This
might upset a few people. I'm going to be completely honest. I’ve never been a big fan of Chow Yun Fat. Don’t get
me wrong, I love Hard Boiled, The Killer and A Better Tomorrow, but my
admiration of those films has more to do with John Woo than anything else.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is another favourite of mine, but it wasn’t the
Chow that tasted good - Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh were the main attractions
that year. Everything I’ve seen him in since Crouching Tiger - Shanghai
excluded - has been a little too ordinary, and the less said about Bulletproof
Monk the better.
Chow Yun Fat stars in Jiang Wen's Let the Bullets Fly, an
ultra-loose spin on the The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Jiang stars as
"The Good", a charismatic bandit in need of a fresh challenge, Chow
as "The Bad", a crime lord who’s more than a match for the new guy in
town, and Ge You is "The Ugly", a gutless opportunist with a loose
sense of loyalty. Let the Bullets Fly is a fast-talking, double-crossing comedy
that puts emphasis on character and cunning, so it really helps if you have an
all-star cast to back you up. How about Carina Lau, Aloys Chen and Zhou Yun?
It’s definitely a start.
When a travelling crook and his loyal followers hijack a
train, they seize the opportunity to take over a small town. But claiming the
town's governorship for themselves won’t be an easy task, not when a powerful
mobster is on their trail. A powerful mobster with no intention of
relinquishing control. The artwork would suggest (along with the presence of
Chow) that the two men are about to engage in all-out gun-toting warfare,
leaving a trail of devastation, dead bodies and doves in their wake. This
however, couldn’t be further from the truth, and to call Jiang Wen’s
ultra-sharp comedy an action movie is doing the film a certain injustice.
Don’t get me wrong, I love action movies as much as the next
man. This just isn’t it. Jiang Wen is no John Woo, and in all honesty, he
doesn’t claim to be. Let the Bullets Fly takes flight because of smart
dialogue, broad humour and fun characters, not the need to indulge in slow
motion gun ballet. It’s blessed with a street-smart script, brought to life by
some of the liveliest performances of the year, an abundance of charm, and a
shed load of winning humour. It also has Chow Yun Fat.
I’m kidding. As much as it pains me to say it, Chow Yun Fat
is as good as he’s ever been as the dastardly crime lord Haung, and it’s clear
from his performance that he hasn’t had this much fun in ages. Much like Neeson
in Taken, Chow has cut himself free of the shackles that saddle his
performance. It’s a fun role to take on, without the burden of morals and
ethics associated with more serious roles, so he should definitely play fun
characters more often. Ge You’s Tang can be a little excessive at times, but
even his comedy sidekick shtick wins you over in the end. The supporting
players are also given room to breathe, adding further weight to an already
impressive ensemble.
As good as Fat is, however, and he has dual roles to sink his
teeth into, his performance pales in comparison to Jiang Wen’s lively
rogue. Even if some of the humour is inaccessible to western audiences (a background
in Chinese culture is helpful but not necessary), and the relentless plotting
does get a little confusing at times, Jiang Wen’s Zhang hits home no matter
where you’re from. He’s a captivating presence, both in front of the camera and
behind it, and with Let the Bullets Fly he has proved himself a master
filmmaker.
At just over two hours long, there are times when it might
test your patience, especially as we head towards the densely plotted, giddy
conclusion. But there are so many memorable moments waiting to reel you back
in. Take your pick from the trigger-happy humour, engaging lead turns and
blistering shootouts. Let the Bullets
Fly doesn’t overcompensate with action spectacle, but when they do come, the
obligatory shootouts and chase sequences are handled with flair. I just thought
it would be nice to mention the other stuff first.
With great box office, high anticipation and critical
accolades aplenty, Let The Bullets Fly could have been a huge disappointment, but
it wasn't. Jiang Wen’s comedy western will be remembered for its cunning story,
charismatic lead turns and sharp humour. It may also lay to rest a certain
bulletproof monk. AW
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