Tuesday, September 23, 2008

ACMI Focus on Johnnie To

Hong Kong director Johnnie To is the subject of an ACMI Focus season, from Thursday 6 November to Sunday 16 November. I have only seen To's Exiled, which screened last year at Melbourne Cinémathèque, and found it very entertaining.

The program hasn't been published yet, but I can confirm the following titles will be screening:
  • Sparrow (2008), his most recent film, described as a tribute to Hong Kong and refers to the city's audacious pick-pockets
  • The Enigmatic Case (1980), his debut, a wuxia (martial arts) film
  • Seven Year's Itch (1987), his second film, a romantic comedy
  • The Fun, the Luck and the Tycoon (1989)
  • The Bare Footed Kid (1993)
  • A Hero Never Dies (1998)
  • Running Out of Time (1999)
  • Fulltime Killer (2001)
  • PTU (2003)
  • Breaking News (2004)
  • Throw Down (2004), his personal favourite and tribute to Kurosawa
  • Exiled (2006)
Keep an eye on ACMI's website for further details.

6 comments:

dMk said...

I don't know why ACMI would waste their time with Johnnie To's films. They aren't meant to be very good, and the only people who would want to see any of these films are Chinese folk.

There are many other directors which would be much better to have a Focus on. From the top of my head Jerzy Skolimowski, Neil LaBute, and Donald Cammell would be perfect and much more interesting and original.

Paul Martin said...

Neil LaBute? Nurse Betty was tolerable but Possession was simply terrible, though I'm open to the possibility he's made better.

I think it's great that ACMI are screening films across the spectrum, and there's not enough Asian cinema available through the usual outlets. Exiled is very stylish, funny and thrilling. I had a blast with it. ACMI is screening a good range of his films that include romantic comedy, martial arts and police thrillers. Keep an open mind, DMK, you never know, you might make a new discovery.

As for Skolimowski, there's a 50/50 chance we'll see his films showcased next year by Melbourne Cinémathèque. Watch this space.

dMk said...

Re: Neil LaBute:

You have the look at the ones he's written based on his plays, notably In the Company of Men, Your Friends & Neighbours, and The Shape of Things.

He's done some awful stuff, but he's also done some great stuff.

I liked Possession.

Paul Martin said...

DMK, I hadn't written off LaBute, as I'd heard that In the Company of Men was good. I see from IMDb that he's made a number of films I haven't seen.

I don't remember much of Possession other than I couldn't suspend disbelief. I couldn't believe any of the characters or their situation and found it gruelling to sit through it. From memory, I considered it a 1 to 1.5 star film.

As for To's films, I've only seen Exiled as was completely enthralled by it. If nothing else, I highly recommend it as good entertainment.

dMk said...

Paul, Ezydvd Online is selling Your Friends and Neighbours for under two dollars.

It may not be as great as In the Company of Men, but it is challenging viewing, and I know you don't watch DVDs, but I think you should consider blind buying because I think you'll like it a great deal.

Possession wasn't great, but I think it deserved about a 6.5/10. It had a few problems, but I think this was less to do with LaBute's direction and writing, and more to do with the source material - the novel. I really liked it's bitter sweet ending though.

dMk said...

Paul, Ezydvd Online is selling Your Friends and Neighbours for under two dollars.

It may not be as great as In the Company of Men, but it is challenging viewing, and I know you don't watch DVDs, but I think you should consider blind buying because I think you'll like it a great deal.

Possession wasn't great, but I think it deserved about a 6.5/10. It had a few problems, but I think this was less to do with LaBute's direction and writing, and more to do with the source material - the novel. I really liked it's bitter sweet ending though, and I could suspend enough belief to enjoy it. It was very similar, if much lesser, to Atonement, which I know you didn't like too much either.

The films based on his plays, are a million miles away from Possession, Nurse Betty or Wicker Man. They are really thought provoking, and any critic would tell you that.