Bai ri yan huo

English title: Black Coal, Thin Ice

Genre: crime drama

With: Fan Liao (Zhang Zili, the badass detective), Gwei Lun-Mei (Wu Zhizhen, the widow), Jingchun Wang (Rong Rong, the laundry owner), Ailei Yu (Captain Wang, Zhang’s friend), Jingyang Ni (Su Lijuan), Xuebing Wang (Liang Zhijun)

Director: Yi’nan Diao

Screenplay: Yi’nan Diao

Release: 2014

Studio: Omnijoi Media Corporation, Boneyard Entertainment China, Fortissimofilms et al.

Rating: -

MBiS score: 8.5/10 

 

‟Hey, did they find the head?” 

 

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Story-line: in 1999, while cracking a gruesome murder case in which victims were dismembered, Zhang loses two colleagues and is severely injured during the final arrest. Five years later, given to drink and scraping by as a security guard, Zhang feels his investigative instincts rekindled when an old buddy on the force tells him about a new string of murders committed in much the same way as in 1999.

Pluses: solid acting by Fan Liao (a Silver Bear winner in Berlin as the dominant character here), Gwei Lun-Mei and a flawless supporting cast, tight, economical but dynamic direction, a busy, quirky and mysterious screenplay bolstered by interesting characters, odd events and a few very funny moments, lovely and unusually atmospheric cinematography (as most of the action happens in winter), top-quality production values, a fine, varied musical score and a bizarre, open-ended denouement.

Minuses: be especially alert during the first 20 minutes when facts come by fast and furious (or watch the opening segment a second time to really get into the groove of things).

Comments: I will be brief because I don’t want to spoil this one for you. The more you watch this product of recent Chinese cinema, the more it grows on you with its action-packed, enigmatic story and spunky protagonist. Kudos to Yi’nan Diao, a Golden Bear winner, and to everyone involved! 

 

MBiS 

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A Touch of Evil

Genre: crime drama (in black and white)

With: Charlton Heston (Mike Vargas), Janet Leigh (Susan Vargas), Orson Welles (Police Captain Hank Quinlan), Joseph Calleia (Police Sergeant Pete Menzies), Akim Tamiroff (Joe Grandi), Joanna Moore (Marcia Linnekar), Ray Collins (District Attorney Adair), Dennis Weaver (Mirador Motel Night Manager), Valentin de Vargas (Pancho), Mort Mills (Al Schwartz), Marlene Dietrich (Tanya)

Director: Orson Welles

Screenplay: Orson Welles, Franklin Coen and Paul Monash (from the novel by Whit Masterson)

Release: 1958

Studio: Universal International Pictures

Rating: PG-13

MBiS score: 8.8/10 

 

The (Very) Long Arm of the Law 

 

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Story-line: while on their honeymoon in a town straddling the US border, Mike Vargas, a Mexican official, and his bride Susan are near witnesses to a crime that may have international implications. Volunteering as a legal observer, Mike readily finds fault with the investigation carried out by Captain Quinlan, who openly complains that Mike is interfering with his work. A mild disagreement, perhaps…

Pluses: excellent acting by Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh and a very impressive Orson Welles, fine support from an able cast (Marlene Dietrich’s contribution is priceless), brilliant, fast-paced direction, a busy, complex and scary screenplay allowing for lots of atmosphere, action and punchy dialogues, winning cinematography, thoughtful editing, top-grade production values, a varied musical score responsive to every mood and a potent, disconcerting ending.

Minuses: some lines of dialogue are quite demeaning to Mexicans.

Comments: in a way similar to Roman Polanski’s CHINATOWN, A TOUCH OF EVIL draws you into a world of tawdry dealings and amoral characters. Memorable for its perversity, enigmatic story and star power, Orson Welles’ perfect work is a must-see for movie buffs. Some experts have rated it a masterpiece… and I won’t argue with that!

  

MBiS 

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