"RED CORNER" (MGM/UA) Staring: Richard Gere Bai Ling Directed by Jon Avnet Written by Robert King & Ron Koslow Cinematography by Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Review by R. L. Strong Copyright 1997 R.L. Strong
Jon Avnet's new film is an interesting and entertaining indictment of the Legal system of Mainland China. Richard Gere plays Jack Moore, a legal representative for an American satellite corporation hoping to open up broadcasting opportunities in Beijing. Jack has worked with officials of the Communist government before and is well liked and respected. His charm and ability to communicate with those of differing ideologies is considered honorable and imaginative. While setting up the final proposals for the broadcasting rights, Jack meets a beautiful Chinese Model at a fashion show. He is attracted to her, as she is to him. A tryst develops, playfully erotic, growing into something more.
The neXt morning, Jack is awakened by the rough handling of the Red Guard. The Model has been brutally murdered. Jack's shirt and chest are covered in her blood. The Guards investigate the scene and place Jack immediately under arrest. At his interrogation, he is told that there is compassion for those who confess, but severity for those who resist. He is assigned an Attorney, Yuelin (played by Chinese actress Bai Ling), who urges him to confess to the crime to save his life. Jack steadfastly refuses forcing Yuelin to investigate the case more that certain individuals would like.
Red Corner is a strong film, with marvelous moments and a superior central performance by Bai Ling as Yuelin. Richard Gere handles his role as Jack Moore well enough, but doesn't really come to life until about midway through the film. His portrait of righteous indignation at the beginning of the film, while acceptable, doesn't give the film a strong enough emotional core to hang on. As a character ark, Jack really doesn't have a drastic enough change in his attitude to foster much audience sympathy. Even when telling of the death of his wife and child, you feel no pain for the character, as his burying of those emotions makes it hard for the audience to really feel his plight.
And his plight is a hard one indeed. One of the most interesting images in the film is of nameless guards looking in on Gere as he sits in his darkened cell, the only light, is coming through a narrow slit in the cell door. The feeling of isolation and invasion permeates the film. The main set, a libertine maze of streets and alleys that makes you feel there are many secrets here, many lies that will never be resolved. The first scene of the film, of Jack being photographed by a surveillance video camera sets the tone for the film perfectly. He is no longer in control of his own life. It is now controlled by the State. A State to which he has no allegiance.
Gere's performance is workman-like and not as strong as some of his best performances (Officer & a Gentleman, Internal Affairs). It's almost as if he is trying to separate performance from his own personal convictions (as his are now well known). It could be said that Jack Moore is a man who's convictions are greater than his own life. But that conceit seems trivial in the face of the overwhelming danger the character faces. It is only in his scenes with Bai Ling, that Gere comes to life. There is an honest chemistry between the two stars, and Director Avnet uses it well.
Yuelin, therefore is the center of the film. Bai Ling's performance is without a doubt one of the best of the year and it would be a shame if the Academy overlooks her work in this film. She uses every inch of her body in her performance (a telling moment when finally believing that Jack may be innocent of the crime, her eyes cannot look directly at him for long, darting away from one side of his face to his shoulder and back, a marvelous and subtle performance). We feel the character growing and changing against her own wishes, facing truths about herself that she'd rather not.
The script by Robert King and Ron Koslow is taunt and well paced. The setup and resolution of the crime are well constructed and solidly delivered. The trial is presented in an interesting manner, showing not the usual trickery of where a well placed argument convinces everyone of the truth. Here, the accused is guilty, an idea of Chinese law unfathomable to Westerners. These are presented mater of factly without the usual hyperbole associated with thrillers of this type. The political aspects of the film are given rather cursory explanation, Chinese view Westerners as primitive sophisticates, with no thought or conscience. In prison Jack is treated like a dog, an animal that would have no thought as to weather it should eat it's own feces. This is reinforced in a scene where, during Jack's escape, he hides in a small animal pen, unnoticed by the Guards standing over him.
Director Avnet manages the film well. He is not intrusive in his style in the way of the MTV style. Avnet uses his camera to frame reality, without resorting to stylized angles or tracking. The film is actually rather standard, looking at times almost like a Television drama, (similar too 'Fried Green Tomatoes'). The cinematography by Karl Walter Lindenlaub is very straight forward, using the 1.85:1 framing of the film to give a feeling of intimacy and claustrophobia. Even the visual effects by DIGITAL DOMAIN are unobtrusive, convincing us that we are actually in China. You will not notice the effects as they are seamless, the film was not shot in China, but rather in areas around Southern California. All of the backgrounds are CGI or miniatures. The very fact that the effects do not call attention to themselves ensures that the effects team will be ignored come Oscar. time.
This is Avnet's best film since 'Fried Green Tomatoes'. 'Red Corner' is not a great film. It is flawed. But it's flaws show a heart and willingness to tell a story that most films today seem to have forgotten.
Rating: 1 - 10 "7"
-- _________________________________________________ |"It's not enought to tell us what a man did. | |You've have to tell us who he was.." Citizen Kane| |_________________________________________________|
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