2010 was a dynamite year for Asian film... which is why last years HKFA were so disappointing for me, with Detective Dee picking up 6 awards.It was a fine film, but it was summer cheesecake, not something that deserved loads of awards. 2011 on the other hand was a pretty weak year for Asian films... not just those produced in Hong Kong. Korea gave me more let downs than I expected. Japan didn't have any real surprises. And the films coming out of Thailand that I haven't seen yet look a little silly. I'd consider just about everything on my Top Ten from 2010 worth owning... especially my revised one. While my Top Ten from 2011 is disappointing at best.
Be that as it may. I'm really happy with this years award nominations. Let the Bullets Fly picked up 13 nominations along with Flying Swords of Dragon Gate, and I think there's a really good chance that we'll see the movies that deserve it most, get their awards. My predictions are below now, and I'll update this with the actual winners come April.
Best Chinese Language Film (not made in Hong Kong):
* Nominees:
o “Flowers of War” (China)
o “If You Are the One 2” (China)
o “Starry Starry Night” (China/Taiwan)
o “Warriors of the Rainbow: Seediq Bale” (Taiwan)
o “You Are the Apple of My Eye” (Taiwan)
Prediction: Flowers of War
It's tough to pick winners when I haven't seen a lot of the films so far, but considering this one stars Christian Bale, it's sort of a no-brainer. Still I hear great things about Warriors of the Rainbow so I wouldn't be too surprised to see it upset. Also (fyi) Starry Starry Night was available on Netflix last time I checked so if you're interested in seeing something in this category, it won't be hard to get your hands on.
Winner: ---
Best New Director
* Nominees:
o Calvin Poon Yuen-Leung - ("Hi, Fidelity")
o Jesse Tsang Tsui-Shan - ("Big Blue Lake")
o Bill Yip - (“Cure”)
Prediction: N/A
Just like last year, I haven't seen any of these
Winner: ---
Best Visual Effects
* Nominees:
o Kim Wook, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Victor Wong, Eman Tse (Let the Bullets Fly)
o Christopher Bremble (Mural)
o Ryu Hee-Jung, Eddy Wong, Ken Law Wai-Ho (The Sorcerer and the White Snake)
o Yung Kwok-Yin, Andy Kang (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Kim Wook, Josh Cole, Frankie Chung (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
This is one of the only categories wherein I've seen all five films. I'd be surprised to see The Sorceror and the White Snake win, because although it's use of CG was ambitions, it wasn't really well executed. Let the Bullets Fly and Wu Xia weren't films that relied on their effects much. Mural had some really nice effects... but pales in comparison to Dragon Gate, which had some pretty serious CG and practical effects and yet still had the texture of a early eighties wuxia film
Winner: ---
Best Sound Design
* Nominees:
o Kim Seok-Won (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Wen Bo, Wang Gang (Let the Bullets Fly)
o Kinson Tsang King-Cheung (Overheard 2)
o Phyllis Cheng Wing-Yuen, Lam Siu-Yu (White Vengeance)
o Nopawat Likitwong, Traithep Wongpaiboon (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Kinson Tsang King-Cheung (Overheard 2)
Despite all the nominations, I don't thing Overheard 2 is going to win that much. So it might as well win sound design? I don't know. This one's a tough call because I really only notice sound design when it's done badly.
Winner: ---
Best Original Score
* Nominees:
o Chan Kwong-Wing (A Beautiful Life)
o William Hu, Li Hanjiang, Gu Xin (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Chan Kwong-Wing (Overheard 2)
o Henry Lai (White Vengeance)
o Chan Kwong-Wing, Peter Kam Pui-Tat, Chatchai Pongprapaphan (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Henery Lai (White Vengeance)
This is my dark horse pick. White Vengeance is vastly inferior to all the other movies on this list, but I've seen in most recently, and the score is quite good. I think they'll end up picking it just so there's a little diversity in the awards.
Winner: ---
Best Action Choreography
* Nominees:
o Yuen Bun, Sun Jian-Kui, Allen Lan Hai-Han (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Li Chung-Chi, Ailen Sit Chun-Wai (Let the Bullets Fly)
o Corey Yuen Kwai, Yuen Tak, Li Chung-Chi (Shaolin)
o Ching Siu-Tung (The Sorcerer and the White Snake)
o Donnie Yen Ji-Dan (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Donnie Yen (Wuxia)
I feel pretty strongly about this one. The choreography in Wuxia was just excellent. The Sorceror and the White Snake was more of a CG-fest. Let the Bullets Fly wasn't martial arts. Dragon Gate choreographed their scenes to evoke old wuxia movies, not necessarily to be astounding in their own rights. And Shaolin was bad.
Winner: ---
Best Costume and Make-Up Design
* Nominees:
o Lai Hsuan-Wu (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o William Cheung Suk-Ping (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Bobo Ng (Mural)
o Debby Wong, Eddie Mok (White Vengeance)
o Dora Ng Lei-Lo (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Dora Ng Lei-Lo (Mural)
Another tough call. I could see almost any of these films winning for different reasons. Although I'm seriously surprised My Kingdom didn't pull a nomination here.
Winner: --
Best Art Direction
* Nominees:
o Yee Chung-Man, Ben Lau (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Wong Kar-Lang, Gao Yiguang, Yu Qinghua (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Yee Chung-Man, Ben Lau (Shaolin)
o Daniel Lee Yan-Kong (White Vengeance)
o Yee Chung-Man, Sun Li (Wu Xia)
Precitcion: Yee Chung-Man, Ben Lau (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
Another easy win for Dragon Gate. So much of what made the film great was it's visuals. It harkened back to old days of Hong Kong cinema while still feeling fresh.
Winner: --
Best Film Editing
* Nominees:
o Yau Chi-Wai (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Jiang Wen, Cao Wei-Jie (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Curran Pang Jing-Hei (Overheard 2)
o David Richardson (Life Without Principle)
o Derek Hui Won-Yu (Wu Xia)
Prediction: David Richardson (Life Without Principle.)
I don't think Johnnie To's film will be sweeping up this year, and this is another category that could go to pretty much anyone.
Winner: --
Best Cinematography
* Nominees:
o Johnny Choi (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Zhao Fei (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Anthony Pun Yiu-Ming (Overheard 2)
o Nelson Yu Lik-Wai (A Simple Life)
o Jake Pollack, Lai Yiu-Fai (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Jake Pollack, Lai Yui0Fai (Wu Xia)
I haven't seen A Simple Life, so I don't know what to expect from it. However this is where things start getting really tough for me. I've been bouncing between Dragon Gate, Let the Bullets Fly and Wu Xia on this for weeks now. Wu Xia just has some really smart and beautiful sequences though, and so I'm tipping the cap to them.
Winner: ---
Best New Performer
* Nominees:
o Jam Hsiao (The Killer Who Never Kills)
o Sheng Chien (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Shiga Lin Si-Nga (Lan Kwai Fong)
o Karena Ng (Magic to Win)
o Zheng Shuang (Mural)
Prediction: Zheng Shuang (Mural)
Another tough category... I wasn't really impressed with anyone here... Although the fact that Magic to Win got a nomination for Karena Ng is outrageous and shows just how much "pretty" is more important than "good"
Winner: ---
Best Supporting Actress
* Nominees:
o Guey Lun-Mei (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Kara Hui Ying-Hung (Wu Xia)
o Carina Lau Ka-Ling (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Qin Hailu (A Simple Life)
o So Hang-Suen (Life Without Principle)
Prediction: Karu Hui (Wu Xia)
If she loses it's because she wasn't a supporting actress really. But she was so awesome in this that I want to see her pick up an award for it.
Winner: ---
Best Supporting Actor
* Nominees:
o Paul Chun Pui (A Simple Life)
o Lo Hoi-Pang (Life Without Principle)
o Kenneth Tsang Kong (Overheard 2)
o Nicholas Tse Ting-Fung (Shaolin)
o Jimmy Wang Yu (Wu Xia)
Prediction: Jimmy Wang Yu (Wu Xia)
Last year we saw a bunch of older actors getting awards more for their careers than their actual performances. That's what I think will happen here too.
Winner: ---
Best Actress
* Nominees:
o Gao Yuanyuan (Don't Go Breaking My Heart)
o Shu Qi (A Beautiful Life)
o Tang Wei (Wu Xia)
o Deannie Yip Tak-Han (A Simple Life)
o Zhou Xun (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
Prediction: Deannie Yip (A Simple Life)
Again, haven't seen A Simple Life, but I'm betting if it wins for anything it'll be acting. Also, Deannie Yip is just great all the time. Basically as long as Don't Go Breaking My Heart doesn't win this one, I'll be happy.
Winner: ---
Best Actor
* Nominees:
o Ge You (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Jiang Wen (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Lau Ching-Wan (Life Without Principle)
o Lau Ching-Wan (Overheard 2)
o Andy Lau Tak-Wah (A Simple Life)
Prediction: Ge You (Let The Bullets Fly)
It's so weird that Ge You got a nomination for best actor and not best supporting actor for his role in Let the Bullets Fly that I'm sure he'll win it. Lau Ching-Wan was great, but his prize for great acting was the double nomination.
Winner: ---
Best Screenplay
* Nominees:
o Wai Ka-Fai, Yau Nai-Hoi, Ray Chan Wai-Ban, Jevons Au Man-Kit (Don't Go Breaking My Heart)
o Zhu Sujin, Shu Ping, Jiang Wen, Guo Junli, Wei Xiao, Li Bukong (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Milkyway Creative Team, Au Kin-Yee, Wong King-Fai (Life Without Principle)
o Alan Mak Siu-Fai, Felix Chong Man-Keung (Overheard 2)
o Susan Chan (A Simple Life)
Prediction: Zhu Sujin, Shu Ping, Jiang Wen, Guo Junli, Wei Xiao, Li Bukong (Let the Bullets Fly)
No to Don't Go Breaking my Heart, and Overheard 2 was "meh" until the end.. it had some pretty silly stuff on it. Jiang Wen put together a really great, clever script. I'd love to see it win.
Winner:---
Best Director
* Nominees:
o Tsui Hark (Flying Swords of Dragon Gate)
o Jiang Wen (Let The Bullets Fly)
o Johnnie To Kei-Fung (Life Without Principle)
o Alan Mak Siu-Fai, Felix Chong Man-Keung (Overheard 2)
o Ann Hui On-Wah (A Simple Life)
Prediction: Johnnie To (Life Without Principle)
Wow, this is like a battle royale of HKFAA darlings. Tsui Hark swept last year, Johnnie To sweeps every year he's in it, Alan Mak and Felix Chong have been golden boys since Infernal Affairs... really the odd person out here is Ann Hui. So I'm going with the person who I think is for reals the best director, and thats Mr. To.
Winner: ---
Best Film
* Nominees:
o “Flying Sword of Dragon Gate”
o “Let the Bullets Fly”
o “Life Without Principle”
o “Overheard 2”
o “A Simple Life”
Prediction: Let the Bullets Fly
Let the Bullets Fly is a phenomenal film and it's a ridiculous amount of fun. I'm really pulling for this to win here! Fingers crossed! :)
Winner: ---
The Award ceremony is on April 15th, and I'll update this with the winners and all my excuses and complaints about the ones I picked wrong.
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