James Franco is widely renowned for his work as a comedian, especially alongside fellow actor Seth Rogen. But the actor-director’s vitae is vibrant with works of various genres, both behind and in front of the camera. In his almost twenty-five years in the industry, the Academy Award nominee has had his fair share of the good and the bad in the industry. But his performances as an actor has never failed to entertain the audience.
With a career spanning over two decades, picking the best of his work is a bit tricky. But here are the Top 20 of his films ranked.
20. Annapolis (2006) James Franco as Jake Huard in Annapolis | Credits: Touchstone Pictures
Directed by Justin Lin, this film revolves around James Huard, played by James Franco. Huard is a young man who attends the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and how struggles with mental and physical challenges thrown his way.
With a career spanning over two decades, picking the best of his work is a bit tricky. But here are the Top 20 of his films ranked.
20. Annapolis (2006) James Franco as Jake Huard in Annapolis | Credits: Touchstone Pictures
Directed by Justin Lin, this film revolves around James Huard, played by James Franco. Huard is a young man who attends the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and how struggles with mental and physical challenges thrown his way.
- 10/28/2024
- by Arpita
- FandomWire
The "Fast & Furious" franchise has taken quite the ride, growing from a modest "Point Break" riff to globe-trotting espionage, borderline superhero movies (with cars). Along the way, it left the laws of physics in the dust. There are currently 11 "Fast & Furious," the 10 mainline films plus the spin-off "Hobbs & Shaw" — or are there?
Director Justin Lin (who directed five of these eleven films) made himself a household name with 2002's "Better Luck Tomorrow." The film centers on four Asian-American high school students in Orange County, California: overachieving Ben (Parry Shen), his nerdy best friend Virgil (Jason Tobin), Virgil's cool cousin Han (Sung Kang), and valedictorian Daric (Roger Fan). Afflicted with ennui, the four begin committing petty crimes, which escalate to robbery and then murder — the victim is Steve (John Cho), boyfriend of Ben's crush Stephanie (Karin Anna Cheung).
The film was inspired by Lin's work as a youth...
Director Justin Lin (who directed five of these eleven films) made himself a household name with 2002's "Better Luck Tomorrow." The film centers on four Asian-American high school students in Orange County, California: overachieving Ben (Parry Shen), his nerdy best friend Virgil (Jason Tobin), Virgil's cool cousin Han (Sung Kang), and valedictorian Daric (Roger Fan). Afflicted with ennui, the four begin committing petty crimes, which escalate to robbery and then murder — the victim is Steve (John Cho), boyfriend of Ben's crush Stephanie (Karin Anna Cheung).
The film was inspired by Lin's work as a youth...
- 5/18/2023
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
Mills Lane, the flinty boxer turned referee who became a judge in Washoe County, Nv before segueing to his own courtroom TV show, has died. His son Tommy Lane confirmed the news to the Reno Gazette Journal. The boxing hall of famer was 85.
A familiar face to boxing fans not just for his presence but also for his pre-fight catchphrase “Let’s get it on!”, Lane reached the peak of his popularity after being the third man in the ring for the 1997 heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in which Tyson bit part of Holyfield’s ear off. The diminutive Lane — who himself fought at 147 pounds — was the one who pried the two apart and, his own shirt stained with Holyfield’s blood, later disqualified Tyson.
Mills Lane tries to separate Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield after Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear in the third round of...
A familiar face to boxing fans not just for his presence but also for his pre-fight catchphrase “Let’s get it on!”, Lane reached the peak of his popularity after being the third man in the ring for the 1997 heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in which Tyson bit part of Holyfield’s ear off. The diminutive Lane — who himself fought at 147 pounds — was the one who pried the two apart and, his own shirt stained with Holyfield’s blood, later disqualified Tyson.
Mills Lane tries to separate Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield after Tyson bit Holyfield’s ear in the third round of...
- 12/6/2022
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
When the first trailer for ‘F9’ debuted in 2019, there was a collective gasp/squeal/scream among the “Fast” family when Sung Kang’s Han Lue made a surprise appearance at the clip’s end, with snack bag in hand.
Fans have been in a state of perpetual mourning since the ultra-cool (and always-hungry) character died midway through “The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.” Of course, Han was then resurrected before, starring in the fourth, fifth and sixth installments of the franchise thanks to the reorganized timeline.
But audiences were in for a second round of devastation when, at the end of “Fast & Furious 6,” they learned that Han’s death was not a random accident, but instead orchestrated by Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in a revenge plot against Dom’s crew.
So how is Han back for “F9”? And what does that mean for the future of the franchise?...
Fans have been in a state of perpetual mourning since the ultra-cool (and always-hungry) character died midway through “The Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.” Of course, Han was then resurrected before, starring in the fourth, fifth and sixth installments of the franchise thanks to the reorganized timeline.
But audiences were in for a second round of devastation when, at the end of “Fast & Furious 6,” they learned that Han’s death was not a random accident, but instead orchestrated by Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) in a revenge plot against Dom’s crew.
So how is Han back for “F9”? And what does that mean for the future of the franchise?...
- 6/26/2021
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
“Fast & Furious” director Justin Lin will executive produce and direct the untitled project co-created by Nick Wootton and Jake Coburn from Universal TV.
Per the logline, the pilot (which Wootton wrote) is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes two-hander about Elena Federova, a recently captured international arms dealer and brilliant criminal mastermind who orchestrates a number of coordinated bank heists throughout New York City for a mysterious purpose, and Val Fitzgerald, the principled, relentless and socially outcast FBI agent who will stop at nothing to foil her ambitious plan. The female-led drama was ordered in April for NBC’s 2021-2022 broadcast season, along with “Getaway” from writers and executive producers JJ Bailey and Moira Kirland.
Julie Plec and Emily Cummins are also executive producing under their My So-Called Company banner. Universal Television will produce, with My So-Called Company under an overall deal at the studio. Lin will be executive producing under his banner,...
Per the logline, the pilot (which Wootton wrote) is a pulse-pounding, high-stakes two-hander about Elena Federova, a recently captured international arms dealer and brilliant criminal mastermind who orchestrates a number of coordinated bank heists throughout New York City for a mysterious purpose, and Val Fitzgerald, the principled, relentless and socially outcast FBI agent who will stop at nothing to foil her ambitious plan. The female-led drama was ordered in April for NBC’s 2021-2022 broadcast season, along with “Getaway” from writers and executive producers JJ Bailey and Moira Kirland.
Julie Plec and Emily Cummins are also executive producing under their My So-Called Company banner. Universal Television will produce, with My So-Called Company under an overall deal at the studio. Lin will be executive producing under his banner,...
- 6/10/2021
- by Mónica Marie Zorrilla
- Variety Film + TV
Spring is a season of renewal, particularly in the movie business, where the completion of the awards derby allows Amy Adams to segue from playing a solemn nun in "Doubt" to a klutzy crime scene cleaner in "Sunshine Cleaning." Along with "Sunshine," there are plenty of festival favorites about to get their day in the sun, whether that's in theaters, on DVD or on demand online or on TV. This preview recognizes the many ways to get your indie film fix, as well as the special events you might want to head out to if you live in New York or Los Angeles, including "The Brothers Bloom" director Rian Johnson's week-long con man movie "Festival of Fakery" at L.A.'s famed New Beverly Cinema, about which we recently spoke to the director. But regardless of whether we're watching films from the past or present, we're looking forward to the next couple months.
- 2/18/2009
- by Stephen Saito
- ifc.com
Watch the latest movie clip “Ninja Mode” from the upcoming comedy “Ping Pong Playa” by director Jessica Yu ( Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing ) and starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan ( Drillbit Taylor, Stuck on You ) and Shelley Malil. Synopsis: Christopher “C-Dub” Wang is a suburban guy who waxes political on all things Asian American and clings to pro basketball pipe dreams. But when misfortune strikes his family, C-dub must overcome living at home, working a dead-end job and his worldly older brother, to run his Mom’s ping pong classes and defend the family’s athletic dynasty. In theaters September 5th! For more info, visit: http://www.pingpongplaya.com...
- 9/6/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Watch the latest movie clip “You’re Awesome” from the upcoming comedy “Ping Pong Playa” by director Jessica Yu ( Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing ) and starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan ( Drillbit Taylor, Stuck on You ) and Shelley Malil. Synopsis: Christopher “C-Dub” Wang is a suburban guy who waxes political on all things Asian American and clings to pro basketball pipe dreams. But when misfortune strikes his family, C-dub must overcome living at home, working a dead-end job and his worldly older brother, to run his Mom’s ping pong classes and defend the family’s athletic dynasty. In theaters September 5th! For more info, visit: http://www.pingpongplaya.com...
- 9/3/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
By Neil Pedley
This week's trip to the multiplex offers a jaunt around the globe where, amongst other things, there's a case of mistaken ethnicity in Boston, Nic Cage gets another wig fitted in Thailand, there's whimsy and surrealism in Scotland and Matthew McConaughey is right at home in Malibu, where he might finally have found something he does well, maybe.
"August Evening"
Strained emotional bonds and the transitory nature of the life of an illegal immigrant provide the backdrop for Chris Eska's quietly affecting family drama that stars Pedro Castaneda as an aging farmhand who loses his job at a chicken farm in a sleepy Texas town, forcing he and his devoted daughter-in-law (Veronica Loren) to relocate to San Antonio to stay with his older children and the grandchildren he never knew he had. As Alison Willmore pointed out in last week's Lunchbox, Castaneda is a first-time actor...
This week's trip to the multiplex offers a jaunt around the globe where, amongst other things, there's a case of mistaken ethnicity in Boston, Nic Cage gets another wig fitted in Thailand, there's whimsy and surrealism in Scotland and Matthew McConaughey is right at home in Malibu, where he might finally have found something he does well, maybe.
"August Evening"
Strained emotional bonds and the transitory nature of the life of an illegal immigrant provide the backdrop for Chris Eska's quietly affecting family drama that stars Pedro Castaneda as an aging farmhand who loses his job at a chicken farm in a sleepy Texas town, forcing he and his devoted daughter-in-law (Veronica Loren) to relocate to San Antonio to stay with his older children and the grandchildren he never knew he had. As Alison Willmore pointed out in last week's Lunchbox, Castaneda is a first-time actor...
- 9/1/2008
- by Neil Pedley
- ifc.com
Check out a brand new movie poster from the upcoming comedy “Ping Pong Playa” by director Jessica Yu ( Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing ) and starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan ( Drillbit Taylor, Stuck on You ) and Shelley Malil. Synopsis: Christopher “C-Dub” Wang is a suburban guy who waxes political on all things Asian American and clings to pro basketball pipe dreams. But when misfortune strikes his family, C-dub must overcome living at home, working a dead-end job and his worldly older brother, to run his Mom’s ping pong classes and defend the family’s athletic dynasty. In theaters September 5th! For more info, visit: http://www.pingpongplaya.com...
- 8/14/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Watch the latest movie trailer from the upcoming comedy “Ping Pong Playa” by director Jessica Yu ( Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing ) and starring Jimmy Tsai, Roger Fan ( Drillbit Taylor, Stuck on You ) and Shelley Malil. Synopsis: Christopher “C-Dub” Wang is a suburban guy who waxes political on all things Asian American and clings to pro basketball pipe dreams. But when misfortune strikes his family, C-dub must overcome living at home, working a dead-end job and his worldly older brother, to run his Mom’s ping pong classes and defend the family’s athletic dynasty. In theaters September 5th! For more info, visit: http://www.pingpongplaya.com...
- 8/12/2008
- by Brian Corder
- ShockYa
Finishing the Game
This review was written for the festival screening of "Finishing the Game".PARK CITY -- "Better Luck Tomorrow" writer-director Justin Lin returns to independent filmmaking following back-to-back studio movies ("Annapolis", "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift") with "Finishing the Game", a raucous '70s period comedy.
Given Lin's reputation and affection for the material, sure stylistic command and engaging performances by a strong ensemble cast, ongoing festival play is assured, while well-targeted marketing by a savvy distributor will capture hip urban audiences and could help the film cross over to broader appeal.
In 1973, cerebral edema unexpectedly felled Asian-American martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. His death was a significant loss not only to fans worldwide, but also for the studio that was producing Lee's unfinished personal project, "Game of Death". Without enough footage to complete the movie, the executives foolishly cast a substitute for Lee and shot around the star's brief original footage. The finished film was released in 1978, but quickly fell into disrepute when fans rejected the manipulation of Lee's role.
Lin and co-writer Josh Diamond re-envision this misguided moviemaking process in "Finishing the Game", using a fictional documentary about the casting of "Game of Death" to send-up the many pitfalls of studio filmmaking and the foibles of the various professionals involved. At the same time, they good-naturedly confront issues of racism and the stereotyping of Asian-American actors to question whether the bad old days are really so far in the past.
Martey Kurtainbaum (Sam Bottoms) is the studio executive pushing the project, assigning his inexperienced son Ronney (Jake Sandvig) to direct. Relying on clueless casting director Eloise Gazdag Meredith Scott Lynn), who declares she's seeking a "hip Genghis Khan" for the Bruce Lee role, the production team announces auditions for Lee's replacement.
Sequences of the casting preparations are intercut with interviews featuring the principal prospective stars, including arrogant B-movie martial artist Breeze Loo (Roger Fan), Southern bit-player Cole Kim Sung Kang), the very Caucasian-looking, mixed-race Tarrick Tyler (McCaleb Burnett) and washed-up former TV star Troy Poon (Dustin Nguyen).
With three rounds of auditions, Ronney and Eloise face an overwhelming response to the initial cattle call. They whittle the candidates down to a manageable number before production is suspended when bad publicity about an alleged Asian-American serial killer threatens to sour public opinion against the project.
Meanwhile, Cole squabbles with his girlfriend-manager (Monique Gabriela Curnen), Breeze fires his fawning agents when he's forced to actually audition for the Lee role and Troy quits the process in disgust, dumping his self-serving manager (M.C. Hammer). Few of the contenders, much less the filmmakers, have Troy's integrity and resolutely maintain an attitude of desperate denial once casting resumes.
Lin, an experienced documentary-maker, expertly duplicates the narrative and stylistic characteristics of the form even as he gently ridicules them, from the earnest interviews and shaky handheld camerawork to the "balanced" reporting technique. The re-creations of '70s sitcoms, cop shows and chopsocky martial arts movies are spot-on, down to the specific tropes of each genre, even though Lin insists the film isn't really a mockumentary.
Few aspects of Hollywood moviemaking escape a friendly skewering. Lin even pokes fun at the solemn sincerity of Asian-American community activism. The ensemble cast members play well off one another, particularly Fan as the self-absorbed Bruce Lee wannabe and Lynn in the role of the monumentally ignorant casting director.
Candi Guterres' production design and Annie Yun's costumes piquantly evoke the period setting, while Brian Tyler's funky score pays tribute to the overall '70s vibe.
FINISHING THE GAME
Trailing Johnson Productions in association with Cherry Sky Films.
A film by Justin Lin.
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Josh Diamond, Justin Lin
Producers: Julie Asato, Salvador Gatdula, Justin Lin
Executive Producers: Joan Huang, Jeff Gou
Director of photography: Tom Clancey
Production designer: Candi Guterres
Music: Brian Tyler
Costume Designer: Annie Yun
Editor: Greg Louie.
Cast:
Interviewer: Josh Diamond
Martey Kurtainbaum: Sam Bottoms
Ronney Kurtainbaum: Jake Sandvig
Breeze Loo: Roger Fan
Cole Kim: Sung Kang
Eloise Gazdag: Meredith Scott Lynn
Tarrick Tyler: McCaleb Burnett
Troy Poon: Dustin Nguyen
Saraghina Rivas: Monique Gabriela Curnen
Roy Thunder: M.C. Hammer
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Given Lin's reputation and affection for the material, sure stylistic command and engaging performances by a strong ensemble cast, ongoing festival play is assured, while well-targeted marketing by a savvy distributor will capture hip urban audiences and could help the film cross over to broader appeal.
In 1973, cerebral edema unexpectedly felled Asian-American martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. His death was a significant loss not only to fans worldwide, but also for the studio that was producing Lee's unfinished personal project, "Game of Death". Without enough footage to complete the movie, the executives foolishly cast a substitute for Lee and shot around the star's brief original footage. The finished film was released in 1978, but quickly fell into disrepute when fans rejected the manipulation of Lee's role.
Lin and co-writer Josh Diamond re-envision this misguided moviemaking process in "Finishing the Game", using a fictional documentary about the casting of "Game of Death" to send-up the many pitfalls of studio filmmaking and the foibles of the various professionals involved. At the same time, they good-naturedly confront issues of racism and the stereotyping of Asian-American actors to question whether the bad old days are really so far in the past.
Martey Kurtainbaum (Sam Bottoms) is the studio executive pushing the project, assigning his inexperienced son Ronney (Jake Sandvig) to direct. Relying on clueless casting director Eloise Gazdag Meredith Scott Lynn), who declares she's seeking a "hip Genghis Khan" for the Bruce Lee role, the production team announces auditions for Lee's replacement.
Sequences of the casting preparations are intercut with interviews featuring the principal prospective stars, including arrogant B-movie martial artist Breeze Loo (Roger Fan), Southern bit-player Cole Kim Sung Kang), the very Caucasian-looking, mixed-race Tarrick Tyler (McCaleb Burnett) and washed-up former TV star Troy Poon (Dustin Nguyen).
With three rounds of auditions, Ronney and Eloise face an overwhelming response to the initial cattle call. They whittle the candidates down to a manageable number before production is suspended when bad publicity about an alleged Asian-American serial killer threatens to sour public opinion against the project.
Meanwhile, Cole squabbles with his girlfriend-manager (Monique Gabriela Curnen), Breeze fires his fawning agents when he's forced to actually audition for the Lee role and Troy quits the process in disgust, dumping his self-serving manager (M.C. Hammer). Few of the contenders, much less the filmmakers, have Troy's integrity and resolutely maintain an attitude of desperate denial once casting resumes.
Lin, an experienced documentary-maker, expertly duplicates the narrative and stylistic characteristics of the form even as he gently ridicules them, from the earnest interviews and shaky handheld camerawork to the "balanced" reporting technique. The re-creations of '70s sitcoms, cop shows and chopsocky martial arts movies are spot-on, down to the specific tropes of each genre, even though Lin insists the film isn't really a mockumentary.
Few aspects of Hollywood moviemaking escape a friendly skewering. Lin even pokes fun at the solemn sincerity of Asian-American community activism. The ensemble cast members play well off one another, particularly Fan as the self-absorbed Bruce Lee wannabe and Lynn in the role of the monumentally ignorant casting director.
Candi Guterres' production design and Annie Yun's costumes piquantly evoke the period setting, while Brian Tyler's funky score pays tribute to the overall '70s vibe.
FINISHING THE GAME
Trailing Johnson Productions in association with Cherry Sky Films.
A film by Justin Lin.
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Josh Diamond, Justin Lin
Producers: Julie Asato, Salvador Gatdula, Justin Lin
Executive Producers: Joan Huang, Jeff Gou
Director of photography: Tom Clancey
Production designer: Candi Guterres
Music: Brian Tyler
Costume Designer: Annie Yun
Editor: Greg Louie.
Cast:
Interviewer: Josh Diamond
Martey Kurtainbaum: Sam Bottoms
Ronney Kurtainbaum: Jake Sandvig
Breeze Loo: Roger Fan
Cole Kim: Sung Kang
Eloise Gazdag: Meredith Scott Lynn
Tarrick Tyler: McCaleb Burnett
Troy Poon: Dustin Nguyen
Saraghina Rivas: Monique Gabriela Curnen
Roy Thunder: M.C. Hammer
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/6/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Finishing the Game
PARK CITY -- "Better Luck Tomorrow" writer-director Justin Lin returns to independent filmmaking following back-to-back studio movies ("Annapolis", "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift") with "Finishing the Game", a raucous '70s period comedy.
Given Lin's reputation and affection for the material, sure stylistic command and engaging performances by a strong ensemble cast, ongoing festival play is assured, while well-targeted marketing by a savvy distributor will capture hip urban audiences and could help the film cross over to broader appeal.
In 1973, cerebral edema unexpectedly felled Asian-American martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. His death was a significant loss not only to fans worldwide, but also for the studio that was producing Lee's unfinished personal project, "Game of Death". Without enough footage to complete the movie, the executives foolishly cast a substitute for Lee and shot around the star's brief original footage. The finished film was released in 1978, but quickly fell into disrepute when fans rejected the manipulation of Lee's role.
Lin and co-writer Josh Diamond re-envision this misguided moviemaking process in "Finishing the Game", using a fictional documentary about the casting of "Game of Death" to send-up the many pitfalls of studio filmmaking and the foibles of the various professionals involved. At the same time, they good-naturedly confront issues of racism and the stereotyping of Asian-American actors to question whether the bad old days are really so far in the past.
Martey Kurtainbaum (Sam Bottoms) is the studio executive pushing the project, assigning his inexperienced son Ronney (Jake Sandvig) to direct. Relying on clueless casting director Eloise Gazdag Meredith Scott Lynn), who declares she's seeking a "hip Genghis Khan" for the Bruce Lee role, the production team announces auditions for Lee's replacement.
Sequences of the casting preparations are intercut with interviews featuring the principal prospective stars, including arrogant B-movie martial artist Breeze Loo (Roger Fan), Southern bit-player Cole Kim Sung Kang), the very Caucasian-looking, mixed-race Tarrick Tyler (McCaleb Burnett) and washed-up former TV star Troy Poon (Dustin Nguyen).
With three rounds of auditions, Ronney and Eloise face an overwhelming response to the initial cattle call. They whittle the candidates down to a manageable number before production is suspended when bad publicity about an alleged Asian-American serial killer threatens to sour public opinion against the project.
Meanwhile, Cole squabbles with his girlfriend-manager (Monique Gabriela Curnen), Breeze fires his fawning agents when he's forced to actually audition for the Lee role and Troy quits the process in disgust, dumping his self-serving manager (M.C. Hammer). Few of the contenders, much less the filmmakers, have Troy's integrity and resolutely maintain an attitude of desperate denial once casting resumes.
Lin, an experienced documentary-maker, expertly duplicates the narrative and stylistic characteristics of the form even as he gently ridicules them, from the earnest interviews and shaky handheld camerawork to the "balanced" reporting technique. The re-creations of '70s sitcoms, cop shows and chopsocky martial arts movies are spot-on, down to the specific tropes of each genre, even though Lin insists the film isn't really a mockumentary.
Few aspects of Hollywood moviemaking escape a friendly skewering. Lin even pokes fun at the solemn sincerity of Asian-American community activism. The ensemble cast members play well off one another, particularly Fan as the self-absorbed Bruce Lee wannabe and Lynn in the role of the monumentally ignorant casting director.
Candi Guterres' production design and Annie Yun's costumes piquantly evoke the period setting, while Brian Tyler's funky score pays tribute to the overall '70s vibe.
FINISHING THE GAME
Trailing Johnson Productions in association with Cherry Sky Films.
A film by Justin Lin.
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Josh Diamond, Justin Lin
Producers: Julie Asato, Salvador Gatdula, Justin Lin
Executive Producers: Joan Huang, Jeff Gou
Director of photography: Tom Clancey
Production designer: Candi Guterres
Music: Brian Tyler
Costume Designer: Annie Yun
Editor: Greg Louie.
Cast:
Interviewer: Josh Diamond
Martey Kurtainbaum: Sam Bottoms
Ronney Kurtainbaum: Jake Sandvig
Breeze Loo: Roger Fan
Cole Kim: Sung Kang
Eloise Gazdag: Meredith Scott Lynn
Tarrick Tyler: McCaleb Burnett
Troy Poon: Dustin Nguyen
Saraghina Rivas: Monique Gabriela Curnen
Roy Thunder: M.C. Hammer
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Given Lin's reputation and affection for the material, sure stylistic command and engaging performances by a strong ensemble cast, ongoing festival play is assured, while well-targeted marketing by a savvy distributor will capture hip urban audiences and could help the film cross over to broader appeal.
In 1973, cerebral edema unexpectedly felled Asian-American martial arts superstar Bruce Lee. His death was a significant loss not only to fans worldwide, but also for the studio that was producing Lee's unfinished personal project, "Game of Death". Without enough footage to complete the movie, the executives foolishly cast a substitute for Lee and shot around the star's brief original footage. The finished film was released in 1978, but quickly fell into disrepute when fans rejected the manipulation of Lee's role.
Lin and co-writer Josh Diamond re-envision this misguided moviemaking process in "Finishing the Game", using a fictional documentary about the casting of "Game of Death" to send-up the many pitfalls of studio filmmaking and the foibles of the various professionals involved. At the same time, they good-naturedly confront issues of racism and the stereotyping of Asian-American actors to question whether the bad old days are really so far in the past.
Martey Kurtainbaum (Sam Bottoms) is the studio executive pushing the project, assigning his inexperienced son Ronney (Jake Sandvig) to direct. Relying on clueless casting director Eloise Gazdag Meredith Scott Lynn), who declares she's seeking a "hip Genghis Khan" for the Bruce Lee role, the production team announces auditions for Lee's replacement.
Sequences of the casting preparations are intercut with interviews featuring the principal prospective stars, including arrogant B-movie martial artist Breeze Loo (Roger Fan), Southern bit-player Cole Kim Sung Kang), the very Caucasian-looking, mixed-race Tarrick Tyler (McCaleb Burnett) and washed-up former TV star Troy Poon (Dustin Nguyen).
With three rounds of auditions, Ronney and Eloise face an overwhelming response to the initial cattle call. They whittle the candidates down to a manageable number before production is suspended when bad publicity about an alleged Asian-American serial killer threatens to sour public opinion against the project.
Meanwhile, Cole squabbles with his girlfriend-manager (Monique Gabriela Curnen), Breeze fires his fawning agents when he's forced to actually audition for the Lee role and Troy quits the process in disgust, dumping his self-serving manager (M.C. Hammer). Few of the contenders, much less the filmmakers, have Troy's integrity and resolutely maintain an attitude of desperate denial once casting resumes.
Lin, an experienced documentary-maker, expertly duplicates the narrative and stylistic characteristics of the form even as he gently ridicules them, from the earnest interviews and shaky handheld camerawork to the "balanced" reporting technique. The re-creations of '70s sitcoms, cop shows and chopsocky martial arts movies are spot-on, down to the specific tropes of each genre, even though Lin insists the film isn't really a mockumentary.
Few aspects of Hollywood moviemaking escape a friendly skewering. Lin even pokes fun at the solemn sincerity of Asian-American community activism. The ensemble cast members play well off one another, particularly Fan as the self-absorbed Bruce Lee wannabe and Lynn in the role of the monumentally ignorant casting director.
Candi Guterres' production design and Annie Yun's costumes piquantly evoke the period setting, while Brian Tyler's funky score pays tribute to the overall '70s vibe.
FINISHING THE GAME
Trailing Johnson Productions in association with Cherry Sky Films.
A film by Justin Lin.
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Writers: Josh Diamond, Justin Lin
Producers: Julie Asato, Salvador Gatdula, Justin Lin
Executive Producers: Joan Huang, Jeff Gou
Director of photography: Tom Clancey
Production designer: Candi Guterres
Music: Brian Tyler
Costume Designer: Annie Yun
Editor: Greg Louie.
Cast:
Interviewer: Josh Diamond
Martey Kurtainbaum: Sam Bottoms
Ronney Kurtainbaum: Jake Sandvig
Breeze Loo: Roger Fan
Cole Kim: Sung Kang
Eloise Gazdag: Meredith Scott Lynn
Tarrick Tyler: McCaleb Burnett
Troy Poon: Dustin Nguyen
Saraghina Rivas: Monique Gabriela Curnen
Roy Thunder: M.C. Hammer
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/6/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
- Quick Links Complete Film Listing: Premieres: Dramatic Comp: Docu Comp: World Dramatic Comp: World Docu Comp: Spectrum: New Frontier Short Film Programs January 18 to 28, 2007 Counting Down: updateCountdownClock('January 18, 2007'); ⢠Fido (U.S.), directed by Andrew Currie and written by Robert Chomiak and Currie, the story of a boy's effort to keep a six-foot tall pet zombie that eats the next-door neighbor. Stars Carrie-Anne Moss, Billy Connelly and Tim Blake Nelson. ⢠Finishing the Game (U.S.), directed by Justin Lin and written by Josh Diamond and Lin, about a film studio's search for a replacement for Bruce Lee who can finish the legendary martial arts star's unfinished picture, "Game of Death." With Roger Fan, Sung Kang, McCaleb Burnett, Monique Curnen, Mouse Kraish, Jake Sandvig, Sam Bottoms, Dustin Nguyen, James Franco and Mc Hammer. World premiere. ⢠It's Fine! Everything Is Fine. (U.S.), directed by Crispin Hellion Glover and David Brothers,
- 1/18/2007
- IONCINEMA.com
Annapolis
NEW YORK -- Packing in enough cliches for a dozen movies, this drama about a sensitive young man trying to achieve his dreams via the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis will best be enjoyed by the generation unfamiliar with "An Officer and a Gentlemen", "Top Gun" and any preceding boxing movies. James Franco -- playing the sort of role that James Dean, whom he once played in a television film, would have excelled in -- should find slightly better boxoffice results with this effort than he did with his other January starrer, "Tristan & Isolde," but only by default.
The impressively beefed-up young actor plays Jake Huard, who is struggling to escape his family destiny working in the Annapolis shipyard. By sheer determination, he wangles his way into the academy, a feat that doesn't seem to impress his emotionally distant (naturally) father (Brian Goodman).
There, he faces the inevitable grueling boot camp life, along with a group of bunkmates whose racial diversity is perfectly in keeping with war movie tradition. There's the black kid, Twins (Vicellous Shannon), whose overwhelming fondness for Twinkies threatens to scuttle his chances; the rigorously disciplined Asian, Loo (Roger Fan, who excelled in director Justin Lin's indie debut effort, "Better Luck Tomorrow"); and the hot-tempered Hispanic, Estrada (Wilmer Calderon).
Needless to say, Huard soon runs up against up against his hard-edged superiors, most notably the steely company commander Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson). The young plebe decides to exact revenge by beating Cole in the Navy boxing competition, a process that fortunately requires training by Ali (Jordana Brewster), an impossibly gorgeous female midshipman.
Dave Collard's derivative script doesn't miss a beat in mining the stock situations for the requisite drama -- yes, one of the plebes makes a suicide attempt -- and laughs. Although crudely effective in a strictly formulaic way, the film manages to strike nary an unfamiliar note. And such lines of dialogue as "You look like a girl" don't exactly resonate with originality, either.
Perhaps the biggest problem is the casting of Brewster, who, unlike Kelly McGillis in "Top Gun", doesn't begin to convey an ounce of authoritative bearing, let alone any credibility as a boxing instructor. Her presence should, however, guarantee an immediate spike in Naval Academy applications.
Annapolis
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Screenplay: Dave Collard
Producers: Damien Saccani, Mark Vahradian
Executive producer: Steve Nicolaides
Director of photography: Phil Abraham
Production designer: Patti Podesta
Film editor: Fred Raskin
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Music: Brian Tyler
Cast:
Jake Huard: James Franco
Cole: Tyrese Gibson
Ali: Jordana Brewster
Lt. Cmdr. Burton: Donnie Wahlberg
Twins: Vicellous Shannon
Loo: Roger Fan
Whitaker: McCaleb Burnett
Estrada: Wilmer Calderon
McNally: Chi McBride
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 105 minutes...
The impressively beefed-up young actor plays Jake Huard, who is struggling to escape his family destiny working in the Annapolis shipyard. By sheer determination, he wangles his way into the academy, a feat that doesn't seem to impress his emotionally distant (naturally) father (Brian Goodman).
There, he faces the inevitable grueling boot camp life, along with a group of bunkmates whose racial diversity is perfectly in keeping with war movie tradition. There's the black kid, Twins (Vicellous Shannon), whose overwhelming fondness for Twinkies threatens to scuttle his chances; the rigorously disciplined Asian, Loo (Roger Fan, who excelled in director Justin Lin's indie debut effort, "Better Luck Tomorrow"); and the hot-tempered Hispanic, Estrada (Wilmer Calderon).
Needless to say, Huard soon runs up against up against his hard-edged superiors, most notably the steely company commander Lt. Cole (Tyrese Gibson). The young plebe decides to exact revenge by beating Cole in the Navy boxing competition, a process that fortunately requires training by Ali (Jordana Brewster), an impossibly gorgeous female midshipman.
Dave Collard's derivative script doesn't miss a beat in mining the stock situations for the requisite drama -- yes, one of the plebes makes a suicide attempt -- and laughs. Although crudely effective in a strictly formulaic way, the film manages to strike nary an unfamiliar note. And such lines of dialogue as "You look like a girl" don't exactly resonate with originality, either.
Perhaps the biggest problem is the casting of Brewster, who, unlike Kelly McGillis in "Top Gun", doesn't begin to convey an ounce of authoritative bearing, let alone any credibility as a boxing instructor. Her presence should, however, guarantee an immediate spike in Naval Academy applications.
Annapolis
Buena Vista Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
Credits:
Director: Justin Lin
Screenplay: Dave Collard
Producers: Damien Saccani, Mark Vahradian
Executive producer: Steve Nicolaides
Director of photography: Phil Abraham
Production designer: Patti Podesta
Film editor: Fred Raskin
Costume designer: Gloria Gresham
Music: Brian Tyler
Cast:
Jake Huard: James Franco
Cole: Tyrese Gibson
Ali: Jordana Brewster
Lt. Cmdr. Burton: Donnie Wahlberg
Twins: Vicellous Shannon
Loo: Roger Fan
Whitaker: McCaleb Burnett
Estrada: Wilmer Calderon
McNally: Chi McBride
MPAA rating PG-13
Running time -- 105 minutes...
- 3/3/2006
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Better Luck Tomorrow
This review was written for the festival screening of "Better Luck Tomorrow".
PARK CITY -- Most people have a skeleton in their closet, but very few have one in their back yard, especially as a teen. A scorching smear of high school life, prismed darkly through Asian-American eyes in Orange County, Calif., "Better Luck Tomorrow" is one of the hottest, most stylish and smartly twisted films to play at Sundance in years.
Asian-American kids are always the silent minority -- and, in this case, four disaffected teen-age dudes do a hostile takedown of their Orange County high school and community. A dramatic in-your-face slam to the stereotypical image of the studious, passive Asian-American student, these guys are a digital-age Billionaire Boys Club/Loeb and Leopold. With a jaunty "Less Than Zero"-type glaze of affluent adolescent life, "Better Luck" provides both a searing satire of modern suburbia and provocative insight into the malignant maturation of generally well-meaning and privileged kids.
Subversively charming, this gang of four operates largely unchallenged because they excel: At their core is Ben Parry Shen), an Ivy League candidate who learns a new word a day, plans to score 1,600 on his SATs and volunteers for every club and do-gooder organization. In addition, through compulsive free-throw practice, he manages to make the basketball team and becomes known, much to his surprise and displeasure, as the team's token Asian-American.
Ben's cohorts are a scruffy bunch, including the smoothly political Daric (Roger Fan), the trigger-happy Virgil (Jason Tobin) and the laconic Han (Sung Kang). There's also the rich kid, Steve John Cho), whose insouciant style and hard-ass manner, of course, manage to snare pretty cheerleader Stephanie Karin Anna Cheung). From scamming, trashing and drugging to bigger and uglier things, The Four Lads soon find themselves in way over their heads.
At its most high-spirited, "Better Luck" is anarchically fun as the four guys trounce the school's convention and, in the process, garner an outlandish reputation -- as members of the Chinese Mafia. But through the touchstone character of Ben, we're increasingly unsettled by the out-of-control character and moral turpitude of their high jinks.
Ripped with a very unsettling ending, "Better Luck" will unnerve many. But its story progression is consistent with its hard-edged look at modern society, family and morals.
Filmmaker Justin Lin's expressive storytelling fits his darkly ironic theme, and the performances are nicely fleshed-out and edgy. As high-achiever Ben, Shen shows the torment of a guy with a lot of smarts but not many values. Adding flavor and craziness is Tobin as Virgil, while Fan is aptly slick as the manipulative Daric. Cheung's saucy, effervescent turn as the fetching cheerleader also rubs smartly against the grain of expectation.
Technical credits are scorchingly good, especially cinematographer Patrice Lucien Cochet's deadly satirical compositions and music supervisor Ernesto M. Foronda's searingly hormonal selections.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
Cinetic Media
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin
Director-editor: Justin Lin
Screenwriters: Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Executive producers: Gustavo Spoliansky,
Michael Manshel
Associate producers: Steve Herr, Sung Kang
Director of photography: Patrice Lucien Cochet
Casting: Donna Tina Charles
Music supervisor: Ernesto M. Foronda
Sound mixer: Curtis X. Choy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ben: Parry Shen
Virgil: Jason Tobin
Han: Sung Kang
Daric: Roger Fan
Steve: John Cho
Stephanie: Karin Anna Cheung
Biology teacher: Jerry Mathers
Basketball coach: Kenwood Jung
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- Most people have a skeleton in their closet, but very few have one in their back yard, especially as a teen. A scorching smear of high school life, prismed darkly through Asian-American eyes in Orange County, Calif., "Better Luck Tomorrow" is one of the hottest, most stylish and smartly twisted films to play at Sundance in years.
Asian-American kids are always the silent minority -- and, in this case, four disaffected teen-age dudes do a hostile takedown of their Orange County high school and community. A dramatic in-your-face slam to the stereotypical image of the studious, passive Asian-American student, these guys are a digital-age Billionaire Boys Club/Loeb and Leopold. With a jaunty "Less Than Zero"-type glaze of affluent adolescent life, "Better Luck" provides both a searing satire of modern suburbia and provocative insight into the malignant maturation of generally well-meaning and privileged kids.
Subversively charming, this gang of four operates largely unchallenged because they excel: At their core is Ben Parry Shen), an Ivy League candidate who learns a new word a day, plans to score 1,600 on his SATs and volunteers for every club and do-gooder organization. In addition, through compulsive free-throw practice, he manages to make the basketball team and becomes known, much to his surprise and displeasure, as the team's token Asian-American.
Ben's cohorts are a scruffy bunch, including the smoothly political Daric (Roger Fan), the trigger-happy Virgil (Jason Tobin) and the laconic Han (Sung Kang). There's also the rich kid, Steve John Cho), whose insouciant style and hard-ass manner, of course, manage to snare pretty cheerleader Stephanie Karin Anna Cheung). From scamming, trashing and drugging to bigger and uglier things, The Four Lads soon find themselves in way over their heads.
At its most high-spirited, "Better Luck" is anarchically fun as the four guys trounce the school's convention and, in the process, garner an outlandish reputation -- as members of the Chinese Mafia. But through the touchstone character of Ben, we're increasingly unsettled by the out-of-control character and moral turpitude of their high jinks.
Ripped with a very unsettling ending, "Better Luck" will unnerve many. But its story progression is consistent with its hard-edged look at modern society, family and morals.
Filmmaker Justin Lin's expressive storytelling fits his darkly ironic theme, and the performances are nicely fleshed-out and edgy. As high-achiever Ben, Shen shows the torment of a guy with a lot of smarts but not many values. Adding flavor and craziness is Tobin as Virgil, while Fan is aptly slick as the manipulative Daric. Cheung's saucy, effervescent turn as the fetching cheerleader also rubs smartly against the grain of expectation.
Technical credits are scorchingly good, especially cinematographer Patrice Lucien Cochet's deadly satirical compositions and music supervisor Ernesto M. Foronda's searingly hormonal selections.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
Cinetic Media
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin
Director-editor: Justin Lin
Screenwriters: Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Executive producers: Gustavo Spoliansky,
Michael Manshel
Associate producers: Steve Herr, Sung Kang
Director of photography: Patrice Lucien Cochet
Casting: Donna Tina Charles
Music supervisor: Ernesto M. Foronda
Sound mixer: Curtis X. Choy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ben: Parry Shen
Virgil: Jason Tobin
Han: Sung Kang
Daric: Roger Fan
Steve: John Cho
Stephanie: Karin Anna Cheung
Biology teacher: Jerry Mathers
Basketball coach: Kenwood Jung
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 4/11/2003
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Better Luck Tomorrow
Most people have a skeleton in their closet, but very few have one in their back yard, especially as a teen. A scorching smear of high school life, prismed darkly through Asian-American eyes in Orange County, Calif., "Better Luck Tomorrow" is one of the hottest, most stylish and smartly twisted films to play at Sundance in years.
Asian-American kids are always the silent minority -- and, in this case, four disaffected teen-age dudes do a hostile takedown of their Orange County high school and community. A dramatic in-your-face slam to the stereotypical image of the studious, passive Asian-American student, these guys are a digital-age Billionaire Boys Club/Loeb and Leopold. With a jaunty "Less Than Zero"-type glaze of affluent adolescent life, "Better Luck" provides both a searing satire of modern suburbia and provocative insight into the malignant maturation of generally well-meaning and privileged kids.
Subversively charming, this gang of four operates largely unchallenged because they excel: At their core is Ben Parry Shen), an Ivy League candidate who learns a new word a day, plans to score 1,600 on his SATs and volunteers for every club and do-gooder organization. In addition, through compulsive free-throw practice, he manages to make the basketball team and becomes known, much to his surprise and displeasure, as the team's token Asian-American.
Ben's cohorts are a scruffy bunch, including the smoothly political Daric (Roger Fan), the trigger-happy Virgil (Jason Tobin) and the laconic Han (Sung Kang). There's also the rich kid, Steve John Cho), whose insouciant style and hard-ass manner, of course, manage to snare pretty cheerleader Stephanie Karin Anna Cheung). From scamming, trashing and drugging to bigger and uglier things, The Four Lads soon find themselves in way over their heads.
At its most high-spirited, "Better Luck" is anarchically fun as the four guys trounce the school's convention and, in the process, garner an outlandish reputation -- as members of the Chinese Mafia. But through the touchstone character of Ben, we're increasingly unsettled by the out-of-control character and moral turpitude of their high jinks.
Ripped with a very unsettling ending, "Better Luck" will unnerve many. But its story progression is consistent with its hard-edged look at modern society, family and morals.
Filmmaker Justin Lin's expressive storytelling fits his darkly ironic theme, and the performances are nicely fleshed-out and edgy. As high-achiever Ben, Shen shows the torment of a guy with a lot of smarts but not many values. Adding flavor and craziness is Tobin as Virgil, while Fan is aptly slick as the manipulative Daric. Cheung's saucy, effervescent turn as the fetching cheerleader also rubs smartly against the grain of expectation.
Technical credits are scorchingly good, especially cinematographer Patrice Lucien Cochet's deadly satirical compositions and music supervisor Ernesto M. Foronda's searingly hormonal selections.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
Cinetic Media
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin
Director-editor: Justin Lin
Screenwriters: Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Executive producers: Gustavo Spoliansky,
Michael Manshel
Associate producers: Steve Herr, Sung Kang
Director of photography: Patrice Lucien Cochet
Casting: Donna Tina Charles
Music supervisor: Ernesto M. Foronda
Sound mixer: Curtis X. Choy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ben: Parry Shen
Virgil: Jason Tobin
Han: Sung Kang
Daric: Roger Fan
Steve: John Cho
Stephanie: Karin Anna Cheung
Biology teacher: Jerry Mathers
Basketball coach: Kenwood Jung
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Asian-American kids are always the silent minority -- and, in this case, four disaffected teen-age dudes do a hostile takedown of their Orange County high school and community. A dramatic in-your-face slam to the stereotypical image of the studious, passive Asian-American student, these guys are a digital-age Billionaire Boys Club/Loeb and Leopold. With a jaunty "Less Than Zero"-type glaze of affluent adolescent life, "Better Luck" provides both a searing satire of modern suburbia and provocative insight into the malignant maturation of generally well-meaning and privileged kids.
Subversively charming, this gang of four operates largely unchallenged because they excel: At their core is Ben Parry Shen), an Ivy League candidate who learns a new word a day, plans to score 1,600 on his SATs and volunteers for every club and do-gooder organization. In addition, through compulsive free-throw practice, he manages to make the basketball team and becomes known, much to his surprise and displeasure, as the team's token Asian-American.
Ben's cohorts are a scruffy bunch, including the smoothly political Daric (Roger Fan), the trigger-happy Virgil (Jason Tobin) and the laconic Han (Sung Kang). There's also the rich kid, Steve John Cho), whose insouciant style and hard-ass manner, of course, manage to snare pretty cheerleader Stephanie Karin Anna Cheung). From scamming, trashing and drugging to bigger and uglier things, The Four Lads soon find themselves in way over their heads.
At its most high-spirited, "Better Luck" is anarchically fun as the four guys trounce the school's convention and, in the process, garner an outlandish reputation -- as members of the Chinese Mafia. But through the touchstone character of Ben, we're increasingly unsettled by the out-of-control character and moral turpitude of their high jinks.
Ripped with a very unsettling ending, "Better Luck" will unnerve many. But its story progression is consistent with its hard-edged look at modern society, family and morals.
Filmmaker Justin Lin's expressive storytelling fits his darkly ironic theme, and the performances are nicely fleshed-out and edgy. As high-achiever Ben, Shen shows the torment of a guy with a lot of smarts but not many values. Adding flavor and craziness is Tobin as Virgil, while Fan is aptly slick as the manipulative Daric. Cheung's saucy, effervescent turn as the fetching cheerleader also rubs smartly against the grain of expectation.
Technical credits are scorchingly good, especially cinematographer Patrice Lucien Cochet's deadly satirical compositions and music supervisor Ernesto M. Foronda's searingly hormonal selections.
BETTER LUCK TOMORROW
Cinetic Media
Producers: Julie Asato, Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin
Director-editor: Justin Lin
Screenwriters: Ernesto M. Foronda,
Justin Lin, Fabian Marquez
Executive producers: Gustavo Spoliansky,
Michael Manshel
Associate producers: Steve Herr, Sung Kang
Director of photography: Patrice Lucien Cochet
Casting: Donna Tina Charles
Music supervisor: Ernesto M. Foronda
Sound mixer: Curtis X. Choy
Color/stereo
Cast:
Ben: Parry Shen
Virgil: Jason Tobin
Han: Sung Kang
Daric: Roger Fan
Steve: John Cho
Stephanie: Karin Anna Cheung
Biology teacher: Jerry Mathers
Basketball coach: Kenwood Jung
Running time -- 101 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/1/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Film review: 'My American Vacation'
Chinese-American women of three generations (and one far-flung family) pile into an RV and take a roundabout tour of California's deserts and mountains in "My American Vacation", winner of the best dramatic feature prize at 1999's Worldfest Houston.
A well-intentioned but unpolished family film playing at Laemmle's Grande in downtown Los Angeles, "Vacation" (mostly in English, with a few subtitled scenes) is another in the durable genre of East-meets-West comedy-dramas aimed at ethnic audiences but not without its points of interest for the eclectic moviegoer.
Screenwriter-director VV Dachin Hsu (whose feature debut was 1990's "Pale Blood", co-directed with Michael W. Leighton), born in Hong Kong and a UCLA Film School grad, creates a labor of love with the family-themed "Vacation", a movie with light humor, whimsy, turmoil and even physical danger, but nourished to achieve a soothing effect on the viewer, including a structure inspired by tai chi.
Venerable Chinese film, television and stage actress Tsai Chin (Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blowup", ABC's "Fantasy Island", "The Joy Luck Club") stars as Grandma Lee, widowed mother of grown daughters Ming-Yee (Kim Miyori) and Ming-Na (Deborah Nishimura). Bossy and ambitious Ming-Yee, a single mom raising daughter Melissa (Sasha Hsuczyk) to know her divorced father is a "jerk," is delighted to have Grandma come from Taiwan for a visit.
A journalist and happy with husband Henry (Dennis Dun), Ming-Na is younger than her sister and more carefree. She is not that thrilled to play host to nosy Grandma, who arrives with many loaded-with-meaning gifts. The sisters more or less call a truce, and the whole gang, including Henry, decides to acquire a motor home and head to Colorado.
They don't get very far after choosing an expensive model and packing it up for a trip of ill-defined purpose and length of time. The adventurers make it to Joshua Tree, Lake Isabella and finally Sequoia National Forest but never leave California. With The Great Outdoors as a backdrop, several family and personal conflicts are worked out.
Grandma dishes out much wisdom and mediates frequently between the warring sisters.
The writing is overly episodic, the humor is light, the jokes are often predictable, and occasionally the choice of musical accompaniment is questionable, but one can suspend disbelief enough and overlook manipulative devices to enjoy Hsu's "Vacation" largely because of the heartfelt performances.
Ultimately, the spirit of Chin's character prevails during what becomes a nearly disastrous trip. She pens a series of bogus postcards to her friends back home and dreams of her dead husband as a young man (Roger Fan), while hurting every time Ming-Yee and Ming-Na go at each other. What's not to live for?
So it goes, the joys and pains of a family coming together. East saves West and vice versa, with Grandma almost dying during a scene worthy of an old-time western serial. Meanwhile, the shores of the Kern River and the towering sequoias are wonderful settings for the gentle movements of women performing tai chi.
MY AMERICAN VACATION
American Vacation Prods.
Winn Entertainment
in association with CACC Investment
Screenwriter-director:VV Dachin Hsu
Producers:VV Dachin Hsu, Cindy Sison, Frank Gargani
Executive producer:Winston H. Chin
Director of photography:Dean Lent
Production designer:Fu-Ding Cheng
Editors:Marc Grossman, Clarinda Wong
Costume designer:Sheri Grider
Music:Joel Iwataki
Color/stereo
Cast:
Grandma Lee:Tsai Chin
Ming-Yee:Kim Miyori
Ming-Na:Deborah Nishimura
Melissa:Sasha Hsuczyk
Henry:Dennis Dun
Ming-Yee-Ba:Roger Fan
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
A well-intentioned but unpolished family film playing at Laemmle's Grande in downtown Los Angeles, "Vacation" (mostly in English, with a few subtitled scenes) is another in the durable genre of East-meets-West comedy-dramas aimed at ethnic audiences but not without its points of interest for the eclectic moviegoer.
Screenwriter-director VV Dachin Hsu (whose feature debut was 1990's "Pale Blood", co-directed with Michael W. Leighton), born in Hong Kong and a UCLA Film School grad, creates a labor of love with the family-themed "Vacation", a movie with light humor, whimsy, turmoil and even physical danger, but nourished to achieve a soothing effect on the viewer, including a structure inspired by tai chi.
Venerable Chinese film, television and stage actress Tsai Chin (Michelangelo Antonioni's "Blowup", ABC's "Fantasy Island", "The Joy Luck Club") stars as Grandma Lee, widowed mother of grown daughters Ming-Yee (Kim Miyori) and Ming-Na (Deborah Nishimura). Bossy and ambitious Ming-Yee, a single mom raising daughter Melissa (Sasha Hsuczyk) to know her divorced father is a "jerk," is delighted to have Grandma come from Taiwan for a visit.
A journalist and happy with husband Henry (Dennis Dun), Ming-Na is younger than her sister and more carefree. She is not that thrilled to play host to nosy Grandma, who arrives with many loaded-with-meaning gifts. The sisters more or less call a truce, and the whole gang, including Henry, decides to acquire a motor home and head to Colorado.
They don't get very far after choosing an expensive model and packing it up for a trip of ill-defined purpose and length of time. The adventurers make it to Joshua Tree, Lake Isabella and finally Sequoia National Forest but never leave California. With The Great Outdoors as a backdrop, several family and personal conflicts are worked out.
Grandma dishes out much wisdom and mediates frequently between the warring sisters.
The writing is overly episodic, the humor is light, the jokes are often predictable, and occasionally the choice of musical accompaniment is questionable, but one can suspend disbelief enough and overlook manipulative devices to enjoy Hsu's "Vacation" largely because of the heartfelt performances.
Ultimately, the spirit of Chin's character prevails during what becomes a nearly disastrous trip. She pens a series of bogus postcards to her friends back home and dreams of her dead husband as a young man (Roger Fan), while hurting every time Ming-Yee and Ming-Na go at each other. What's not to live for?
So it goes, the joys and pains of a family coming together. East saves West and vice versa, with Grandma almost dying during a scene worthy of an old-time western serial. Meanwhile, the shores of the Kern River and the towering sequoias are wonderful settings for the gentle movements of women performing tai chi.
MY AMERICAN VACATION
American Vacation Prods.
Winn Entertainment
in association with CACC Investment
Screenwriter-director:VV Dachin Hsu
Producers:VV Dachin Hsu, Cindy Sison, Frank Gargani
Executive producer:Winston H. Chin
Director of photography:Dean Lent
Production designer:Fu-Ding Cheng
Editors:Marc Grossman, Clarinda Wong
Costume designer:Sheri Grider
Music:Joel Iwataki
Color/stereo
Cast:
Grandma Lee:Tsai Chin
Ming-Yee:Kim Miyori
Ming-Na:Deborah Nishimura
Melissa:Sasha Hsuczyk
Henry:Dennis Dun
Ming-Yee-Ba:Roger Fan
Running time -- 88 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 3/27/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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