Looking at movies from inside the blinkered bubble of the Hollywood hype machine, or broadening our scope to the wider realm of international prestige films, it’s easy to forget that many of the most exciting aspects of movie-making have much humbler beginnings. Classic wuxia and crime thrillers of the 1980’s were the foundation of a Golden Age for Hong Kong filmmakers like John Woo and Wong Kar-Wai who’ve been tremendously influential in world cinema. It’s taken a couple of decades for the stylistic sophistication of those influences to filter through and become seamlessly integrated into the American movie vernacular, but these are the roots of The Departed and the terrific Hong Kong sequence in The Dark Knight.
Thai cinema is seeing the genesis of its own Golden Age, with highly regarded filmmakers like Chatrichalerm Yukol and Apichatpong Weerasethakul bringing international recognition to a Thai New Wave. While it’s interesting to compare the scale and scope of emerging national cinema movements to look for parallels across geographic boundaries, it would be hard to find a talent to compare to Thailand’s Tony Jaa. (Though there are the inevitable comparisons to Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan). I was surprised yesterday to learn Tony has already been handed the director’s reigns and seems to be experiencing some of the creative conflicts usually reserved for our more elite filmmaking divas. There’s a current budget scuffle over the sequel to Ong Bak that only amounts to a couple of million dollars (which would pay for about 2 minutes of The Dark Knight). I feel a lot of affection for the guy (er, if affection is the word I’m groping for), and this Tony Jaa quote is quite sweet:
“There are so many problems. I went away to focus on the artistic angle of the film. I make this film not with the number and figures in mind, but for its artistic quality. I invest my effort in it with almost spiritual devotion.”
Tony had disappeared from the set of Ong Bak 2, and apparently went to the jungle to meditate before resurfacing this week. Variety and Rope of Silicon both picked up the story, and having significant connections to Thailand myself, it’s hard for me to shrug this off.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mf42Nr5u6Ig[/youtube]
9 Responses for "Tony Jaa’s spiritual devotion"
It’s hard for us here too, Ryan, as Tony of course has given Thai film a lot of attention with Ong Bak 1. And we’re concerned. The local press says Tony dissapeared for 2 months as he was really stressed. No mention of getting a better artistic view of things.
It’s gotta be enormous pressure for him to try to meet or surpass his previous work, and direct his first film — when his only previous experience before the success of Ong Bak was as stunt man.
Reminds me of the creative meltdown Dave Chappelle had a couple of years ago, when Comedy Central offered him a $55 million contract for another season, and Chappelle just vanished. Turned up in South Africa and dropped the series.
What’s this we’re hearing about a possible kidnapping story Tony Jaa’s manager was apparently using as explanation? Is that Thai tabloid stuff, Toy, or some other strange happenings going on? Is this big news in Bangkok, or is the coverage here overreacting a bit?
While watching this clip, I clicked my mouse a second time and got directed to YouTube (a surprise for me), where a treasure trove of clips from the film were waiting for me. They’re quite intoxicating. Jaa is very graceful and musical in his movements, and the athleticism is astounding.
I followed Pierre’s lead and was similarly treated to the same intoxicating treasure trove.
And I applaud the unfolding pre-eminence of the Thai New Wave, especially the work of Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
Adorably playful and supercute too. Here’s another Tony Jaa clip (from UK youtube), a stage performance in front of several hundred Thai girls.
If he only knew. It’s fascinating and hilarious.
Jaa was on a talk show here Tuesday night and was pretty much in tears about all this.
The Thai press ’says’ after the talk show, he was seen shoved in a car by a few men. But his lawyer confirms Tony’s “doing well at some place” and that the press just wants to create added nonsense”.
It’s semi-front page news here since Jaa is the first Thai film actor to be internationally recognized.
I truly believe Ong Bak 2 will be completed as others are now coming to assist the project through.
How Ong Bak slipped past the American public’s radar a couple of years ago is a mystery. Granted, I only saw it in the theater and not since, but that was enough. I’ve never seen someone jump over a car and slide under one like that. Ever.
daniel g…it had subs so how was anyone in the states gonna know or care about it. well you know what i mean.
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