A World Without Thieves

Sha Gen (Baoqiang Wang) believes that world is filled with kind souls who wouldn't dream of lightening him of his hard earned money. He meets Wang Bo (Andy Lau) and Wang Li (Rene Liu) who are master con artists, on the train ride back to his village. Strangely moved by his over the top honest nature, Li decides to adopt him as her little brother. The train is teeming with a gang of thieves led by Uncle Li (You Ge), out to relieve the passenger of their precious burdens. Soon a cat and mouse game ensues with Bo and Li acting as Sha's guardians. A very craftily made film with some deadly cinematography but if only it was a tad grittier sans the slow motion melodrama, a masterpiece could have been well at hand.



Rating: * * +

The Double Bill

Infernal Affairs
Tony Leung is a police mole in the mafia. Andy Lau is a mafia mole in the police. Let the cat and mouse games begin. One of the tightest gangster flicks I have ever seen. Completely stripped of unnecessary melodrama. Even the love interests of the two characters are subtly portrayed. Just a few conversations here and there to get the message across. And Tony Leung rules!!! Every time I see him on screen he just blows. The man's acting is effortless.

Rating: * * *

The Departed
Why would someone like Martin Scorsese have to dig into the Asian pocket and adapt a film, I know not. Andy Lau's role is played by Matt Damon and Tony Leung's is taken over by (snicker snicker) Leanordo Di Caprio. In an attempt to give more background and depth to the characters, Scorsese has made the film more noisier without adding anything to it except of course the unnecessary love triangle. But I have to say that Jack Nicholson does get under your skin as the Mafioso don.

Rating: * *

Days of Being Wild

This is the second time I am watching the movie and it yet again left me with the feeling of floating in space. Wong Kar Wai is sublime. This was his first movie with Chris Doyle and you can see the beginnings of ITMFL. The movie follows various characters trying to find meaning, purpose and direction to life who are left feeling disconsolate and lost in a world of missed opportunities. The pace is gentle but has a certain panache to it.

Maggie Cheung is ethereal and vulnerable. I think this is the film she looks the most beautiful in. It is interesting to note that she plays a character with the same name in ITMFL and Tony Leung shows up at the end looking very much like our friend Mr Chow.

Rating: * * *