Movie Box Review

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The 18th Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award took place yesterday at the Film Archive.  Deanie Ip Tak Han and Lau Ching Wan won the Best Actor and Actress, Jiang Wen also received the Best Director Award and Best Picture went to the Ann Hui On Wa directed A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH); Best Screenplay went to LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE (DUET MING GUM)'s Au Kin Yi, Wong King Fai and Milky Way Creative Team.  Also seven recommended films were presented, including OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2), DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUN NAM NUI), LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE, LET THE BULLETS FLY, WHITE VENGEANCE (HUNG MOON YIN), FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP) and BIG BLUE LAKE (DAI LAN WU).

Ching Wan, Sister Deanie, Jiang Wen, Hui On Wa were present to accept the awards.  Ching Wan won with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE.  He thanked the Film Critic Society.  He was particularly happy that he was able to win for the first time with a Johnnie To Kei Fung directed film.  He also had to thank Lo Hoi Peng for his suggestions about the character; Jiang Wen joked that the film obviously was good due to the actors performance, but it still won the Director award.  However he was still very happy because usually when he was the actor the director won, when he directed the actors won.  This time was an exception (directed and starred).  Jiang Wen continued, "This time I came to Hong Kong for three days, I have been on the stage three times and won three awards.  Hong Kong truly is paying respect to me.  I hope to be able to stay a little longer, in a year I may be able to win over 300 awards!"

After the ceremony, Ching Wan expressed that he was very happy because he won an award for the first time with a To Kei Fung film.  In the past he blamed himself for not performing good enough.  Ching Wan continued, "I was really sorry, I thank Ah To for always giving me good characters.  This time I can answer to him, finally I have grown into an adult!"  As for the later Hong Kong Film Award, Ching Wan said that the
two awards were different.  In his experience, after winning the Film Critic Society Award three times he has lost at the other one three times.  yet now he was very happy to have one.

Sister Deanie for the fourth time with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) won Best Actress.  Was she confident about winning six?  Deanie pretended her head itch and said, "The chances are even."  Sister Deanie said that she would still give this award to Andy Lau Tak Wa, as she joked that he had plenty of space for awards.  Has she picked out what to wear yet?  Sister Deanie said that she was more casual, if she had to dress up she truly had difficulty.  Thus every time Wa Jai's company arranged what she wore.  Would she like to win Best Actress with Wa Jai as the Best Actor?  Sister Deanie said, "Of course!"  As for meeting Jiang Wen for the first time, Sister Deanie praised him as a good actor and a good director.  If in the future they will have a chance to work together she will welcome it very much, but she will not take the initiative and ask because she felt actors were more passive.

Jiang Wen, Ann Hui, Felix Chong all won awards

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The Hong Kong Directors' Guild last night held its spring banquet and annual award presentation.  The Ann Hui On Wa directed A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) brought her the Most Outstanding Director of the Year and the Most Recommended Film; she even received the "Honorary Grand Prize".  She thanked the Directors' Guild for this honor.  She said that recently she won many awards.  If she lost her head, she hoped everyone would remind her.

Jiang Wen with LET THE BULLETS FLY won the Most Outstanding Director and The Most Recommended Film.  He said that winning an award in Hong Kong was a little strange, he would never imagine that he would win two.

Stephen Fung Tak Lun revealed that he is working on the film TAI CHI trilogy.  The first two installments have already been completed.  Speaking of Keanu Reeves' MAN OF TAI CHI, he felt that with one being modern and the other costume they had no conflict.  He hoped for a summer release.  He also revealed that his company with Daniel Wu (Ng Yin Cho) is planning a racing film with Derek Yee Tung Sing as its director.    "Ng Yin Cho and I both will perform.  (Will you fight over the lead?)  Let him have it, I will help with the camera!"

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Veteran film professional Teddy Robin Kwan Singer Actress Ella Koon Yun Na earlier with the Hong Kong film MERRY GO ROUND (DUNG FUNG POR) won Best Actor and Best Actress at the Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival in Sydney, Australia.  The Jiang Wen directed LET THE BULLETS FLY won Best Picture.  He personally received the Best Director Award.

Teddy Robin last year with GALLANTS (DA LUI TOI) won the Hong Kong Film Award Best Supporting Actor and the Hong Kong Film Critic Society Best Actor.  This year at the Golden Koala Chinese Film Festival he crushed LET's Chow Yun Fat, Ge You and Taiwan film's JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng Yu-Yen for Best Actor as his outstanding acting was again recognized.  He even personally went to Sydney to accept the award and returned to Hong Kong last night.  This time he was very surprised to be recognized again with MERRY.  Ella due to work could not personally accept the award.

With 2012 to be the 30th anniversary of Teddy Robin as a director, Schoolmates Culture Club from February 17 to 26 will hold a Teddy Robin Panorama with seven films that he produced, directed or starred.  It will include his first film a director ALL THE WRONG SPIES (NGOR OI YEH LOI HEUNG), THE STORY OF WOO VIET and his recent films MERRY GO ROUND and GALLANTS.  The film will display his undying spirit.

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The 18th Hong Kong Film Critic Society yesterday announced its winners.  Earlier winning Best Actress awards with A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) in Venice and at the Golden Horse Awards, Deanie Ip Tak Han again won Best Actress.  Lau Ching Wan with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES (DUET MING GUM) won his third Society Award Best Actor Award.  A SIMPLE LIFE at the same time won Best Picture.  Jiang Wen with LET THE BULLETS FLY won Best Director, and Best Screenplay went to LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES.

Last year 57 films were officially released.  Among Best Picture and Best Director, A SIMPLE LIFE, LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES, FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), OVERHEARD 2 (SIT TING FUNG WON 2), LET THE BULLETS FLY's competition was the strongest.  Finally A SIMPLE LIFE won Best Picture and LET THE BULLETS FLY's Jiang Wen won Best Director by two votes more than FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Tsui Hark.  OVERHEARD 2 and LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE also had a fierce competition over Best Screenplay, finally LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE's Milky Way creative team, Au Kin Yee and Ben Wong King Fai won.

A SIMPLE LIFE's Ip Tak Han crushed EAST MEETS WEST 2011 (DONG SING SAI JAU 2011)'s Karen Mok Man Wai and FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE's Zhou Xun for Best Actress.  Best Actor had Ching Wan in competition with himself.  He finally with LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE's small time hook by two vote beat his OVERHEARD 2 "Landlord Club" stock market elite Law Man Sun.  This was also Ching Wan's third Hong Kong Film Critic Society Best Actor Award after HIGH ALERT (GO DOH GAI BEI) and LA BRASSIERE (JUET SAI HO BRA).

Lau Ching Wan thanked the Film Critic Society, and Johnnie To Kei Fung for giving him such a challenging character.  As an actor, while acting he of course hoped that it would be fun too.  He said, "Director To next time you have a fun script, definitely save it for me!"  Ip Tak Han again won with A SIMPLE LIFE.  She said that any award was an encouragement; especially for a senior like her, an award was like a shot of confidence.  She wished that all awards could bring investors the return that they should have.  She wished director Ann Hui On Wa would be able to make movies that she believed in.  Ip Tak Han also thanked the Hong Kong Film Critic Society and also Andy Lau Tak Wa and Hui On Wa's trust.

To Kei Fung thanked the Film Critic Society.  Milkyway creative team was responsible for writing this film.  Since founding the Milky Way Image he has always hoped to give new comers more opportunities, cultivate
more talent for the film industry and hope that everyone would work hard together.

In addition, the Hong Kong Film Critic Society at the same time selected seven recommended films: LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE, OVERHEARD 2, DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART (DAN SUM NAM NUI), FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE (LUNG MOON FEI GAP), LET THE BULLETS FLY, WHITE VENGEANCE (HUNG MOON YIN), and BIG BLUE LAKE (DAI LAN WU).

BEST PICTURE: A SIMPLE LIFE
BEST DIRECTOR: Jiang Wen (LET THE BULLETS FLY)
BEST SCREENPLAY: LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES
BEST ACTOR: Lau Ching Wan (LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLES)
BEST ACTRESS: Deanie Ip Tak Han (A SIMPLE LIFE)
RECOMMENDED FILMS:
LIFE WITHOUT PRINCIPLE
OVERHEARD 2
DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART
FLYING SWORDS OF DRAGON GATE
LET THE BULLETS FLY
WHITE VENGEANCE
BIG BLUE LAKE

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Mainland Best Actor Ge You yesterday attended a press conference to officially sing with Emperor for three major productions in five years.  Emperor invested 500 million RMB on Ge You to plan and create movies, but he mercilessly joked that Emperor artists' Mandarin was not authentic enough.

Ge You yesterday attended the press conference in Happy Valley, announced the Emperor collaboration and signed the contract.  Big boss Albert Yeung Sau Sing led many of the company's artists like Twins, William Chan Wai Ting, Ken Hung Cheuk Lap and Sherman Chung Shu Man in support.  Ge You also announced that in the next five years he will plan film projects that he will star in and make three movies.  Reportedly the total investment amount reached 500 million RMB.

Ge You reiterated that he still was handling scripts.  As for the subjects, he responded, "I don't even know whether they are ancient, modern or contemporary yet."  Would he like to direct?  Ge You admitted, "Ten years ago someone has already asked me to direct, but for now I still haven't had the idea.  After being an actor for such a long time I feel being a director is too much trouble!"  He also mentioned that before the event he chatted with a male Emperor artist and discovered that with his accent he would have difficulty playing someone from Beijing.  He said, "He would be more suitable to play someone from Hong Kong who went to work in Beijing."  As for which artist he would like to work with, he admitted that if he had the chance he would like to work with Nicholas Tse Ting Fung.  As for the salary, he stressed that it was satisfactory but the most important was the large creative space.  He also said, "Yeung Sau Sing has been my friend for many years, I feel he is both familiar and pleasant."  On the other hand, Emperor boss Yeung Sau Sing said that he was deeply pleased to be able to sign Ge You but declined to discuss the salary.  He said, "We have been good friends for many years, being able to sign him truly is rare."  Yeung Sau Sing also said that this time he will provide him with a lot of freedom.  This time Ge You would be responsible for the film projects.

Yeung Sau Sing said, "Only they know about the Mainland taste, like I don't understand the jokes in IF YOU ARE THE ONE 2 either."  He also stated that Ge You was the top actor in three lands on both sides of the strait.  He said, "Last Christmas he alone made 1.5 billion at the box office.  This year he hasn't made any movie.  I am worried about him having to make three movies in five years.  However he can decide whether they will be costume or modern."  As for signing others, Yeung Sau Sing said that many are under negotiation.  For example Jiang Wen is already a steady collaboration partner.  Emperor also has a part in Feng Xiaogang's movies.  It will also work with Chen Kaige's large production.  As for signing actresses, Yeung Sau Sing thought that the film industry remained male artist dominated so he has not had such a thought.  He said, "The Mainland is actor driven, few female Mainland stars can carry the box office.  It's the same way in Hong Kong, with Wa Jai (Andy Lau), Wai Jai (Tony Leung Chiu Wai) and (Nicholas) Tse Ting Fung.  Few actresses can carry the entire film."  As for Ge You's accusation that some Emperor male artists' Mandarin was not Beijing enough, Yeung Sau Sing took the chance to reveal that he just talked with Kenny Kwan Chi Bun and criticized his poor Mandarin.  Would he hire someone to instruct?  He replied, "I will ask Mani (Fok Man Hei) to take care of it."

Kenny admitted that his accent was not Beijing enough, thus making local series would be hard.  However he said, "Ordinary communication isn't a problem.  We will improve our Beijing accent in hopes of being able to work with Ge You."  Steven Cheung Chi Hung said that he believed he would have to live there be able to practice his Beijing accent.  He said, "We ask Mani to get more Mainland series for us."  Twins' Charlene Choi Cheuk Yin admitted that Ge You was very highly positioned and very nice.  "If I will be able to work with him, I will be willing to sweep the floor and empty the trash."  Speaking of her less than fluent Mandarin, Ah Sa said, "Hong Kong artists indeed can improve more.  In the past I wanted to provide my own voice for my Mandarin roles, but because the approval required Beijing accent in the end I couldn't."

Qin Hailu

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Carina Lau and Sandy Lam.  Carina Lau receives 99 white roses from someone anonymous despite her Best Actress defeat. courtesy of mingpao.com

The Golden Horse Award has come to an end.  One of the jury members Sylvia Chang (Cheung Ngai Ga) stated that this year's judging process was fair and sensible.  Most of the jury did not know the final result.  The longest discussion was for the "Best Director" award, after three rounds of vote Ann Hui On Wa edged out LET THE BULLETS FLY's Jiang Wen and WARRIORS OF THE RAINBOW: SEEDIQ BALE's Wei Te-Sheng.  The second high scorer for Best Actress was Shu Qi, and Best Actor Andy Lau Tak Wa narrowly beat Ge You.

Ko Chen-Tung won the Best New Performer.  Cheung Ngai Ga said, "The New Performer award passed with one round, relying on the actor's strength and performance."  Back stage she praised Eddie Peng Yu-Yen for his infinite potential, only that this year's Best Actor competition was too strong.  As for Best Feature Film SEEDIQ BALE, Korean jury member Lee Chong-Dong said that the film won due to its inspiration for national films worldwide.

Mainland Best Actress Qin Hailu was nominated for Best Actress but finally won Best Original Screenplay.  Before presenting the award to herself, she joked on stage that the Golden Horse had a conspiracy.  Yet when director Fruit Chan Gor announced her name, she was very surprised.  She joked, "If you knew I really would win, I wouldn't have said that!"

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The Jiang Wen written, directed and starred, Chow Yun Fat, Ge You, and Carina Lau Ka Ling starred LET THE BULLETS FLY last week received nine Golden Horse nominations that included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress.  Yesterday the film received two nominations at the Queensland, Australia Asia Pacific Screen Awards for Best Picture and Best Director.

The Asia Pacific Screen Award has always provided high praises to Chinese films.  AFTER SHOCK last year won many awards.  This time the team was very excited over LET's overseas success.  Jiang Wen was very happy to receive the news because the years of hard work from the team not only received the audience's recognition but also caught the industry's eyes.  This at the same time proved that quality work could break through the restrictions of borders and film fans everywhere could relate.

SEEDIQ BALE

LET THE BULLETS FLY's Ge You

JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng

A SIMPLE LIFE's Deanie Ip at the Venice Film Festival

Albert Yeung (right) earlier celebrated with LET THE BULLETS FLY cast courtesy of on.cc

LET THE BULLETS FLY's Carina Lau, Ge You

LET THE BULLETS FLY's Carina Lau

A CHINESE GHOST STORY's Wai Ying Hung

A SIMPLE LIFE's Deanie Ip and Andy Lau

JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng

LET THE BULLETS FLY's Ge You

A BEAUTIFUL LIFE's Shu Qi

YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE's Ko Chen-Tung

SEEDIQ BALE

Wei Te-Sheng

THE PIANO IN A FACTORY receives seven nominations courtesy of mingpao.com

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The 48th Golden Horse Award announced its nominations yesterday.  CAPE NO. 7 director Wei Te-Sheng's Taiwan film SEEDIQ BALE received 13 nominations in 11 categories and was the most nominated film.  LET THE BULLETS FLY followed with 9 nominations.  With its earlier Venice Film Festival success A SIMPLE LIFE (TOH JEH) also received 6 nominations.

Andy Lau Tak Wa and Deanie Ip Tak Han both received Best Actor and Best Actress nomination.  Wa Jai will compete with JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng Yu-Yan, LET THE BULLETS FLY's Ge You and THE PIANO IN A FACTORY's Wang Qianyuan; Sister Deanie's opponents will include A BEAUTIFUL LIFE's Shu Qi, YOU ARE THE APPLE OF MY EYE's Michelle Chen and THE PIANO IN A FACTORY's Qin Hailu.

Ip Tak Ha earlier won the Venice Best Actress award with A SIMPLE LIFE.  This time Sister Deanie again with this film received the Golden Horse Best Actress nomination and will even have a chance to win with Best Actor nominee Lau Tak Wa.  A SIMPLE LIFE also received six nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing.  Sister Deanie very humbly said about her nomination, "I am very happy to receive the nomination, very fortunate to be able to participate in the Golden Horse Award."  Shu Qi with A BEAUTIFUL LIFE will compete with Sister Deanie.  Shu Qi said, "I am truly very happy!  Thank you Director (Andrew) Lau Wai Keung, without him, ther would be no Shu Qi in A BEAUTIFUL LIFE.  This time the competition is rather strong, the nomination itself is already the biggest reward.  Tonight I have to celebrate."  Other Best Actress nominees included Michelle Chen and Qin Hailu.

As for Best Actor, the competition will be between A SIMPLE LIFE's Lau Tak Wa and LET THE BULLETS FLY's Ge You.  The other two nominees will be JUMP! ASHIN's Eddie Peng and THE PIANO IN A FACTORY's Qang Qianyuan.  Wa Jai said, "Thank you everyone for your support, thank you to all the workers, thank you to all the actors, thank you to the seniors, thank you very much to the Golden Horse Award."  Returning to the film industry this year, Jimmy Wang Yu with WU XIA was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.  His competition will be REVENGE A LOVE STORY (FUK SAU JEH ji SEI)'s Anthony Lau Wing, JUMP! ASHIN's Lawrence Ko Yu Lun and SEEDIQ BALE's Bokeh Kosang (Hsu Yi-Fan).

Carina Lau Ka Ling who did not have much screen time in LET THE BULLETS FLY also will compete for Best Supporting Actress.  Ka Ling said, "I am very happy!  The credit all belongs to Jiang Wen.  I have to congratulate him!  As for whether I will attend the award ceremony, it will depend on my work schedule."  Ka Ling's competition will include A CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WON)'s Wai Ying Hung, LOVE FOR LIFE's Jiang Wenli and RETURN TICKET's Tang Qun.  Jiang Wen said, "Representing  Big Brother Nine Dot I thank the Golden Horse Awards nine times in nine ways for BULLETS' nine nominations."  Best Picture nominees will include SEEDIQ BALE, LET THE BULLETS FLY, A SIMPLE LIFE, RETURN TICKET and THE PIANO IN A FACTORY.