Wong Kar-wai's debut film is tough to rate because it's raw and uneven, but its highlights were strong enough to carry the day for me, and the truth is I found it very entertaining.
It's the story of a couple of brothers who are part of an organized crime racket, but often in conflict with rivals because the younger brother (Jacky Cheung) has a tendency to screw up, wishing he could be a tougher guy than he actually is. The older brother (Andy Lau) routinely bails him out and tries to mentor him as best he can. Meanwhile, a distant cousin of his shows up (baby-faced Maggie Cheung at just 24), and the two of them feel an attraction for one another. It's a simple story but its pacing and accessibility relative to Wong's later efforts are positives.
We do see bits of Wong's trademark stylings in the use of color, neon lights, shot composition, and the low frame rate, step printing effect he's probably most known for. Particularly for this type of film in 1988, it's beautiful. The scene set to a version of Take My Breath Away where the romance blossoms, is brilliant, and on its own worth seeing the film for. Maggie Cheung is resplendent, Andy Lau is tough and cool, and their chemistry together is palpable.
While it can get lost in the violence, the film also has themes of brotherhood and family. We find out the oldest brother has been killing since 14 for a gang he considers his family, and the younger brother has been torn apart by his mother re-marrying feeling like he has something to prove before going back to her. He also tries his best to look out for a third brother, who's on the straight and narrow and recently married, but isn't very well approved of by his in-laws.
There are lots of little moments of connection and parting that could have been expanded on, but in a way, they're perfect as they are. The older brother dashing off in the rain after finding out his ex-girlfriend is now married. The doctor biking off down the lane after finding out Maggie Cheung's character is more interested in her cousin. The mother quietly hanging up the phone on the younger brother after he bought an air conditioner for her, followed by him heaving it off a balcony.
I do wish Maggie Cheung's character had been better developed, however, and played more of a role in the film's conclusion, which wasn't as satisfying as it could have been. Down the stretch there were scenes where the younger brother was too overwrought for my taste, and the final scene with the rival (Alex Man, who's also good here) seemed very unlikely, things that made me consider dropping my review score. However, the bittersweet tragedy, with this cast and the young auteur, were enough for me to like it, and I think it's worth checking out.
It's the story of a couple of brothers who are part of an organized crime racket, but often in conflict with rivals because the younger brother (Jacky Cheung) has a tendency to screw up, wishing he could be a tougher guy than he actually is. The older brother (Andy Lau) routinely bails him out and tries to mentor him as best he can. Meanwhile, a distant cousin of his shows up (baby-faced Maggie Cheung at just 24), and the two of them feel an attraction for one another. It's a simple story but its pacing and accessibility relative to Wong's later efforts are positives.
We do see bits of Wong's trademark stylings in the use of color, neon lights, shot composition, and the low frame rate, step printing effect he's probably most known for. Particularly for this type of film in 1988, it's beautiful. The scene set to a version of Take My Breath Away where the romance blossoms, is brilliant, and on its own worth seeing the film for. Maggie Cheung is resplendent, Andy Lau is tough and cool, and their chemistry together is palpable.
While it can get lost in the violence, the film also has themes of brotherhood and family. We find out the oldest brother has been killing since 14 for a gang he considers his family, and the younger brother has been torn apart by his mother re-marrying feeling like he has something to prove before going back to her. He also tries his best to look out for a third brother, who's on the straight and narrow and recently married, but isn't very well approved of by his in-laws.
There are lots of little moments of connection and parting that could have been expanded on, but in a way, they're perfect as they are. The older brother dashing off in the rain after finding out his ex-girlfriend is now married. The doctor biking off down the lane after finding out Maggie Cheung's character is more interested in her cousin. The mother quietly hanging up the phone on the younger brother after he bought an air conditioner for her, followed by him heaving it off a balcony.
I do wish Maggie Cheung's character had been better developed, however, and played more of a role in the film's conclusion, which wasn't as satisfying as it could have been. Down the stretch there were scenes where the younger brother was too overwrought for my taste, and the final scene with the rival (Alex Man, who's also good here) seemed very unlikely, things that made me consider dropping my review score. However, the bittersweet tragedy, with this cast and the young auteur, were enough for me to like it, and I think it's worth checking out.