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NEWS ITEMS December 2006
Dec 31: Today is Gong Li's birthday. I give thanks for her life and for her sharing her exceptional art with the world.
"Curse of the Golden Flower" is one of the Top Ten films of the year for Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer Movie Critic: "10 is 10 - an arbitrary but handy number - and here are the ones that on this day, in this particular mood, made the cut… Curse of the Golden Flower - Zhang Yimou's operatic tale of a royally dysfunctional family - an emperor (Chow Yun Fat) and empress (Gong Li) and their sons and lovers - is dazzling costume drama. Add freewheeling martial arts numbers, opulent, almost psychedelic sets, and daunting turns from Asia's movie-star king and queen, and you have a thing of beauty, and brilliance. Not as action-packed as Zhang's hits Hero and House of Flying Daggers, but more satisfying." Dec 30: From an interview in the Globe and Mail; Li spoke about the character she plays in "Curse of the Golden Flower": "She's in a kind of hermetically sealed environment. There's really no contact with the outside world, so you can really imagine how that might be deeply affecting. Something I really sympathize with in this character is the importance of love. Her only other choice [other than her husband] is the first son - the stepson - so everything she does really has something to do with trying to somehow give expression to this love which is somehow repressed in her. So this is something that I feel - I really have sympathy for this, that love comes first." Box office updates -- 1) According to estimates posted by Box Office Mojo, "Curse of the Golden Flower" passed the $1 million mark in North America on its eighth day in release on only 60 screens. 2) Clifford Coonan writes in Variety about the impressive take in China: "Curse of the Golden Flower followed up its record-breaking opening weekend B.O. of $12.5 million with a 50 million yuan ($6.4 million) take in the second weekend. [This] elevates it to China's biggest pic of 2006, with a record $24.73 million B.O. so far, according to local media. Curse, which stars Gong Li, Chow Yun-fat and Taiwan pop sensation Jay Chow in a tale of an imperial family's vicious decline, is on track to be China's most popular film ever, a title still held by James Cameron's Titanic, which set a B.O. record of $44 million in 1998." Dec 29: From Stephen Hunter's list for "The Best of Film: 2006" in the Washington Post: "No. 2: Gong Li in 'Curse of the Golden Flower.' The great Chinese actress Gong Li returns to the care of the auteur of her greatest films in the martial arts - marital arts! - spectacular 'Curse of the Golden Flower', directed by Zhang Yimou. But the movie is really Gong's: As Empress Phoenix, she is beautiful, suffering, plotting, maniacally in love with her sons and in hate with her husband, giving a towering star turn." Excerpt from Pete Hammond's review of CotGF in Maxim magazine: "Even nicer to look at are vivid close-ups of the twin assets displayed by lead actress Gong Li (Memoirs of a Geisha, Miami Vice), who as a raging and vengeful empress from the 10th Century ruling Tang dynasty shows more than her considerable cinemascopic bosom. She is sensational, tearing up the opulent wall-to-wall scenery with a go-for-the-fences performance that could have been laughable in less skilled hands." Dec 28: The Houston Chronicle includes an interview with Li. Excerpts: "Making a film like Miami Vice, I saw a lot of things that were very different for me. It's not so much a question of technical matters as it is cultural matters. When you get to meet these people and work together, you realize that people are different, there's a different sense of place… Film is certainly a path for cultural exchange. Through watching Chinese films maybe people will learn a little bit more and have a little more interest, maybe an interest to go traveling to China." Dec 27: From an interview with "Curse of the Golden Flower" director Zhang Yimou in Seattle Weekly: "Actually, there aren't many actresses in China who can play this role. Because this is quite a well-known character in a stage play, audience members have certain expectations about how the role should be performed. I believe actors view this role as a challenge, so I expected [Gong] to accept the role. America has so many fine actors. One time Quentin Tarantino and I were discussing this. He said that he always wrote scripts with certain actors in mind, but if those actors were unavailable, he still had another 10 to choose from. Naturally, I am a little envious because there aren't so many great actors in China. If Gong Li didn't have time, then we'd be out of luck." Box office updates from The Hollywood Reporter: 1) North America (Christmas weekend): "In limited release, Sony Pictures Classics unveiled 'Curse of the Golden Flower', directed by Zhang Yimou and starring Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li, in 60 theaters. The sumptuous Chinese-language film grossed $712,760 for a per-screen average of $11,879." 2) Southeast Asia: "BVI's Curse of the Golden Flower, from renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou, picked up $2.2 million over the weekend from 158 screens in four Southeast Asia markets, with Taiwan providing $730,000 from 20 theaters, Singapore $660,000 from 40, Malaysia $485,000 from 49 and Indonesia, $319,000 from 49." Dec 26: From a China View article on box office: "'Confession of Pain', widely regarded as a potential box office rival to Zhang Yimou's latest blockbuster, 'Curse of the Golden Flower', looks set to lose the year-end race. 'Confession', released on Dec. 17, collected 24 million yuan (3.08 million U.S. dollars) from Friday to Sunday, while 'Curse', which debuted on Dec. 14, reaped another 50 million yuan (6.4 million U.S. dollars) in the same period, topping 2006 China's domestic movie box office with a record 193 million yuan (24.73 million U.S. dollars)." Wade Major of BoxOffice.com rates "Curse of the Golden Flower" 4 stars and comments on the reunion of Li and Yimou. "This represents [director] Zhang's first teaming with Gong Li, his one-time partner in life and art, in over a decade. The two were inseparable between 1987 and 1995, during which they collaborated on Zhang's first seven films (as well as acting together in 1989's A Terracotta Warrior), soaring to fame as the Chinese industry's most illustrious celebrity couple. It was in 1995 that both the collaboration and the relationship finally ended, creating no small amount of sorrow among their mutual fans. That sorrow can now be put away for good as the collaboration has been reinstated with all of its historic magic and magnificence firmly intact." Dec 25: An updated article in Variety about weekend box office includes a higher figure for "Curse of the Golden Flower" than previously forecast: "Posted: Monday, December 25, 2006, 9:51am PT -- In the specialty sector, Sony Classics' opener 'Curse of the Golden Flower' reported a four-day estimate of $724,369 off 60 [screens] for a per screen average of $12,073 and a cume since Thursday of $738,266." From Xinhuanet: "A ceremony in south China's Guangzhou City was held yesterday to celebrate the early success of the Curse of the Golden Flower. A story of bloody palace intrigue in ancient China, it racked up 169 million yuan (about 21.7 million U.S. dollars) at the box office in 10 days since premiering on December 14. Both the female lead Gong Li and the male lead Chow Yun Fat were absent but the ceremony in Guangzhou still caused a sensation. Fans surrounded the five-star hotel where the ceremony was being held." Director Zhang Yimou, Jay Chou, Li Man, Qin Junjie and Ni Dahong attended the event. Dec 24: Paul Fischer spoke with Li during her recent promo trip to Los Angeles; his interview is posted on the DarkHorizons.com site. He asked Li: "You seem to get the better roles the older you become and there's an agelessness about you. Why do you think you're succeeding where others have failed, or are failing?" Li replied: "I'm not sure exactly why, but like you just said, the more I play the sort of 'badder' I get, so there's room for development. [Laughter]. As an actor or actress it's important to think about the big picture and not get too worried about that kind of problem, because you have to realize that at each stage of your career there are different options for different kinds of characters that you might play, and so it's best not to try to get locked into one or the other. So you have to realize that there's room for change, so it's best not to get too obsessive about that kind of thing." From an Associated Press report on domestic box office: "Sony Pictures Classics' Curse of the Golden Flower, director Zhang Yimou's action tale starring Chow Yun Fat and Gong Li in a story of bloody palace intrigue in ancient China, took in $489,000 in 60 theaters." That's a good per screen average for a foreign film mistakenly marketed as a "martial arts movie". According to reports in the Chinese media: "Curse of the Golden Flower has topped 150 million yuan at the box office with a daily average of about 15 million yuan, and it continues to increase. It is predicted that at its current growth rate, it is expected to break the China box office record of 350 million yuan." From a review by Jay Seaver on Hollywood-Bitchslap.com, who rates CotGF 5 stars: "Zhang is working with long-time leading lady Gong Li for the first time in ten years, and that's almost all the film needs… It's perfectly clear that Gong Li is going to be this film's central attraction from the start... She carries herself like royalty, acting as though the legions of servants that follow her everywhere are her due, even as she relaxes when alone with the princes. The character never verbally acknowledges the tremor in her hand, but the reactions that play across the actress's face are captivating: There's some embarrassment, because an Empress cannot be allowed to show weakness, but also frustration and anger. What's most impressive is how Li makes us believe in the Empress as calculating but also passionate. There's fierce, angry intelligence on display when she plots and reveals her secrets, but also genuine care for her princes. The performance is riveting; Li makes the Empress a compelling monster."
Sohu.com has up a 45 second video report on Li filming a L'Oreal commercial (best viewed on Internet Explorer). Li is the perfect choice to represent a line of skin care and anti-aging products! Having spoken with her face-to-face, I can confirm that her skin is flawless. A writer for UCLA's Asia Pacific Arts spoke with Li recently about her career. The always honest and realistic Li made some very interesting observations, and noted the importance of education. Excerpt: "In Hollywood it seems that for women it's appearance and for men it's handsomeness that gives your career a boost, but in China, you don't need to be that good looking. Instead, it's honing one's instinct that's most helpful. So I believe that training is helpful for developing a fuller acting style and a more professional approach. It allows you to be in touch with your emotions and put them in service of acting, for example in crying scenes. Some actors are unable to do this and deliver lines at the same time. These are all basics to professional acting which you learn in school." From a Sina.com article: "The other day, New China net and CCTV International carried an online evaluation of Chinese female stars' performing skill in 2006. The result is that Gong Li gives splendid performances in 'Curse of the Golden Flower' and 'Miami Vice', and has obtained the support of the majority. She was voted this year's most splendid female star in terms of performing skill." From Robert Horton's review for the Herald: "Chow Yun Fat (much nastier here than in 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon') is excellent, and Gong Li rules. Gong Li was in Zhang Yimou's early movies, before she became an international player in the likes of 'Memoirs of a Geisha' and 'Miami Vice.' Here, she creates a schemer you can sympathize with even when she's bad, and her beauty is to die for." Dec 22: Li departed Taiwan Thursday morning after this week's promotion of "Curse of the Golden Flower". A reporter recapped the sighting: "At the Taoyuan International Airport, she greeted the media warmly. Dressed in scarf with mini skirt... Gong said with a smile that she slept okay, but the temperature was freezing. During the trip, she had the time to do some shopping and bought a few name brand bags. She was asked about the criticism by some of Taiwan pop star Jay Chou's work on CotGF, and replied, 'After all, he has only made two films, give him more time.'" Photo1 Photo2 Photo3 During a recent interview published today on People's Daily Online - "Chinese Actress Gong Li's Star Shines Into Her 40s" - Li said: "A role has to be dramatic. That's the most important factor I look for. My character has to have something to tell the audience, her character has to be built with complexity. I have always been looking for different characters, characters that will bring out my potential. If you like your job as an actress, you will want to portray different types of characters. It might not be so easy, but if you can do it well, you will feel the joy of being an actress." Kevin Thomas writes for the Los Angeles Times: "Curse of the Golden Flower is great news for admirers of director Zhang Yimou and actress Gong Li. Between 1990 and 1996 they made a series of richly varied films, including Ju Dou, Raise the Red Lantern, The Story of Qiu Ju, To Live and Shanghai Triad, which were crucial in establishing a major position for Chinese films in international cinema. Together they reached the pinnacle of their professions, but after Shanghai Triad they came to a parting of the ways, professionally and personally. Both continued to make notable films, yet neither reached the dazzling level of their collaborations until rejoining forces with Curse of the Golden Flower, in which Zhang celebrates the breathtaking beauty of Gong while fully tapping her resources of talent." Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net rates "Curse of the Golden Flower" 8 out of 10: "Gong Li's return [in a Chinese film] is a welcome one, as she gloriously carries the film and holds things together as some of her less experienced co-stars get a bit overly melodramatic with their own performances... The scenes between Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat are so spectacular that some might be disappointed that they don't have nearly as much screen time together as one might hope. The two veterans really stand out... Curse of the Golden Flower is another glorious spectacle where Zhang finds new ways to leave you stunned and amazed with every passing frame. Fans of Chinese film will also want to rejoice the welcome reunion of Zhang Yimou with Gong Li after far too many years." Read the latest CotGF reviews on our forum. From a Rope Of Silicon review by Sara Michelle Fetters of the "Miami Vice" DVD: "It is Gong Li who truly blew me away. Portraying a high-level financial director and money launderer for a powerful international drug smuggler who finds herself falling in love with Crockett, the talented Chinese actress delivers one of the most fascinating performances I've seen this year. She's beautiful, dynamic, strong, needy and confident, a cavalcade of emotional complexities hitting the screen so hard I can't imagine another actress making such an indelible impression." Dec 21: L.A. Weekly's David Chute gives "Curse of the Golden Flower" a mixed review, but loves Li: "Gong Li is still the most beautiful actress on Earth, an audience-seducing diva movie star of a type that is nearly extinct in the West. Of all the great beauties of the screen, she is perhaps the most robust and intimidating. Men don't dream of swooping in and rescuing her from jeopardy, as they might about the breakable-looking Zhang Ziyi. Gong has her own reserves of power, and working with her for the first time since their professional and personal relationships ended abruptly in 1995, Zhang exploits that powerfully. It lends a magnetic undercurrent of rage to one of the most daringly extended dying-swan roles since Camille breathed her last." Andy Klein of L.A. City Beat gives CotGF a positive review: "It is magnificently designed, shot, and edited, with first-rate action scenes, once again choreographed by Ching Siu-Tung… Gong is perfectly cast… For sheer visual beauty and epic sweep, you can't do better." Sharon Wong of the New Straits Times writes: "The much-anticipated Zhang Yimou masterpiece, Curse Of The Golden Flower, is here and it is absolutely blinding in its magnificence... Gong Li manages to speak volumes even when she was not saying a word... If you can get past [the violence], you will certainly enjoy and appreciate the splendour of Curse Of The Golden Flower." Dec 20: Watch video report of the premiere last night in Taiwan. Mutual admiration society -- Remarks from recent interviews: Chow Yun-Fat joked, "Since my wife is not here, I will tell you that I really love Gong Li. On the set, once the cameras start rolling, there was nobody else, just us! Still, I had to kill her... so no one else could have her." Li said: "As a Chinese actress, it would be a great regret if I didn't get to work with Chow Yun-Fat at least once in my career. I have always wanted to work with him and although we did not have many scenes together in Curse Of The Golden Flower, I felt that it was a successful and impactful collaboration nonetheless. He's not only a great actor but a kind and nice person. I now understand why so many people love him and how he is able to maintain his status for so many years - he's such a genuine person and always friendly and courteous... He's like a partner and elder brother, and such great a great actor to boot. I wish we had more scenes together and, as for my character, I believe I would be able to make her more well-rounded given another half hour." Rich Cline of Shadows On The Wall rates CotGF 3 ½ stars. "Gong has the most impressive scene-chewing role, as her poison drives her insane, not that she needs any help. She layers the character with all kinds of internal aches and pains." Harvey S. Karten gives CotGF a B grade. "The real interest – particularly for those who look beyond the sumptuous and expensive outlay of costumes and production design – is in the acting of two of China's most celebrated performers. Gong Li, whose diverse work includes the upcoming 'Hannibal Rising' as well as traditional Chinese dramas like 'Farewell My Concubine,' is a beauty and a magnetic presence." Dec 19: Gong Li, Chow Yun-Fat and Jay Chou were in Taipei today to attend a press conference and screening of "Curse of the Golden Flower". PICS From a new interview published on Sun2Surf.com: "I was thrilled this opportunity came about and that Zhang Yimou thought of me and him and put us together. In my mind, it was a very successful collaboration. I didn't feel like it has been almost 10 years. We have always wanted to work together again and over the past few years we had conversations about several projects which didn't work out. I feel that as a director, he is more self-assured and more confident, even though he was like a general directing thousands of soldiers in big battle scenes. As an actress, I felt safe and secure working with him because I knew I didn't have to hold back as he would take the best scenes and put that on the screen. As an actress, there aren't any dream roles to speak of. I don't have any target. I am proud of being an actress, and I will do my best with any good script that comes my way. Whenever I come into any project, my job is to work and make this character work for me." An article on wenweipo.com describes an interview Li gave yesterday. She was asked about the revealing costumes she wears in CotGF. She said the costumes were very attractive and didn't hesitate to wear them as they represent the era depicted in the film. She smiled when told that many people envy her figure and appearance, saying that she believes everyone enjoys dressing up. Li praised the work of Chow Yun-Fat and Jay Chou, saying that Jay has a bright future in film. She said, being a musician, he is a very sensitive and thoughtful person, and can display the moods required of an actor. After being told about the great opening weekend of CotGF in China, Li said she is certainly happy, but box office is about money, and it is the audience's response to the film that is most important to her. PIC More from Variety about the staggering box office figures: "Zhang Yimou's $45 million Oscar contender Curse of the Golden Flower is shaping up to be China's biggest pic ever after it scored a record-breaking opening weekend B.O. of 96 million RMB ($12.5 million)... "It is reasonable to believe that 'Curse's' nationwide box office will reach 300 million RMB ($38.4 million) shortly after the New Year," Gao Jun, an executive from Beijing-based New Film Assn., told local media." I scanned an advertisement for CotGF that was included in Sunday's edition of the Orange County register. From the Independent Film Channel's article, "The Glory That Is Gong Li" -- "For years, Gong served not only as Zhang Yimou's favorite actress to film, but also as the central figure of the Fifth Generation filmmakers, working with award-winning directors like Chen Kaige and Wong Jing and establishing herself as the most prolific and best-known Chinese actress in the West, displaying a potent combination of explosive talent and exceptional beauty. In honor of her latest, long-in-coming collaboration with Zhang Yimou, here's an essential Gong Li film guide..." More Michael Fleming of Variety reported yesterday that "Believe It Or Not" is back on, after having been put on hold last summer. At that time, Li was attached; the Variety report does not mention whether or not she still is involved in the project. Steve Oedekerk has been hired to "overhaul the script", and Jim Carrey and director Tim Burton remain on board. Paramount Pictures "is eyeing a winter 2008 production start in China and a 2009 release date". Dec 18: Li attended a ceremony yesterday at a theater in Hong Kong during which she presented the Empress costume and crown that she wears in "Curse of the Golden Flower". She told reporters that while in Hong Kong, she has done some Christmas shopping for family members, and said that she will spend the holidays with her mother at Shandong's Jining hospital. PHOTOS VIDEO Movie-Infos.de has a gallery of publicity stills from "Hannibal Rising" that includes several new photos of Li. VIEW "On The Set: Curse of the Golden Flower" premieres on cable channel Starz East on December 20 at 1:50pm ET (Thanks to Charlie of Chow Yun-Fat Fansite for the find). During a recent interview in NYC, "Curse of the Golden Flower" director Zhang Yimou remarked that he has a lot to say about the film, but, "after all, the film has just started screening, let's wait for the audience reaction." The reported commented, "when it comes to old friend Gong Li, however, Zhang Yimou is quite talkative." ZY said that CotGF "is the peak of her work. After more than 10 years of experience in the East and West, she is completely mature as an actor. I see in her an absolutely dynamic actress. Her powerful inner strength and speed [at getting into character] are extremely rare in an actress. Her explosive force, her controlling force, her emotional intensity are all unusually strong. I believe she can play any type of character." According to the Beijing New Picture Company, "Curse of the Golden Flower" took in 96 million yuan (US $12.3 million) during its opening weekend in China. As MonkeyPeaches points out, "this unbelievably high number more than doubles the old record (US $6.04 million) set by Hero." Dec 17: According to a report in a Chinese paper, Li and Chow Yun-Fat are scheduled to travel to Taiwan to accept interviews prior to the Dec 20 release of "Curse of the Golden Flower". CYF arrives today and Li tomorrow, the reporter wrote. There is a brief interview with Li in today's New York Post. She spoke about working with Zhang Yimou after so many years apart. "It was not much different from in the past. We have very good rapport even now. Working together is very comfortable." On working with Chow Yun-Fat: "It's really too bad I never had a chance to work with him before. He's relaxed and casual. The characters he plays are usually very powerful and strong, but he's really not like that. He's a very casual man." Mixed review of CotGF by Michael Koresky on IndieWire.com. He feels the film is "addicting" and "thrilling", but too "grandiose", and Yimou's "script and characters demand intimacy". He praises Li's performance: "Nothing can pin viewers to their seats quite like Gong Li. As the haughty, scheming, Empress, trapped by her dominating husband, Gong commands every inch of the screen whenever she's on it, even when being encroached by all shades of glittering, rainbowed bedazzlement. Gong Li's Empress is a creation that surpasses the expressive capabilities of any special effect." Amusing bit from Hipster-Union.com in the article, "Fairness This Award Season": "I further propose that any movie with Gong Li be automatically rendered ineligible. Look at her. Seriously, she is far and away the most beautiful woman alive. She's beautiful enough to make the Pope weep. And because of that, her uncontainable beauty spreads over every frame of celluloid she's in. To be fair, her presence in any movie should render it ineligible for Best Art Direction, Costume Design, or Cinematography. She is art in motion. She could make tattered rags look like a wedding gown. It is impossible to film her in any way that does not drop the jaw of every onlooker." Dec 16: Li attended the Hong Kong premiere of "Curse of the Golden Flower" tonight. She said: "I very rarely portray a real Chinese character, like a native Beijing resident, in Hollywood. Even though [Isabella in 'Miami Vice'] looks Asian, her character, her thoughts, her thinking aren't Asian at all. That's hard to master. Hollywood films are more challenging. I like the challenge. When the director first discussed the [CotGF] script with me, he was very careful that it wasn't a big but empty production. Very attractive packaging isn't enough. There has to be a story." "Curse of the Golden Flower" will be screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival, which runs January 4-15. CotGF is doing great box office in China. A reporter visiting a theater in one large city wrote: "Even with six ticket windows open, the lines were very long past 11:00pm. The number of screenings each day has been increased, but are still falling short of the demand." From an interview broadcast on CCTV: "Gong Li defends her character [in Curse of the Golden Flower] as a woman who does what she can to survive, and not the monster that the emperor claims she is. Gong Li said: 'Well, I don't quite agree with that, because there are a lot of influences this character is under. For example, having to take herbal medicine all the time is oppressive to her. So for me, it's not about something evil and dark within her, but really a matter of circumstance.' Zhang Yimou says that while the story is specifically Chinese, people everywhere will be able to see the human element." Dec 15: I was contacted today by a rep from the company handling promotion for "Hannibal Rising". She informed me that Li and Gaspard will do promotion in Europe starting mid-January, and will do press interviews here in the U.S. around the end of January. Drew McWeeney's review of "Curse of the Golden Flower" is up on the Ain't It Cool News site this morning. He writes: "What haunts me about this movie, even a month after I saw it, is Gong Li, finally reunited with the filmmaker who made her a star in the first place, tearing into this role with a regal presence that masks a warrior's spirit. Her work elevates a juicy melodrama into something akin to art, and it's her work that will bring me back to this film as soon as I can see it again." From Xinhuanet: "The latest blockbuster from Chinese director Zhang Yimou, Curse of the Golden Flower, brought in 15 million yuan (1.9 million U.S. dollars) within 5 hours on its first day. The 45-million-dollar movie was on show starting from 7 pm on Dec.14 nationwide in China. 'We are optimistic that the film will make a new box office record in China,' said Gao Jun, an executive from the Beijing based New Film Association." According to the Nielsen Video Scan First Alert sales chart for the week ending December 10, the "Miami Vice" R1 DVD ranked No. 2 (behind "Pirates of the Caribbean"). It ranked No. 3 in rentals, earning an estimated $7.9 million. Thanks to Clemato of KateTheGreat for emailing me scans of two full-page ads for "Curse of the Golden Flower" from the January issue of Premiere magazine. AdOne (FYC) AdTwo (poster) Dec 14: The Beijing premiere of "Curse of the Golden Flower" will be held tonight. According to reports in the Chinese media, Li, Yun-Fat and Yimou are unable to attend. From an article in the Zhejiang News: "If you hope to see Gong Li, Chow Yun-Fat and Zhang Yimou's elegant demeanor, you will perhaps be disappointed. Because the three big stars are all too busy, this luxurious premiere ceremony has unexpectedly become Jay Chou's stage. It is reported that Chow Yun-Fat's absence at the premiere is because he is working on another film and Gong Li's is because her mother is suddenly seriously ill. The movie company yesterday was not willing to confirm whether or not Gong Li would be absent from the premiere ceremony, but according to the insider, the Shandong native is presently looking after her mother. So, Gong Li has put aside all work, and the possibility of her attendance at tonight's ceremony is extremely low." Ms. Yang, a publicity representative, told a reporter: "We respect Gong Li's decision, let her look after and be with her mother as much as possible at this time." The Star (Malaysia) includes remarks that Gong Li and Zhang Yimou made during interviews posted on Sina.com. Li said: "Working again with the director after so long, I discovered from our conversation we still have a lot in common. It's not that different from 10 years ago. The collaboration is very relaxed. We both know what we need to do. I know how to give my best performances for the director. I hope he's satisfied with my performance." Yimou said: "I think she's at her prime. She really knows how to act. Her emotions are very powerful." From an article in the New Paper about Chow Yun-Fat's appearance in Singapore: "Despite being mesmerized by Gong Li's 'hourglass figure' and 'killer eyes', Yun Fat claims he harbored 'hatred' for the actress after she ridiculed his lousy Mandarin. 'She may have helped me (with the lines), but I still hate her [he joked]. That's why I made sure she had to drink the last of the poison in the movie!'" Dec 13: Ed Douglas of ComingSoon.net posted an interview with Li to promote "Curse of the Golden Flower". Excerpts -- On her next project: It "will probably also be an American film, but I'm still deciding on that. I've got a couple different possibilities." On Oscar buzz: "It's good in a sense that people are very interested in Oscars and they like to pay attention to those things, but you know, really what's important for me is if people know who I am, if they like my films, they think, 'Oh, she's a pretty good actress and did a pretty good job.' If people like that, then that's my real Oscar. I don't really need the real Oscar itself. It's good enough that people like my films." Thanks to Cocoa for the link to video (with English translation) of a recent interview with Li. Faces Magazine (Malaysia) includes a review of CotGF. Excerpt: "It initially presents a score of questions and keeps the viewer guessing, but once the answers are revealed there is no less sense of surprise. Right down the phenomenal score by Shigeru Umebayashi (In the Mood for Love, Hero), the film's tone is operatic. The audience will definitely expect and focus on the film's breathtaking action sequences, while the emotion and drama of the storyline is no less gripping. Curse of the Golden Flower fulfills on every level, catch it in theaters starting 21st December!" Dec 12: Rave for "Curse of the Golden Flower" from Time magazine: "Chow, the long-ago super cool star of Hong Kong crime movies, parades a magnificent malevolence he's not unleashed before. And Gong Li, working for the first time in 11 years with the director (and ex-lover) who made her an international star in Ju Dou and Raise the Red Lantern, shows a passion that has never been so animated or tearful. This is high, and high-wire, melodrama. It's less soap opera than grand opera, where matters of love and death are played at a perfect fever pitch. And grand this Golden Flower is." Update on the Beijing premiere that is scheduled for December 14... From CriEnglish: "The Beijing Film Studio will host a grand opening party with all the cast members, Taiwan host Jacky Wu and former CCTV sports analyst Huang Jianxiang... Major Beijing cinemas have reached an agreement to price each ticket for 'Curse of the Golden Flower' at 70 yuan, or about 9 US dollars for all the screenings." Li's "Curse of the Golden Flower" co-star, Chow Yun-Fat, is in Singapore today to promote the film's release there. He said, "This is a good opportunity for Zhang Yimou, Chow Yun-Fat and Gong Li to work together in one movie. As an actor, I have finished my job. Of course if they can go into the Oscars, I would be happy. If every movie must be nominated for Oscars, you put a lot of pressure on yourself. You don't have to - life is simple, easy." CYF told a reporter that Gong Li was not able to attend due to a personal matter (rumored to be her mother's health issues), "is very sorry, and asks everybody to forgive her." The film premiered in Singapore at the Golden Village VivoCity. Feedback from someone who attended the screening in Singapore: "What makes this movie stand out is Gong Li, she's fabulous. Her acting can be a bit melodramatic at times, but she's really gorgeous and pitiful here. Her royal robes are beautiful and intricate and her make-up is Avant-garde. Another good point would be the cinematography. There are some shots which are so beautiful, although the palace is too colorful at times, and there's tons of gold. Zhang Yimou is someone who loves to play with colors. But it's Gong Li who carries the show with the help of Chow Yun-Fat." Dec 11: Thanks to Bernard at Campus Circle Net for contacting me regarding a contest: "Sony Pictures Classics and Campus Circle invite you to enter to win the following: A Logitech Digital 5.1 wireless speaker system, a Sony Pictures Classics DVD box set, and a movie poster from [CotGF]... Curse of the Golden Flower in select theatres December 22nd!" There is a mention of Li in the Variety article, "Overseas Stars Refuse to Wait for Hollywood Call": "Many foreign thesps win kudos back home but have little recognition in U.S... an army of foreign actors for whom the lure of a Hollywood Oscar - or career - is elusive at best or even irrelevant... Of course, some foreign-language thesps have managed to break out of their local territories this year... China's 'Curse of the Golden Flower' leading lady Gong Li is steadily building a varied Hollywood filmography. Recent U.S.-based pics include 'Memoirs of a Geisha', 'Miami Vice' and the upcoming 'Hannibal Rising'." The Boston Society of Film Critics announced their awards yesterday and named Zhao Xiaoding Runner-up in the Best Cinematography category for his work on "Curse of the Golden Flower". The New York Film Critics Circle announced their choices today and also cited CotGF as a Runner-up in the Cinematography category. Dec 10: From the amusing article, "Can the Golden Flower Tame Gong Li?" on MSN Movies (thanks, NewPath): "She obviously knows enough English to understand my attempt to get a juicy quote... She then gives a trademark roll of her eyes and provides an answer with a wicked smile. Her longtime translator then provided the following response: 'Yes, going back to film Curse of the Golden Flower, we did it very smoothly and efficiently so it was a very good experience and we were very happy with it.' Yep, something was definitely lost along the way." Li accepted an interview with a reporter the end of the week to promote "Curse of the Golden Flower". I translated the article from the original Mandarin. The reporter commented, "Gong Li's answers all appear to be out of the ordinary. She is frank, and her talkative disposition has not changed." Asked about the overseas reaction to the film, Li said that there is a lot of interest in the story, costumes, set design, and photography, as well as the performances. "Sometimes, the director did not have the time to accept the interview, and they asked me, but I am only an actor, not the director, so I could not clearly tell them. Ha ha." Li was asked in which topics the overseas media was most interested. She replied that they commented on her different performances in "Memoirs of a Geisha", "Miami Vice" and CotGF, wondering how she molded the contrasting psychological condition of each character. The reporter then asked her how she achieved it. She replied, "I like my work." Li said that while working on MV, Zhang Yimou traveled to Miami to discuss the CotGF script. She had 3-4 months preparation time, and "the role of empress gradually took shape in my brain". She remarked that she "certainly must have quite a long preparation process." Li also spoke about the media in China, commenting that in the past, they wrote what they wanted and didn't hold back. That has changed somewhat. The reporter asked if it affects her. She replied, "I do not really care about that at all, but I know some actors are damaged by scandal." The reporter concluded the interview by asking her if she has ever thought about why, after so many years, she still maintains her charm on screen for movie-goers. Li answered that she thinks the audience likes her and her work. She believes they think that she is very earnest and doesn't depend on luck. "When she [speaking about herself] speaks, they discover that this person speaks very directly. Then come questions about her personal life, and who she loves. In any case, her movies are very good, so we'll let her off," she smiled. Dec 9: Excerpt from a very positive review of "Curse of the Golden Flower" on the Ain't It Cool News site, found by NewPath: CotGF is "proof of Yimou's caliber as a filmmaker. He is an artist that showcases his unique understanding of film language to spin new inventions on his own familiar territory and create seemingly entire different movies with subtle changes... The bigger story in the performances of this film is certainly Gong Li... She exhibits such opposites in a single moment, personified by her decision to keep... well, doing something that is harmful to her. In these moments she can be terrified and yet courageous, stupid and yet brilliant. It was the kind of performance that was the staple of her early work with Yimou, and hopefully there will be more to see in the future." According to Yahoo News Taiwan, a "Curse of the Golden Flower" premiere will be held in Taiwan on December 20, and Li will attend, along with Chow Yun-Fat and Jay Chou. (Thanks to Cocoa and Chow Yun-Fat Fansite.)
Mike Clark of USA Today briefly reviewed the "Miami Vice" DVD, and notes that "the content is finally up to [director Michael] Mann's form when Farrell romances narcotics queen-pin Gong Li - the screen's most imposing B-girl in a while." Janet Maslin of the NY Times reviews the "Hannibal Rising" novel and feels the role of Lady Murasaki would be a challenge to portray on film: "Suffice it to say that [Hannibal] is a scarred and lonely 13-year-old by the time he reaches France and encounters a vision of beauty: Lady Murasaki, the stately, exquisitely alluring Asian wife of Hannibal's uncle. Picture the magnificent Gong Li in this role - or just wait, because she'll show up soon enough in the film version (due early next year). It will require all of her formidable acting skills." Dec 7: Li reportedly accepted an interview in Beijing yesterday evening to promote "Curse of the Golden Flower". NewPath posted photos on our forum. "Hannibal Rising" teaser trailer is online (thanks to Cocoa for the link). The film is Box Office Prophets' Movie of the Day today. Just for fun from AsianBite: "thrilled to present you the top 10 hottest female superstars in China. The choice was far from easy since there are countless hotties in the land of steaming dumplings. So we came up with a list that tried to not only focus on looks alone but also took star power and gossip! power into consideration. The list isn't scientific but should give 'foreigners' a pretty good idea on how hot Chinese girls can really be! Our top 10 are: Gong Li, Ziyi Zhang, Zhou Xun, Zhang Jingchu, Cecilia Cheung, Crystal Liu Yifei, Vicky Zhao Wei, Lin Chiling, Maggie Q and Jolin Tsai."
The National Board of Review announced its award winners, and "Curse of the Golden Flower" is one of the top five foreign films of the year. "Volver" took the top slot; rounding out the top five are: "Days of Glory," "Pan's Labyrinth" and "Water." New "Hannibal Rising" stills are up on Sohu.com - View! From a recent Q&A with Li about working on "Curse of the Golden Flower": "For me the process was kind of like being in a bullfight where they stick the bull and keep taunting and exciting the bull until he's just in a frenzy and he's ready to fight. For me it was like that every day. I'd get all excited - and the director, of course, was the bullfighter and I was the bull - to get me really charged up to perform in the play. And then after we'd finish it, I'd get off work, go home and have a nice sleep, and the next day get up and start the whole process over again... For the whole process every day of getting ready, including hair and makeup and costume, it took maybe about three hours total. By the time I got to the hair stage I finally began to feel ready and like an empress, and the bullfight was ready. By the time we got onto the set with the color scheme and everything very red and gold and splendid, the bullfight really took off after that... It was a very good experience and we were very happy with it. As far as being satisfied, actually I feel a little unsatisfied in Curse of the Golden Flower in my own part in the film. I wish it were longer. I wish they would give me another 20-30 minutes and I could actually do an even better job with the performance." Dec 5: From director Michael Mann's commentary on the "Miami Vice" DVD: "The incredible Gong Li, who is capable of so much meaning and moving through different variations within a moment, that it generates a feeling of a real life, and intelligence, and complexity... She's a unique combination - I think both as an actress and also as a person - of sensitivity, almost like raw nerve-type sensitivity, and vulnerability. And usually, that occurs in a person who is a fragile person, and they have these kinds of sensitivities. That's not the case with Li. She is tremendously strong and has the confidence and very healthy ego of a person who is very well prepared, has a classical acting education, knows her stuff, has a ferocious work ethic. And somebody like that, and the preparation they do, and how far they want to go, and how much they want to extend themselves into accruing to themselves the expertise that their character would have. That in itself is extraordinary, but it also yields an actress who is very strong and very confident. And in that combination with the vulnerability, the willingness to open themselves up to emotional experience, and feel the extent of that feeling, and loss, and dislocation... So, what is unusual about the combination is that you find that degree of sensitivity in somebody who is as stable and rock solid as Gong Li. It's a privilege and an honor to work with actors like that." The "Miami Vice" R1 DVD is released today (theatrical version as well as an unrated director's version). From DVD Talk: "This Miami Vice is sleek, calculated, and extremely hard-edged… The characters are, for the majority, engaging, compelling, and portrayed very well from the great cast… This supporting cast was especially resonant this time around, especially Gong Li and Barry Henley… Miami Vice comes Recommended from this reviewer as an interesting trip into the world of undercover cops involved in an extremely high profile crime bust." Dec 4: From Jürgen Fauth, who attended the "Curse of the Golden Flower" New York premiere screening: Zhang Yimou and Gong Li "said a few words via an interpreter who botched Gong Li's comments, but it didn't matter - we just wanted to gawk at her looking tall and beautiful in an amazing dress. I'd seen her once before, in Cannes, but I was much closer this time, and she looked almost superhuman... Like its predecessors, Curse of the Golden Flower is absolutely gorgeous... But for the first time with Mr. Zhang's wuxia pictures, the melodramatic story appealed to me, too." (Thanks to NewPath for the item.) From IndieLondon: "Curse Of The Golden Flower is exciting for many reasons. It marks the first collaboration between Yimou and Gong Li in over a decade following their sudden parting in 1995... Since then, Li has become a major international star following more acclaimed performances in high-profile blockbusters, Memoirs Of A Geisha and Miami Vice... Needless to say, early word on Curse Of The Golden Flower is extremely hot, with Yimou predicted to deliver another stunning epic to rival the acclaim surrounding his previous two efforts. We can't wait." Dec 3: Musician Gary Lucas met Li at the NYC premiere of "Curse of the Golden Flower", and wrote about the experience on his blog. Excerpt: "Gong Li's performance was flawless, subtle, nuanced - besides being one of the most beautiful, she is simply one of the best actors on screen today. From Raise the Red Lantern through Shanghai Triad to this production, she's never less than riveting, exhibiting profound depths of interior emotion through a mere flicker of her eyes / tremor in her face... I sat at her table for a spell with her and her friends, talking to her about her various films and performances. When we finally made to leave Gong Li graciously got up from the table and thanked us all personally one by one for coming to her party in the warmest, most sincere manner. What a great lady she is." According to a rule change by the British Academy of Film and TV Arts, several high-profile films - including "Curse of the Golden Flower" - are ineligible for BAFTA awards this year. From Variety: "When BAFTA closed its list of entries last week, it emerged that at least nine widely-touted movies had missed its new deadline for qualification... Previously, distribs had until the end of March to get their contenders into cinemas. But under the org's new rules, films must now go on general release before the award ceremony on Feb. 11." CotGF is currently scheduled for release in the UK on March 2. Dec 2: Thanks to NewPath for an update this afternoon: Li was spotted in Beijing yesterday by someone from a real estate company that manages the villa complex where Li lives. She told a former co-worker about the sighting, and that person wrote about it on her blog. She also says that all of her colleagues "have an exceptionally good impression of Gong Li. They said she is very nice." More "Curse of the Golden Flower" premieres are on the horizon. According to John of MXNewsBites, "the leading cast will be in Singapore to promote the film and to grace the Gala Premiere of the movie. The event will be held at the Golden Village Cineplex at VivoCity on December 12." According to a gog.com.cn reporter, New Picture Company spokesperson Yang Yanghuan disclosed this week that a premiere ceremony will be held in Beijing on December 14. Cast members Gong Li, Chow Yun-Fat, Jay Chou and Liu Ye are expected to attend, along with many "honored guests". The reporter also writes that premieres will also be held in Guanzgzhou and Shanghai. From a review of the "Miami Vice" DVD: Gong Li "is one of the most captivating stars to hit the screens in recent years. It's true that her English is not always very clear, but regardless of that she manages to show a whole gamut of emotions from haughty disdain to erotic abandon."
Keith Uhlich reviews "Curse of the Golden Flower" for Slant magazine, and gives it a mixed review. He dislikes the battle sequences, likes the interior palace sequences, and Li's work. "Only Gong - her torso wrapped bodice-ripper tight, her face covered in strategically-placed beads of sweat - manages to wring some profundity from the proceedings. Zhang wisely allows Gong's grande dame emoting to carry Golden Flower overall and her post-bloodbath banshee wail is one for the Dragon Lady Macbeth hall of fame." Thanks to Jim for this scan of a Chopard Christmas ad featuring Li - View
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