WEEKEND PIC Dec 29 - Jan 1

A guide for your weekend at the Malaysian cinemas

1. NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (fantasy adventure with Ben Stiller, Robin Williams and Carla Gugino) Rated: * * * (out of 4): It is all chaos and mayhem when the exhibits come alive at this museum and scare the hell out of security guard Stiller. However, it is all visual and little in the realm of an engaging storyline.

2. CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (Zhang Yimou's period drama with Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou) Rated: * * * (3 stars): WIth such lavish sets and eye-popping costumes, Zhang's record big-budget movie threatens to become a 'Parade of Bouncing Boobs' in this story about a dysfunctional and even homicidal imperial family.

3. LOVEWRECKED (romantic cimedy with Amanda Bynes, Chris Carmack and Jamie Lynn Sigler) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Run-of-the-mill teen comedy about Bynes being 'shipwrecked' on an island with her rock idol. Usual date movie fare.

4. SEED OF DARKNESS (Local horror with Amber Chia, Alvin Wong and Wong Sze Zen) Rated * * (2 stars): After the debacle that is "Possessed", we have another local horror that is also unintentionally funny rather than scary. About an in-vitro birth that spawned a series of ghostly and ghastly consequences.

5. LOVE CONQUERS ALL (Local movie by Tan Chui Mui with Carol Ong and Steven Chua) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A refreshing look at a love affair between a lonely girl and an uncouth predatory guy told in a lackadaisical pace. Promising effort by Malaysia's youngest female writer-director.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM (fantasy adventure)
Cast: Ben Stiller, Robin Williams, Carla Gugino, Dick Van Dyke and Mickey Rooney
Director: Shawn Levy
Time: 110 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? With such advancements in CGI and stunt work these days, it is no surprise that scripters and directors get tempted to run riot with their creations and forget about the basic stuff like credible story-telling and plausibility. "Night At The Museum" tries to go one-up on "Jumanji" and “Zathura” with its mayhem effects but fails to come up with a proper story. Plot holes abound, so it is a bit messy trying to get around them.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? When Larry Daley (Stiller) starts work as a night watchman at New York's Natural History Museum, he is all prepared for a good night's rest. However, the retiring former guards (Dick Van Dyke, Mickey Rooney and Bill Cobbs) seem a little suspicious of him, and he soon discovers why: everything in the museum comes to life after dark and Larry has a hair-raising time coping with the ensuing chaos.
Soon he's enlisting Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) to help negotiate peace between a miniature cowboy (Luke Wilson) and a Roman Centurion (Steve Coogan), while Huns and Neanderthals run riot all over the building. Not to mention dinosaurs, lions, monkeys and even a rock carving.
Of course, there's a big conspiracy involving a magical Egyptian artifact, plus a bit of father-son bonding (with Jake Cherry as Nick) and a hint at romance with a museum employee (Carla Gugino).

HIGHLIGHTS: The main thrust of the movie is to entertain (and probably educate) with its historical figures, crazy stunts and situations, but the screenwriters merely rely on tired cliches, repetitive and undeveloped jokes. Larry's caper with a monkey garners a few chuckles but not after it is repeated so often. The cute T-Rex skeleton that plays 'catch' like a dog also provides some fun and laughter, but director Shawn Levy never explains how the characters in the diorama get arrows and fiery missiles for their catapult.
In the acting department, Stiller, Gugino and Williams generally deliver what is expected of them although they are capable of so much more. Also, it is nostalgic to see veterans Mickey Rooney and Dick Van Dyke back on the screen. If only their roles had been better written as well.

LOWLIGHTS: The most glaring flaw, however, is that Levy squanders the chance to properly develop the romance between Larry and his colleague Rebecca (Gugino) and the crush Roosevelt has for a Red Indian squaw (Mizuo Peck as Sacajawea). We are left feeling 'hungry' for more narrative - as opposed to the cinematic chaos heaped upon us.

THE LOWDOWN: You won't ever fall asleep at this "Museum" but you may wish for more in the way of story exposition and credibility.

CHRISTMAS WEEKEND PIC Dec 22 - 25

We wish Every Visitor to this Blog a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year at the Movies!


1. CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (Zhang Yimou's period drama with Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou) Rated * * * (out of 4): With such lavish sets and eye-popping costumes, Zhang's record big-budget movie threatens to become a 'Parade of Bouncing Boobs' in this story about a dysfunctional and even homicidal imperial family.

2. ERAGON (Fantasy adventure with Jeremy Irons, Edward Speleers and Sienna Guillory) Rated * * 1/2 (out of 4): Farm boy finds dragon egg and is destined to save the people from a despotic king. Sounds familiar? Well, that's that. There's nothing else in the way of fun or subplots.

3. BARNYARD (Animated comedy voiced by Kevin James, Courteny Cox and Andie MacDowell) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This is basically a kiddie cartoon with rather stereotype characters and story (about the exploits of a bunch of farm animals). Udderly childish.

4. LOVE CONQUERS ALL (Local movie by Tan Chui Mui with Carol Ong and Steven Chua) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A refreshing look at a love affair between a lonely girl and an uncouth predatory guy told in a lackadaisical pace. Promising effort by Malaysia's youngest female writer-director.

5. CICAK-MAN (Local fantasy adventure with Saiful Apek, Yusry KRY and Fasha Sandha) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): A bold try at CGI and Hollywood-type stunts, this flawed effort looks set to take Malaysia into the big-time fantasy genre.

LOVE CONQUERS ALL: A Promising Debut

LOVE CONQUERS ALL (drama)
Cast: Coral Ong Li Whei, Stephen Chua Jyh Shyan, Leong Jiun Jiun and Ho Chi Lai
Director: Tan Chui Mui
Time: 90 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? "Love Conquers All" sounds a rather clichéd title for a quaint little love story set in a small town near Kuala Lumpur. This debut feature, by Malaysia's youngest female director Tan Chui Mui, 28, is basically about a relationship love born out of boredom and loneliness, but it later develops into a tale of stoic self-sacrifice and resignation.
Yes, we have seen many movies about young girls falling into the clutches of seedy, dashing men, but not one like this in which the girl apparently knows where she is heading - and yet succumbs to it.

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? Set sometime in the Eighties (when the cell phone had not yet made an appearance) "Love Conquers All" is the story of Ah Ping (Coral Ong Li Whei) who arrives in Kuala Lumpur from her hometown in Penang to work at her aunt's 'mixed rice' stall. Bored and alone in a strange place, Ah Ping meets the predatory John (Stephen Chua Jyh Shyan) and finds herself attracted to him despite having a boyfriend back home whom she phones everyday. There is obviously something sinister in John's intentions for Ah Ping but she finds herself mysteriously drawn to him, both physically and emotionally.
John has divulged to Ah Ping the tactics of his cousin, a pimp who preys on lonely women, but she either chooses to ignore it or feel that it could not happen to her. The surprise twist in the movie is how she reacts to it when it does. If there is a message or warning in the story, it is very much left to the viewer to figure out.

HIGHLIGHTS & LOWLIGHTS: Shot in low-budget (RM100,000) DV format, the movie has the feel of a local documentary - with many self-indulgent and repetitive shots of Tan's favourite hometown landscapes (like the coconut tree scene). As usual with limited budget productions, a large part of the narrative happens offscreen and the viewer is left to fill in the gaps. Tan's helming is unimpressive and uninspired and the background noises on the soundtrack can be rather irritating.
However, viewer interest is largely sustained by the engaging 'love tussle' which is attributable to Carol Ong's performance as a woman desperate for romance and attention. Stephen Chua is suitably deceitful and menacing as the mysterious suitor but his performance seems devoid of the charm and passion required of a courtier.
The subplot, about the puppy love Ah Ping's little cousin (Leong Jiun Jiun) has for a pen-pal, sometimes threatens to upstage the main plot, thanks to Leong's heart-warming performance. The nicely developed subplot is supposed to be a contrast to Ah Ping's more 'adult' romance but it also gives an engaging insight into the lifestyle of a Chinese family in Malaysia.

THE LOWDOWN: Technical glitches aside, "Love Conquers All" is nevertheless a promising effort by Tan, who evidently has a flair for delving into feminine issues. We await her next feature, "Living Quietly", about the problems of elderly folks.

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER: Like 'Parade of Bouncing Boobs'

CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER (drama)
Cast: Chow Yun Fat, Gong Li and Jay Chou
Director: Zhang Yimou
Time: 114 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)


WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? Produced at a record US$45-million budget, Zhang Zimou's “Curse Of The Golden Flower” is undeniably a cinematic spectacle with eye-boggling sets and costumes – and, of course, action sequences of 'epic proportions'. In fact, the set and costume designs are so rich and eye-catching that one may mistake the film as his 'Parade Of The Bouncing Boobs'! (We will get to that later).

WHAT'S IT ABOUT? The Golden Flower of the title refers to the Chrysanthemum – the traditional Chinese symbol of nobility. Here, it is also the personal symbol of power for a Tang Dynasty Empress (Gong Li) who has plans to use it during the annual Chong Yang celebration – the Festival of the Golden Flowers.
It is AD 928, and as the Emperor (Chow Yun Fat) marches home with his second son, Prince Jai (Jay Chou), he plans to make some changes to the succession line-up for his family. Unknown to him, his estranged Empress and two other sons, Crown Prince Wan (Liu Ye) and his youngest, Prince Yu (Qin Junjie), also have plans of their own. Prince Wan, who is having an affair with the Empress, has decided to run away with Chan (Li Man), daughter of the Imperial Doctor (Ni Dahong); the Empress, who discovers that she has been slowly poisoned, intends to use a newly-divulged secret to force the Emperor to abdicate; and the seemingly jovial Prince Yu also has something up his sleeve.
These aspirations and conspiracies, however, are supposed to be set in motion during the Chong Yang Festival but, as most palace contrivances go, you can expect a few twists in the plot. The story, loosely adapted from the 1934 play 'Thunderstorm' by the famous author Cao Yu, is about a royal family that is not just dysfunctional, but homicidal. It is no wonder that the fall of the dynasty is imminent.

HIGHLIGHTS: Released so soon after Feng Xiaogang's similarly-themed “The Banquet”, comparisons are inevitable. Both are visually stunning but movie artistry is more vibrant in “Banquet”. Zhang's spectacle lies mostly in its opulent but static sets and eye-popping costumes which sometimes threaten to distract us from the narrative. To Zhang, 'more' is definitely better and it is breath-taking to see a palace run by hundreds of nubile young servants and eunuchs; and how thousands of Imperial Guards battle each other dressed in armours of gold and blue – all among a sea of potted chrysanthemums. The most arresting sequence, however, is that of black-hooded guards dropping on ropes down to homes to do the Emperor's bidding.

LOWLIGHTS: Yes, Zhang's accent is on visuals and there is not much in the way of plot or character-development to get us involved emotionally. Chow Yun Fat is just adequate as the scheming, oppressive Emperor; Gong Li almost gets our sympathy as the victimised Empress; and Liu Ye is suitably pathetic as the helpless Crown Prince. Li Man provides more than 'eye-candy' as the buxom Chan, while Jay Chou (who sings the theme song at the end credits) seems lost most of the time and the weakest of the cast.

THE LOWDOWN: After going overboard with unbridled action and stunts in his big-budget efforts like “Hero” and “House Of Flying Daggers”, Zhang seems to be paying more attention to the narrative here. He just needs to concentrate more on getting the audience involved to reach that 'perfect balance' like that of “Raise The Red Lantern”.

YOUR WEEKEND PIC Dec 15 - 17

A Guide to help you plan your weekend viewing

1. ERAGON (Fantasy adventure with Jeremy Irons, Edward Speleers and Sienna Guillory) Rated * * 1/2 (out of 4): Farm boy finds dragon egg and is destined to save the people from a despotic king. Sounds familiar? Well, that's that. Nothing else in the way of subplots or comedy.

2. BARNYARD (Animated comedy voiced by Kevin James, Courteny Cox and Andie MacDowell) Rated: * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): This is basically a kiddie cartoon with rather stereotype characters and story (about the exploits of a bunch of farm animals). Udderly childish.

3. DEJA VU (Action thriller with Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer and Paula Patton) Rated * * * : For a time-travel movie by Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott, Déjà Vu has enough plot, intellect and action to sustain it. And it also has one of the most nail-biting car chase scenes to date!

4. AFTER THIS OUR EXILE (Shot in Malaysia HK movie with Aaron Kwok,
Charlie Young and Gouw Ian Iskandar) Rated * * *: A touching and engaging drama of a nine-year-old boy who is caught between an abusive, gambling-addict father (Kwok) and a runaway mom. He learns to steal for his dad and faces life the hard way.

5. HAUNTED APARTMENTS (Japanese horror starring Mei Kurokawa and Mitsuru Fukikoshi) Rated * * (2 stars): A rather tame thriller about a schoolgirl and her father 'trapped' in a haunted apartment block. Cliched and reminiscent of 'Ringu'.

HAUNTED APARTMENTS: Lame & Tame

HAUNTED APARTMENTS (Japanese horror)
Cast: Mei Kurokawa, Mitsuru Fukikoshi and Ryoko Takizawa
Director: Akio Yoshida
Time: 98 mins
Rating: * * (out of 4)

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? One thing we can be thankful for is that this J-horror effort does not try to scare us with the ‘mandatory’ long-haired, pale-faced girl. Instead, it uses split-second glimpses of a girl in school uniform to suggest that something is wrong with the titular apartments.
So how does director Akio Yoshida scare us? Answer: With a silly little curfew story!

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Teenager Aimi (Mei Kurokawa) moves into an old apartment building with her father (Mitsuru Fukikoshi). Her mother has died in an accident two years ago, and her journalist father has taken to drinking to drown his sorrows. The move is meant to help them start life afresh but even before they can unpack their stuff, they are told that that they have become virtual prisoners at the building.
It turns out that the apartment block is haunted, and if they don't return to it before midnight, they will die a horrible death. Well then, can’t they just pack up and move out? No way. There is an unwritten rule that the longest-staying tenant can move out only when someone moves into the building. Those who break this rule will also die horribly at the stroke of midnight!

Now that these ridiculous rules have been laid out to Aimi – by a woman fortunate enough to be able to move out – you would expect the young girl to go berserk, or at least relate the predicament to someone, a friend or the cops. No, she seems resigned to the fact and even starts investigating the root of the haunting: the mysterious disappearance of a schoolgirl many years ago. The rest of the narrative details what happens when a family breaks the ‘moving out’ rule; how a couple whose breadwinner has lost his job (for refusing an outstation transfer) turns with glee to cannibalism; and how the building’s poor caretaker has to suffer repeated nightmares.

HIGHLIGHTS: The one bright side to this movie is Mei Kurokawa’s screen presence which helps to sustain our interest.

LOWLIGHTS: There is nothing scary enough to jolt us and director Akio Yoshida's attempts at comedy – involving the cannibalistic couple – only fall flat. What's worse, the ending is predictable and derivative, reminding us of other J-horror flicks like “Ringu”. Basically, “Haunted Apartments” seems to have been expanded from a short story like the “Tales Of Terror” anthology made for DVD.

THE LOWDOWN: Mark this one as another J-horror effort dumped into our cinemas.

'Cicakman' climbs local box-office ceiling

Local CGI-enhanced Flick grosses RM2 million in First Week

December 15 - Local comedy and CGI extravaganza "Cicakman" has hit the Malaysian box-office ceiling right after its first week of release, grossing over RM2 million. It collected a record RM350,000 (with 47,116 patrons) on its opening day on Dec 7.

These figures easily mark the biggest opening for a local movie this year, ahead of the next local favourite, "Cinta". The movie's producers, KRU Films, expects it to surpass RM3.5 million on its second week, considering the strong word-of-mouth among youths during the current school holidays.

KRU Films' administration executive Sara Sa'ary said that "Cicakman" grossed RM1.6 million in the first four days (the first weekend) and surpassed the RM2 million mark in the first week. It played on 39 screens nationwide (including Sabah and Sarawak). "We expect 'Cicakman' to stay in the cinemas for at least a month," said Sara, adding that the movie, directed by Yusry Abdul Halim, cost RM1.7 million to produce. KRU Films, meanwhile, is holding road shows with Astro and DiGi in the major to promote the movie.

"Cicakman" stars funnyman Saiful Apek as the title character who, by accident, attained the superpowers akin to that of a gecko (house lizard) and finds his life turned upside-down, literally. The movie also features some of Malaysia's most popular stars including Yusry of KRU, Fasha Sandha and Aznil Nawawi. It is the first big budget local movie to incorporate 40 per cent computer graphics and animation, Hollywood-styled stunts and sets.

This feat by "Cicakman" can only augur well for the local movie industry, spurring film-makers on to attempt more daring and experimental movies.

"Cicakman" is currently showing in cinemas nationwide.

ERAGON: More Flop Than Flight

ERAGON (fantasy adventure)
Cast: Jeremy Irons,Edward Speleers, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle and John Malkovich
Director: Stefen Fangmeier
Time: 105 mins
Rating: * * 1/2 (out of 4)

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Don't let your hopes soar with the flying dragons and magical swordfights in this derivative fantasy flick. At best, “Eragon” has the tone and quality of a made-for-TV movie, and at its worst, it is just a shade better than “Dungeons and Dragons”.
“Eragon” is based on a book of the same name by Christopher Paolini. However, unlike last year's “Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe”, this one sorely lacks imagination and energy, and tries to copy ideas from “Star Wars” and even “Lord Of The Rings”. Couple these with inane dialogue and uninspired acting and we have another lame fantasy flick set to flop at the box-office.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? The story takes place in a land called Alagaësia which is ruled by the despotic King Galbatorix (John Malkovich). Galbatorix has crippled the order of the Dragon-Riders and for years, many believed that dragons were extinct.
Young farm boy Eragon (Edward Speleers) is an orphan who finds a dragon egg while hunting in the forest one night. The egg hatches and, according to the village story-teller Brom (Jeremy Irons), he has become the chosen Dragon-Rider whose destiny is to rescue the down-trodden tribes and communities from Galbatorix's rule.Eragon and his dragon, Shapira (voice of Rachel Weisz), must journey to Varden to rally the rebels.
However, he must first escape the king's minions, known as the Urgals, who have been sent to destroy him. Besides Brom, Eragon has an ally in Arya (Sienna Guillory), a beautiful witch who 'sent' him the dragon egg.

HIGHLIGHTS: The relationship between Eragon and Shapira reminds us of “Dragonheart” (1996) in which Sean Connery loaned his voice to Draco, the last dragon on Earth. The bond between Draco and dragon-slayer Bowen (played by Dennis Quaid) formed the most entertaining part of that movie. Not so here, though. The bond between boy and dragon is all businesslike, sans the fascination and humour that we had in “Dragonheart”. Also, director Fangmeier offers no subplot to vary the storyflow. No romantic interludes for the women in the audience.

LOWLIGHTS: It would not have mattered much if newcomer Speleers is miscast and lacks the requisite charm of the boy hero, but it is rather painful to see Jeremy Irons wrestling with inane lines and trying to carry the movie all by himself. Malkovich has a cameo and an idiotic line (“As long as I am King, disloyalty will be punishable by death”), while Carlyle hams it up unabashedly as the villain Durza. The charms of Guillory are also under-utilised and wasted here.

THE LOWDOWN: I am sure many of us have seen better fantasy films on Hallmark and HBO than this lame adaptation of Paolini's “Eragon”.

TAN CHUI MUI Launches 'Love Conquers All'

MALAYSIAN writer-director Tan Chui Mui, 28, (pic) unveiled her latest movie, "Love Conquers All", to the local media and guests at a special screening at GSC MidValley in Kuala Lumpur on Dec 6. It was followed by a press conference with producer Amir Muhammad and local Indie film-maker Ho Yuhang, who helped in editing the film.

"Love Conquers All" is the story of Ah Ping (Coral Ong Li Whei) who arrives in Kuala Lumpur from her hometown in Penang to work at her aunt's mixed rice stall. Alone in a strange city, Ah Ping meets the predatory John (Stephen Chua Jyh Shyan) and finds herself attracted to him despite having a boyfriend back home whom she phones everyday. There is obviously something sinister in John's intentions for Ah Ping but she finds herself mysteriously drawn to him, both physically and emotionally.

The movie has won the FIPRESCI Award (from the International Film Critics) and shares the New Currents Award (for Best New Asian Film-maker of the Year) at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival. "Love Conquers All" will also be in competition at the 36th International Film Festival in Rotterdam next year, as well as taking part in the Goteborg Film Festival and the Fribourg Film Festival in Switzerland.

At an interview after the screening, Tan told this blogger that the movie was inspired by a story about pimps told to her by a friend during her stint at the Multimedia University. "I was also influenced by the beauty of my hometown in Sungai Ular, near Kuantan, and I have incorporated scenes from the village," she said. The movie was made at a RM100,000 budget.

Tan, a Film and Animation major from Multimedia University, started getting involved in film-making when she met local film-makers Amir Muhammad and James Lee in 2002. In 2004, she produced the local Tamil film, "Chemman Chaalai" ("The Gravel Road"). Last year, she quit her job as tutor at a university to concentrate on making movies. This year, she has produced both James Lee's "Before We Fall In Love Again" and Amir Muhammad's "Apa Khabar Orang Kampung".

She has also directed many short films, including "A Tree In Tanjung Malim" which won the Principal Prize at the 51st Oberhausen International Short Film Festival. Her next project, "Living Quietly" (about the effects of aging), has received the French CNC Script Development grant and will be produced by Philippe Avril of France.

Amir Muhammad and Tan Chui Mui (second and third from left) with GSC General Manager Irving Chee (left) and the cast of the movie at the press conference

YOUR WEEKEND PIC (Dec 9 - 10)

Hi folks, it is great to be back after a month-long stint in the US last month where I caught some of the latest movies, including the banned Borat. (Reviews of the other films will follow later). The jet lag is devastating, hence this late entry. Also, my sincere apologies to those who have been inconvenienced in one way or another.

1. HAPPY FEET (Animated feature with the voices of Robin Williams, Elijah Wood and Hugh Jackman) Rated * * * (out of 4): This tale, about a penguin who can’t sing but can dance like the blazes, is bound to set you tapping your feet and singing along with the catchy numbers. Just the family movie you need for the school holidays.

2. CASINO ROYALE (James Bond franchise with new lead Daniel Craig, Eva Green and Mads Mikkelsen) Rated * * * : Whaddaya know? The new Bond has real blood instead of shaken vodka in his veins! Yeah, this is a gritty and more human version of the British superspy – and one that 007 fans should thrill to.

3. AFTER THIS OUR EXILE (Shot in Malaysia HK movie with Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young and Gouw Ian Iskandar) Rated * * * : A touching and engaging drama of a nine-year-old boy who is caught between an abusive, gambling-addict father (Kwok) and a runaway mom. He learns to steal for his dad and faces life the hard way.

4. DEJA VU (Action thriller with Denzel Washington, Val Kilmer and Paula Patton) Rated * * * : For a time-travel movie by Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott, Déjà vu has enough plot and action to sustain it. And it has one of the most nail-biting car chase scenes to date!

5. POSSESSED (Local thriller in Cantonese starring Amber Chia, Harisu and Sharifah Amani) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 star): With a bigger budget and more attractive stars, all we get from director Bjarne Wong is a terribly cliched thriller that is way more laughable than scary. (I am including this in the pick just for those who like a taste of local efforts).

AFTER THIS OUR EXILE: A Touching Family Drama

AFTER THIS OUR EXILE (“Fu Zi” or ‘Father & Son’) (drama)
Cast: Aaron Kwok, Charlie Young, Gouw Ian Iskandar and Kelly Lin
Director: Patrick Lam
Time: 128 mins
Rating: * * * (out of 4)

WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL? Shot in Ipoh and Teluk Intan, Perak, this movie by Hong Kong director Patrick Lam feels very much like a local indie effort. It is what “Rain Dogs” could have been like if more attention had been paid to the narrative....

WHAT’S IT ABOUT? “After This Our Exile” is the story of nine-year-old Chow Lok Yuen (Gauw Ian Iskandar) who is saddled with an abusive, gambling-addict of a father (Aaron Kwok as Chow Cheong Sheng) and a long-suffering mother (Charlie Young as Ling) who is at her wit's end over their never-ending domestic problems. One day, Ling tries to run away and start a new life but the boy spills the beans to his father – and she ends up with a thrashing.
Sheng promises Ling that he would turn over a new leaf but when he is still hounded by loan sharks, Ling has had enough. Father and son return from a holiday to find Mommy gone. Left to fend for themselves, Sheng and son move to a cheap hotel where he meets a young call-girl (Kelly Lin as Ah Fong) and becomes her pimp. Yuen, on the other hand, starts pinching stuff from his friends...
Of course, Sheng could not stop borrowing from loan sharks to support his gambling habit and soon, he has to train his son to steal from friends and neighbours – with rather tragic consequences...

HIGHLIGHTS: This family drama is both touching and riveting. The simple plot (written by Patrick Tam and Tian Kai-Leung) tugs at our heart-strings and the chemistry between Kwok and Gouw bubbles throughout the show. Gouw's performance, as the innocent victim, is one that would certainly touch the heart of every parent in the audience, and Kwok, playing against type as an uncouth and uneducated bum, teems with a sense of vulnerability and false bravado. He is undoubtedly the villain of the piece and yet we feel sorry for him.
It is no wonder that “After This Our Exile” won the 2006 Golden Horse Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Kwok) and Best Supporting Actor (Gouw). Director Lam keeps the pace languid, capturing the rural Perak atmosphere of the Eighties and every nuance of life in the seedy hotel and suburbs. He punctuates many scenes with a lively piano score – and even opens the movie with the kiddie song, You Are My Sunshine, just to set the mood for the family tale.

LOWLIGHTS: At more than two hours, the movie can be a bit draggy, with repetitive scenes. However, most of us would be so involved in the story that we can overlook this flaw.

THE LOWDOWN: The movie is filmed in three versions (of differing lengths) for the Hong Kong, Malaysian and foreign markets. The Malaysian version is more than two hours long and seems repetitive but never boring. Throughout the movie, we wondered how it would end – and when it did, we just cannot complain. Many people have survived worse fathers than Sheng – and what remains is the ability to forgive.