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The Movie Emperor

The Movie Emperor (Chinese: 红毯先生; pinyin: Hóng tǎn xiānshēng; lit. 'Mr. Red carpet') is a 2023 Chinese satirical comedy film directed by Ning Hao and starring Andy Lau. The film had its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in Gala Presentations section on September 15, 2023.[2] It was also the closing film of the 28th Busan International Film Festival where it was screened on October 13, 2023.[3]

The Movie Emperor
Theatrical release poster
Traditional Chinese紅毯先生
Simplified Chinese红毯先生
Literal meaningMr Red Carpet
Directed byNing Hao
Written by
  • Liu Xiaodan
  • Wang Ang
  • Daniel Yu
Produced by
  • Wang Yibing
  • Daniel Yu
  • Winnie Liao
  • Xing Aina
Starring
CinematographyWang Boxue
Edited byDu Yuan
Music by
  • Raymond Wong
  • Russel C J Wong
Production
companies
  • Huanxi Media Group Limited (Shanghai)
  • Huanxi Media Group Limited
  • Huanxi Media Group Limited (Beijing)
  • Dirty Monkeys (Shanghai) Culture Communication Ltd.
Distributed byCMC Pictures
Release dates
  • September 15, 2023 (2023-09-15) (TIFF)
  • March 15, 2024 (2024-03-15) (China)
Running time
127 minutes
CountryChina
LanguagesMandarin, Cantonese
Budget¥261 million[1]
Box office¥94.18 million

Synopsis

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The film tells the story of a Hong Kong film star, Dany Lau Wai-chi, who collaborates with a mainland Chinese director, Lin Hao, to create an awards-baiting arthouse film, where Lau stars as a peasant farmer.

Cast

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Production

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In February 2022, the opening ceremony of the film was held in Shenzhen. Principal photography began on 23 February 2022.[4] The filming locations also included Guangzhou, Shanwei, Haifeng County and Haikou,[5] and filming was wrapped up on 21 April 2022.[6]

Release

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The film was premiered at 2023 Toronto International Film Festival in Gala Presentations section on 15 September 2023 at Roy Thomson Hall.[7] It was also selected in Gala Selection of the 36th Tokyo International Film Festival and was screened on 25 October 2023.[8]

The film was initially scheduled for release in mainland China on November 17, 2023. However, on November 8, 2023, the film changed the release date to February 10, 2024, the first day of the Chinese New Year. Due to poor box office performance and low scheduling rates (representing the percentage of screenings in China) during the Chinese New Year, the film was withdrawn from its competitive slot on February 16, 2024, and rescheduled for later release on March 15, 2024. Ultimately, the film grossed only 94.18 million yuan in mainland China, becoming one of the year's biggest flops, and marking a rare misfire for both Andy Lau and Ning Hao.[9]

Reception

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Kevin L. Lee reviewing for AwardsWatch at Toronto Film Festival, graded the film A− and praised the performance of lead actor writing, "[Andy] Lau not only continues to cement his place as a Hong Kong legend in cinema, but he strolls right in and delivers a comedic performance like no other."[10]

Lee Marshall of ScreenDaily reviewing in Busan Film Festival opined that the film "packed with references to Lau’s career and to Hong Kong and Chinese mainland films and celebrity culture, is a film that has been precision-engineered for local audiences." Concluding Lee wrote, "While there are more than a few China-specific in-jokes here, Hao’s knowing comedy makes a good case for the cross-border universality of the world it portrays." Lee cites example of “Yumeji's Theme” from 2000 Hong Kong film In the Mood for Love, used as a repeated motif in the film to make the point.[11]

Peter Debruge giving positive review for Variety wrote that the film is "one of the year’s savvier satires."[12]

Controversy

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One of the film's trailers featured a scene suggesting the "seat snatching" controversy between Eddie Peng and Li Bingbing during the 2018 Weibo Movie Night.[13] At the ceremony, Peng, who was supposed to be in the second row, allegedly took a first-row spot reserved for Li, infuriating the actress.[14] However, the scene was cut from the released version.

References

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  1. ^ "欢喜传媒：2.61亿投资电影《全民明星》，宁浩导演费2500万元" [Huanxi Media: 261 million yuan invested in the movie "Celebrity", Ning Hao's director fee is 25 million yuan]. 36kr (in Chinese). 21 December 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  2. ^ Anthony D'Alessandro (24 July 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  3. ^ Rosser, Michael (5 September 2023). "Busan film festival unveils 2023 line-up and will honour Chow Yun-fat". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Ning Hao and Andy Lau continued the "Front Edge" movie "Mr. Red Carpet" started". Guangzhou Daily. 25 February 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023 – via Breaking Latest News.
  5. ^ "刘德华现身海口被偶遇，一身黑色西装帅气依旧，亲民和粉丝互动" [Andy Lau appeared in Haikou and was met by chance. He was still handsome in a black suit and interacted with fans.]. Sina (in Chinese). 20 April 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Andy Lau's movie "Mr. Red Carpet" was completed, the crew took a group photo, and Ning Hao obediently let C position". Lai times. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival Screenings:The Movie Emperor". Tiffr 2023. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  8. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (27 September 2023). "Tokyo Film Festival Aims to Boost Global Relevance With Bumper 2023 Edition". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 6 October 2023.
  9. ^ "宁浩、刘德华携手 《红毯先生》撤档重映仍遇冷 或亏超2亿元！". 上海证券报. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  10. ^ Kevin L. Lee (16 September 2023). "'The Movie Emperor' Review: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Red Carpet | Toronto". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  11. ^ Marshall, Lee (13 October 2023). "'The Movie Emperor': Busan". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  12. ^ Peter Debruge (22 October 2023). "'The Movie Emperor' Review: Andy Lau Plays Vain Version of Himself in Hong Kong Megastar Meta-Satire". Variety. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
  13. ^ 星島日報 (29 October 2023). "紅毯先生丨劉德華新戲變內娛八卦集中地 重演彭于晏換李冰冰頭排位風波". std.stheadline.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Eddie Peng clears the air around 'seat snatching' controversy". 8days. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
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