The Detective

There is that quality of "What's going on?" which keeps one engrossed in this story. As one thing leads to another, we are challenged to make sense of what is happening and how all the people, places, and incidents are tied to each other. We know instinctively that the conclusions of the detective are wrong. Yet, it's a struggle to do him one better.

There are no "red herrings" and there is no deliberate attempt to lead one astray - so why is it so hard to figure it out? Of course it's because something is missing - but what? Well, trying to guess that "something" is fun. Also, watching a "detective" bumble his way through this case is fun - a lot of fun.

For the more technically oriented: Production values are high, acting is good, location shots are full of atmosphere, the music fits the tempo and is not jarring, the "feel" of the picture is that everything is real. I consider it dripping with authenticity.

This was really good.

Though I'd been losing hope that Los Bros Pang could deliver a truly satisfying movie experience (considering their recent efforts), I'm always compelled to watch them. I have a lot of faith in these guys. My faith in their abilities has been restored with this flick.

A lot of the credit goes to Aaron Kwok. He did an amazing job and I can't imagine how any other actor would've pulled it off. A brilliant, memorable performance.

It's visually stunning -- and gritty as hell -- and has the feel of a solid independent (ala "Memento" or "Blood Simple.") It's a bit "over-told" when all's said and done, but ultimately quite satisfying.

The Pang Brothers are back!

I came upon this movie after watching a better than average bollywood movie (somewhat) based on it (Talaash, 2012) and was pleasantly surprised. Right from the opening scene of a scavenger who starts to scream incredulously and the weirdly funny credit song the movie sets the tone for the unusual and gets your attention. Aaron Kwak as a somewhat dodgy, self assured and often less than brilliant private eye gives an engaging performance. His attire of silk or polyester printed shirts a handy digital camera and unreliable demeanour makes the character funny and believable at the same time. The setting in the Chinese society in Thailand feels very unique and authentic. The story progresses slowly without big revelations or suspense, but then the idea is not the end but the journey itself. The ending is somewhat unsatisfying but gives a new angle to the whole story. An excellent movie if you want to enjoy something unusual but worthwhile.

Aaron Kwok is the reason to see this movie. He is the detective on the case. Soon it becomes clear that he isn't like any other private eyes in the movies. His motives for becoming one are personal. (I am not going to reveal what that fact is because it is important to the plot.) When he is hired by this man to find a woman who he claims is stalking him, things start to happen. He realizes that this is a serious case and really is on to something. Kwok does get some help from a friend in the police department (Kai Chi Liu). The interaction between him and Aaron provide most of the funny scenes. Still it is a one man show where it is fun to see Kwok investigating. Some elements of the mystery that has to be solved are pretty obvious. But I think that this is done on purpose since the focus is not the mystery it self but Kwok solving it and becoming a true private eye. The conclusion therefore is pretty decent and satisfying. There is a set up for a possible sequel. Well,if the Pang Brothers continue in this manner than they have my blessing!

When the Pang bros unleashed Gin Gwai (The Eye) onto the world, it seemed like they'd launched themselves. All that rests now is a mediocre Hollywood career and a lot of disgruntled fans. Unrightfully so, because in their homeland the Pang bros keep on making first-class films, beating even their first outings. Oxide Pang is undoubtedly the better of the two and I'm always eagerly awaiting his solo projects. The Detective (C+ Jing Taam) is his latest effort, and again it doesn't let down.

It's a shame that The Pangs are getting such a bad reputation, because they are great talents in a rather stale industry. The problem with both brothers is that their films are often built around atmosphere, with lots of attention to the visual aspect of the film. When watching a Pang film, you can be sure to expect beautifully lit visuals and snappy editing. This puts a strain on the story of their films, urging people to complain. Sad but true.

The Pangs are known for their visually accomplished films, but it's really Oxide Pang who's responsible for this. The Detective is a visual treat from the first second till the final frame. Each shot is considered well, use of color and lighting is impeccable and some very nifty editing tricks are applied. One scene in particular stands out, where quick zooms and multiple angle changes make for quite a novel effect. Hope to see this used more in films.

One thing where both brothers often fail is their choice of music. Luckily they seem to be turning this around in their latest films. That said, the lengthy opening of The Detective did scare me a bit. I dunno what kind of local music Oxide used, but it sure made for a very wacky effect. Not in a bad way mind, but I'm glad he didn't keep it up for the remainder of the film. There's one particular scene where the mood of the film switches and from there on the sound design is strong and brooding, enhancing the atmosphere as a soundtrack should.

The basic premise of The Detective is pretty simple and oddly lacking any supernatural motive, which makes for a nice change. Aaron Kwok plays a wet behind the ears detective stumbling on a case that's hiding its true face. His connections with the police force help him with his work but when he starts running into bodies he is advised to stop meddling with the case.

From there on, the plot thickens and Kwok is thrown into a nicely tailored tale of deceit and paranoia. Aaron Kwok is confident enough to throw a nice one-man show, the supporting actors are decent but never do much besides fulfilling their role in the story. The story of the film is pretty straight-forward for a Pang film, with pieces of the puzzle slowly emerging at regular intervals. All lose ends are neatly tied together at the end, so my guess is this film should fare well with the earlier Pang adepts.

Oxide Pang succeeds again in making a visual masterpiece, although less experimental and in your face as his other films. This time around, the story is more focused and the choice of music is a whole lot better. Aaron Kwok is a good lead and the whole films flies by in no time. It's a shame that the Pang bros seem to have lost their audiences, as they keep on making interesting, if not superb films. 4.0*/5.0*