The movie starts out interesting as a look into Chinese investment banking industry. Brokers are pressured to sell investments. They are pushing BRIC, a portfolio of 20 stocks that invests in firms in Brazil, India, and China...something I personally wouldn't mind owning. It is "high risk." The bank charges 2%. People on low fixed incomes are allowed to invest their life savings in the deal. Teresa (Denise Ho) is one such broker who is torn between ripping people off and doing her job.
Yuen (Hoi-Pang Lo) hates the banking system and keeps his money in liquid savings. When the EU economy crashes, its ripple effect hits Chinese investors. Yuen is now rich as he has money to loan at 30% interest rates. Given a window of opportunity, Teresa manages to obtain a bag of money belonging to Yuen, a man who seems to disgust her. The film's idea of humor is to make puns of BRIC and brick. And:
Who ordered noodles before the banquet? The fat guy over there.
Later it does engage in more sophisticated humor, even a bit of mild irony.
I was more fascinated when they made an arrest. They said something similar to the Miranda rights and offered the criminal a hood to wear to shield himself from the public, unlike in the US where the cops parade criminals around the police station doing "the walk of shame." Inspector Cheung (Richie Ren) is a straight laced detective/ police officer. His wife Connie (Myolie Wu) wants to lease an apartment out of their price range.
The crime syndicate is a brotherhood, so everyone is confusingly called "brother" or "sister" or "older sister" or "Fourth brother." It is difficult to tell who is blood related and who is not, possibly a translation issue. The gangsters, banking, gambling, and investment industries are all related in this film. There is also a plethora of US name brand products in the background.
The film shifts from the banking industry plot to the crime subplot. I initially thought they were chronological, but as it was they were concurrent and it takes you up to the point when they both come together. We then run the cop subplot through. At this point the film picks up.
The story was mildly interesting, but what was more interesting was watching the Chinese operating Hong Kong like real capitalists. Most of the signs were still in English. I am giving the film 4 stars mostly due to the modern cultural insight into China and the promise it shows in Chinese film production. It was refreshing to see a Chinese film where the actors don't spend a lot of time fighting horizontally in the air, defying gravity.
No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Pretty Chinese women in short business skirts.
Yuen (Hoi-Pang Lo) hates the banking system and keeps his money in liquid savings. When the EU economy crashes, its ripple effect hits Chinese investors. Yuen is now rich as he has money to loan at 30% interest rates. Given a window of opportunity, Teresa manages to obtain a bag of money belonging to Yuen, a man who seems to disgust her. The film's idea of humor is to make puns of BRIC and brick. And:
Who ordered noodles before the banquet? The fat guy over there.
Later it does engage in more sophisticated humor, even a bit of mild irony.
I was more fascinated when they made an arrest. They said something similar to the Miranda rights and offered the criminal a hood to wear to shield himself from the public, unlike in the US where the cops parade criminals around the police station doing "the walk of shame." Inspector Cheung (Richie Ren) is a straight laced detective/ police officer. His wife Connie (Myolie Wu) wants to lease an apartment out of their price range.
The crime syndicate is a brotherhood, so everyone is confusingly called "brother" or "sister" or "older sister" or "Fourth brother." It is difficult to tell who is blood related and who is not, possibly a translation issue. The gangsters, banking, gambling, and investment industries are all related in this film. There is also a plethora of US name brand products in the background.
The film shifts from the banking industry plot to the crime subplot. I initially thought they were chronological, but as it was they were concurrent and it takes you up to the point when they both come together. We then run the cop subplot through. At this point the film picks up.
The story was mildly interesting, but what was more interesting was watching the Chinese operating Hong Kong like real capitalists. Most of the signs were still in English. I am giving the film 4 stars mostly due to the modern cultural insight into China and the promise it shows in Chinese film production. It was refreshing to see a Chinese film where the actors don't spend a lot of time fighting horizontally in the air, defying gravity.
No f-bombs, sex, or nudity. Pretty Chinese women in short business skirts.