Reviews

Films

Two Stupid Eggs

Directed by A Gan, starring Guo Tao, Annie Liu

Poor book salesman Wen Yao bumps into various people while promoting his only title, Guideline to the Newly Married. Someone's suggestion that the book should have an accompanying DVD inspires him to make a racy movie. He persuades his wife, who is desperate to have a baby, to co-star. Upon its release, their "bedroom guide" is a huge success, but even though it makes the couple wealthy, it puts a huge strain on their marriage.

With the Chinese title Da Dianying 2 - Liangge Shagua de Huangtangshi, this is a fine black comedy adapted from the Spanish film Torremolinos 73. Despite the daring subject matter, this story is not about porn, but the distance between idealism and reality. The lead actor walks a fine line between slapstick and pathos, while the supporting cast is solid, especially the young neighbor who helps out with the film shoot.

Liu Wei

We Own the Night

Directed by James Gray; starring Joaquin Phoenix, Mark Wahlberg, Eva Mendes, Robert Duvall

Strictly not for kids, James Gray's We Own the Night is a dark crime movie set on the western end of Long Island, like the same director's Little Odessa and The Yards. Its title was the proud motto of the NYPD's street crimes unit back in the 1980s, when drug crime was on the rise and the city running out of control.

The crooks are ruthless Russians planning to cross the East River into lucrative Manhattan, and the thin blue line is manned by police chief Robert Duvall and his son, straight-arrow captain Mark Wahlberg.

They're Polish Americans, and Wahlberg's brother Joaquin Phoenix is letting the family down by managing a Brighton Beach disco for Russians, unaware of his police connections.

But blood proves thicker than water and when it begins to flow Phoenix stops sniffing coke, does a little undercover work, then joins the force.

There are fine performances, well-staged action sequences, general gloom, little irony and an appearance by former mayor Ed Koch to endorse this tribute to New York's Finest during his watch. The film has considerable weight but little depth.

The Guardian

Les Chansons d'Amour

Directed by Christophe Honore; starring Louis Garrel, Ludivine Sagnier, Chiara Mastroianni

Christophe Honore's Les Chansons d'Amour is a little homage to the French New Wave, most particularly Truffaut, Godard and Demy.

It's a bittersweet story of well-heeled, self-admiring, bisexual (mostly) young Parisians led by Louis Garrel, the Jean-Pierre Leaud de nos jours.

They smoke, swap smart talk, change partners and every few minutes break into song. The lyrics temper the romance with frequent references to bodily fluids, and there's a sudden death that leaves the characters less troubled than the audience.

The Guardian

(China Daily 12/20/2007 page20)