Love your reviews, concise yet give me enough information for a good sense of whether I will enjoy it. The detail that 4 people fell asleep in your audience tells me I will probably love it. I even have a sense I’m going to love that Pink Floyd ending. Never seen a movie that wasn’t improved with Pink Floyd for me.
Hi Cliff, seen it now thanks to you. Would not have gone otherwise. Must take issue with you, not “a little bit like a Western” but in fact a Classic Western from beginning to end and all stages in between. The classic stagecoach opener, waiting for the sheriff, the loner who we soon learn has been released from prison, trying to both escape his notorious past and come to terms with it. The first thing he does is find his trusty horse (motorbike), then he takes a job on the round-up (ok dogs, not cattle) then his violent past comes calling and torments him. The good-hearted but past her prime barmaid (belly dancer) takes a nurturing interest (actress was so good, sadly underwritten, but usually the case in these westerns). The decaying town with its saloon, the sandstorm and I am not forgetting THE DOG. The scene where Lang pisses on the wall to summon the dog reminded me instantly of the scene where the Outlaw Josey Wales spits on the head of Redbone, the mangey red dog who is eventually allowed to ride with the Outlaw. Brilliant stuff all of this! I think Guan is having great fun with the genre and his audience saying “this is what a Chinese CP Western looks like”. I found the film regularly punctuated with humour. Lang comes to town like Clint as stoney silent and detached as the “Man with No Name”. But the joke is that everyone knows Lang’s name, and they say it all the time. Everyone knows him, likes him and even wants to take a selfie with him. Except of course, the gang he must face in a showdown. Or repeated showdowns as both Lang and the gang seem pretty inept at things. Clint, sorry Lang, finally rides off into the sunset on his trusty motorbike, with his redemptive hound in his saddle bag, leaving his girl and his past behind, as the music swells. Guan has made an awesomely beautiful and respectful homage to the Classic Western, but it is also gently parodic. I loved that the film ended with Lang having one last attempt to jump over the ditch. I thought, the cliche would be he makes it. But Guan lets him fail (I seemed to be the only one in the audience who laughed out loud). I hope Lang succeeds in getting to a town where truly, know one knows his name - but I doubt it. (Sorry this is so long, but I grew up on the Western, and wanted to be a cowgirl once)
Great to read your perspective and hear your experience of watching the film! You make a really convincing case about the Western influences. Really interesting.
Sounds great. I’ve added this one to my ‘to see’ list. 🙏
Just saw it and it's beautiful to watch, absolutely loved every second, great story
A splendid film!!!
Can't wait to watch Black Dog, thanks for the review.
Love your reviews, concise yet give me enough information for a good sense of whether I will enjoy it. The detail that 4 people fell asleep in your audience tells me I will probably love it. I even have a sense I’m going to love that Pink Floyd ending. Never seen a movie that wasn’t improved with Pink Floyd for me.
Thanks! Really appreciate the positive feedback. Let me know what you thought when you see it!
Hi Cliff, seen it now thanks to you. Would not have gone otherwise. Must take issue with you, not “a little bit like a Western” but in fact a Classic Western from beginning to end and all stages in between. The classic stagecoach opener, waiting for the sheriff, the loner who we soon learn has been released from prison, trying to both escape his notorious past and come to terms with it. The first thing he does is find his trusty horse (motorbike), then he takes a job on the round-up (ok dogs, not cattle) then his violent past comes calling and torments him. The good-hearted but past her prime barmaid (belly dancer) takes a nurturing interest (actress was so good, sadly underwritten, but usually the case in these westerns). The decaying town with its saloon, the sandstorm and I am not forgetting THE DOG. The scene where Lang pisses on the wall to summon the dog reminded me instantly of the scene where the Outlaw Josey Wales spits on the head of Redbone, the mangey red dog who is eventually allowed to ride with the Outlaw. Brilliant stuff all of this!
I think Guan is having great fun with the genre and his audience saying “this is what a Chinese CP Western looks like”. I found the film regularly punctuated with humour. Lang comes to town like Clint as stoney silent and detached as the “Man with No Name”. But the joke is that everyone knows Lang’s name, and they say it all the time. Everyone knows him, likes him and even wants to take a selfie with him. Except of course, the gang he must face in a showdown. Or repeated showdowns as both Lang and the gang seem pretty inept at things.
Clint, sorry Lang, finally rides off into the sunset on his trusty motorbike, with his redemptive hound in his saddle bag, leaving his girl and his past behind, as the music swells.
Guan has made an awesomely beautiful and respectful homage to the Classic Western, but it is also gently parodic. I loved that the film ended with Lang having one last attempt to jump over the ditch. I thought, the cliche would be he makes it. But Guan lets him fail (I seemed to be the only one in the audience who laughed out loud). I hope Lang succeeds in getting to a town where truly, know one knows his name - but I doubt it.
(Sorry this is so long, but I grew up on the Western, and wanted to be a cowgirl once)
Great to read your perspective and hear your experience of watching the film! You make a really convincing case about the Western influences. Really interesting.
I loved the movie, 2008, a powerful earthquake, a total solar eclipse, a dying father, a coming olympics game and the black dog with the dog matrix.
Amazing review really appreciate your attention to detail and passion. Helped make my mind & I’m taking my wife to watch it in a few hours. Subscribed
Thanks for the positive feedback. I’ll be interested to hear what you both think of it!