Shanghai (2010)
Directed by Mikael Hafstrom, the Swede behind "1408", "Shanghai" is a period mystery thriller with a touch of romance, set in 40s Shanghai, China. It is about US Secret Agent Paul Soames, who returns to a corrupt Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor, only to discover that a friend has been killed. While he unravels the mysteries of the death, he falls in love and gradually discovers a much larger secret that his own government is hiding. The film features an international and multicultural cast that includes Chinese megastars Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li, Japanese star Ken Watanabe, as well as other well-know actors - John Cusack, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and David Morse. Although hard-to-follow at times, the story is deep, intriguing and full of unpredictable twists and turns. It holds your attention consistently and it has to, because the plot is so complicated, that if you blink, you might miss something important. The acting is top-notch. Gong Li gives a fantastic performance as the mysterious and captivating Anna, and she easily outshines all the other actors involved. Li dazzles with her beauty and charisma, everytime she's on screen, and you just can't take your eyes of her. John Cusack is impressive as the lead character Paul Soames. Chow Yun-Fat, Ken Watanabe and Jeffrey Dean Morgan's screen time is very limited, yet they all deliever great performances. Technically, "Shanghai" is truly amazing! Despite it isn't shot in Shanghai, the film looks stunning and very authentic, thanks to the Thailand's excellent infrastructure and spectacular works of cinematographer Benoit Delhomme and production designer Jim Clay, best known for his work in “Children of Men”. The art direction is as impressive - they use a lot of golden tint and low-key lighting to create the mysterious and grim, yet beautiful atmosphere of occupied Shanghai. There are also some great well-shot action sequences. Overall, with its fascinating visuals, stellar international cast and intelligent script, "Shanghai" is beautifully-crafted, dialogue-driven espionage thriller that delivers!
- My Rating: 8.00/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
- IMDb: 7.3/10
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