* Green Tea Review: An ordinary movie bidding for the status of an art house film (www.cityweekend.com.cn) -- ��̲衷Ӱ�� ::: Green Tea Review Board :::

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Date Posted: 16:35:22 09/16/03 Tue
Author: Wee
Subject: * Green Tea Review: An ordinary movie bidding for the status of an art house film (www.cityweekend.com.cn)

http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/issues/2003/18/Movies_18

Green Tea
Lu cha, �̲�

There is an old adage that warns glossy veneers do not make for good movies. With the recent movie release Green Tea, it was clearly the case that filmmakers were aiming for yet another surrealist art house piece, not realizing that minus a quirky, compelling story, a pseudo-intellectual labyrinth merely becomes a hindrance.

Chen Mingliang (Jiang Wen) is an apparently well-off city dweller who is lost in the ways of love, and ignorant of women's desirous nature. Then, on a fateful blind date, Chen meets Wu Fang (Zhao Wei), a reserved, holier-than-thou type with a certain wild streak lurking beneath. Later, he also falls for hotel piano player and sexy lady Land, who may or may not be Wu's alter ego, since the two ladies look physically identical.

Mostly, we get to see this threesome (plus occasional friends) drift from coffee shop to restaurant to bar ad nauseum, as if they were on a City Weekend nightlife listings marathon. While at it, they exchange oh-so deep witticisms and observations on life that are occasionally funny, but mostly pretentious.

Jiang Wen's character furthermore gives men a bad rap as he tirelessly chases both young women, presenting his case for their appraisal. Witnessing a more balanced triangle would have been preferable.

Certainly, the two main protagonists enjoyed impressive execution at the hands of Jiang and Zhao, but force-feeding a project with would-be psychedelia can't honestly be expected to work.

Green Tea's main recommendation is as a nostalgic tribute to Beijing: directed by Zhang Yuan, it's all shot within a Y10 cab ride of the Worker's Stadium, and features club owner and socialites Henry and Sally Li. If nothing else, you'll have a good time playing spot the watering hole. It may appeal to some viewers - especially given that it is accompanied by a superb soundtrack by Su Cong - but overall, its awkward demeanor and too-smart mentality rules out a resounding round of applause.

Green Tea, directed by Zhang Yuan, starring Jiang Wen, Zhao Wei
2003, Mandarin, 82 minutes

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�� -- �廨ѩ��, 16:29:59 12/18/03 Thu