
“Similarly to Harvey, too many are afraid to speak out,” the Bombshell EP added in the mid-morning tweet. “ I support and applaud those who did. There’s good reason to be afraid because he’s vindictive and has no qualms about lying.”
In regards to both Rudin and Weinstein, this is no second hand insight by Ellison.
She worked with Rudin as an executive producer on the 10x Oscar nominated Coen Brothers 2010 western remake True Grit, which was distributed by Paramount. Ellison helped steer a number of Weinstein films as well: as a producer on Lawless and Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master and as...
“This piece barely scratches the surface of Scott Rudin’s abusive, racist, and sexist behavior”, the Annapurna CEO said online after a scathing Hollywood Reporter cover story published today on alleged misconduct by the volatile Egot producer.
“Similarly to Harvey, too many are afraid to speak out,” the Bombshell EP added in the mid-morning tweet. “ I support and applaud those who did. There’s good reason to be afraid because he’s vindictive and has no qualms about lying.”
In regards to both Rudin and Weinstein, this is no second hand insight by Ellison.
She worked with Rudin as an executive producer on the 10x Oscar nominated Coen Brothers 2010 western remake True Grit, which was distributed by Paramount. Ellison helped steer a number of Weinstein films as well: as a producer on Lawless and Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master and as...
- 4/7/2021
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
With a vast filmography of 11 features, there’s bound to be plenty of Wong Kar Wai material left on the cutting room floor. A new documentary short, “One-Tenth of a Millimeter Apart,” aims to explore deleted scenes that didn’t make it into movies like “Chungking Express,” “Fallen Angels,” “In the Mood for Love,” “2046,” “The Grandmaster,” and more. The short film from Wong Kar Wai’s Jet Tone Films production company recently premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival alongside a new restoration of his classic gay romance “Happy Together.” Watch the trailer for the documentary short below.
The short film also celebrates the 30th anniversary of Jet Tone Films and features never-before-seen materials, including deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and selected narration from Wong Kar Wai.
The Hong King filmmaker’s body of work has been re-examined thanks to a new “World of Wong Kar Wai” box set...
The short film also celebrates the 30th anniversary of Jet Tone Films and features never-before-seen materials, including deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes footage, and selected narration from Wong Kar Wai.
The Hong King filmmaker’s body of work has been re-examined thanks to a new “World of Wong Kar Wai” box set...
- 4/6/2021
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
Wong Kar-Wai’s production firm Jet Tone Films has released the documentary short “One-Tenth of a Millimeter Apart,” which gathers together new behind-the-scenes footage and deleted scenes that narrowly missed the auteur’s final cuts.
Wong narrates the 30-minute film, which premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Friday after a screening of a 4K-restored version of his 1997 film “Happy Together.” The doc was developed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Jet Tone, which Wong founded in 1991 for the production of 1994’s “Ashes of Time.” The company has produced all of his feature films since then.
The movie tells the stories behind particular shots and scenes that hit the cutting room floor across all of his films since Jet Tone was established.
“We give our regards to all that is past and was possible. At their closest, they would have been part of these films, but for one-tenth of a millimeter,...
Wong narrates the 30-minute film, which premiered at the Hong Kong International Film Festival Friday after a screening of a 4K-restored version of his 1997 film “Happy Together.” The doc was developed to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Jet Tone, which Wong founded in 1991 for the production of 1994’s “Ashes of Time.” The company has produced all of his feature films since then.
The movie tells the stories behind particular shots and scenes that hit the cutting room floor across all of his films since Jet Tone was established.
“We give our regards to all that is past and was possible. At their closest, they would have been part of these films, but for one-tenth of a millimeter,...
- 4/5/2021
- by Rebecca Davis
- Variety Film + TV
With the arrival of every cinephile’s must-have this year, The Criterion Collection’s long-awaited Wong Kar Wai box set, the legendary director has discussed the changes he’s made to his most beloved films. While he was in the editing room, another project emerged, which finds him digging up footage that was left on the cutting room floor. To celebrate their 30th anniversary, his production company Jet Tone Films created a surprise new 30-minute documentary titled One-Tenth of a Millimeter Apart.
Premiering on the night of their 30th anniversary, this past Friday, April 2, at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the short screened after the new restoration of Happy Together. Tracing the beginnings of Jet Tone Films, which was founded in 1991 by Wong Kar Wai for the production of Ashes of Time (1994), the film features never-before-seen materials, including deleted scenes, behind-the-scene footage, and selected narration by Wong Kar Wai.
Premiering on the night of their 30th anniversary, this past Friday, April 2, at the Hong Kong International Film Festival, the short screened after the new restoration of Happy Together. Tracing the beginnings of Jet Tone Films, which was founded in 1991 by Wong Kar Wai for the production of Ashes of Time (1994), the film features never-before-seen materials, including deleted scenes, behind-the-scene footage, and selected narration by Wong Kar Wai.
- 4/5/2021
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Wong Kar Wai’s emails are every bit as restrained, oblique, and poetic as you might expect from someone who wears sunglasses to the movies and conjured “In the Mood for Love,” but the right question (or maybe the wrong one) can trigger a sudden pulse of raw emotion.
Ask Wong if he’s concerned about the future of film, for example, and he responds with the rare answer that isn’t slightly canned or softened by metaphor: “I’m tired of all this ‘cinema is dead’ shit. People enjoy watching movies, period. What makes them hesitant are the risks (under Covid) and the costs of watching films in cinemas today. For people who really care about the future of cinema, I suggest they go buy a ticket to support their local cinemas when they reopen, because many of them are barely surviving. Or at least keep positive.”
These days,...
Ask Wong if he’s concerned about the future of film, for example, and he responds with the rare answer that isn’t slightly canned or softened by metaphor: “I’m tired of all this ‘cinema is dead’ shit. People enjoy watching movies, period. What makes them hesitant are the risks (under Covid) and the costs of watching films in cinemas today. For people who really care about the future of cinema, I suggest they go buy a ticket to support their local cinemas when they reopen, because many of them are barely surviving. Or at least keep positive.”
These days,...
- 3/25/2021
- by David Ehrlich
- Indiewire
After Woody Allen and Dp Gordon Willis conquered the visual poetry of New York City, you’d think we’ve seen it all when it comes to romanticizing the Northeast city’s edifices and its baroqueness.
Then Sofia Coppola showed up with her The Beguiled cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd. As shadowy, glossy black and white as Allen and Willis’ NYC is in Manhattan, Coppola and Le Sourd revitalizes the colors of the Big Apple, putting a vibrant sheen of blues, greens, greys, black and browns that just ups the emotion and warmth in AppleTV+/A24’s On the Rocks.
There’s also a touch of homage to Federico Fellini in the Roma and La Dolce Vita sense of the word. The feature reps the Oscar-winning Coppola’s reteam with her Lost in Translation thespian Bill Murray who plays an aged playboy father who reconnects with his daughter, played by Rashida Jones...
Then Sofia Coppola showed up with her The Beguiled cinematographer Philippe Le Sourd. As shadowy, glossy black and white as Allen and Willis’ NYC is in Manhattan, Coppola and Le Sourd revitalizes the colors of the Big Apple, putting a vibrant sheen of blues, greens, greys, black and browns that just ups the emotion and warmth in AppleTV+/A24’s On the Rocks.
There’s also a touch of homage to Federico Fellini in the Roma and La Dolce Vita sense of the word. The feature reps the Oscar-winning Coppola’s reteam with her Lost in Translation thespian Bill Murray who plays an aged playboy father who reconnects with his daughter, played by Rashida Jones...
- 2/25/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Today, Zhang Ziyi is well known as a superb actress, in and out of China. Amongst other achievements, she has won 12 different Best Actress awards to become the most awarded Chinese actress for a single film, “The Grandmaster”. However, even a highly acclaimed performer had to begin somewhere, and what could be a better way than a film directed by Zhang Yimou, one known to debut wonderful performers. Her very first film is “The Road Home”, Zhang’s last film released in the 20th century.
The movie begins in a black-and-white setting in contemporary China. Luo Yusheng, prompted by the death of his father, returns to his village to check on her grieving mother. Upon reaching the city, he is visited by two village men, one of them being the mayor. They tell him of his mother’s strange request: that his father’s coffin should be...
The movie begins in a black-and-white setting in contemporary China. Luo Yusheng, prompted by the death of his father, returns to his village to check on her grieving mother. Upon reaching the city, he is visited by two village men, one of them being the mayor. They tell him of his mother’s strange request: that his father’s coffin should be...
- 2/16/2021
- by Raktim Nandi
- AsianMoviePulse
Netflix has picked up international rights to “The Yin Yang Master” a film that is one of the big seven tentpole titles that will open in mainland Chinese cinemas on Friday and compete for Lunar New Year holiday audiences.
Netflix acquired distribution rights in the rest of the world ex-mainland China from Huayi Brothers Media (“The Eight Hundred”).
The fantasy movie is a game-to-film adaptation of “Onmyoji” directed by Li Weiran and starring Chen Kun (“Mojin: The Lost Legend”) and Zhou Xun.
It should not be confused with another film with a similar title “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” that ultimately draws on the same source material. The latter is the first element of a two-part, book-to-film adaptation, directed by Guo Jingming (“Tiny Times”). Netflix acquired rights to the Guo title from sales agency Fortissimo Films ahead of the film’s mainland China release on Dec. 25. It earned some...
Netflix acquired distribution rights in the rest of the world ex-mainland China from Huayi Brothers Media (“The Eight Hundred”).
The fantasy movie is a game-to-film adaptation of “Onmyoji” directed by Li Weiran and starring Chen Kun (“Mojin: The Lost Legend”) and Zhou Xun.
It should not be confused with another film with a similar title “The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity” that ultimately draws on the same source material. The latter is the first element of a two-part, book-to-film adaptation, directed by Guo Jingming (“Tiny Times”). Netflix acquired rights to the Guo title from sales agency Fortissimo Films ahead of the film’s mainland China release on Dec. 25. It earned some...
- 2/9/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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