Asian Films at AFI FEST

From the official announcement (films listed alphabetically):

AFI FEST 2004 presented by Audi

ETHAN MAO * World Premiere *
Directed by Quentin Lee
USA/Canada/87 min.

A psychological thriller, a familial drama and a surprising love story all rolled into one under the assured direction of Asian-American filmmaker Quentin Lee. Kicked out of his house because he's gay, Ethan returns in secret to collect a few prized possessions. An angry confrontation results in Ethan taking the family hostage.

Director Quentin Lee will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Wednesday November 10 at 9:30 p.m.
Saturday November 13 at 12:30 p.m.

INFERNAL AFFAIRS
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
Hong Kong/97 min.

A cop and a gang member are assigned to catch each other. Sound simple? Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai star in this incredibly tense thriller that turns the game of cat and mouse on its head, even as its characters are haunted by desperation and sadness. In Cantonese with English subtitles

Director Andrew Lau will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Saturday November 13 at 4:45 p.m.
Sunday November 14 at 1:30 p.m.

INFERNAL AFFAIRS II
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
Hong Kong/119 min.

The prequel to Hong Kong's most popular movie of the past five years tells about two desperate criminal families battling each other and the police for control of the city. Anthony Wong, Eric Tsang and Francis Ng lead an all-star cast in this intimate epic. In Cantonese with English subtitles

Director Andrew Lau will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Saturday November 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday November 14 at 4:00 p.m.

INFERNAL AFFAIRS III
Directed by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak
Hong Kong/118 min.

Andy Lau and Tony Leung Chiu Wai return in the final chapter of the award-winning saga. The events of the first film are both anticipated and deconstructed with a moody, meditative lens that encompasses surprising action, brief moments of joy and the search for eternal redemption. In Cantonese with English subtitles

Director Andrew Lau will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Saturday November 13 at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday November 14 at 7:00 p.m.

KOMA * North American Premiere *
Directed by Lo Chi Leung
Hong Kong/98 min.

Organ thieves and a bitter love triangle commingle with shocking effect in this late night thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder and double-locking your doors. Dynamic performances by rising stars Karena Lam and Angelica Lee and very fine direction add substance to the jolts. In Cantonese with English subtitles

Director Lo Chi Leung will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Thursday November 11 at 7:00 p.m.
Friday November 12 at 7:00 p.m.

ONG BAK: THAI WARRIOR
Directed by Prachya Pinkaew
Thailand/108 min.

You will believe a man can fly (no, really). Eschewing CGI and mechanical assistance of any kind, Tony Jaa kicks, punches and leaps his way through one breathless action sequence after another, all to reclaim a sacred icon stolen from his village. Jackie Chan, you may now retire. In Thai with English subtitles

* Special LIVE performance with guests Tony Jaa, director Prachya Pinkaew and a stunt team
* Friday November 5 at 9:45 p.m.

Sunday November 7 at 2:00 p.m.

RAHTREE: FLOWER OF THE NIGHT * US Premiere *
Directed by Yuthlert Sippapak
Thailand/110 min.

Horror and black comedy collide in this unique blend of the mirthful and macabre. Shy university student Buphan Rahtree succumbs to the charms of a rich and handsome playboy, who promptly abandons her when she gets pregnant. She resolves to exact revenge, even if she has to die to get it. In Thai with English subtitles

Director Yuthlert Sippapak will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Sunday November 7 at 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday November 9 at 4:00 p.m.

SEOUL TRAIN * World Premiere *
Directed by Jim Butterworth, Lisa Sleeth, Aaron Lubarsky
USA/China/South Korea/55 min.

Featuring riveting footage of a secretive "underground railroad," SEOUL TRAIN is a gripping exposé into the life and death struggles of North Koreans as they try to escape their homeland. Through personal stories and expert interviews, the film also delves into the complex geopolitics behind this growing humanitarian crisis. In Korean, English and Mandarin with English subtitles

Directors Jim Butterworth, Lisa Sleeth and Aaron Lubarsky will participate in a Q&A following both screenings.

Friday November 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday November 7 at 2:30 p.m.

All Screenings are at the ArcLight Hollywood
6360 Sunset Boulevard at Ivar

Tickets and Passes On Sale Now!
For passes, tickets and screening details,
Please call 1.866.AFIFEST or visit www.AFI.com

Rainy Returns

Site News: For the first time in six months, it's rained in Los Angeles. It's been almost that long since I updated the site. Thanks for visiting!

Box Office Monday: Is it good or bad that Miramax's SHALL WE DANCE? was only a moderate success at the box office this past weekend? Reportedly budgeted at $50 million, the Hollywood remake of the Japanese original stars Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, and Jennifer Lopez. The Los Angeles Times was kind enough, which generally reflected the view of mainstream critics, but it was difficult to get very excited about the picture. Per-screen average of $6,649 was fine, but a limited number of screens (for a wide release) resulted in a total of $11.7 million, good for 4th place in the charts.

(Speaking of box office poison Lopez, she made a supremely irritating appearance on the David Letterman show last week, in which she responded to his gentle questions about her personal life with either one-word answers or silence -- as though it's a state secret that she's married, or that she met her current husband while he was otherwise engaged, er, married. What a hypocritical wench.)

Miramax must be patting itself on the back for HERO, which has less to do with its marketing campaign than accidental good timing and the audience's yearning for a bit of exotic action. When I saw it, one week after it's general release, I heard several derogatory comments. In general, though, I think people responded as did my moviegoing companions that night -- beautiful, unique, and recommended. The numbers: $893 per-screen average in 395 theaters; $52.8 million cumulative total. Region 1 DVD release is scheduled for November 30.

GHOST IN THE SHELL 2: INNOCENCE has received only lukewarm reviews, yet it's held on in limited release, with a per-screen average nearly identical to HERO ($850) for a much more modest -- though still likely profitable -- total of $856,451.

Continuing into its 7th week of release, TAE-GUK-GI: THE BROTHERHOOD OF WAR is likely a pleasant surprise for distributor IDP. Several reviews pointed out the heavy-handed melodrama, but audiences are still coming: per-screen average of $1,139 and a total gross of $1,035.632.

Five positions lower on the chart at #95, JU-ON: THE GRUDGE is making its way around the country and is now playing at 13 theaters. The Japanese original will probably get some additional publicity when the American remake opens shortly. Totals: $1,210 per-screen average; $295,176 cumulative.

(Frankly, the remake trailers have creeped me out, and I'm eager to see it, despite having missed my opportunity to see the original when it played here in Los Angeles.)

I'm very puzzled about Miramax's decision to limit the release of INFERNAL AFFAIRS. I wonder if it's a victim of the company recent lay-offs. Naturally, the easy conclusion to reach is that the company is conducting business as usual and burying a worthy Asian film, but I'm not so sure that's the case here. In any event, even playing at just one theater, the film had a nice per-screen figure of $6,308, for a miserly total of $89,594. Region 1 DVD release (with an insulting and misleading cover) is scheduled for December 7.

Right behind IA on the charts at #104, this week Kino International released the Korean erotic drama UNTOLD SCANDAL on four screens, averaging about $6,700 each, for a total of $1,503.

Trailing still lower on the charts were an incredible FIVE (5) more Asian films: THE TWILIGHT SAMURAI, WARRIORS OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, GODZILLA (Original Version), ZHOU YU'S TRAIN, and GOODBYE, DRAGON INN.

I don't know if the number of Asian films currently in release is a record (I count 11), but it does hold out a tiny ray of hope for better days ahead.

(All box office figures courtesy of Box Office Mojo.)

Amazing Year for Asian Films in America

Consider: At least in Los Angeles, HERO is still playing in cinemas after more than a month. After several weeks, TAE-GUK-GI (described as too melodramatic by one local critic) is still playing, albeit in limited engagements. We're about two months away from HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS, and Sony Pictures Classics looks like it will give the film all the support it needs.

So, Miramax is holding INFERNAL AFFAIRS to New York City right now -- has it spread to San Francisco yet? It's not yet in Los Angeles. Still, it's out there somewhere.

And next Wednesday night I can finally talk about all the Asian films that will be playing at AFI FEST from November 4-14. (Lest I mislead anyone, it's not a large number, not as many as I would like, but it's a quality bunch.) Yes, a Gala Presentation on Saturday, November 6 of HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS will be held at the Cinerama Dome. (That's already been announced.) Yes, some people whose names you might recognize are scheduled to attend, as I just learned today.

Near the end of the year I'd like to look back and highlight why this has been a very good year for Asian film distribution in America -- though improvement can always be made, next year already has several high-profile titles in the pipeline.

For right now, I have only a few days to find someplace to live and clear out an entire house.

Peace, out.