Shanghai
Starring John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat, Rinko Kikuchi, and Ken Watanabe, Shanghai is the story of an American expat returning to Japanese-occupied Shanghai, weeks before Peal Harbor, in search of details about a murdered friend. His investigation leads to romance and discovery of sensitive government secrets. From the publicity stills I’m feeling an Indochine, The Painted Veil atmosphere. My best buddy in Bangkok sent me photos of sets under construction in Thailand a few months ago, and I’ll post those if I can find them. That was the first I’d heard of this film. Now that the release date for Shanghai has been shifted from Sept 25th to Dec 25th, and noting that it’s being distributed by The Weinstein Company, maybe we should keep an eye on this blip on our long-range radar?
Impressive pedigree behind the camera, as well: Mikael Håfström, director of Best Foreign Language Film nominee Ondskan (Evil), written by Oscar nominee Hossein Amini (The Wings of the Dove), set design by Oscar Nominee Celia Bobak (The Phantom of the Opera), costumes by Oscar nominee Julie Weiss (Frida, Twelve Monkeys) and music composed by Anthony Minghella’s collaborator, Oscar winner Gabriel Yared (The English Patient, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Cold Mountain). More stills after the cut. [Update: more photos added from our Thai source, Toy]
And here are some shots of 1940′s Shanghai recreated in Bangkok, and a Thai press conference (thanks to Toy for these)
Guy Lodge says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 6:58am
Well, it sure looks pretty enough. And anything that brings Gong Li to our screens (even when it’s Miami Vice) has my attention.
Hafstrom’s English-language resume so far doesn’t inspire much confidence, though — Derailed was an undercooked disappointment, and 1408 was just plain awful.
Ryan Adams says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:16am
ha, true about Håfström in English. I was really impressed by “Evil” but when I went IMDbing to collect his other credits, I saw those titles, and thought, “oh.” I didn’t even want to mention them on the main page. Maybe he’s getting his bearings. Those projects were wrong for him anyway.
MovieO says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:24am
How have people not heard of this film? There were many articles published in April of this year about how it was denied filming in China because of content. It wrapped in early Aug. So a Sep 25th release date was never possible. and Weinstein has his work cut out for him to get this seen in time to make any difference. The elite Asian cast is amazing.
I’m with you Guy. Any project with Gong Li is drool worthy.
Cocoa says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:50am
BTW Ryan. Franka Jansen(German spy) Wolf Kahler and David Morse are also in the film. They are not listed yet on IMDB.
Ryan Adams says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:52am
Don’t know how I missed it earlier, MovieO. The first I heard of Shanghai was August 5th, when a Thai friend with connections to a company supplying camera equipment sent me the photos above. I guess I was under the impression it would be a 2009 release, so I let it slide. Glad to see it’s getting a new surge of attention.
Sasha Stone says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 7:59am
Thanks, Toy, great pics!
cjKennedy says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:36am
AD goes international with a roving correspondent! Nice work, Toy.
If you see Gong Li, will you tell her that I love her and I’m the only one for her? Thanks!
John says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:44am
December of THIS year??!!? Is it for foreign film? Probably not. Geez, such a crowded year. I’m sad that so many movies look great, and so few will get awards recognition.
Dominik says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:58am
Yeah, they all look soo great in late september – like Memoirs of a Geisha, Phantom of the Opera, Cold Mountain or Dreamgirls, to name a few – and when they come out, they´re just horrible….
MovieO says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 11:26am
When will this start test screening? Anyone know?
HaroldsMaude says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 3:38pm
Is it me or does that picture of John Cusack look like Brad Garrett?
Craig says:
Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 5:29pm
HaroldsMaude. Too busy staring at Gong Li to notice.
Daniel says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 12:23am
When is Cusack going to get his flippin Oscar nomination already? He’s been overdue since ’99 with Being John Malkovich. If 2007 hadn’t been so strong for actors, he could’ve had a chance with Grace is Gone, but there were so many amazing performances last year that he got overshadowed. I believe it was an one of the top 10 performances of the year, though.
And this STILL doesn’t look like the movie that will take him to the Oscars…sheesh.
To Guy and Ryan: I don’t know if I would call 1408 “just plain awful.” I mean, it wasn’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but it really wasn’t bad compared to all the other horror movies being churned out lately. I’d say the best American horror movie of 2007, and Cusack’s performance in it wasn’t half bad.
Friedl says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:20am
Well it sure looks pretty.. but will it be any good?
It seems like eye candy to me.
Personally – that asian cast seems a little too obvious. It seems like trying to sell an asian cast to a western audience. Quick – name the 1st 4 asian stars you can think of. Now cast them.
Perhaps I’m being a bit cynical. After all, mixing that cast with John Cusack is certainly less than obvious.
Let’s see then.
toy says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:53am
thanks much Sasha, Cj, Ryan. We’re really happy Shanghai landed here after PRC denied it. Film makers have longed chosen Thailand for it’s locations — tropical jungles, white sand beaches, the islands. However, Shanghai’s one of the first where Thailand, or Bangkok, was chosen for its well equipped facilities to take on a major Hollywood film.
RowdyP. says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 11:22am
*And this STILL doesn’t look like the movie that will take him to the Oscars…sheesh.*
You might be surprised. I hear he is very good in it. He lobbied for the role,
RowdyP. says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 11:27am
Hollywood reporter 9/24/08
“The Weinstein Co. has other awards hopefuls in the mix: Woody Allen’s “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” already in release; a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road,” starring Viggo Mortensen, scheduled for Nov. 14; and the World War II spy drama “Shanghai,” starring John Cusack, which is promised for Dec. 25.”
Matt says:
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 3:27pm
Well Cussak was good in 1408 and I wish he could of gotten a nomination for that, but I knew it wouldn’t happen!