Film-Forward

Martial arts

The Assassin

It’s been eight years since Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-hsien’s last feature, the Paris-set Flight of the Red Balloon (2007), and the idea for his latest film, The Assassin, had been gestating in his mind for a quarter of a century. But now, Hou’s unique and idiosyncratic take on the wuxia (martial arts films) has finally […]

The Dead Lands

Directed by Toa Fraser Produced by Matthew Metcalfe and Glenn Standring. Written by Glenn Standring Released by Magnet Releasing Maori with English subtitles New Zealand. 107 min Rated R With James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, and Te Kohe Tuhaka In terms of plot and emotional development, this brutal coming-of-age film is essentially as clichéd as any […]

Journey to the West

Directed by Stephen Chow Produced by Chow and Ivy Kong Written by Chow, Derek Kwok, Huo Xin, Wang Yun, Fung Chih Chiang, Lu Zheng Yu, Lee Sheung Ching and Kong Released by Magnet Releasing Mandarin with English subtitles China. 110 min. Rated PG-13 With Wen Zhang, Shu Qi, Huang Bo, and Show Lo Stephen Chow’s […]

Man of Tai Chi

Directed by Keanu Reeves Produced by Lemore Syvan Written by Matthew G. Cooney Released by Radius/TWC USA/China/Hong Kong. 105 min. Rated R With Tiger Chen, Keanu Reeves, Karen Mok, Simon Yam, Ye Qing & Yu Hai The first thought that comes to mind when looking at the trailer for Man of Tai Chi is “Aw, […]

The Grandmaster

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai Written by Zou Jingzhi, Xu Haofeng & Wong, based on a story by Wong Produced by Wong & Jacky Pang Yee Wah Released by the Weinstein Company Mandarin with English subtitles Hong Kong/China. 130 min. Rated PG-13 With Tony Leung, Ziyi Zhang, Zhao Benshan, Chang Chen & Wang Qingxiang It would […]

Only God Forgives

Written & Directed by Nicolas Winding Refn Produced  by Refn, Lene Borglum, Sidonie Dumas & Vincent Maraval Released by Radius/TWC France/Thailand/USA/Sweden. 90 min. Rated R (what else?) With Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Tom Burke, Rhatha Phongam & Gordon Brown In the seedy underbelly of Bangkok, Billy (Tom Burke), a calm but salacious […]

The Guillotines

Directed by Andrew Lau Produced by Peter Ho-Sun Chan & Jojo Hui Yuet-chun Written by Aubrey Lam & Joyce Chan; Released by Well Go USA Mandarin with English subtitles. China/Hong Kong. 113. Rated R With Huang Xiaoming, Ethan Juan, Shawn Yue & Li Yuchun The latest film from director Andrew Lau (Infernal Affairs) kicks off […]