Remaking a 2002 Hong Kong hit and setting the story in Irish-Catholic Boston, Martin Scorsese seemed to be out of his element with The Departed—if not, that is, for the fact that the film marked a return to the director’s bread-and-butter mean streets, and that his source material, Wai Keung Lau and Siu Fai Mak’s Infernal Affairs, was itself heavily influenced by his iconic gangster films. Something of a genre homecoming after recent detours into the arenas of the historical epic (Gangs of New York) and the period biopic (The Aviator), The Departed again found him trawling a gritty, brutal urban underbelly where racial epithets spit from roughnecks’ mouths, class divisions are as sharp as a switchblade, and allegiances to others and one’s self are always tenuous at best.
The Rolling Stones’s “Gimme Shelter” plays over a blistering opening sequence edited by Thelma Schoonmaker with gunshot-punctuated...
The Rolling Stones’s “Gimme Shelter” plays over a blistering opening sequence edited by Thelma Schoonmaker with gunshot-punctuated...
- 4/24/2024
- by Nick Schager
- Slant Magazine
Mark Wahlberg has been one of the most sought-after actors in Hollywood throughout his career. His dedication is second to none, which has filmmakers vying for a chance to work with him.
The actor has worked with some of the most distinguished directors, like Martin Scorcese. Unfortunately, when the two teamed up, Wahlberg’s dedication to growing his hair out for another role became a bit of a headache for the Oscar-winning director.
When Mark Wahlberg’s hair became a problem while filming a Martin Scorsese film
Mark Wahlberg collaborated with Martin Scorsese on The Departed in 2006. The film was a remake of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs. The plot revolves around a criminal trained to make his way into the Boston Police Department. At the same time, a cop was assigned to infiltrate the mob boss’s gang, pretending to be a criminal.
Wahlberg grew his...
The actor has worked with some of the most distinguished directors, like Martin Scorcese. Unfortunately, when the two teamed up, Wahlberg’s dedication to growing his hair out for another role became a bit of a headache for the Oscar-winning director.
When Mark Wahlberg’s hair became a problem while filming a Martin Scorsese film
Mark Wahlberg collaborated with Martin Scorsese on The Departed in 2006. The film was a remake of Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs. The plot revolves around a criminal trained to make his way into the Boston Police Department. At the same time, a cop was assigned to infiltrate the mob boss’s gang, pretending to be a criminal.
Wahlberg grew his...
- 3/26/2024
- by Sreshtha Roychowdhury
- FandomWire
Martin Scorsese's 2006 film "The Departed," a remake of Andrew Lau's and Alan Mak's 2002 cop drama "Infernal Affairs," was about a criminal (Matt Damon) who had been raised by a mob boss (Jack Nicholson) specifically to infiltrate the Boston Pd. At the same time, a cop (Leonard DiCaprio) was assigned a deep, deep undercover mission into Nicholson's mob, having to pose as a career criminal. Both occupied their roles for years and began to doubt their identities. "The Departed" is one of Scorsese's more awarded films, which is strange as he has made several much better films since.
"The Departed" was nominated for five Academy Awards and won four, for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. The only actor nominated for the film was Mark Wahlberg, playing a very aggressive and extremely Bostonian Staff Sergeant named Sean Dignam. Dignam didn't play a major role in the film's story,...
"The Departed" was nominated for five Academy Awards and won four, for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. The only actor nominated for the film was Mark Wahlberg, playing a very aggressive and extremely Bostonian Staff Sergeant named Sean Dignam. Dignam didn't play a major role in the film's story,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
The crime drama will be released on December 30.
Trinity CineAsia has acquired Hong Kong tentpole The Goldfinger for the UK and Ireland after striking a deal with Emperor Motion Pictures.
The crime drama will reunite Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung with writer/director Felix Chong for the first time since 2002’s Infernal Affairs. That film, co-written by Chong and directed by Lau and Alan Mak, spawned a trilogy of films and inspired Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed.
UK-based Trinity CineAsia will theatrically release The Goldfinger in UK and Irish cinemas on December 30, co-ordinated with...
Trinity CineAsia has acquired Hong Kong tentpole The Goldfinger for the UK and Ireland after striking a deal with Emperor Motion Pictures.
The crime drama will reunite Hong Kong superstars Andy Lau and Tony Leung with writer/director Felix Chong for the first time since 2002’s Infernal Affairs. That film, co-written by Chong and directed by Lau and Alan Mak, spawned a trilogy of films and inspired Martin Scorsese’s 2006 Oscar-winning crime thriller The Departed.
UK-based Trinity CineAsia will theatrically release The Goldfinger in UK and Irish cinemas on December 30, co-ordinated with...
- 10/31/2023
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Hong Kong multihyphenate Andy Lau may just be ready to star in a Hollywood movie after long being a box office king and pop star in Asia. But only if the major studios will meet him on his terms.
“I’m ready for Hollywood, as long as Hollywood is ready for me,” Lau said during an informal conversation at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday after a more than four-decade career stopping short of following his contemporaries and heading to Hollywood.
In Toronto to receive a special tribute award ahead of the Sept. 15 world premiere of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, Lau said he always enjoyed playing the bad guy in movies as a change of pace early in his career. “I don’t know why in the beginning, everyone saw me as the good guy,” he insisted.
Lau, who sits near the top of China’s A-list...
“I’m ready for Hollywood, as long as Hollywood is ready for me,” Lau said during an informal conversation at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday after a more than four-decade career stopping short of following his contemporaries and heading to Hollywood.
In Toronto to receive a special tribute award ahead of the Sept. 15 world premiere of Ning Hao’s The Movie Emperor, Lau said he always enjoyed playing the bad guy in movies as a change of pace early in his career. “I don’t know why in the beginning, everyone saw me as the good guy,” he insisted.
Lau, who sits near the top of China’s A-list...
- 9/16/2023
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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
On Tuesday, TIFF announced additional honorees who will be receiving a TIFF Tribute Award at this year’s Festival. Recipients include award-winning Brazilian filmmaker Carolina Markowicz who will be honoured with the TIFF Emerging Talent Award presented by MGM. This award is in the spirit of Torontonian Mary Pickford, the groundbreaking actor, producer, and co-founder of United Artists, whose impact continues today. Two-time Academy Award–nominated Polish cinematographer Łukasz Żal will receive the TIFF Variety Artisan Award, which recognizes a distinguished creative who has excelled at their craft and made an outstanding contribution to cinema and entertainment. Both Markowicz and Żal will be honoured on Sept. 10 at the fifth annual TIFF Tribute Awards gala fundraiser at Fairmont Royal York Hotel, presented by Bulgari.
On Sept. 15, TIFF will be honouring Andy Lau, the multi-hyphenate Hong Kong artist with a Special Tribute Award at the World Premiere Gala presentation of Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor,...
On Sept. 15, TIFF will be honouring Andy Lau, the multi-hyphenate Hong Kong artist with a Special Tribute Award at the World Premiere Gala presentation of Ning Hao’s “The Movie Emperor,...
- 8/22/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
TIFF has begun announcing their Conversation With… (Icw) series for this year’s fest with Oscar winner Pedro Almodóvar, Hong Kong actor Andy Lau and Concrete Utopia Korean stars Lee Byung-hun and Park
Seo-jun set to sit down for chats.
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel
transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
Almodóvar is already set to receive TIFF’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media this year at the fest’s Tribute Awards. His short, Strange Way of Life, which played at Cannes, will also make its North American premiere at TIFF. Short follows the relationship between a sheriff (Ethan Hawke) and a rancher
(Pedro Pascal) and their shared past.
Concrete Utopia stars...
Seo-jun set to sit down for chats.
“TIFF’s 2023 In Conversation With… series exemplifies our belief that film can ignite perspectives and fuel
transformation,” said Anita Lee, TIFF Chief Programming Officer. “We are delighted to welcome a powerhouse lineup of international iconoclasts from Spain, South Korea, and Hong Kong for film lovers of all genres.”
Almodóvar is already set to receive TIFF’s Jeff Skoll Award in Impact Media this year at the fest’s Tribute Awards. His short, Strange Way of Life, which played at Cannes, will also make its North American premiere at TIFF. Short follows the relationship between a sheriff (Ethan Hawke) and a rancher
(Pedro Pascal) and their shared past.
Concrete Utopia stars...
- 8/11/2023
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
A couple months after spotlighting the world’s greatest actress, the Criterion Channel have taken a logical next step towards America’s greatest actress. May (or: next week) will bring an eleven-film celebration of Jennifer Jason Leigh, highlights including Verhoeven’s Flesh + Blood, Miami Blues, Alan Rudolph’s Mrs. Parker, her directorial debut The Anniversary Party, and Synecdoche, New York, and a special introduction from Leigh. Another actor’s showcase localizes directorial collaborations: Jimmy Stewart’s time with Anthony Mann, an eight-title series boasting the likes of Winchester ’73 and The Man from Laramie. Two more: a survey of ’80s Asian-American cinema (Chan Is Missing being the best-known) and 14 movies by Seijun Suzuki.
That would be enough for one month (or two), but No Bears and Cette maison will have their streaming premieres, while Criterion Editions offers the Infernal Affairs trilogy (plus its packed set), Days of Heaven, and the aforementioned Chan Is Missing.
That would be enough for one month (or two), but No Bears and Cette maison will have their streaming premieres, while Criterion Editions offers the Infernal Affairs trilogy (plus its packed set), Days of Heaven, and the aforementioned Chan Is Missing.
- 4/20/2023
- by Nick Newman
- The Film Stage
When a university professor Xia Wei (Wang Likun) is suspected of intentional homicide, public opinion spirals out of control and there is mounting pressure from all sides. As public procurator Li Rui (Huang Jingyu) and his colleague Zhang Youcheng (played by Wang Qianyuan) proceed to investigate the case, they discover the involvement of a wealthy but unscrupulous entrepreneur Chen Xin (Bao Beier) and an old case that has been buried for many years is revealed … intentional homicide, sexual assault and business-government collusion are all interrelated. Everyone is forcefully swept up in this whirlwind of fate. In court, Li Rui and Xia Wei’s defense lawyer Tong Yuchen (Bai Baihe) are locked in an intense confrontation. Why does Xia Wei choose to remain silent? What secret is her husband Hong Junshan (Feng Shaofeng) hiding? Just as it becomes difficult to distinguish between good and evil, an unpredictable crisis awaits everyone… (Source:...
- 4/13/2023
- by Suzie Cho
- AsianMoviePulse
The Venice Film Festival has set filmmaker Liliana Cavani and actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai to receive this year’s Golden Lions for lifetime achievement. The 80th Venice fest runs from August 30-September 9 on the Lido.
Cavani, whose credits include 1974 classic The Night Porter, starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling, and 1985’s The Berlin Affair, has had several films at the festival, beginning with 1965’s Philippe Pétain: Processo a Vichy, which won the Lion of San Marco for best documentary. It was followed by Francesco d’Assisi (1966), Galileo (1968), I cannibali (1970), Dove siete? Io sono qui (1993) — for which Anna Bonaiuto won the Coppa Volpi for best actress — Ripley’s Game with John Malkovich (2002) and Clarisse (2012).
As for Leung, whose credits include Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, Zhang Yimou’s Hero, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs and recent Marvel title Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,...
Cavani, whose credits include 1974 classic The Night Porter, starring Dirk Bogarde and Charlotte Rampling, and 1985’s The Berlin Affair, has had several films at the festival, beginning with 1965’s Philippe Pétain: Processo a Vichy, which won the Lion of San Marco for best documentary. It was followed by Francesco d’Assisi (1966), Galileo (1968), I cannibali (1970), Dove siete? Io sono qui (1993) — for which Anna Bonaiuto won the Coppa Volpi for best actress — Ripley’s Game with John Malkovich (2002) and Clarisse (2012).
As for Leung, whose credits include Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love, Zhang Yimou’s Hero, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s Infernal Affairs and recent Marvel title Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,...
- 3/27/2023
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Some 16 titles were showcased at a packed launch in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.
The film is set to enter production this year,...
Hong Kong-based Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) presented a massive line-up of 16 titles at Filmart, including actor Nicholas Tse’s directorial debut New Police Story 2 and a further two action films also led by Tse.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the first New Police Story, which was directed by the late filmmaker Benny Chan. The new feature reunites the original cast, including Tse, Jackie Chan and Charlene Choi, from the original film. Chan will produce for Tse who will direct for the first time.
The film is set to enter production this year,...
- 3/15/2023
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
2021 was one of the best years in recent memory for Asian films on physical media, with a number of boutique, established and newer labels realising the market for it and trying to capitalise on it, giving us consumers and collectors plenty to spend our money on and lots of Asian cinemas to watch. And if it seemed hard to top, most labels one-upped themselves by giving us even more releases, giving fan favourites, classics as well as hidden gems on stacked blu-ray and 4K Uhd releases.
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2022, in no particular order.
1. Ptu (Spectrum Films)
French Spectrum has been investing heavily in the “Golden Era” of Hong Kong cinema with a number of titles, but the Johnnie To’s “Ptu” is definitely one of the releases that truly stand out. The six (!) discs of the collection are filled...
Without further ado, we list here 30 Best Asian DVD and Blu-ray releases of 2022, in no particular order.
1. Ptu (Spectrum Films)
French Spectrum has been investing heavily in the “Golden Era” of Hong Kong cinema with a number of titles, but the Johnnie To’s “Ptu” is definitely one of the releases that truly stand out. The six (!) discs of the collection are filled...
- 12/24/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Corruption and the way it usually connects the police with the politicians and the “capital” has always been a source of inspiration for filmmakers, with a number of titles presenting its blights in their respective countries, with particularly Korean cinema leaning heavily on the subject.. The result is frequently masterful, with a number of great films of all time having the particular concept as their main theme. 24 of those are amassed in this list, in alphabetical order, as usually, with a focus on diversity.
1. A Dark, Dark Man
The most evident element here is the direct accusation Yerzhanov points towards the Kazakh system, particularly in rural areas, with the ways the police conduct their business in cooperation with politicians essentially deeming them even worse criminals than the ones they are supposed to deal with. At the same time, this comment allows for the two protagonists to stand out, through a rather thorough character analysis,...
1. A Dark, Dark Man
The most evident element here is the direct accusation Yerzhanov points towards the Kazakh system, particularly in rural areas, with the ways the police conduct their business in cooperation with politicians essentially deeming them even worse criminals than the ones they are supposed to deal with. At the same time, this comment allows for the two protagonists to stand out, through a rather thorough character analysis,...
- 11/2/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Upcoming Hong Kong comedy will star Hins Cheung and Ivana Wong.
Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) is set to release comedy Everything Under Control over the Chinese New Year period in mid-January 2023, buoyed by the recent commercial success of a string of Hong Kong productions.
It marks the second feature of director Ying Chi Wen and stars popular Hong Kong singer Hins Cheung in his second leading film role, Ivana Wong of recent hit comedy Table For Six and Michael Ning (Port Of Call) along with upcoming actors Jeffrey Ngai and Joey Hung Ka-Ho. Ying’s feature debut...
Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) is set to release comedy Everything Under Control over the Chinese New Year period in mid-January 2023, buoyed by the recent commercial success of a string of Hong Kong productions.
It marks the second feature of director Ying Chi Wen and stars popular Hong Kong singer Hins Cheung in his second leading film role, Ivana Wong of recent hit comedy Table For Six and Michael Ning (Port Of Call) along with upcoming actors Jeffrey Ngai and Joey Hung Ka-Ho. Ying’s feature debut...
- 10/31/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
A city enjoying a spectacular growth spur and a metropolis dying out as we speak. A star looking for a way out from a deadly trap and a teenager determined to have a say in her own future. Japanese feel-good movies and terrifying horrors. As always, Five Flavours offers a full spectrum of moods, emotions, and themes. We announce the complete program of the Festival and kick off tickets sales!
Five Flavours Asian Film Festival is the annual review of the best cinema from East, Southeast, and South Asia organized in Poland. Since 2006, it presents the premieres of the newest, carefully selected films from the region, the classics from Asian archives, retrospectives of selected filmmakers, and reviews of national cinemas.
This year’s selection includes 39 meticulously chosen films, 30 of which will be available online, on the territory of Poland only. After the success of last year’s hybrid edition, Five...
Five Flavours Asian Film Festival is the annual review of the best cinema from East, Southeast, and South Asia organized in Poland. Since 2006, it presents the premieres of the newest, carefully selected films from the region, the classics from Asian archives, retrospectives of selected filmmakers, and reviews of national cinemas.
This year’s selection includes 39 meticulously chosen films, 30 of which will be available online, on the territory of Poland only. After the success of last year’s hybrid edition, Five...
- 10/26/2022
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Tony Leung Chiu-wai, the Hong Kong star of “In The Mood For Love” and Marvel’s “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” has been named Asian Filmmaker of the Year by the Busan International Film Festival. Leung will collect his award at the festival’s opening ceremony on Oct. 5. 2022.
The festival will open with a screening of “Scent of Wind” by Hagi Mohaghegh. The Iranian director previously won the 2015 New Currents competition in Busan with his second feature “Immortal.”
The festival will close with “A Man,” from Japan’s Ishikawa Kei. The title premiered this week at the Venice film festival in the Orrizonti section.
Busan organizers said that the festival will play a total of 243 films (features and shorts) from 71 countries and territories. These include 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres.
After two years of disruptions the festival will operate largely normally. This includes a red carpet opening ceremony,...
The festival will open with a screening of “Scent of Wind” by Hagi Mohaghegh. The Iranian director previously won the 2015 New Currents competition in Busan with his second feature “Immortal.”
The festival will close with “A Man,” from Japan’s Ishikawa Kei. The title premiered this week at the Venice film festival in the Orrizonti section.
Busan organizers said that the festival will play a total of 243 films (features and shorts) from 71 countries and territories. These include 89 world premieres and 13 international premieres.
After two years of disruptions the festival will operate largely normally. This includes a red carpet opening ceremony,...
- 9/7/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Rushes: Bruno Dumont's "The Empire," John Carpenter Interviewed, Hito Steyerl x Film Comment Podcast
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSHaunted Hotel.The British Film Institute has begun unveiling the program for the London Film Festival, which runs from October 5-16. So far, they have announced the official competition, featuring films from Alice Diop, Mark Jenkin, and Hlynur Pálmason, and the VR- and Ar-oriented "Extended Realities" strand, including a new work from Guy Maddin, Haunted Hotel.Production has begun on Bruno Dumont's The Empire. Cineuropa reports that the science-fiction film depicts the "epic parallel life of knights from interplanetary kingdoms"; the cast includes Lyna Khoudri (César-winner for Papicha) and the gendarmerie duo from Li'l Quinquin, Bernard Pruvost and Philippe Jore.The international film critics association Fipresci have chosen the winner of their 2022 Grand Prix for Film of the Year: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi's Drive My Car.Recommended VIEWINGAndrew Mau and Alan Mak's seminal...
- 8/30/2022
- MUBI
"I suspect Sam has a mole in the department." Janus Films has revealed a new 4K restoration trailer for an iconic Hong King crime trilogy titled Infernal Affairs, best known as the film series that was remade into Martin Scorsese's Oscar winning film The Departed. Many cinephiles are already familiar with these films, but if you haven't watched them yet, Criterion Collection is re-releasing them as a Blu-ray box set later this year after they re-open in theaters first. A blockbuster in Asia, Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s groundbreaking policier saga traded the high-octane ballistics of earlier Hong Kong films for a cooler, crisper style and a head-spinning plot full of twists that forever changed the genre. A must see set of films!! New 4K restoration from the original camera negatives was carried out by L'Immagine Ritrovata Asia. Presented in its original aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The original...
- 8/29/2022
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
With Tony Leung and Andy Lau recently reuniting for the new feature Goldfinger, it’s only fitting that restorations of the iconic Hong Kong stars’ crime trilogy Infernal Affairs would arrive this fall. Directed by Andrew Lau Wai-keung and Alan Mak, all three films will be given a theatrical run starting at Film at Lincoln Center on September 16, followed by a release from the Criterion Collection, and now the new trailer has arrived.
The digital transfers were created in 4K resolution on an Arriscan film scanner from the original camera negative. The original stereo soundtracks were remastered from the digital audio master files. See the official synopsis (of course echoed in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed) below.
The Hong Kong crime drama was jolted to new life with the release of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, a bracing, explosively stylish critical and commercial triumph that introduced a dazzling level of narrative...
The digital transfers were created in 4K resolution on an Arriscan film scanner from the original camera negative. The original stereo soundtracks were remastered from the digital audio master files. See the official synopsis (of course echoed in Martin Scorsese’s The Departed) below.
The Hong Kong crime drama was jolted to new life with the release of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, a bracing, explosively stylish critical and commercial triumph that introduced a dazzling level of narrative...
- 8/29/2022
- by Leonard Pearce
- The Film Stage
‘Infernal Affairs’ Trilogy Returns with New 4K Restoration at Lincoln Center — Watch the New Trailer
One of the most striking examples of Hong Kong action films at their absolute finest is Andrew Lau and Alan Mak’s “Infernal Affairs.” The 2002 film followed a cop who infiltrates a deadly gang and a mole from the same gang who joins the Hong Kong Police Force as the two men struggle to figure out who has betrayed them.
If that plot sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen “The Departed.” Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning Boston crime thriller is a remake of “Infernal Affairs,” though the original film’s legacy is far bigger than its remake. It also spawned two beloved sequels, “Infernal Affairs II” and “Infernal Affairs III,” resulting in one of the most highly acclaimed film trilogies of the century.
And now, fans and newcomers alike will get to experience the films with unprecedented clarity when a new 4K restoration of the trilogy begins screening...
If that plot sounds familiar, it’s probably because you’ve seen “The Departed.” Martin Scorsese’s Oscar-winning Boston crime thriller is a remake of “Infernal Affairs,” though the original film’s legacy is far bigger than its remake. It also spawned two beloved sequels, “Infernal Affairs II” and “Infernal Affairs III,” resulting in one of the most highly acclaimed film trilogies of the century.
And now, fans and newcomers alike will get to experience the films with unprecedented clarity when a new 4K restoration of the trilogy begins screening...
- 8/29/2022
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
Last year, Ben Stykuc wrote in his review of “Three Days of a Blind Girl”: “In retrospect, Anthony Wong is the only actor I know that could outNicolasCage Nicolas Cage”, and his comment could not have been more spot on. Having build his career with secondary roles and first roles in Cat III films, Wong eventually managed to become one of the most respected character actors in the industry with a string of awards and outstanding performances to his credit. Just his presence is frequently enough by itself to elevate the films he participates in, with him portraying rather different characters throughout his career, with equal artistry and much gusto. To celebrate this wonderful actor, we present 16 of his best performances, in alphabetical order, focusing on a diversity of roles that have him play from a a priest to rapist, from a cop to a sadistic killer, and anything between.
- 8/10/2022
- by AMP Group
- AsianMoviePulse
Acting and directing were not on Jay Chou’s mind when he first began his music career nearly two decades ago. But over the years, he has accumulated several memorable film and TV roles locally in Asia and in Hollywood. And, between music ventures, he has sat in the film director’s chair.
“I was born to believe in myself and complete my work on my own,” Chou said in a 2012 interview, discussing his work in acting and directing. “Once I understand how something works, I like to do it myself.”
His screen career began in 2005, when Chou made his film debut with the release of car-racing action feature “Initial D,” an on-screen adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name, directed by Hong Kong’s Andrew Lau and Alan Mak (“Infernal Affairs”).
The singer-songwriter from Taiwan was cast to play the film’s lead role, an emotionally reserved...
“I was born to believe in myself and complete my work on my own,” Chou said in a 2012 interview, discussing his work in acting and directing. “Once I understand how something works, I like to do it myself.”
His screen career began in 2005, when Chou made his film debut with the release of car-racing action feature “Initial D,” an on-screen adaptation of the Japanese manga of the same name, directed by Hong Kong’s Andrew Lau and Alan Mak (“Infernal Affairs”).
The singer-songwriter from Taiwan was cast to play the film’s lead role, an emotionally reserved...
- 8/1/2022
- by Lily Ooi
- Variety Film + TV
A marathon screening of all three “Infernal Affairs” films has been announced for the much delayed 46th edition of the Hong Kong International Film Festival.
The three films, all restored and upgraded to 4K digital prints, lead off a six- film section of Chinese-language restored classics at the festival.
The Hkiff was this year postponed from its usual March-April slot to August, due to the fifth wave of the Covid pandemic which closed Hong Kong cinemas for the first months of 2022. It will now take place from Aug. 15-31 for 17 days, again adopting a hybrid format, featuring screenings and audience-engagement events in theatres and online.
Other titles in the section include: Ann Hui’s “Boat People” from 1982; Lou Ye’s “Suzhou River” from 2000; and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s “Millennium Mambo” from 2001.
Delivered in 2002 and featuring a narrative about an undercover cop battling a triad mole, “Infernal Affairs,” was one of the...
The three films, all restored and upgraded to 4K digital prints, lead off a six- film section of Chinese-language restored classics at the festival.
The Hkiff was this year postponed from its usual March-April slot to August, due to the fifth wave of the Covid pandemic which closed Hong Kong cinemas for the first months of 2022. It will now take place from Aug. 15-31 for 17 days, again adopting a hybrid format, featuring screenings and audience-engagement events in theatres and online.
Other titles in the section include: Ann Hui’s “Boat People” from 1982; Lou Ye’s “Suzhou River” from 2000; and Hou Hsiao-Hsien’s “Millennium Mambo” from 2001.
Delivered in 2002 and featuring a narrative about an undercover cop battling a triad mole, “Infernal Affairs,” was one of the...
- 7/20/2022
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Hong Kong director Alan Mak has brought together award-winning actors Francis Ng (“Drifting”) and Aaron Kwok in new Hong Kong crime thriller “Insider,” 22-years after the two shared the big screen together.
Produced by Tenky Tin for Emperor Motion Picture, the film also stars Simon Yam and Niki Chow. A start of production ceremony took place on Monday, attended by Emp supremo Albert Yeung. Kwok also uploaded images to his Instagram account. International sales are yet to be announced.
Ng and Kwok last worked together in Gordon Chan-directed action thriller “2000 Ad” (2000).
In “Insider,” Ng plays a police officer, who rubs up against a lawyer played by Kwok. But the two later became friends and collaborators to fight against the antagonist. The filming will involve large amounts of action and gunfight scenes.
The announcement of the new production also marks what could be a sign of recovery of the local film industry,...
Produced by Tenky Tin for Emperor Motion Picture, the film also stars Simon Yam and Niki Chow. A start of production ceremony took place on Monday, attended by Emp supremo Albert Yeung. Kwok also uploaded images to his Instagram account. International sales are yet to be announced.
Ng and Kwok last worked together in Gordon Chan-directed action thriller “2000 Ad” (2000).
In “Insider,” Ng plays a police officer, who rubs up against a lawyer played by Kwok. But the two later became friends and collaborators to fight against the antagonist. The filming will involve large amounts of action and gunfight scenes.
The announcement of the new production also marks what could be a sign of recovery of the local film industry,...
- 6/8/2022
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
Racing films were all the rage in the early 2000s thanks to the successful launch of the Hollywood “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. A year before that franchise relocated briefly to Tokyo for its third drive, which introduced and focused on the technique of drifting, Hong Kong cinema also turned to Japan for “Initial D”, a feature based on a manga and anime of the same name, which also looked at the world of street racing and drifting in Japan.
“Initial D” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals,...
“Initial D” is screening at Udine Far East Film Festival
By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals,...
- 4/28/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Further titles include Herman Yau’s War Customised and Alan Mak’s Insider.
Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has unveiled a slate of 12 upcoming films, including a sequel to Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Cliff Walkers and new all-star features from Herman Yau and Alan Mak.
It has also released the first images of Felix Chong’s The Goldfinger, which reunites Infernal Affairs stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau for the first time in nearly 20 years (see below).
The 12 titles, along with two projects in development, equate to an investment of $191.7m (Hk$1.5b), representing the company...
Hong Kong’s Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has unveiled a slate of 12 upcoming films, including a sequel to Zhang Yimou’s box office hit Cliff Walkers and new all-star features from Herman Yau and Alan Mak.
It has also released the first images of Felix Chong’s The Goldfinger, which reunites Infernal Affairs stars Tony Leung and Andy Lau for the first time in nearly 20 years (see below).
The 12 titles, along with two projects in development, equate to an investment of $191.7m (Hk$1.5b), representing the company...
- 3/24/2022
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Racing films were all the rage in the early 2000s thanks to the successful launch of the Hollywood “The Fast and the Furious” franchise. A year before that franchise relocated briefly to Tokyo for its third drive, which introduced and focused on the technique of drifting, Hong Kong cinema also turned to Japan for “Initial D”, a feature based on a manga and anime of the same name, which also looked at the world of street racing and drifting in Japan.
on Amazon
By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals, who test their and each...
on Amazon
By day, Takumi Fujiwara works at the gas station of his best friend Itsuki’s father. Come nightfall, he goes down the nearby Mt. Akina and delivers tofu for his father Bunta “Tofuman” Fujiwara’s business in his father’s AE86 car. The Mt. Akina mountain pass is a favourite track amongst underground street racers as well as professionals, who test their and each...
- 2/22/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
The Hong Kong International Film Festival has announced the cancelation of its world premiere screening of crime thriller “Where the Wind Blows.” The move appears to be part of the accelerating ‘mainlandization’ of Hong Kong’s entertainment industry.
The festival said Monday evening in a statement that screenings of “Where the Wind Blows” (previously known “Theory of Ambitions”) had been cancelled at the request of the film’s owner.
“Upon request from the film owner, the screenings of ‘Where the Winds Blows’ originally scheduled at 5.30 p.m. on 1 April and 2.30 p.m. on 4 April are cancelled due to technical reasons,” the festival said in a statement in English and Chinese.
The film was produced by Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Film Production in a co-venture with mainland Chinese firms Dadi Century and Global Group. Its production budget has been reported as $38 million.
The film is directed by Philip Yung, who...
The festival said Monday evening in a statement that screenings of “Where the Wind Blows” (previously known “Theory of Ambitions”) had been cancelled at the request of the film’s owner.
“Upon request from the film owner, the screenings of ‘Where the Winds Blows’ originally scheduled at 5.30 p.m. on 1 April and 2.30 p.m. on 4 April are cancelled due to technical reasons,” the festival said in a statement in English and Chinese.
The film was produced by Hong Kong’s Mei Ah Film Production in a co-venture with mainland Chinese firms Dadi Century and Global Group. Its production budget has been reported as $38 million.
The film is directed by Philip Yung, who...
- 3/29/2021
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Felix Chong is directing the crime thriller, which reunites talents from the Infernal Affairs series.
Hong Kong studio Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has started production on crime thriller Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau and written and directed by Felix Chong.
The two stars previously worked together in the Infernal Affairs series, which Chong co-wrote with Alan Mak. Chong has since directed hit crime thrillers such as the Overheard series and Project Gutenberg.
Produced by Ronald Wong, producer of the Overheard series, Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong is set in...
Hong Kong studio Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp) has started production on crime thriller Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong, starring Tony Leung Chiu-wai and Andy Lau and written and directed by Felix Chong.
The two stars previously worked together in the Infernal Affairs series, which Chong co-wrote with Alan Mak. Chong has since directed hit crime thrillers such as the Overheard series and Project Gutenberg.
Produced by Ronald Wong, producer of the Overheard series, Once Upon A Time In Hong Kong is set in...
- 2/22/2021
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
Martin Scorsese has made 25 narrative feature films, and only eight of them have been about people who live a criminal lifestyle. Yet when we think about his work, we think about the gangsters. Not Alice (who doesn’t live here anymore), not Christ (and his last temptation), but wise guys in slick suits who break the law, look good doing it, and always end up dead, miserable or both.
That’s probably because Scorsese, who grew up in New York City and knows the culture intimately, brings specificity to his crime movies that matches his well-known virtuosity behind a camera. He may have made more films about other subjects than he has about criminals, but he helped define the way we look at criminality on screen. And he keeps coming back to the subject, again and again, to refine his techniques and to approach similar topics from all-new angles.
Let...
That’s probably because Scorsese, who grew up in New York City and knows the culture intimately, brings specificity to his crime movies that matches his well-known virtuosity behind a camera. He may have made more films about other subjects than he has about criminals, but he helped define the way we look at criminality on screen. And he keeps coming back to the subject, again and again, to refine his techniques and to approach similar topics from all-new angles.
Let...
- 9/19/2020
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Alan Mak is a Hong Kong helmer whose legacy exceeds the boundaries of national cinema. The reason is quite simple and part of common knowledge: “Infernal Affairs” trilogy that has spread the influence of the contemporary Hong Kong genre cinema to the whole world. Mak was not the only person responsible for it since he collaborated with Felix Chong, with whom he also did another trilogy, “Overheard”. On his own, Mak has envisioned yet another crime thriller trilogy named Integrity, which is tonally different from his previous work. After a smart and out of the box theatrical release last year for the Chinese New Year (the slot is usually reserved for featherweight comedies and dramas) that resulted in decent earnings on the box office, “Integrity” is now available on video.
The story revolves around the relationship between an Icac (Independent Commission Against Corruption) chief investigator named King...
The story revolves around the relationship between an Icac (Independent Commission Against Corruption) chief investigator named King...
- 5/3/2020
- by Marko Stojiljković
- AsianMoviePulse
After initially delivering the classic “Infernal Affairs” trilogy, the writers of that series, Felix Chong and Alan Mak, are back in the genre once again with another stellar undercover thriller. While Chong stays on as a writer, Mak has moved into the director’s chair alongside cinematographer Anthony Pun, which now moves the film away from the subdued drama-like leanings and instead finds itself charging headfirst into classic Hong Kong action cinema.
“Extraordinary Mission” screened at the New York Asian Film Festival
Still on edge following his mother’s death, determined cop Liu Haojun (Xuan Huang from “The Great Wall” and “The Golden Era”) is struggling to stay undercover in a high-level drug-smuggling ring owned and operated by master-criminal Cheng Yi (Xing Jiadong from “1911” and “Soldiers and Their Commanders”). Known as Lin Kai to the rest of the gang, his efforts to bring the gang down from within continually...
“Extraordinary Mission” screened at the New York Asian Film Festival
Still on edge following his mother’s death, determined cop Liu Haojun (Xuan Huang from “The Great Wall” and “The Golden Era”) is struggling to stay undercover in a high-level drug-smuggling ring owned and operated by master-criminal Cheng Yi (Xing Jiadong from “1911” and “Soldiers and Their Commanders”). Known as Lin Kai to the rest of the gang, his efforts to bring the gang down from within continually...
- 2/11/2020
- by Don Anelli
- AsianMoviePulse
Local films grossed a combined $32.5m (Hk$252.9m) for a 13.2% market share.
Hong Kong’s box office decreased by just 1.74% to $247.4m (Hk$1.92bn) in 2019, despite the impact of political protests that have rocked the city since the middle of last year.
According to data from Hong Kong Box Office, the total was achieved despite a decline in the total number of films released to 326 titles compared to 353 the previous year. Overall box office was up by around 6% in the first half of 2019, but started to dip when the protests became more regular in the second half of the year.
Hong Kong’s box office decreased by just 1.74% to $247.4m (Hk$1.92bn) in 2019, despite the impact of political protests that have rocked the city since the middle of last year.
According to data from Hong Kong Box Office, the total was achieved despite a decline in the total number of films released to 326 titles compared to 353 the previous year. Overall box office was up by around 6% in the first half of 2019, but started to dip when the protests became more regular in the second half of the year.
- 1/7/2020
- by 14¦Screen staff¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Political problems that turned violent in the last few months weighed on the theatrical box office in Hong Kong, especially in the second half of the year. But the territory’s full year outcome was a 2% dip, rather than a precipitous plunge.
Gross revenues for 2019 totaled Hk$1.923 billion ($245 million), compared with Hk$1.957 billion ($251 million) in 2018, according to data published Thursday by Hong Kong Box Office Ltd. That was achieved with the release of 326 films (of which 46 were considered as local) compared with 353 titles in 2018, of which 53 qualified as Hong Kong productions or co-productions.
Between January and June theatrical revenues had been trending upwards at over 6%, according to previous figured from Hkbo. That points to a decrease of 10% in the second half, compared to the July to December takings of 2018.
The political protests, that began in June with a popular movement against a proposed law that would have eroded differences between...
Gross revenues for 2019 totaled Hk$1.923 billion ($245 million), compared with Hk$1.957 billion ($251 million) in 2018, according to data published Thursday by Hong Kong Box Office Ltd. That was achieved with the release of 326 films (of which 46 were considered as local) compared with 353 titles in 2018, of which 53 qualified as Hong Kong productions or co-productions.
Between January and June theatrical revenues had been trending upwards at over 6%, according to previous figured from Hkbo. That points to a decrease of 10% in the second half, compared to the July to December takings of 2018.
The political protests, that began in June with a popular movement against a proposed law that would have eroded differences between...
- 1/2/2020
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Argentina’s film academy has submitted Sebastián Borensztein’s Heroic Losers (La Odisea De Los Giles) to the 2020 International Feature Film Oscar category.
The film is based on a novel by Eduardo Sacheri, who also penned the book that was adapted into Juan José Campanella’s 2009 Oscar-winning Argentinian drama The Secret In Their Eyes.
Heroic Losers stars prolific Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin (also of The Secret In Their Eyes fame) alongside his son Chino Darin in a story set in a dying town in Buenos Aires. The pic follows a group of men stung by a financial scam who set out to rob the perpetrator. It was produced by Darin’s own banner Kenya Films with Argentina’s K&s Films and Spain’s Mod Producciones.
The film was released in Argentina on August 15, grossing $4.6M there to date, and also played at Toronto and Spain’s San Sebastian festival on...
The film is based on a novel by Eduardo Sacheri, who also penned the book that was adapted into Juan José Campanella’s 2009 Oscar-winning Argentinian drama The Secret In Their Eyes.
Heroic Losers stars prolific Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin (also of The Secret In Their Eyes fame) alongside his son Chino Darin in a story set in a dying town in Buenos Aires. The pic follows a group of men stung by a financial scam who set out to rob the perpetrator. It was produced by Darin’s own banner Kenya Films with Argentina’s K&s Films and Spain’s Mod Producciones.
The film was released in Argentina on August 15, grossing $4.6M there to date, and also played at Toronto and Spain’s San Sebastian festival on...
- 9/24/2019
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Popular industry blog Yuemuchina recently named the “new big four” companies that it believes have edged out the old guard studios and now dominate the Middle Kingdom movie scene. Along with obvious choices of tech giant Tencent and Beijing Culture, a producer on a hot streak, the list also included Bona Film Group.
Given that Bona is celebrating its 20th anniversary, something that makes it one of the oldest players in the Chinese film industry, labeling it as new and influential is testament to the company’s enduring significance.
That success is in large measure attributable to founder and present-day chairman Yu Dong, who dominates through intellect, instinct and a willingness to make huge decisions that others would shy away from. His analyses of the trends in the Chinese industry are always listened to and his box office forecasts are mostly right.
Yu began his career as an intern at state-controlled behemoth China Film Group,...
Given that Bona is celebrating its 20th anniversary, something that makes it one of the oldest players in the Chinese film industry, labeling it as new and influential is testament to the company’s enduring significance.
That success is in large measure attributable to founder and present-day chairman Yu Dong, who dominates through intellect, instinct and a willingness to make huge decisions that others would shy away from. His analyses of the trends in the Chinese industry are always listened to and his box office forecasts are mostly right.
Yu began his career as an intern at state-controlled behemoth China Film Group,...
- 6/7/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
After Louis Koo, Hong Kong A-list actor and producer, presented Anthony Wong with the best actor award at this year’s Hong Kong Film Awards, he smiled awkwardly as Wong referred to him in his acceptance speech as “movie mogul of the new generation.” But as Wong continued to sing Koo’s praises, the handsome actor jumped in, telling Wong to stop talking about him.
In public, Koo maintains the image of a star, appearing in blockbusters such as action-thriller “Paradox,” which won him best actor awards at both Hong Kong Film Awards and Asian Film Awards last year. His pretty face is often attached to commercial and lifestyle products as their brand ambassadors.
But behind the scenes, the 48-year-old has quietly assumed a role as one the key driving forces behind Hong Kong cinema. One Cool Film Production, which he founded in 2013, has produced a slate of commercial hits...
In public, Koo maintains the image of a star, appearing in blockbusters such as action-thriller “Paradox,” which won him best actor awards at both Hong Kong Film Awards and Asian Film Awards last year. His pretty face is often attached to commercial and lifestyle products as their brand ambassadors.
But behind the scenes, the 48-year-old has quietly assumed a role as one the key driving forces behind Hong Kong cinema. One Cool Film Production, which he founded in 2013, has produced a slate of commercial hits...
- 5/14/2019
- by Vivienne Chow
- Variety Film + TV
The banknote forgery drama Project Gutenberg swept the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards, taking home seven statuettes including for best film, cinematography, art direction, costume and makeup design, film editing and director and screenplay for writer-helmer Felix Chong.
Chong, who won the best new director award for Once a Gangster in 2011, is famed for his scriptwriting work with longtime collaborator Alan Mak on Infernal Affairs and has been nominated nine times in the best screenplay category. Project Gutenberg, which took 13 years to make it to the big screen, marked Chong's third win as a screenwriter and the first time ...
Chong, who won the best new director award for Once a Gangster in 2011, is famed for his scriptwriting work with longtime collaborator Alan Mak on Infernal Affairs and has been nominated nine times in the best screenplay category. Project Gutenberg, which took 13 years to make it to the big screen, marked Chong's third win as a screenwriter and the first time ...
- 4/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The banknote forgery drama Project Gutenberg swept the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards, taking home seven statuettes including for best film, cinematography, art direction, costume and makeup design, film editing and director and screenplay for writer-helmer Felix Chong.
Chong, who won the best new director award for Once a Gangster in 2011, is famed for his scriptwriting work with longtime collaborator Alan Mak on Infernal Affairs and has been nominated nine times in the best screenplay category. Project Gutenberg, which took 13 years to make it to the big screen, marked Chong's third win as a screenwriter and the first time ...
Chong, who won the best new director award for Once a Gangster in 2011, is famed for his scriptwriting work with longtime collaborator Alan Mak on Infernal Affairs and has been nominated nine times in the best screenplay category. Project Gutenberg, which took 13 years to make it to the big screen, marked Chong's third win as a screenwriter and the first time ...
- 4/14/2019
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Festival will open with Lee Jong-un’s ‘Birthday’.
Far East Film Festival (Feff), the Asian cinema event held in Udine, Italy, has announced a line-up of 76 films from 12 countries for its 2019 edition (April 26-May 4).
The festival will open with Lee Jong-un’s debut feature Birthday, a story set around the Sewol ferry tragedy in South Korea when 304 passengers and crew lost their lives. The film looks at one family’s experience of public and private mourning after losing their eldest son in the disaster.
The film is produced by Lee Chang-dong, whose Burning played at Cannes last year and set...
Far East Film Festival (Feff), the Asian cinema event held in Udine, Italy, has announced a line-up of 76 films from 12 countries for its 2019 edition (April 26-May 4).
The festival will open with Lee Jong-un’s debut feature Birthday, a story set around the Sewol ferry tragedy in South Korea when 304 passengers and crew lost their lives. The film looks at one family’s experience of public and private mourning after losing their eldest son in the disaster.
The film is produced by Lee Chang-dong, whose Burning played at Cannes last year and set...
- 4/11/2019
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Contemporary Chinese Cinema is a column devoted to exploring contemporary Chinese-language cinema primarily as it is revealed to us at North American multiplexes.Missbehavior This Lunar New Year season, traditionally the highest-grossing period of the Chinese cinema calendar, is lacking many of the big names of years past, especially as regards the films that saw release in the Us. Where in recent years Stephen Chow, Soi Cheang, Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark and others have crafted massive box office hits both here and in China, this year Chow and Chan’s movies didn’t get North American releases, while Ning Hao’s Crazy Alien had its scheduled run severely truncated if not outright cancelled. Gobbling up screens instead was The Wandering Earth, an epic sci-fi disaster film that has been smashing box office records left and right, cruising past $300 million in grosses as I write this with no end in sight.
- 3/1/2019
- MUBI
Frant Gwo’s big-budget sci-fi has dominated Chinese New Year period.
After the end of the prime Chinese New Year holidays, the Chinese box office began to cool down with a 45% week-on-week contraction in the week of Feb 11-17. But the good news is the ticket sales in February are set to top the figures in the same month last year, which held the world record for the biggest single month in a single market.
While the Chinese New Year titles still dominated the box office with the top three positions remained unchanged from the week before, the new releases...
After the end of the prime Chinese New Year holidays, the Chinese box office began to cool down with a 45% week-on-week contraction in the week of Feb 11-17. But the good news is the ticket sales in February are set to top the figures in the same month last year, which held the world record for the biggest single month in a single market.
While the Chinese New Year titles still dominated the box office with the top three positions remained unchanged from the week before, the new releases...
- 2/18/2019
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The Chinese box office racked up a total of $858.7m ticket sales over Feb 4-10.
Led by The Wandering Earth, Crazy Alien and Pegasus, the Chinese box office racked up a total of $858.7m ticket sales over Feb 4-10, spanning from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the first six days of the lunar new year.
During this prime period, the Chinese box office delivered mixed results. Feb 5, the first day of the week-long holidays, scored a new global record for the biggest single day performance in a single market when it took in $211.9m, beating last year’s world record by 12.7%.
Nevertheless,...
Led by The Wandering Earth, Crazy Alien and Pegasus, the Chinese box office racked up a total of $858.7m ticket sales over Feb 4-10, spanning from Chinese New Year’s Eve to the first six days of the lunar new year.
During this prime period, the Chinese box office delivered mixed results. Feb 5, the first day of the week-long holidays, scored a new global record for the biggest single day performance in a single market when it took in $211.9m, beating last year’s world record by 12.7%.
Nevertheless,...
- 2/11/2019
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
This week, China rings in the New Year, and as annual tradition has it, multiplexes will be stuffed with new local titles vying for big business during the lucrative holiday period. Of the more than 10 pictures releasing Tuesday, among the most anticipated are epic The Wandering Earth, which could be the breakout that ignites the homegrown sci-fi business; racing-themed comedy Pegasus from multi-talent Han Han; and Peppa Pig Celebrates Chinese New Year, based on the hugely popular kids character.
Check out The Wandering Earth‘s trailer above, and the others’ and more, below.
The Wandering Earth and Pegasus were the only films that held press screenings in the Middle Kingdom, and only the former had sneaks tonight, before tomorrow’s holiday begins in earnest. It grossed an estimated Rmb 14M ($2.08M), setting a new record for Chinese movies. But this is a wait-and-see game: With so much choice, alongside family commitments,...
Check out The Wandering Earth‘s trailer above, and the others’ and more, below.
The Wandering Earth and Pegasus were the only films that held press screenings in the Middle Kingdom, and only the former had sneaks tonight, before tomorrow’s holiday begins in earnest. It grossed an estimated Rmb 14M ($2.08M), setting a new record for Chinese movies. But this is a wait-and-see game: With so much choice, alongside family commitments,...
- 2/4/2019
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Zhang Yimou’s Shadow takes second spot ahead of week-long National Day holiday.
The weekend box office battle kicked off on Sunday (rather than Friday) when new local releases swarmed the cinemas ahead of the official week-long National Day holiday.
After a weak September, Sunday’s daily box office finally shot back to the same level as the peak summer weekends, with Hello, Mrs. Money topping the one-day chart, followed by Shadow, Project Gutenberg and Fat Buddies.
Theatre troupe Mahua FunAge returns to the big screen again with Hello Mrs. Money, which took $15.2m on its opening day. The comedy...
The weekend box office battle kicked off on Sunday (rather than Friday) when new local releases swarmed the cinemas ahead of the official week-long National Day holiday.
After a weak September, Sunday’s daily box office finally shot back to the same level as the peak summer weekends, with Hello, Mrs. Money topping the one-day chart, followed by Shadow, Project Gutenberg and Fat Buddies.
Theatre troupe Mahua FunAge returns to the big screen again with Hello Mrs. Money, which took $15.2m on its opening day. The comedy...
- 10/1/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The director will return to Hong Kong for one of his new projects following mainland success with Operation Red Sea.
Operation Red Sea director Dante Lam made a surprise appearance at the end of Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp)’s media launch at Filmart today (Mar 19) to give a plug for two 2019 projects.
Standing on stage with his regular producer Candy Leung and the company’s group chairman Albert Yeung, Lam said his next project will be set on the sea again. It will be a mega-budget production co-produced by Emp and China’s state-run China Central Television (CCTV).
After having...
Operation Red Sea director Dante Lam made a surprise appearance at the end of Emperor Motion Pictures (Emp)’s media launch at Filmart today (Mar 19) to give a plug for two 2019 projects.
Standing on stage with his regular producer Candy Leung and the company’s group chairman Albert Yeung, Lam said his next project will be set on the sea again. It will be a mega-budget production co-produced by Emp and China’s state-run China Central Television (CCTV).
After having...
- 3/19/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
As previously announced, Thailand’s Chutimon ‘Aokbab’ Chuengcharoensukying will receive Screen International Rising Star Award.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema announced on Monday the updated roster of honourees at the upcoming 16th New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff).
China’s Duan Yihong and South Korea’s Gang Dong-won will receive the Star Asia Award, South Korea’s Jung Byung-gil will collect the Daniel E. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema, and Eric Tsang will receive the Star Hong Kong Lifetime Achievement Award.
As previously announced, Thailand’s Chutimon ‘Aokbab’ Chuengcharoensukying will receive the Screen International Rising Star Award and stars in opening night selection Bad Genius.
Duan Yihong will receive his Star Asia Award on July 1 in recognition of his entire body of work and will be presented before screenings of Extraordinary Mission and Battle Of Memories.
This is the first time a Star Asia Award has been presented to an actor...
The Film Society of Lincoln Center and Subway Cinema announced on Monday the updated roster of honourees at the upcoming 16th New York Asian Film Festival (Nyaff).
China’s Duan Yihong and South Korea’s Gang Dong-won will receive the Star Asia Award, South Korea’s Jung Byung-gil will collect the Daniel E. Craft Award for Excellence in Action Cinema, and Eric Tsang will receive the Star Hong Kong Lifetime Achievement Award.
As previously announced, Thailand’s Chutimon ‘Aokbab’ Chuengcharoensukying will receive the Screen International Rising Star Award and stars in opening night selection Bad Genius.
Duan Yihong will receive his Star Asia Award on July 1 in recognition of his entire body of work and will be presented before screenings of Extraordinary Mission and Battle Of Memories.
This is the first time a Star Asia Award has been presented to an actor...
- 6/19/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
What’s the one thing Ghost in the Shell, Doctor Strange, Iron Fist and Netflix’s forthcoming Death Note adaptation have in common? Barring the fantastical story elements and built-in fanbases, all four high-profile productions have been accused of whitewashing major characters, which has led many to call Hollywood’s representation of Asian people into question.
And so, after the casting of Danny Rand and The Major (Aka Motoko Kusanagi) fuelled heated debate online, the Internet’s eye of scrutiny has turned toward Death Note after Nat Wolff landed the role of Light Yagami in the morbid Netflix original. Because of the IP’s Japanese roots, many consider the decision to go with Wolff in lieu of an Asian actor to be in poor taste – or worse, overtly racist – but seasoned producer Roy Lee firmly believes that Netflix’s star-studded rendition of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s iconic manga...
And so, after the casting of Danny Rand and The Major (Aka Motoko Kusanagi) fuelled heated debate online, the Internet’s eye of scrutiny has turned toward Death Note after Nat Wolff landed the role of Light Yagami in the morbid Netflix original. Because of the IP’s Japanese roots, many consider the decision to go with Wolff in lieu of an Asian actor to be in poor taste – or worse, overtly racist – but seasoned producer Roy Lee firmly believes that Netflix’s star-studded rendition of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata’s iconic manga...
- 4/28/2017
- by Michael Briers
- We Got This Covered
Extraordinary Mission is the exciting new thriller by Alan Mak, co-director of the Infernal Affairs and Overheard trilogies. This time, he co-directs with veteran cinematographer Anthony Pun (Overheard trilogy, The White Storm) to tell the story of an undercover policeman trying to take down a drug syndicate. Thanks to Magnum Films, we have Five double passes for the film to give away to our readers. For a chance to win, all you have to do is to follow these two steps: 1) Like the Magnum Film Facebook page, and 2) Email your name and postal address to me at: hugo[at]screenanarchy.com Extraordinary Mission will open in Australian cinemas on April 6 and this competition will close at 3pm on April...
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- 3/30/2017
- Screen Anarchy
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