Hi, everyone. "Moriarty" here with some Rumblings From The Lab...
Everyone’s got a different reason to go to Sundance. Our man Vic here seems to have a penchant for the Asian titles they’ve programmed, and he’s sent us two reviews today that underline that point...
3 Iron
***
Korean
3 Iron is a simple movie about a man who doesn't seem to exist in reality, and he's perfectly content with it. Day after day he sneaks into peoples homes after tactfully leaving advertisements on doorways to see who is away. Once there he does their laundry, eats, and sleeps in their beds. A silent Goldilocks, he doesn't utter one word the entire movie. In fact any dialogue from this 90 minute movie could fill maybe a dozen pages.
One house he enters he discovers an abused woman who he takes along with him. Naturally they are caught, beaten in one case and of course they fall in love without speaking a word to each other. The man is later imprisioned where he masterfully studies a type of martial arts that allows him to walk directly behind the guard silently and unnoticed. He uses this to his advantage when returning to exact revenge on the abusive husband that led to his capture.
The movie had a few funny parts and with its simple texture was enjoyable and thought provoking without being too abrasive and brash. It's relatable to Blow Up or even La Strada although lacking their potent social commentary. If you're into Korean films, its worth a look.
Saving Face
*** 1/2
In English and Chinese
Alice Wu has made the Chinese version of My Big Fat Greek Wedding, except for the wedding and the fact that Wil, the lead fatale is a lesbian, (although John Corbet could probably be mistaken for a lesbian as well). This film offers the same cultural bite with the perspective from someone who understands the competing traditions and ideals of an reflective Chinese community, who is trying to hold on to their heritage, and a second generation Asian American class. Saving Face is funny in the way it portrays a gossip ridden part of Flushing N.Y. where the Chinese speak in a mix of English and Mandarin. When Wil's mother (Joan Chen) becomes pregnant at the scandalous age of 48 she flee's to a more diversified busied part of the city to live with her daughter Wil, where it seems she is as lost as if she came directly from China. She speaks Chinese to a white clerk at a video store and is stubbornly prejudiced to Wil's African-American neighbor.
Wil struggles with keeping her interest in a dancer a secret as they begin a romance together. She can't help herself from being with the striking Vivian, and no one can blame her because most of the men shown are far from handsome. The story follows most of the same plot patterns of a New York love story, but its view of Chinese culture within the city is refreshing and the two women are both sexy and charismatic.
Every year Sundance allows at least one Lesbianic tale to the screen, and for some reason I end up at all of them. I don't go looking for them, but who can pass up free tickets. At least this year's entry was refreshing and quite funny.
There's still more to come with Kung Fu Hustle, Old Boy and Drum later this week.
Vic Bulge out
Looking forward to your take on KUNG FU HUSTLE, which I thought was pure unmitigated joy when I saw it at BNAT. I love OLD BOY so much that I’m hosting not one but two screenings of it here in LA in March, one at the Egyptian and one at the Aero in Santa Monica. Definitely, Vic... keep us posted.
"Moriarty" out.
