Postby Yuki-Anne » Tue Jun 14, 2011 11:15 pm
The White Countess - I was browsing my local video store, and the cover of this movie told me everything I needed to know: Ralph Fiennes and Hiroyuki Sanada. In a period piece.
I couldn't read the cover, so I just went with it, and I was pleasantly surprised. It's set in pre-WWII Shanghai, right before the Japanese invasion. I won't go into too many details with the characters, because part of what made that movie so delightful was that I went into it completely in the dark about who these people were.
It was a strange movie, which on one occasion randomly veered off into the artsy, almost like it was a completely different movie. Except for that one big-lipped alligator moment, it was a really great movie. It was subtle, with great characterization. At points where other movies could be (and have been) heavy-handed, it remained focused and subtle. I highly recommend it, especially if you're looking for something that is easy on objectionable content. In fact, it was INCREDIBLY restrained, especially considering its subject matter (it somehow very delicately and respectfully handles both prostitution and the Japanese invasion of Asia, two very intense and brutal topics).
EDIT: Oh, and Lee Pace was in it too, but his part was rather minor.