Hou Hsaio-hsien's stunning drama focuses on a financially struggling, self-destructive Taipei couple living in a cramped apartment. Hao-Hao is a druggie whose paranoia and jealousy over his girlfriend Vicky eventually lead him to rummage through her handbag to check receipts and phone card billing. After the couple's landlord--who harbors little love for the pair--arranges a job for Vicky as a bar hostess, she begins a relationship with Jack, a friendly middle-aged gangster whose interest in her is more as a buddy than a lover, but who also serves as a stabilizing force enabling Vicky to break up with Hao-Hao. Unfortunately, Hao-Hao is not willing to let go and he proceeds to stalk Vicky at the bar. Complicating matters are Jack's gangster staff, whose surplus muscle and deficient brainpower creates problems beyond Jack's control. Hou shoots his film in elegiac long takes composed in tight spaces illuminated by harsh lighting, while also allowing his actors psychological room to unfold the story in beautifully modulated performances that capture the essence of lives slowly frittering away into wreckage. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. [Note: DVD extras include a nine-minute subtitled interview with director Hou Hsiao-hsien, a 13-minute extended scene, cast/crew filmographies, trailers, and weblinks. Bottom line: a small but decent extras package for an acclaimed foreign film.] (P. Hall)
Millennium Mambo
Palm, 105 min., in Mandarin w/English subtitles, R, VHS: $44.98, DVD: $24.98, Aug. 17 Volume 19, Issue 5
Millennium Mambo
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As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
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