Studied two films for my film examination final tomorrow. The two films were Chen Kaige's Together and Wong Kar-Wai's In the Mood For Love. Both were excellent but I felt more towards Wong's film. His film is shorter but much more involving. To me, the film is voyeurisitic in numerous ways. I loved the lighting and music in the film. But most of all, what truly impressed me was Christopher Doyle cinematography. This is the same person who did the camera work for Zhang Yimou's Hero. He is a genius at shooting scenes. Without Doyle, the film would have looked bland. Much to the credit of Doyle and Wong, most of the credit should actually go to the actors. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai (Infernal Affairs) truly deserved the best actor from the Cannes Film Festival and it shows. He is comparable to Pacino, DeNiro, Brando at the top of their games, combined. He is an actor that provides consistent work throughout all his films (especially Infernal Affairs). Maggie Cheung also does an admirable job as his beautiful neighbour. She is so elegant and beautiful, one cannot look away from her. Her porcelain skin matched with her gorgeous eyes, but what I loved most about her was her neck. Cheung has a beautiful neck that reminds me of a swan. Her performance is like that of a swan, graceful and beautiful. Both lead actors never overacted or underacted. They did what they had to do and they were perfect.

Chen Kaige's film, Together, focuses mostly on a father and son. The father wants what's best for his son, who is a violin prodigy. The father tries to look for the best teacher that he can find. While his father is away, his son befriends a beautiful prostitute, Lili, who finds that men aren't everything after all and happiness doesn't matter with age. The relationship between the father and son is emotionally heartbreaking and Kaige pulls the right strings and at the right times. I began to get teary eye at the end when the son starts playing the violin for his father while gentle tears start streaming his pale face. A beautiful film with admirable performances.

On a side note, Sofia Coppola dedicated her Best Original Screenplay Academy Award to numerous directors including that of Wong Kar-Wai. Coincidentally, In the Mood For Love, is almost exactly like Lost in Translation without the middle aged man.

In the Mood For Love: A+
Together: A