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Hungry Ghost Diner (2023)
An authentic and earnest view of the Chinese diaspora in Malaysiana
I always say Malaysia has no short supply of talented storytellers. I'm so glad to have finally witnessed We Jun's feature debut. This a fantastic and well-made film, probably one of the few Malaysian films displaying a very authentic slice of Malaysian life.
Interestingly, this is a Chinese language film which is NOT released during the typical Chinese New Year season. It's very clear to see this is a very personal film, of complex family relationships while exploring the not-oft talk about cultural elements of the Hungry Ghost Festival. I had laughs and tears all throughout this film and was absolutely invested in Bonnie's journey in figuring out the madness of her circumstances.
Props to Yoke who appears in every scene with so much presence, you don't sense a single false note from her first lead role performance. The supporting acts are perfectly cast and especially a joy to watch is Eric Chen who plays the father. The quiet and stoic father I think most of us will recognise in our lives.
I also liked the choice of the lighting and slower frame rate ala Wong Kar Wai during certain scenes in the ghost world. Tan Teck Zee, who is one of Malaysia's leading cinematographers, works his magic here.
This independent film is sorely needed in our Malaysian film landscape. It's not your typical Hollywood film which follows a formulaic view of a hero and high stakes. There are some minor pacing and tonal issues but We Jun navigates us confidently in this intimate film of family, filial piety, loss and redemption with so much charm, humour, and heart. I especially appreciate his choice to show a beautiful aspect of Malaysian life, with our code-switching in spoken languages from Cantonese to Hakka to Malay to broken English that we hear every day.
We need more films telling more stories from our very many ethnic groups in Malaysia, sharing our rich culture. This film is one for the ages in our Malaysian film archives.
Dune (2021)
A cinematic triumph but not for everyone
A truly cinematic experience. There are only a few cinematic moments like this I can remember in my lifetime, once when I was 8 years old watching a film in the cinema for the first time, and again when I saw Lord of the Rings visualised on the big screen for the first time. Denis Villeneuve's boyhood dream came true in this spectacular masterpiece. You see his palpable love for cinema and excitement of the source material everywhere in this film.
You're never just an audience with Denis's films. The minute the opening scene appeared, he wastes no time dropping you into that world. Despite this being an epic sci-fi story, the human connections are strong. In every film Denis Villeneuve has made, he makes you a part of the journey. You're with Paul every step of the way here. The film rests a lot on the slim shoulders of Timothée Chalamet and this young man held up the film so damn well. His eyes tell you everything despite the wordless scene in one very important moment. Watch this guy, he will have a long and illustrious career if he keeps choosing roles well. His on-screen mother, Rebecca Ferguson, is as vulnerable yet powerful as Lady Jessica. Javier Bardem is Stilgar. The CGI of blue on blue eyes did not detract from his performance and his piercing gaze during his entrance. All in all, Denis cast his film really well. Each and every actor inhabited their role perfectly and played off each other to perfection. Even though I knew some of their fates already from reading the books many years ago, I wish I had more time with them.
The sound design - PERFECTION. Do not skimp on your cinema experience. Find one with Dolby/Dolby Atmos. I saw this in a Dolby Atmos theatre, the sound was perfectly balanced and it wasn't overwhelming to the ears. You do not want to miss out on the details of the sound design and the score. This film is absolutely tactile, the sound design and mixing is the reason for it. It feels as though you are on Caladan or Arrakis in that very moment. The ornithopters sound like real flying vehicles with its unique rhythm. Even silence is well played in some scenes. I won't bore you with the details. Watch and listen for yourself.
I felt disappointed when Roger Deakins could not join Denis Villeneuve for Dune. They had a marvellous working relationship in several films prior. I admit I had some trepidation when Greig Fraser was named Director of Cinematography. Fortunately, he did not disappoint. Visually, it is so damn beautiful. From the waters and fjords of Caladan to the undulating dunes of Arrakis, the scenery took my breath away. The fight scenes were well-shot and they didn't use the ubiquitous gazillion cuts that most movies use (which is honestly very irritating). The interiors of House Atreides and House Harkonnen sets were amazing and lived in. The sandworms.... oh, the sandworms. Fascinating creatures that looked believable denizens in the sea of sand. The attention to detail really made this film.
When Warner Bros Studio announced last year that they were doing a same-day release of theatre and streaming, after watching Dune on the big screen, I could understand Villeneuve's anguish. This film isn't meant to be a time-filler like Netflix features for pauses and breaks. This is an experience to be had.
Having said that, this isn't a film for everyone. Do not expect to turn your mind off and be spoon-fed. This film engages almost all your senses completely. Thankfully there's not too much exposition. You will be shown how things work and how things are in the world of Dune if you let yourself immerse in the film. If you enjoyed Sicaro, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049, you will feel right at home with Dune. I've watched this four times, each time with a different friend who didn't read the books. They came out of it blown away and amazed. There are also some minor pacing issues, but they do not hamper the entire storytelling.
Do yourself a favour and watch it on the biggest screen available for a once-in-a-lifetime experience in the safest way possible. If there's no IMAX screen near you, find one with Dolby or Dolby Atmos. I was double-masked up and didn't even have time to eat my popcorn or sip my drink. There's no time for that. You won't experience anything like this again for a long time.
PS. ORNITHOPTERS!!!!!!!!!