SHANGHAI - MOVIE REVIEW

Still from Shanghai

Although The Weinstein Co. had Oscar hopes for 1940s Period Piece Shanghai this Awards season, it looks as though it will be shelved for the rounds later this year with a set-release date of October 28, 2011 in North America.

Set in a Japanese-occupied Shanghai prior to Japan's devastating attacks on Pearl Harbour during World War II, its Story follows Paul Soames (John Cusack), an American Spy who visits to unravel the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of his Friend Conner (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), also a Spy.

Paul is drawn to the alluring Anna Lan-Ting (Gong Li), Wife of Chinese Mobster Anthony (Chow Yun-Fat), who has underhanded dealings with Japanese Security Chief, Captain Tanaka (Ken Watanabe).  As the Plot thickens, secrets are unraveled and none of the characters we learn, are without one.  We learn that Captain Tanaka and Conner in fact shared a Lover in Sumiko (Rinko Kikuchi), in ways paralleling the jeopardous Love Triangle between Anthony, Anna and Paul.

Times are dangerous in Shanghai with Mobsters possessing almost as much power as the Government, taking matters of Justice in their own hands.  Set against the backdrop of the War, there is an imminent sense of danger and we wonder if Paul will be able to escape Shanghai alive and unnoticed as a Spy, or whether he will suffer a similar fate to Conner.

WHERE THE HELL IS SHANGHAI?

Can anyone tell me what ever happened to this movie?  Mikael Hafstrom's Period-Romance Shanghai from The Weinstein Co. seems to have fallen off the radar with no set domestic release date still.  From the get-go, the film has been marred by controversy, including China barring production of the film in the city where it is set.  I hope the Cast and Crew enjoyed the sunny beaches of Bangkok and their fabulous Pad Thai though anyhow.  Everything about Shanghai's pedigree is gold. It stars John Cusack, Yun-Fat Chow, Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi and personal favourite Gong Li. 

Upon delving into things further, it screened in June to mixed reviews at the Shanghai International Film Festival.  Hollywood Reporter's Elizabeth Kerr claims, the "WWII romantic thriller bites off far more than it can chew and chokes on its own ambitions."  Ouch.  New York Post which likened the film to Casablanca, stated point blank that "the Epic will likely not get strong enough reviews to find much of an audience in North America despite a high-powered cast..."