Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone
Reviewed by YTSL
In large part, it's because I'm subtitle dependent
when I watch Hong Kong films. Another factor to take into account
is that there sometimes is so much more crammed into them than the human
eye and mind may be able to adequately deal with, particularly in a single,
continuous go. Something else to consider is that more than a few
of these offerings have a multi-layer and/or mixed-genre nature that can
still take some getting used to for someone whose cinematic experience
has been dominated for a large part of her life by Hollywood works.
For whatever reason, I do find that many Hong Kong movies improve upon
my viewing them a second -- or third, sometimes still more...! -- time.
However, such did not prove to be the case
with the critically but not commercially well received JIANG HU:
THE TRIAD ZONE. Instead, I actually reckon that my appreciation of
that which is certainly ambitiously innovative -- but may be too much so
for its own good -- went down a notch upon my not once, but twice, feeling
that: Although this Dante Lam helmed HKFA Best Picture nominee most
certainly has its compelling and entertaining moments, they really don't
seem to come and hang together all that well. This having been said,
I nonetheless will point out that the ultimately too loose feeling work
intrigued this (re)viewer enough the first time around to make me want
to re-watch and better get a handle on it (And, despite my being a fan
of repeat viewings, this is not something that I think of doing with all
that many movies).
The first few minutes of the film that precede
the on screen appearance of the words JIANG HU: THE TRIAD ZONE are
as showy and good a start to a movie as any I have ever seen. In
this short time, we are given a concise working definition of Jiang Hu
-- as a place without law but with rules, honor and rivalries -- by a Triad
boss named Jim Yam as well as an action-oriented introduction to this interesting
character (who gets played with aplomb by Tony Leung Kar Fai). This
is quickly followed by brief but informative -- and often amusing -- introductions
to some of the people whose lives are intertwined with the offering's main
man: His chief bodyguard (Yue comes in the form of Roy Cheung); his
(legal) counselor (Wai is portrayed by the impressive Chan Fai Hung); his
young mistress (Jo Jo is confidently played by newcomer, Lee San San);
and his complexly-drawn wife (Sophie -- whose name is pronounced more like
So-fa -- is a role that Sandra Ng can thoroughly sink her teeth into).
Before too long, it also gets revealed that someone
wants Jim Yam dead. Even as the underworld leader seeks to uncover
the identity of this individual (or group of individuals), he is making
plans to use the latest unsuccessful murder attempt as an excuse to get
rid of his chief rivals (or at least deprive them of their territory and
power). Although much of this may sound like old hat to those familiar
with the tons of Triad dramas churned out in past decades by Hong Kong
movie makers, it -- and what ensues in the rest of JIANG HU: THE
TRIAD ZONE -- sure gets played out -- and also shot (by Cheung Man-Po)
-- in ways that do come across as rather novel as well as unexpected.
For example, the first attack on Jim Yam's person plays more as a dark
comedy than serious event. Then there are the plot twists that comes
from at least a couple of the other Triad kingpins (who are played by Lee
Siu Kei and Siu Leung) turning out to be more concerned with health and
biological family than criminal and other matters.
The quirkiness quotient in JIANG HU: THE
TRIAD ZONE gets upped more with the appearance onto the scene of Master
Kwan Wan Cheung (who Anthony Wong portrays with a degree of seriousness
that can seem to be truly at odds with the fact that his character is an
appropriately unworldly Taoist god). At the same time, Master Kwan
and Sophie end up sharing a pool-side conversation about contemporary perceptions
of loyalty that -- together with a more emotional one that takes place
in a prison between a previously unknown character named Jeff (Eric Tsang
putting on yet another stunning performance in a small role) and Jim Yam
along with a revelation from Yue as to why he is willing to die for the
man in whose company he has spent much time -- seems to really cut to the
core of certain key issues that the film's makers are trying to address,
and not so much deconstruct but instead reveal as sometimes being crucially
differently enacted from the way they are often assumed to be.
If only JIANG HU: THE TRIAD ZONE had elaborated
as well as focused more on that which was only parceled out in too tiny
pieces and at times was in danger of getting lost in the parade of amusing
-- but insignificant, plot-wise -- cameo appearances by other famous names
and faces (who include Cantopop star Eason Chan, veteran actor Richard
Ng, Piggy Chan -- of "Chungking Express" fame -- plus directors Ann Hui
and Lee Lik Chi). I also felt that greater and better use ought to
have been made of the Young Turk pair of Tiger (newcomer Samuel Pang looks
like someone who bears watching out for in the future) and his girlfriend
(Jo Kuk has a face capable of expressions that once seen, are hard to forget)
even while recognizing how inspired was the decision to let Kei's widow
have the part to play in proceedings that she did (Helena Law Lan provides
the film with one of its most arresting moments).
Still, what I found particularly unsatisfactory
about JIANG HU: THE TRIAD ZONE were two of the film's final scenes.
With regards to one of them: It wasn't so much the violence but the
incongruously pleasant music that played as it was being enacted.
As for the other: Let's just say that it makes me suspect that the
screenwriting pair of Chan Hing Kar and Amy Chin (who also served as this
busy effort's executive producers) differed with regards to their thoughts
on what ought to be the fate of the movie's principal character (and thus
had the work end -- on the incomplete as well as less than conclusive
feeling note that it did).
My rating for this film: 7.
Reviewed by Brian
Jiang Hu was very nearly my favorite Hong Kong
film from last year (Only Spacked Out ranked higher) and it continues to
surprise me upon further viewings. It is a film with an overwhelming sense
of style that can barely contain itself upon the screen. Dante Lam concocts
such a visual gluttony of lurid colors, images and angles that one might
suspect that the film is much more style than substance. But that to me
is the true brilliance of this film – that underneath all the cinematic
bravado and its constant playing with our expectations is a story that
works on various levels and delivers a truly humanistic message.
The viewer might initially assume that they are
in yet another triad film, but it soon becomes clear that Dante Lam is
slyly poking fun at the genre with some absolutely hilarious deadpan tongue
in cheek humor. With an obvious jesting nod to Milkyway’s The Mission,
the plot seemingly revolves around some unknown party trying to kill the
triad head – even with an under the car/sniping scene that is more humorous
than tense. But instead of a minimalist and focused plot, this story riffs
repeatedly in all sorts of unexpected directions. The basic plot is really
only an excuse for Dante to examine the life of this triad leader, of the
triad life style, of the concept of loyalty or the lack of it in the modern
world and of the depths of love.
Underneath the cinematic theatrics and the deadpan
humor lies the real heart of this film – a sense of being human, of being
mortal, of being unique, of dealing with a changing world that flies by
all too quickly . Almost in a sneaky manner, by the end of the film Lam
has constructed some of the most realized characters ever in a triad film.
Not only does he create a highly complex main character in Jim Yan who
is very flawed - devious at times, cruel at times - and yet still
somehow good and generous and in love with his wife – but Dante also wonderfully
fills in the characters of the supporting players. In what other triad
film has the wife of the boss had such depth, or has the bodyguard been
much more than a silent heroic type or the lawyer been more than a mouthpiece
– but here they all have very distinct personalities. Dante gives them
a wistful sense of being real – of existing away from the camera’s lens.
And that though Jim Yan is the main focus of this film – every character
in it has their life outside and apart from his - whether it be his
wife or his mistress or the young tough couple or his rivals – they all
matter. By the end of the film, Jim Yan has embraced this humanistic notion
and the forgiveness he shows redeems him completely.
My rating for this film: 8.0
DVD Information:
Distributed by Mei Ah
The transfer is excellent - nice crisp colors.
Letterboxed
Cantonese and Mandarin language tracks - Dolby
surround sound
9 Chapters
The subtitles are Chinese or English or none.
There is no trailer for this film - but there
are for A War Named Desire and here's a first for me - the Hollywood film
U571.