Hey folks, Harry here... I don't know what I think of CHERISH from this review, but god I'd love to see FULLTIME KILLER on the big screen. That movie is the frickin' full hand of aces wild. I love that flick. Anyway, here ya go....
Harry,
I caught 2 more films at the San Francisco Film Fest, so here's some short
reviews for Cherish with Robin Tunney and Fulltime Killer from Hong Kong.
Cherish
Robin Tunney plays Zoe, a woman who finds herself trapped in her own home through the home arrest program after being falsely accused as a cop-killer. Tim Blake Nelson plays the home arrest worker who often visits to check on the equipment. The new film by Finn Taylor works like a romantic comedy, but also contains elements of a thriller. Cherish could easily have become buried in pretense or a messy mixture of genres, but it succeeds though, primarily by focusing on the complex character created by Tunney.
Most of the film takes place inside the loft apartment Zoe has been confined to. Gradually, she finds ways to expand her circle of territory, which mirrors her personal growth. The irony is that when she was free Zoe never connected with anyone, but when under arrest she is able to reach out and develop friendships. Tunney does a great job of playing an intelligent, but obviously flawed character. Tim Blake Nelson has a much smaller role, but he does a lot with it. When he becomes obsessed with Zoe he shows it in small ways, staring at a photo, buying her a radio. It's the kind of behavior I think we've all experienced when someone captures our attention. Other cast members that pop up in small but memorable roles include Jason Priestley (rather unrecognizable as a smarmy co-worker), Liz Phair, Nora Dunn and Brad Hunt as a stalker. But special mention should be made of Ricardo Gil, an amateur actor (he regularly works as a photographer) who plays Zoe's neighbor, a gay Jewish short person. Seems a bit extreme when writing it, but the nice thing is that Gil plays the part well never delving into pathos or caricature.
The soundtrack contains several cheesy pop songs from the 70's and 80's,
which often are played for comedic effect like when our stalker dances
around to Hall and Oates's "Private Eyes". What Taylor is aiming for
though, is showing us people who want to use pop songs as a means of
expression. It's a great twist to the usual method of just inserting an
appropriate tune. After the screening, Taylor told the crowd a soundtrack
would be released the same time as the film, in June, and that the artists
were very helpful in allowing rights for usage at a fraction of their usual
cost. Bottom line though, this is Robin Tunney's movie and she's a lot of
fun to watch.
Fulltime Killer
The only Johnnie To film I have seen previously was The Heroic Trio, which is a fantasy superhero film. Fulltime Killer, co-directed with Wai Ka Fai, is setup like an urban gangster film, but really operates much like a fantasy superhero film. An assassin called Tok played by Andy Lau wants to be Asia's #1 killer. Standing in his way is O, the undisputed champion of hitmen played by Takashi Sorimachi. Complicating matters is the fact that both men seem to be falling for the same woman, Miss Chin played by Kelly Lin. Taking place in several Asian countries with characters speaking several different languages, Fulltime Killer is a kinetic action film with something extra on its mind.
What To, Wai Ka Fai, and American screenwriter Joey O'Bryan are trying to do with Fulltime Killer is create a self-aware action film. The main characters are set-up as conventional genre characters, they constantly refer to other films, and all the action sequences play like a greatest hits collection of action films. But the cliches are meant to be obvious, and the end result is a film that treads a fine line between a serious action film and a spoof. None of this would work if it wasn't for the conviction the filmmakers and actors bring to the film. Lau, Sorimachi and Lin really light up the screen with their dangerous love triangle, with Lau getting the showiest of the 3 parts and attacking it with full abandon. For all the wackiness that goes on, the 3 leads always maintain a level of reality within their characters, especially in the movie's few quiet moments. My favorite scene is probably when Tok takes Miss Chin on a date and leaves her for a few moments to perform a hit. It exhibits a great combination of stylish action, sweet romance, and tongue in cheek filmmaking.
Anyone who is a fan of Hong Kong action films will want to see Fulltime Killer, but don't expect to be seeing it on the big screen in America, so your best bet is to find it on video, but stay away from the Malaysian version which changes the ending.
Otis Von Zipper
