The Last Tycoon Da Shang Hai - Film Review

The Last Tycoon Da Shang Hai - Film Review

Post
Subscribe

Posted 2013-01-21 by Lydia C. Leefollow
The Last Tycoon (Da Shang Hai) - Film Review



The Last Tycoon is currently in cinemas and I was amazed at how little publicity it has received as it's a sure fire cross-over film. If you have a chance to see it, you want to see this film on the big screen to get the most of some beautiful cinematic moments.

The film is set predominately in the French Concession of Shanghai of the 1930s, and as one would expect, is beautiful to watch. The other charm of the film is that it is not a straightforward narrative, so the story is intriguing as it unravels before you.

It's a love story, a gangster flick and a suspense thriller all rolled into one, presented in an exceptionally well produced and entertaining manner. The cast is charming, casting a spell on the emotions of the viewer - I was amazed at how attached I was to secondary characters that weren't very fleshed out.

It reminded me of Casablanca, though I'm not sure if I can actually explain why, except for the fact that it's a war-torn love triangle of sorts.

It has some fantastic stylised moments, which are hard to describe without giving anything away, but the scene with the umbrellas manages to produce both menace and brutality in the most beautiful cinematic style. It's visually delightful to watch unfold.

The film looks superb, from the buildings and costumes to the Tarantino-esque choreographed fight scenes. The cast is a roll call of all the stars of Asian cinema, but for me, it was the smaller roles that stole the show. If you are not familiar with Asian cinema, this is the perfect film to start with. Even if you don't like Asian cinema, this film will appeal, as long as you have no issue with subtitles.

It's a great looking film that's pure entertainment from start to finish.

9/10



#movie_reviews
#film_reviews
#cinema
%wneverywhere
90517 - 2023-06-11 08:23:13

Tags

Music
Free
Arts_culture
Film_tv_reviews
Outdoor
Random
Nightlife
Family_friendly
Festivals
Community
Food_drink
Fundraisers
Educational
Holiday
Markets
Copyright 2022 OatLabs ABN 18113479226