‘Saturday Fiction’ Film Review: Gong Li Period Piece Falls Short as Spy Thriller and Backstage Drama
History struggles to come alive in the mainland Chinese WWII spy thriller “Saturday Fiction,” a poorly lit memory play about a doomed espionage mission involving a famous Chinese actress (Gong Li) and a prominent Japanese military official (Joe Odagiri).
Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this sleepy and visually murky black-and-white drama belabors the same banal truisms about memory and role-playing during wartime –basically, it’s impossible to maintain your autonomy when you’re only a pawn in a complicated game — and tends to be more interesting to think about than to watch.
Filmed with stifling hand-held photography, many scenes plod along in real time without a momentous or compelling pace. The sound design’s focus on background noises, instead of a musical score, also soon becomes more irritating than intriguing. Gong and Odagiri do what they can with a generally thin scenario, inspired by...
Set in Japanese-occupied Shanghai just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this sleepy and visually murky black-and-white drama belabors the same banal truisms about memory and role-playing during wartime –basically, it’s impossible to maintain your autonomy when you’re only a pawn in a complicated game — and tends to be more interesting to think about than to watch.
Filmed with stifling hand-held photography, many scenes plod along in real time without a momentous or compelling pace. The sound design’s focus on background noises, instead of a musical score, also soon becomes more irritating than intriguing. Gong and Odagiri do what they can with a generally thin scenario, inspired by...
- 4/20/2022
- by Simon Abrams
- The Wrap
“Postman” by Russian filmmaker Klim Tukaev has won the first prize at the sixth Nespresso Talents global short film competition.
“Bagman,” by Jan Kellner, took the second prize, while “Speaking in Flowers,” by Nicolina Sterbet, took third. Both are from the Czech Republic.
The winners were selected by the competition’s international jury, which includes actors Mark Chao (“Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings”) and Zita Hanrot (“Paul Sanchez est revenu!”), world explorer and adventurer Mike Horn, writer, director and Nespresso Talents 2020 winner Faride Schroeder (“Oasis”) and actor and director Sonia Rolland (“Madame”).
A total of 993 short films were submitted from 60 countries and 15 were shortlisted.
The awards ceremony took place on Friday at the Palais des Festivals with the participation of the jury members, guests and the winning filmmakers. Each winner received, in addition to the opportunity of attending the the Cannes Film Festival, a mentoring session with cinema experts and a cash prize.
“Bagman,” by Jan Kellner, took the second prize, while “Speaking in Flowers,” by Nicolina Sterbet, took third. Both are from the Czech Republic.
The winners were selected by the competition’s international jury, which includes actors Mark Chao (“Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings”) and Zita Hanrot (“Paul Sanchez est revenu!”), world explorer and adventurer Mike Horn, writer, director and Nespresso Talents 2020 winner Faride Schroeder (“Oasis”) and actor and director Sonia Rolland (“Madame”).
A total of 993 short films were submitted from 60 countries and 15 were shortlisted.
The awards ceremony took place on Friday at the Palais des Festivals with the participation of the jury members, guests and the winning filmmakers. Each winner received, in addition to the opportunity of attending the the Cannes Film Festival, a mentoring session with cinema experts and a cash prize.
- 7/9/2021
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Though Marvel has decided to consolidate all of its cinematic universe offerings onto Disney+, some outliers still live on for other streaming services. In May 2021, Hulu is set to premiere the latest non-canon Marvel series.
The animated comedy Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. is set to premiere on May 21 and stars Patton Oswalt as the titular Marvel villain. Oswalt’s Modok is every bit the devious floating head that he’s depicted as in the comics. He’s also your every day family man and the show will take on the format of a workplace sitcom. Sounds kinda fun! It’s no wonder that M.O.D.O.K. is the last Hulu Marvel show standing.
In non-Marvel offerings this month, Shrill will debut its third and final season on May 7. This comedy based on Lindy West’s memoir and starring SNL‘s Aidy Bryant has been a consistently bright presence on the streaming scene since...
The animated comedy Marvel’s M.O.D.O.K. is set to premiere on May 21 and stars Patton Oswalt as the titular Marvel villain. Oswalt’s Modok is every bit the devious floating head that he’s depicted as in the comics. He’s also your every day family man and the show will take on the format of a workplace sitcom. Sounds kinda fun! It’s no wonder that M.O.D.O.K. is the last Hulu Marvel show standing.
In non-Marvel offerings this month, Shrill will debut its third and final season on May 7. This comedy based on Lindy West’s memoir and starring SNL‘s Aidy Bryant has been a consistently bright presence on the streaming scene since...
- 5/1/2021
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Once more with rather less feeling: after “Love in a Fallen City” and “Eighteen Springs,” acclaimed Hong Kong director Ann Hui returns to the work of celebrated 20th century author Eileen Chang with “Love After Love,” a not-at-all-short adaptation of a Chang short story laboring under the English title “Aloeswood Incense: The First Brazier.” Hui has assembled something of an all-star lineup, with the young leads played by rising actors Sandra Ma and Eddie Peng, the legendary Ryuichi Sakamoto on scoring duties and Dp Christopher Doyle returning to the scene, if not quite the time period, of his greatest Wong Kar-wai collaboration, “In the Mood For Love.” Despite all this promise,
Tracking the very gentle wising-up of a naive, wide-eyed ingenue over the course of a few eventful pre-war years, the film begins as Weilong (Ma), a Shanghainese student come to Hong Kong to finish her education away from her stifling father’s influence,...
Tracking the very gentle wising-up of a naive, wide-eyed ingenue over the course of a few eventful pre-war years, the film begins as Weilong (Ma), a Shanghainese student come to Hong Kong to finish her education away from her stifling father’s influence,...
- 9/9/2020
- by Jessica Kiang
- Variety Film + TV
After a busy FilMart in March, at which Hong Kong’s film industry leaders promised to lobby for greater access to mainland audiences, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam was able, only a month later, to announce that the lobbying had succeeded. But the past months of political protests in Hong Kong have increasingly impacted the film business.
Back in April, fees and conditions attached to mainland-Hong Kong co-productions were waived, as part of a five-point plan to treat the Special Administrative Area’s once mighty film industry as welcome in the mainland, where the local industry has grown big and arrogant, but not yet mature.
Dropping the rules that required all mainland-Hong Kong co-productions to have mainland stories, and other regulations that put ceilings on the number of Hong Kong crew on each production, seemed set to help Hong Kong filmmakers tell their own stories and yet still to...
Back in April, fees and conditions attached to mainland-Hong Kong co-productions were waived, as part of a five-point plan to treat the Special Administrative Area’s once mighty film industry as welcome in the mainland, where the local industry has grown big and arrogant, but not yet mature.
Dropping the rules that required all mainland-Hong Kong co-productions to have mainland stories, and other regulations that put ceilings on the number of Hong Kong crew on each production, seemed set to help Hong Kong filmmakers tell their own stories and yet still to...
- 9/12/2019
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
No big revelations this year at the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards. The Sunday night ceremony has unveiled all the winners for this years Awards and they are all quite an easy guess. Felix Chong’s thriller “Project Gutenberg” was the star of the evening as, predictably – considering its 17 nominations – won Best Film along with other 6 Awards.
But despite the histrionic performances of Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwock, the acting Awards are not in the “Project Gutenberg”‘s pile. Anthony Wong took home the Best Actor award for his role as a middle-aged paralysed man in “Still Human“, and newcomer Chloe Maayan won Best Actress for Fruit Chan’s “Three Husbands”, while Kara Hui and Ben Yuen Foo-Wa scored Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor both for “Tracey“.
Finally, “Dying To Survive” won the Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan Award.
Here is the full list of Winners and...
But despite the histrionic performances of Chow Yun-fat and Aaron Kwock, the acting Awards are not in the “Project Gutenberg”‘s pile. Anthony Wong took home the Best Actor award for his role as a middle-aged paralysed man in “Still Human“, and newcomer Chloe Maayan won Best Actress for Fruit Chan’s “Three Husbands”, while Kara Hui and Ben Yuen Foo-Wa scored Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor both for “Tracey“.
Finally, “Dying To Survive” won the Best Film from Mainland and Taiwan Award.
Here is the full list of Winners and...
- 4/15/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
The full list of nominations for the the 38th Hong Kong Film Awards has been revealed. On the 14 April 2019 we will know the winners but for now let’s have a look at the nominees.
Two films seem to lead the competition. Big budget “Project Gutenberg” by Felix Chong has the highest number of nominations (17) and both its protagonists, Chow Yun-Fat and Aaron Kwok, compete for the Best Actor Award. To follow, a much smaller (but not less loved) film, “Men On The Dragon” by Sunny Chan has 10 nominations.
Here is the full list:
Men On The Dragon
Best Film
Three Husbands
Operation Red Sea
Still Human
Men On The Dragon
Project Gutenberg
Best Director
Fruit Chan (Three Husbands)
Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea)
Sunny Chan (Men On The Dragon)
Oliver Chan Siu-Kuen (Still Human)
Felix Chong (Project Gutenberg)
Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun-Fat
Best Actor
Francis Ng (Men On...
Two films seem to lead the competition. Big budget “Project Gutenberg” by Felix Chong has the highest number of nominations (17) and both its protagonists, Chow Yun-Fat and Aaron Kwok, compete for the Best Actor Award. To follow, a much smaller (but not less loved) film, “Men On The Dragon” by Sunny Chan has 10 nominations.
Here is the full list:
Men On The Dragon
Best Film
Three Husbands
Operation Red Sea
Still Human
Men On The Dragon
Project Gutenberg
Best Director
Fruit Chan (Three Husbands)
Dante Lam (Operation Red Sea)
Sunny Chan (Men On The Dragon)
Oliver Chan Siu-Kuen (Still Human)
Felix Chong (Project Gutenberg)
Aaron Kwok and Chow Yun-Fat
Best Actor
Francis Ng (Men On...
- 2/13/2019
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Director Tsui Hark (The Taking of Tiger Mountain) brings back the popular hero in the smash hit wuxia fantasy franchise for Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, coming to digital, Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD November 13 from Well Go USA Entertainment. Set during the Tang dynasty, the third film in the action-packed, martial arts franchise finds the intrepid detective defending himself from the Empress while looking to recover a magical weapon. Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings has Mark Chao (Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon) returning in the title role, with Feng Shaofeng (The Monkey King franchise), Lin Gengxin (The Taking of Tiger Mountain), Ethan Juan (The Guillotines), Ma Sichun (Goldbuster) and Carina Lau (Detective Dee franchise) rounding out the cast.
A bold and exciting new entry into the smash hit wuxia fantasy franchise from master action director Tsui Hark, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings sees...
A bold and exciting new entry into the smash hit wuxia fantasy franchise from master action director Tsui Hark, Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings sees...
- 12/4/2018
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
What's newly available for home viewing this week?
DVD/Blu-Ray
• Alpha - Kodi Smith-McPhee stars in this prehistoric adventure film about a boy and his wolf friend
• Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings -Marc Chao reprises his popular Detective Dee role. The previous title started with "Young Detective Dee" but I guess now that Chao is 34 they feel "Young" is pushing it? The previous film was ... bonkers.
• Juliet, Naked -Rose Byrne & Ethan Hawke star in this well-reviewed romcom
• The Meg -the campy giant-shark flick was a sleeper hit
• Mile 22 -Another gun-loving actioner from Peter Berg & Mark Wahlberg
• Puzzle - Two of our most reliable but underappreciated screen actors Kelly Macdonald and Irffan Khan star in this story about a woman who discovers a passion for solving puzzles
New iTunes 99¢ Deals
• Death of Stalin -Armando Iannucci (of In the Loop and Veep fame) is back with another political comedy.
DVD/Blu-Ray
• Alpha - Kodi Smith-McPhee stars in this prehistoric adventure film about a boy and his wolf friend
• Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings -Marc Chao reprises his popular Detective Dee role. The previous title started with "Young Detective Dee" but I guess now that Chao is 34 they feel "Young" is pushing it? The previous film was ... bonkers.
• Juliet, Naked -Rose Byrne & Ethan Hawke star in this well-reviewed romcom
• The Meg -the campy giant-shark flick was a sleeper hit
• Mile 22 -Another gun-loving actioner from Peter Berg & Mark Wahlberg
• Puzzle - Two of our most reliable but underappreciated screen actors Kelly Macdonald and Irffan Khan star in this story about a woman who discovers a passion for solving puzzles
New iTunes 99¢ Deals
• Death of Stalin -Armando Iannucci (of In the Loop and Veep fame) is back with another political comedy.
- 11/14/2018
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
For the first time, all three of Tsui Hark’s (“The Taking of Tiger Mountain”) Detective Dee films are available in one awesome collection exclusively at Walmart on November 13. The bold and exciting smash hit wuxia fantasy franchise from master action director Tsui Hark tell the story of Detective Dee, one of the most celebrated officials of the Tang Dynasty, who is tasked by the Empress to solve a series of inexplicable murders and mysteries.
Included in the collection are “Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon” (Well Go USA), “Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame” (Shout Factory) and “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings” (Well Go USA). The collection sells for $34.98 Srp.
Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (2010)
A bizarre mystery brings together the most powerful woman in China. The soon-to-be-Empress Wu Zetian (Carina Lau) and a formerly exiled detective, Dee Renjie...
Included in the collection are “Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon” (Well Go USA), “Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame” (Shout Factory) and “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings” (Well Go USA). The collection sells for $34.98 Srp.
Detective Dee And The Mystery Of The Phantom Flame (2010)
A bizarre mystery brings together the most powerful woman in China. The soon-to-be-Empress Wu Zetian (Carina Lau) and a formerly exiled detective, Dee Renjie...
- 11/11/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
‘Shadow’ climbs one place to second.
Following a rather disappointing weeklong National Day holiday, the second week of October (Oct 8-14) remained weak as it shrunk by 65.8% week-on-week.
The National Day titles continued to dominate the chart, with no new releases in the top five. Felix Chong’s Project Gutenberg, with Chow Yun Fatt and Aaron Kwok, topped again on $36.6m.
Its 15-day total of $133.9m has made it the eighth highest grossing local film of 2018 as well as the top grossing Hong Kong cop and crime thriller, surpassing 2016’s Cold War 2. But it is only about half of that...
Following a rather disappointing weeklong National Day holiday, the second week of October (Oct 8-14) remained weak as it shrunk by 65.8% week-on-week.
The National Day titles continued to dominate the chart, with no new releases in the top five. Felix Chong’s Project Gutenberg, with Chow Yun Fatt and Aaron Kwok, topped again on $36.6m.
Its 15-day total of $133.9m has made it the eighth highest grossing local film of 2018 as well as the top grossing Hong Kong cop and crime thriller, surpassing 2016’s Cold War 2. But it is only about half of that...
- 10/15/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Macedonian actor and producer Labina Mitevska has called for gender parity in film festival programming. Speaking at a press conference to introduce the Busan New Currents jury, juror Mitevska said, “When art is good, its good, no matter if it is male or female. We need to have more female programmers, most of them are men. Things need to change, and it needs to be fast.”
Mitevska is a co-producer on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree”, which played at Cannes in competition and is Turkey’s entry in the Oscar foreign-language race. Speaking about the “macho Balkan culture,” Mitesvka recalled her experience working on a production 17 years ago where she and her sister, the writer/director Teona Strugar Mitevska, would return home in tears after every day of the shoot. She recounted how 20 men would stand around, ignoring Teona’s instructions on where to place the camera,...
Mitevska is a co-producer on Nuri Bilge Ceylan’s “The Wild Pear Tree”, which played at Cannes in competition and is Turkey’s entry in the Oscar foreign-language race. Speaking about the “macho Balkan culture,” Mitesvka recalled her experience working on a production 17 years ago where she and her sister, the writer/director Teona Strugar Mitevska, would return home in tears after every day of the shoot. She recounted how 20 men would stand around, ignoring Teona’s instructions on where to place the camera,...
- 10/5/2018
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Broader range of local hits over the summer helped drive China box office to $6.79bn from Jan-Aug.
China’s box office grew by 17% to reach $6.79bn in the first eight months of 2018, following a summer in which Hollywood titles may have been sidelined, but local productions started to show greater depth and diversity.
According to figures from Chinese consulting firm EntGroup, local films grossed a combined $4.5bn (RMB30.42bn) during January-August 2018, an increase of 46% over the same period in 2017. This gave local films a market share of 66%, compared to 53% for the first eight months of last year (using current exchange rates). Based on these figures,...
China’s box office grew by 17% to reach $6.79bn in the first eight months of 2018, following a summer in which Hollywood titles may have been sidelined, but local productions started to show greater depth and diversity.
According to figures from Chinese consulting firm EntGroup, local films grossed a combined $4.5bn (RMB30.42bn) during January-August 2018, an increase of 46% over the same period in 2017. This gave local films a market share of 66%, compared to 53% for the first eight months of last year (using current exchange rates). Based on these figures,...
- 9/7/2018
- by Liz Shackleton
- ScreenDaily
‘iPartment’ and ‘The Meg’ also scored well.
China’s box office finished a wild week (Aug 6-12) with $282m, including $84m on Friday alone. These figures represented this year’s highest weekly total and the biggest single day box office outside the Chinese New Year period.
The strong performance was mainly driven by three new titles, with local film The Island finally taking the crown after playing musical chairs with iPartment and The Meg in the top three spots.
The Island topped the charts with $76.2m from its first three days. After opening in second on Friday with only half of iPartment’s gross,...
China’s box office finished a wild week (Aug 6-12) with $282m, including $84m on Friday alone. These figures represented this year’s highest weekly total and the biggest single day box office outside the Chinese New Year period.
The strong performance was mainly driven by three new titles, with local film The Island finally taking the crown after playing musical chairs with iPartment and The Meg in the top three spots.
The Island topped the charts with $76.2m from its first three days. After opening in second on Friday with only half of iPartment’s gross,...
- 8/13/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
The third film in the Detective Dee series and a sequel to “Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon” (2013), “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings” sees our eponymous hero, Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) once again up again the formidable Empress Wu (Carina Lau) who is determined not to let anything or anyone get in the way of her ascension to power. Dee is entrusted with the Dragon Taming Mace by Emperor Gaozong which has the power to subdue any type of threat to national security, and Empress Wu needs to retrieve the mace in order that her machinations to take power are not revealed.
Detective Dee’s first appearance was in an 18th century Chinese novel “The Four Strange Cases from the Era of Empress Wu” which was later translated by the writer Van Gulik who would go to create the “Judge Dee” story series. The fictional character was based upon Ti Jen-chieh,...
Detective Dee’s first appearance was in an 18th century Chinese novel “The Four Strange Cases from the Era of Empress Wu” which was later translated by the writer Van Gulik who would go to create the “Judge Dee” story series. The fictional character was based upon Ti Jen-chieh,...
- 8/11/2018
- by Colette Balmain
- AsianMoviePulse
The comedy has a 10-day total of $288.2m.
Hello Mr Billionaire stayed top in the week of Jul 30-Aug 5, followed by Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, as the crop of new releases didn’t light up the Chinese box office.
Following a prosperous debut weekend, Hello Mr Billionaire continued to thrive with $159.4m, which represented about 66% of the week’s total box office. Its 10-day total of $288.2m propelled it to be the 12th top grossing film of all time, surpassing Transformers 4 and The Ex-File 3.
As Mahua FunAge’s latest comedy, Hello Mr Billionaire has already outgrossed by over 40% Goodbye Mr Loser,...
Hello Mr Billionaire stayed top in the week of Jul 30-Aug 5, followed by Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, as the crop of new releases didn’t light up the Chinese box office.
Following a prosperous debut weekend, Hello Mr Billionaire continued to thrive with $159.4m, which represented about 66% of the week’s total box office. Its 10-day total of $288.2m propelled it to be the 12th top grossing film of all time, surpassing Transformers 4 and The Ex-File 3.
As Mahua FunAge’s latest comedy, Hello Mr Billionaire has already outgrossed by over 40% Goodbye Mr Loser,...
- 8/6/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
“Hello Mr. Billionaire” continued its dominance of the Chinese box office for a second week. Its three-day tally of $65.5 million made it the second biggest film worldwide over the weekend.
Data from Ent Group show the comedy down exactly 50% in its second weekend, but it opened a gap on second placed “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.” “Billionaire” has a cumulative score of $295 million after 10 days of release. “Detective Dee” managed $12.5 million over the weekend (to take 10th place worldwide according to comScore) and a 10-day total of $76.9 million.
The weekend total for “Billionaire” included $2 million scored from 483 IMAX screens.
Operating from an overall screen count largely similar to “Detective Dee,” new fantasy animation “Wind Guardians” managed third place. It had a score of $8.95 million in three days.
“Shoplifters,” the Japanese drama which took the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, opened in fourth place. Distributed (like “Detective Dee”) by Huayi Brothers,...
Data from Ent Group show the comedy down exactly 50% in its second weekend, but it opened a gap on second placed “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.” “Billionaire” has a cumulative score of $295 million after 10 days of release. “Detective Dee” managed $12.5 million over the weekend (to take 10th place worldwide according to comScore) and a 10-day total of $76.9 million.
The weekend total for “Billionaire” included $2 million scored from 483 IMAX screens.
Operating from an overall screen count largely similar to “Detective Dee,” new fantasy animation “Wind Guardians” managed third place. It had a score of $8.95 million in three days.
“Shoplifters,” the Japanese drama which took the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year, opened in fourth place. Distributed (like “Detective Dee”) by Huayi Brothers,...
- 8/6/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Total box office in July reached new heights with $912m.
Just halfway through the summer holidays, a second Chinese blockbuster was born. Following the huge success of Dying To Survive, Hello Mr Billionaire raked in $127.3m from its three-day opening weekend in the period of Jul 23-29, not far from the former’s four-day debut on $190.1m.
Mainly thanks to these two strong titles, along with Skyscraper, Hidden Man and new opener Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, the total box office in July reached new heights with $912m, representing a new record for the month of July of all time.
Just halfway through the summer holidays, a second Chinese blockbuster was born. Following the huge success of Dying To Survive, Hello Mr Billionaire raked in $127.3m from its three-day opening weekend in the period of Jul 23-29, not far from the former’s four-day debut on $190.1m.
Mainly thanks to these two strong titles, along with Skyscraper, Hidden Man and new opener Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, the total box office in July reached new heights with $912m, representing a new record for the month of July of all time.
- 7/30/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
By far the biggest film of the weekend outside North America, China’s “Hello Mr. Billionaire” opened with $131 million in its home territory.
The comedy was far ahead of “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” which earned $92 million in international markets, plus a further $61.5 million in North America, for a global total of $153.5 million.
“Billionaire” is the latest product from the team – director Yan Fei and writer Peng Damo – behind 2015 surprise hit “Goodbye My Loser.” It sees a failing soccer player challenged to spend $147 million (RMB1 billion) in a single month.
The film was released in competition with the fourth installment in one of Chinese film’s most beloved franchises, “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.” That scored $42.5 million over the same three-day period. On any other weekend, figures for “Detective Dee” might have been considered a triumph. But exhibitors quickly moved to support the runaway success of “Billionaire” over the fantasy adventure.
The comedy was far ahead of “Mission: Impossible – Fallout,” which earned $92 million in international markets, plus a further $61.5 million in North America, for a global total of $153.5 million.
“Billionaire” is the latest product from the team – director Yan Fei and writer Peng Damo – behind 2015 surprise hit “Goodbye My Loser.” It sees a failing soccer player challenged to spend $147 million (RMB1 billion) in a single month.
The film was released in competition with the fourth installment in one of Chinese film’s most beloved franchises, “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings.” That scored $42.5 million over the same three-day period. On any other weekend, figures for “Detective Dee” might have been considered a triumph. But exhibitors quickly moved to support the runaway success of “Billionaire” over the fantasy adventure.
- 7/30/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Recent Edinburgh International Film Festival opening night selection Puzzle scores solid limited debut through Spc.
Update: Mission: Impossible – Fallout starring the evergreen Tom Cruise ruled North American box office at the weekend, storming to top spot on a confirmed $61.2m.
Combined with a world-beating $155.8m global launch, this was a fine weekend for Paramount, whose action thriller scored the highest North American debut of the six-film, 22-year franchise when unadjusted for inflation.
In real terms it ranks as the third highest debut in the series after Mission: Impossible II ($57.8m May 2000 equates to $84.93), and Mission: Impossible ($45.4m in May 1996 equates...
Update: Mission: Impossible – Fallout starring the evergreen Tom Cruise ruled North American box office at the weekend, storming to top spot on a confirmed $61.2m.
Combined with a world-beating $155.8m global launch, this was a fine weekend for Paramount, whose action thriller scored the highest North American debut of the six-film, 22-year franchise when unadjusted for inflation.
In real terms it ranks as the third highest debut in the series after Mission: Impossible II ($57.8m May 2000 equates to $84.93), and Mission: Impossible ($45.4m in May 1996 equates...
- 7/29/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Recent Edinburgh International Film Festival opening night selection Puzzle scores solid limited debut through Spc.
Mission: Impossible – Fallout starring the evergreen Tom Cruise ruled North American box office at the weekend, storming to top spot on an estimated $61.5m.
Combined with a world-beating $153.5m global launch, this was a fine weekend for Paramount, whose action thriller scored the highest North American debut of the six-film, 22-year franchise when unadjusted for inflation.
In real terms it ranks as the third highest debut in the series after Mission: Impossible II ($57.8m May 2000 equates to $84.93), and Mission: Impossible ($45.4m in May 1996 equates to...
Mission: Impossible – Fallout starring the evergreen Tom Cruise ruled North American box office at the weekend, storming to top spot on an estimated $61.5m.
Combined with a world-beating $153.5m global launch, this was a fine weekend for Paramount, whose action thriller scored the highest North American debut of the six-film, 22-year franchise when unadjusted for inflation.
In real terms it ranks as the third highest debut in the series after Mission: Impossible II ($57.8m May 2000 equates to $84.93), and Mission: Impossible ($45.4m in May 1996 equates to...
- 7/29/2018
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Sorcery and delusions of power are the dominant themes of “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings,” the third and most spectacular of the Chinese franchise about a real-life sleuth of the Tang dynasty. This time the hero uncovers a court conspiracy in which conjurers of illusions play a deadly role, a pretext for director Tsui Hark to run amok with visual effects while slipping in his usual political innuendoes about Machiavellianism and mind-control. On the level of pure popcorn entertainment, there’s not a thing one can fault the 3D megabuster for, and it should steamroll other domestic competition in the summer domestic market while satisfying Tsui’s longtime followers.
At 68, the Hong Kong genre maestro’s childlike imagination and technical inventiveness seems inexhaustible. The script, co-written by Tsui with Chang Chialu, who also teamed up for the last two chapters of the franchise (“Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom...
At 68, the Hong Kong genre maestro’s childlike imagination and technical inventiveness seems inexhaustible. The script, co-written by Tsui with Chang Chialu, who also teamed up for the last two chapters of the franchise (“Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom...
- 7/26/2018
- by Maggie Lee
- Variety Film + TV
All of the top five titles of all time in China are now local Chinese-language films.
Dying To Survive performed a hat trick as the weekly champion in the period of July 16-22, but lost the weekend to new opener Skyscraper.
The social comedy drama, starring Xu Zheng, hung onto the top spot overall in its third week, adding $61.7m for $412.6m after 18 days. It has moved one notch up to become the fifth highest grossing film of all time in China, surpassing Furious 8. Now all the top five films are local Chinese-language films, with Furious 8 in sixth place.
The...
Dying To Survive performed a hat trick as the weekly champion in the period of July 16-22, but lost the weekend to new opener Skyscraper.
The social comedy drama, starring Xu Zheng, hung onto the top spot overall in its third week, adding $61.7m for $412.6m after 18 days. It has moved one notch up to become the fifth highest grossing film of all time in China, surpassing Furious 8. Now all the top five films are local Chinese-language films, with Furious 8 in sixth place.
The...
- 7/23/2018
- by Silvia Wong
- ScreenDaily
Legendary director Tsui Hark returns to direct the third film in the immensely successful series, which has racked up over Usd$200m at the box office and bagged 20+ major award nominations with a star-studded cast that is just as award-worthy. “Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings” is coming to UK cinemas 27th July. Keep updated online: www.DetectiveDee3.com
Synopsis
Detective Dee (Mark Chao) is appointed by Emperor Gaozong to protect the Tang Dynasty from rival Empress Wu (Carina Lau) and is bestowed with the magical Dragon Taming Mace. Wu orders Yuchi Zhenjin (Feng Shaofeng) of the Golden Gard to recruit five mystics and task them with stealing the threatening Mace, the consequence of which is capital punishment for Dee.
Storming the Department of Investigation, Wu orders a demonstration of sorcery power which goes horrifically wrong with deadly consequences. In the confusion, Yuchi Zhenjin is seen killing colleagues of the Golden Gard.
Synopsis
Detective Dee (Mark Chao) is appointed by Emperor Gaozong to protect the Tang Dynasty from rival Empress Wu (Carina Lau) and is bestowed with the magical Dragon Taming Mace. Wu orders Yuchi Zhenjin (Feng Shaofeng) of the Golden Gard to recruit five mystics and task them with stealing the threatening Mace, the consequence of which is capital punishment for Dee.
Storming the Department of Investigation, Wu orders a demonstration of sorcery power which goes horrifically wrong with deadly consequences. In the confusion, Yuchi Zhenjin is seen killing colleagues of the Golden Gard.
- 7/12/2018
- by Adriana Rosati
- AsianMoviePulse
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSClaude Lanzmann, Simone de Beauvoir, Jean-Paul Satre, 1967. Photo via Rithy Panh.Shoah director and singular cinematic chronicler of the Holocaust, Claude Lanzmann has sadly left us. Daniel Lewis provides a comprehensive remembrance for The New York Times. Last year, we wrote on his last five films films, Napalm and The Four Sisters, a quartet of documentaries.Recommended VIEWINGEven through his perhaps more artistically compromised mainland blockbusters, we remain dedicated fans of Tsui Hark's daring, punk cinematic vision. We especially highly regard his Detective Dee films, and thus are very excited for the forthcoming Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings, which has received this ecstatic new trailer.An oddly modern trailer showcasing the new gorgeous restoration of Jacques Rivette's first masterpiece (starring Anna Karina!), The Nun (1966). In a qualitative sense, Yorgos Lanthimos' films...
- 7/11/2018
- MUBI
After looking at the first half of 2018 and highlighting the best films of the year so far, it’s time to enter the back half of the year. July brings our most-anticipated blockbuster of the entire year, more festival favorites, a few essential documentaries, and a handful of curiosities.
Matinees: Fireworks (7/4), The First Purge (7/4), White Fang (7/6), The Night Eats the World (7/13), Whitney (7/6), McQueen (7/20), Generation Wealth (7/20), Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (7/27), Hot Summer Nights (7/27)
15. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (Gus Van Sant; July 13)
Synopsis: On the rocky path to sobriety after a life-changing accident, John Callahan discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: If you’ve read my review from Sundance, you’ll know I was mixed on Gus Van Sant’s rather shapeless biopic,...
Matinees: Fireworks (7/4), The First Purge (7/4), White Fang (7/6), The Night Eats the World (7/13), Whitney (7/6), McQueen (7/20), Generation Wealth (7/20), Detective Dee: The Four Heavenly Kings (7/27), Hot Summer Nights (7/27)
15. Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (Gus Van Sant; July 13)
Synopsis: On the rocky path to sobriety after a life-changing accident, John Callahan discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.
Trailer
Why You Should See It: If you’ve read my review from Sundance, you’ll know I was mixed on Gus Van Sant’s rather shapeless biopic,...
- 7/2/2018
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Universal/Legendary’s summer action thriller Skyscraper has secured a July 20 China release date, significantly opening in the throes of the (unofficial) annual blackout on Hollywood fare. That the film is backed by the Wanda-owned Legendary and takes place in Hong Kong were likely factors working in the Dwayne Johnson-starrer’s favor.
Johnson is a big draw in the Middle Kingdom and here he plays a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran who now assesses security for skyscrapers. While on assignment at Hong Kong’s The Pearl, a 244-floor vertical city with every safety and security challenge, he’s framed when terrorists target the building. On the run, he must save his family who are still inside. Pablo Schreiber and Neve Campbell also star.
Skyscraper is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber who previously teamed with Johnson for 2016’s Central Intelligence. Thurber also wrote the Skyscraper script.
Johnson is a big draw in the Middle Kingdom and here he plays a former FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader and U.S. war veteran who now assesses security for skyscrapers. While on assignment at Hong Kong’s The Pearl, a 244-floor vertical city with every safety and security challenge, he’s framed when terrorists target the building. On the run, he must save his family who are still inside. Pablo Schreiber and Neve Campbell also star.
Skyscraper is directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber who previously teamed with Johnson for 2016’s Central Intelligence. Thurber also wrote the Skyscraper script.
- 6/26/2018
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Paramount Pictures/Platinum Dunes’ A Quiet Place passed the Chinese censors back in April, becoming one of the rare horror films to gain entry to the Middle Kingdom. Now, it’s the latest movie to get an extension in the market. After 20 days on local release, the John Krasinski-helmed thriller has grossed $32.8M. Its global cume is $322M, of which $137.7M comes from the international box office. The film still has France and Japan on deck.
This is the second China extension on a Hollywood title in as many days. Yesterday, I reported that Avengers: Infinity War received an extended run while other movies like Coco, Zootopia, Ready Player One, Rampage and Hacksaw Ridge have also in the recent past gotten the bonus 30 days.
A Quiet Place, the story of a family forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound, will run to...
This is the second China extension on a Hollywood title in as many days. Yesterday, I reported that Avengers: Infinity War received an extended run while other movies like Coco, Zootopia, Ready Player One, Rampage and Hacksaw Ridge have also in the recent past gotten the bonus 30 days.
A Quiet Place, the story of a family forced to live in silence while hiding from creatures that hunt by sound, will run to...
- 6/7/2018
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
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