Fallen Angels (1995 film)
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| Fallen Angels | |
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| Directed by | Wong Kar-wai |
| Produced by | Jeffrey Lau |
| Written by | Wong Kar-wai |
| Starring | Leon Lai Takeshi Kaneshiro Michelle Reis Charlie Yeung Karen Mok |
| Distributed by | Kino International |
| Release date(s) | Sept. 6 1995 (Hong Kong) Jan. 30 1998 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 90 min 96 min (Fra and Ger) |
| Language | Cantonese |
| Preceded by | Chungking Express (1994) |
| Followed by | Happy Together (1997) |
| IMDb profile | |
| Chinese name | |
| Simplified Chinese: | 堕落天使 |
| Traditional Chinese: | 墮落天使 |
| Pinyin: | Duòluò Tiānshǐ |
Fallen Angels (traditional Chinese: 墮落天使; simplified Chinese: 堕落天使; pinyin: Duòluò Tiānshǐ) is a 1995 Hong Kong movie written and directed by Wong Kar-wai, starring Leon Lai, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Michelle Reis, Charlie Yeung and Karen Mok.
Fallen Angels is usually considered a companion piece to Chungking Express. It was originally conceived as the third story for Chungking Express, but Fallen Angels can be considered a sequel due to similar themes, locations and methods of filming, while one of the main characters lives in the Chungking Mansions and works at the Midnight Express food stall.
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[edit] Plot outline
Set in contemporary Hong Kong, a disillusioned hitman embarks on his last hit but first he has to overcome the affections of his cool, detached partner he rarely sees. Thinking it is dangerous and improper to become involved with a colleague, he tries to find a surrogate for his affections. Against the sordid and surreal urban nightscape, he crosses paths with a strange drifter looking for her ex-boyfriend and a mute trying to get the world's attention in his own ways.
[edit] Soundtrack
Featured in the "Fallen Angels" soundtrack is a version of "Forget Him" sung by Shirley Kwan, a reworking of the classic by Teresa Teng, and one of the very few 'comtemporary' Cantopop songs ever used by Wong Kar Wai in his films. In the film, the song is used as a message from the hitman to his partner.
The Flying Pickets version of "Only You" was used in the last scene of the Wong Kar-Wai film.[1]
[edit] Critical reception
In the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert gave Fallen Angels three stars out of a possible four:
"It's kind of exhausting and kind of exhilarating. It will appeal to the kinds of people you see in the Japanese animation section of the video store, with their sleeves cut off so you can see their tattoos. And to those who subscribe to more than three film magazines. And to members of garage bands. And to art students. It's not for your average moviegoers--unless of course, they want to see something new."[2]
Stephen Holden of the New York Times was also admiring:
"Fallen Angels is a densely packed suite of zany vignettes that have the autonomy of pop songs or stand-up comic riffs, all stitched together with repetitive shots of elevated trains, underground subway stations and teeming neon-lit streets. Although the story takes a tragic turn, the movie feels as weightless as the tinny pop music that keeps its restless midnight ramblers darting around the city like electronic toy figures in a gaming arcade."[3]
In the Village Voice, J. Hoberman wrote:
"The acme of neo-new-wavism, the ultimate in MTV alienation, the most visually voluptuous flick of the fin de siécle, a pyrotechnical wonder about mystery, solitude, and the irrational love of movies that pushes Wong's style to the brink of self-parody."[4]
[edit] Box Office
The film made HK $7,476,025 during its Hong Kong run.
On January 21, 1998, the film began a limited North American theatrical run through Kino International, grossing US $13,804 in its opening weekend in one American theatre. The final North American theatrical gross was US $163,145.
In 2004, Australian distribution company Accent Film Entertainment released a remastered widescreen version of the film[2] enhanced for 16x9 screens.[3]
[edit] Awards and nominations
- 1996 Hong Kong Film Awards
- Won: Best Supporting Actress (Karen Mok)
- Won: Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle)
- Won: Best Original Score (Frankie Chan, Roal A. Garcia)
- Nominated: Best Picture
- Nominated: Best Director (Wong Kar-wai)
- Nominated: Best Art Direction (William Chang)
- Nominated: Best Costume and Make-up Design (William Chang)
- Nominated: Best Film Editing (William Chang, Wong Ming-lam)
- Nominated: Best New Performer (Lei Chen-mei)
- 1995 Golden Horse Film Festival
- Won: Best Original Song (William Chang)
- Won: Best Production Design (William Chang)
- 1996 Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards
- Won: Film of Merit
- 1996 Golden Bauhinia Awards
- Won: Best Supporting Actress (Karen Mok)
- Won: Best Cinematography (Christopher Doyle)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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