BLACK COAL, THIN ICE reviewed; debuts today on Blu-ray™, DVD & Digital HD from Well Go USA

Well Go USA

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Black Coal, Thin Ice

Written & Directed by Yi’nan Diao 

China, 2014, 106 minutes

Black Coal, This Ice is an outstanding police procedural written and directed by Yi’nan Diao (Night Train, Uniform). It debuts today, September 29th, on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital HD from Well Go USA Entertainment. For this review, I watched the Blu-ray version.

The film begins in 1999 as a human hand and forearm are found in a coal delivery, the latest body parts that have been found in such deliveries in cities scattered across an entire Chinese province. Based on an ID card and clothes, the victim is identified as Liang Zhijun (Xuebing Wang, Beijing Love Story), who for eight years had worked at a truck scale station that weighed coal deliveries.

Based on the cities where the parts have been found and the fact that only one driver made deliveries to all those cities around the time the body parts began to show up, the police arrest the driver, Liu Fayin, and a relative. However, things go wrong as the arrests are being made and several individuals are killed or injured. One of those injured is Sgt. Zhang Zili, played by Fan Liao (Chinese Zodiac).

Five years later, Zhang has been transferred to a security team, a much lower position. He regularly shows up for work late and drunk. One day he notices Detective Wang, a former colleague, in a car and goes over to say hello. It turns out that Wang is on a stakeout, leading the investigation of Wu Zhizhen, the widow of Liang Zhijun. Wu, a laundry shop clerk, is played by Lun Mei Gwei (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate). It seems that two men who have been interested in Wu have going missing.

Zhang takes it upon himself to investigate the case, drawn to Wu and hoping to redeem himself from the fiasco of five years ago. He discovers that all is not necessarily as it seems and his personal involvement with Wu threatens to color his response to his findings.

Black Coal, Thin Ice has won several awards at various film festivals, including the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival, where Yi’nan Diao received the Golden Bear award and Fan Liao won the Silver Bear award as Best Actor. Yi'nan Diao won Best Screenwriter and Fan Liao Best Actor at the 2015 Asian Film Awards, and Yi'nan Diao also won Best Director at the 2014 Odessa International Film Festival.

Disc Specs
-- Audio:
  -- Mandarin DTS-HD 5.1
  -- Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0
-- Subtitles:
  -- English
  -- Off
-- Extras:
  -- Black Coal, Thin Ice trailer
  -- Trailers of three other Well Go USA releases
    -- Wild City
    -- Z Storm
    -- Killers

In general, I haven't had a very high opinion of recent Mainland Chinese films, but Black Coal, Thin Ice is an exception. It's a smart, well-written, directed and acted crime thriller that really delivers. It has some nice plot developments and maintains a high degree of suspense.

AsianCineFest Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; highly recommended

FIRESTORM available on Blu-ray, DVD & Digital today, September 23

Well Go USA

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Firestorm / Fung bou

Written and Directed by Alan Yuen

Starring Andy Lau

Hong Kong/China, 2013, 109 minutes

Tagline: A citywide outbreak

Firestorm is an  action-packed crime thriller that is now available on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital from Well Go USA Entertainment. This review is based on the Blu-ray release.

As a severe storm approaches Hong Kong, an audacious and ruthless gang of criminals perpetrate a series of armed robberies. Just how audacious are they? Well, I'd say their using a huge crane to hook a moving armored car is way up there on the list. And as for ruthless, let's just say that they have no qualms about letting loose with fusillades of gunfire on public streets, totally indifferent as to whether they're killing and injuring civilians or police officers.

The forces of the law are led by Police Inspector Lui (Andy Lau, who also co-produced the film). He's a by-the-books kind of officer, but he increasingly turns to extra-legal and morally questionable actions to kill or capture the criminals.His frustrations are complicated by the cops under his command, whom he describes as being "drunks, divorced or gamblers."

The fine cast also includes:
- Michael Wong (Triple Tap)
- Ray Lui Leung-Wai (Transformers: Age of Extinction)
- Ka Tung Lam (Drug War, Ip Man)
- Jun Hu (Bodyguards & Assassins)
- Chen Yao (Caught in the Web)
- Vincent Sze (Vengeance)
- Chi-yin Wong (Life Without Principle)
- Shing-Ban Lam (Young and Dangerous: Reloaded).

Disc Stats:
Soundtracks:
- Cantonese 5.1 DTS HDMA
- Cantonese 2.0 Stereo
Subtitles:
- English
- Off
Bonus Materials
- “The Making of Firestorm” which includes very good mini-featurettes on:
   - Andy Lau
   - Yao Chen
   - Lam Ka Tung
   - The Criminals
   - Action Choreography
   - Action Scenes
   - Visual and Special Effects
   - Crossfire Scene
- Firestorm Trailer
- Trailers for three other Well Go USA offerings

Firestorm had its New York Premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival this past July, where it was shown in its original 3D format as Firestorm 3D. Regretfully, it was one of numerous screenings that I would have liked to have seen, but couldn't make. So I can't comment on how the film looks in 3D, but some of the scenes were clearly shot with the intention to have maximum impact in that format. In any case, the film doesn't seem to suffer at all in 2D. It looks quite fine, as far as I'm concerned.

If, like me, you're a big fan of the street shootout in Michael Mann's Heat (1995), or if you just like your action film filled with several balls-to-the-wall action sequences, you will absolutely love Firestorm.

AsianCineFest rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars, very highly recommended.

Happy Birthday wishes to Johnnie To

Writer, producer and director Johnnie To was born in Hong Kong on April 22, 1955. He's probably best known for his crime/action or policier films. Among the more than 50 movies he's directed are:

The Mission (1999

 

PTU (2003)

 

Drug War (2012)

 
Such well known Hong Kong stars as Simon Yam, Andy Lau, and Suet Lam frequently star in To vehicles.

So Happy 59th Birthday wishes to you Johnnie. Looking forward to more great films from you in the future.

Filipino action crime drama ON THE JOB reviewed

Well Go USA

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On the Job

Directed by Erik Matti

Philippines, 2013, 121 minutes

If you haven't yet watched On the Job, get ready and get set for one of the best crime thrillers ever! It came out on Blu-ray, DVD and digital last month and quite simply it is not to be missed!

Tatang completes an assignment

The film, "inspired by true events," concerns two contract killers. Tatang (Joel Torre) is middle aged; Daniel (Gerald Anderson), his younger accomplice, serves as back up. And hey, have they got the perfect alibi for each of their hits: they couldn't have committed the crimes because they were incarcerated! In this tale of corruption at the highest level of the political and military leadership of the Philippines, Tatang and Daniel are doing the dirty work for these leaders, who arrange for them to leave and return to the prison where they have been serving lengthy sentences.

Federal agent Francis Coronel Jr. (left) and Sergeant Acosta

When they take out a prominent drug dealer, Federal agent Francis Coronel Jr. (exceedingly handsome Piolo Pascual) is assigned to handle the case. He's the thirty-two year old son-in-law of a prominent politician. Sergeant Acosta (Joey Marquez), who had been handling the case, is resentful of it being taken, but eventually comes to work well with Coronel as the extent of corruption begins to become apparent.

Filipino 5.1 or 2.0 soundtracks, both with optional English subtitles, are available.

Bonus Material:
- a "Making of" featurette (6:37)
- Deleted scenes (37:52)
- Trailer

On the Job is a gripping film that's much more than a taut crime tale. It's a terrific action drama that explores both family dynamics and personal relationships.

ACF Rating: 4 out of 4 stars; highest recommendation. On the Job is outstanding; to repeat what I wrote earlier, it's simply not to be missed!

SPECIAL ID opens in limited North American release this Friday

Well Go USA

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Special ID / Te shu shen fen

Directed by Clarence Fok Yiu-leung

China, 2013, 99 minutes

Special ID, is a rip-roaring action film directed by Clarence Fok (known for 1992's classic Naked Killer) and stars Donnie Yen. It opens on Friday, March 7th in New York and Los Angeles, with a national release to follow. (Check out the official Special ID website at Well Go USA for information about cities, theaters, roll-out dates and showtimes.)

I attended a pre-release press screening here in New York on February 24th. In a nutshell, Special ID is a WINNER! Donnie plays undercover detective Chen Zilong who is known in the criminal underworld he's infiltrated as "Dragon" Chen. There's lots of suspicion, distrust and betrayal going on, as one might expect in this kind of film. And action sequences a-plenty; very fine action sequences as far as I'm concerned. Lots of fisticuffs as well as a nicely done car chase in which Volvos are prominently featured. (China's Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. completed its purchase of Ford Motor Co's Volvo unit in August 2010.)

Donnie doin' what he does  best: puttin' the hurt on an opponent.

With Sammo Hung, Jackie Chan and Jet Li in the "aging out" process, "Donnie the Prince" is becoming "Donnie the King" of Chinese action movies. His role here is somewhat similar to Tony Leung's in John Woo's Hard Boiled. In fact, Special ID's action scenes have the intensity of Woo's old "bullet ballets" but with fists, elbows, knees and feet instead of guns, and without the slow mo' and white doves.

The film brought to mind some of the other great Hong Kong films of the 1990s, including Jackie Chan's Police Story series. I make these comparisons in the most respectful way. Whether or not Fok intended to hint at that golden age of Honk Kong actioners, I found it very enjoyable to experience once again the awesomely satisfying feeling of watching those great films.

Mainland police officer Fang Jing (Tian Jing, center)

Lovely Tian Jing (The Warring States, Police Story 2013) is fine looking as Fang Jing, a Mainland cop who's at loggerheads with Chen. She does surprisingly well in the action scenes, though she seems to be clearly doubled in some of the more dangerous ones, which would be no surprise. Her delicate bone structure does make her physical toughness a bit far-fetched. (Her arms are so thin that she remind me of Phoebe, the character with "avian bone syndrome" in the television show 30 Rock.) No matter, she's perfectly fine in the role and provides a welcome respite from the abundant testosterone with which the film is imbued.

Special ID is one helluva fine actioner. Thanks to Well Go USA for bringing yet another terrific Asian film to North American theaters. Seeing it is guaranteed to satisfy your "action Jones."

ACF Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very highly recommended.

ACF 2076: DRUG WAR available tomorrow from Well Go USA

Well Go USA 

Presents

 Drug War / Du zhan

Directed by Johnny To

Starring Louis Koo, Sun Honglei and Michelle Ye Debuting

China/Hong Kong, 2012, 107 minutes
In Chinese with English subtitles

Veteran Hong Kong producer/director Johnnie To's hit police procedural Drug War will be debuting on Blu-ray™, DVD and Digital (video-on-demand, electronic sell-through and streaming) tomorrow, Tuesday, October 15th, 2013, courtesy of those fine folk at Well Go USA. The film had its New York premiere at the New York Asian Film Festival this past July 5th and later in the summer enjoyed a limited nationwide release. Now those in North America who haven't seen it can find out first hand what all the acclaim was about and those who have seen it will be able to enjoy it again and again at their leisure. (Note: This review is based on the Blu-ray version.)

Timmy Choi's car crashes into a restuarant

The film begins by focusing on three vehicles, each one in some way tied to the meth trade. One is a car being driven erratically by Timmy Choi (Louis Koo); a factory of his for manufacturing the substance has just been destroyed in an explosion. Another vehicle is a bus that develops mechanical problems at a Jinhai city toll both. The third is a truck transporting the raw ingredients for manufacturing meth. It's being trailed by Guo and Chen, two members of the Yuejiang Anti-Drug squad.

Booking time for Timmy (Louis Koo)

After Timmy's car finally ends up crashing into a restaurant, his involvement in the drug trade is discovered and he's taken into custody by Captain Zhang (Sun Honglei) of the Jinhai Anti-Drug Squad. The situation isn't good for Timmy because in China manufacturing as little s 50 grams of meth carries a a death sentence, and his production was way beyond that. He's able to strike a deal by agreeing to provide vital information to Zhang so that he can effectively wage a drug war against the providers of the raw ingredients, the factories that make the drug, and those involved with its distribution.

Timmy, left, and Captain Zhang (Sun Honglei)

The film is a remarkably taut policier, beautifully structured so that it can maintain edge-of-your-seat suspense even when there's no action per se. For example, Zhang, with Timmy's assistance and tutelage, goes undercover as both a provider/manufacturer and then as a distributor. Things can go wrong at any moment, and sometimes they do. But just when, in what way, and how badly -- well, that's what keeps things suspenseful.

There are really only two really big action sequences, but they're done -- as one would expect from Johnnie To -- with class, style, and a lot of firepower. The truly climactic shootout finale rivals the street battle in Michael Mann's Heat (1995).

Zhang during the final set-piece shoot-out

Although the disc is essentially bereft of special features (there's just a trailer for the film and previews of other Well Go USA releases), Drug War would be a welcome addition to the collection of any fan of Hong Kong cinema, Johnnie To's films in particular, or police procedurals in general.

ACF Rating: 3.5 out of 4 stars; very highly recommended.

Below are some links for further reading about Drug War.

Other reviews of Drug War:
AsianCineFest (Guest review by Colleen Wanglund)
David Bordwell
HeroicSisterhood.com 
Ric Meyers (Drug War is the third film reviewed in this article)

Interviews with Johnnie To:
Ain't It CoolNews.com
BadAssDigest.com
Film.com
TwitchFilm.com