Movie Review: To Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄

I missed this as a Movie Night viewing since I had a speaking engagement on the film's opening night. But I got to hang out with Yu Yung Yung, so it was very worth it.I was on my own for the viewing, which took place last week at the fabled Dynasty Theater in Mongkok. I normally don't like to go to movies alone, but I knew I wanted to see this in a theater, in Mongkok, so I made an exception.

We all know that I love Wong Jing and his films.

I love his films as much as I hate some others.

I will defend him and his films as vociferously as I will excoriate others.Remember, Wong Jing is like McDonalds. You eat it because you want that comfortable feeling of familiarity, of an unchanging history.

Of grease, and cheese, and a chocolate pie. To Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄 isn't a front-runner for any Golden Horse awards. Its plot, characters, and approach are all very familiar, even well-worn: gangster gets out of jail and wants to escape 'the life.' Hence the title.

Do you really think he can? Neither did I. But so what?So no surprises there. We've seen it all before, but we could say that about Rebellion, which was also a film worth watching.

But Rebelliondoesn't have award-winning actor Nick Cheung Kar Fai in the lead role. A major plus forTo Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄.  At the same time, a major difficultyis that Nick Cheung just doesn't look like he could have been in prison for 30 years.

Unless he was sent up at the age of 12.To Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄delivers a lot of what we watch Wong Jing movies for. Including Wong Jing himself, who plays a pimp with a heart of gold, some good old-fashioned goo wak jaistreet brawls replete with knives that they tie to their hands, and 'northern mushrooms' (北姑).

My favorite vegetarian dish. Even if it's made with chicken. Many of you know that my biggest problem with recent films is their failure to achieve their ambitions, especially when the people who make them seem so very confident of themselves.

Oddly enough, it is precisely whereTo Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄fails that I find the greatest appreciation for it. The film takes chances, and those chances are not always positively resolved, but they are entertaining.

The film starts with a visually interesting flashback combining live action and animation. It's very un-pretentiousness helps it work, even as we may find ourselves smirking a bit. But it shows that Wong Jing is at least trying.

It also shows the title card twice, which I found interesting.

Casting Natalie '柴油' Meng Yao(孟尧) as a mildly retarded Chinese girl brought to Hong Kong to be a prostitute poses several risks.

What allows柴油to keep abreast (!) of her fellow movie people is not her acting:Milk contains calcium, an essential mineral for strong bones and teeth...But she tries, and its at least interesting to see her play a character for whom the idea of sexuality, so much the basis for her previous roles, is simply revolting to contemplate.

While Wong Jing does manage to be exploitative with Meng's character, it is thankfully not in a sexual way.

And God bless her, because when she says she is very touched by all the compliments she got on playing such a convincing character that she doesn't seem to understand its not an affirmation of her acting skills as much as it's a piss-take.

There are, as in all films, things which require a suspension of disbelief. But the weight requirement for at least one of those suspensions exceeds my own weight. It takes place in a funeral home and involves柴油.When you watch the film, you'll see what I mean. The cinematography and the story at times attempt to lend the film a surreal quality, with varying levels of success. Nevertheless, its nice to see someone make an honest, sincere, non-arrogant attempt.

If Wong Jing was really as much of a hack as people like to say, then why has he been making films for three decades? I'd much rather watch his reach exceed his grasp than watch another film whose hype and self-assurance far exceeds its delivery.

Maybe I'm being too generous with this film. But I don't think so. Because Wong Jing never acts like his films are anything more than calculated commercial entertainment.To Live and Die in Mongkok/ /旺角監獄entertained me, and so it did its job.

It didn't entertain me unintentionally, either. I enjoyed this film, even as imperfect as it is.It's an interesting film, and I recommend watching it.