"Isabella" Chinese Theatrical Poster
AKA: Isabela
Director: Pang Ho Cheung
Writer: Pang Ho Cheung, Derek Tsang, Jimmy Wan
Cast: Isabella Leung, Chapman To, Derek Tsang Kwok Cheung, Meme Tian, J. J. Jia, Anthony Wong Chau Sang, Josie Ho Chiu Yee, Shawn Yue Man Lok, Jim Chim Sui Man, Steven Cheung Chi Hang
Running Time: 91 min.
By Mighty Peking Man
After seeing this Isabella’s trailer I couldn’t wait to see the actual movie. Now that I’ve seen it, it’s safe to say that Isabella is a victim of high expectations.
The problem with Isabella is director Edmond Pang is trying to be Wong Kar Wai. Plain and simple. Too many forced artsy shots of Chapman To smoking a cigarette or leaning against a slot machine; or just some wannabe artsy angle of some wall or something. It’s not a bad thing to be influenced by a great filmmaker like Wong Kar Wai, but in this movie, it ends up being pretentious.
On the plus side, the performances are great. The music is beautiful (“O Gente Da Minha Terra” by Mariza is a sweet tune and really adds flavor to this average movie; as does the rest of the soundtrack). Isabella Leung (yes, her name is Isabella in real life) is one hell of a sight to look at. The cinematography and exotic locations of Macau are classy.
All this makes a great trailer, but a forgettable movie.
I do have faith in Edmond Pang (Men Suddenly in Black). After some fine-tuning and maybe some of his own original ideas, I’m sure he’s capable of making a great movie of this kind.
Mighty Peking Man’s Rating: 5/10 (the trailer 10/10)
