Andrew
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Lost in Beijing (2007-HK/China) review by neo
« Thread started on: Mar 11th, 2008, 7:59pm » |
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Lost in Beijing (2007-HK)
HK Box office Takings: HKD$159,963.252
Tagline: A raw and naked performance from Fan Bing Bing…
Let’s denounce Neo’s obvious bias in his fascination with Fan Bing Bing, before engaging into the review. With that out of the way, Lost in Beijing is really one confusing flick. Perhaps it is the case of trying to do too much, but in the end, the movie fails to affect the audience at its core. Instead, the film relies too much on the strong performances from the ever reliable Tony Leung Ka Fai and a surprisingly raw and naked turn from Neo’s favourite mainland actress, Fan Bing Bing. Directed by Li Yu, credit must be given for bravery alone and without a doubt, the controversial circumstances that the film caused in the capital of stingy filmmaking. A brave effort, with some highlighting raw performances, Lost in Beijing isn’t a total failure and in fact it is surprisingly dark and inhumane. Then again, when it comes to watching movies, Neo is probably a bit too open minded.
If there is a time when Neo is right, the time must be now and without being bias, Fan Bing Bing gives a career boost performance in a role that one do not expect the mainland beauty to ever venture. Life is difficult in the midst of working class people in Beijing and it probably does not take a movie to show it to the audience to realise just how tough it really is. However, Li Yu is more ambitious and daring and the result is going the more dangerous route of adultery, rape, sex, mind games and while at the same time dealing with prominent issues like the rich and the poor. While the film is by no means as explicit as a little movie called Lust, Caution, but it is nonetheless damningly realistic and utterly relevant.
Without forgeting the efforts of Tony Leung Ka Fai, the moments he realise that his son is not really his son, the expression on his face is totally priceless. His layered performance carries the film and perfectly protray a rich man living his life in Beijing. Bedding one girl after another is an highlight, but what makes his performance better than it should, is Leung ability to be sympathetic in the pursue of what he always wanted.
All in all, Lost in Beijing, isn’t really a romantic drama, but rather it is a brutal and immensely dark look into what life is like among the billions of people in China. The look on Fan Bing Bing’s face after this enduring and eventful adventure is that of total confusion and ultimately lost in Beijing. Perhaps, this is what life in modern China is like, or rather it is a path that people like Fan have choosen themselves. Nonetheless, Lost in Beijing falls short of its lofty ambitions, the sex scenes are rather blend to be truly controversial. Still, the film succeeds by being entertaining yet darkly and arty. With the likes of Fan Bing Bing stealing the show and Tony Leung Ka Fai at his supporting best, Lost in Beijing remains on the upper side of the thumb…
I rate it 7.5/10
Casting: Fan Bing-Bing, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Tong Dawei, Elaine Kam Yin-Ling, Zeng Mei Hui Zi
Director: Li Yu
Genre: Life/Sex/Humanity
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| « Last Edit: May 18th, 2008, 3:23pm by Andrew » |
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"It took me nearly a year to get here. It wasn't so hard to cross that street after all, it all depends on who's waiting for you on the other side." - My Blueberry Nights
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