Pioneering female filmmaker Ann Hui scores her 5th career best director honor
“The Golden Era,” a biography of Chinese novelist Xiao Hong, won top honors at the Hong Kong Film Awards, with its director Ann Hui claiming her fifth best director trophy.
A trailblazer for female filmmakers, Hui became the record holder for women in the best director category at the Hong Kong Film Awards with her victory Sunday night. She previously won for “A Simple Life,” ‘’The Way We Are,” ‘’Summer Snow” and “Boat People.”
The 67-year-old director said that she has her actors, especially leading lady Tang Wei, to thank for that. “’A Simple Life’ is a film that I know how to make and I know what kind of effects to go for. I don’t think any director knows how to make ‘The Golden Era.’ So I’m very thankful to Tang Wei because she’s got a tough job. I wasn’t really sure how to tell this story. It was hard. I think all the actors were struggling “
“The Golden Era” also won for cinematography, costume and makeup, and for art direction.
Financial thriller “Overheard 3” won three awards including best actor, supporting actor and screenplay.
Best actress winner Zhao Wei of “Dearest” has had success with directing and said that to be able to do both is a blessing. “I feel very lucky because both of them are something that I’m very interested in. When I get to do them both, it really helps me to improve,” Zhao said.
Best actor award winner Lau Ching Wan was asked if he would appear in a film directed by Zhao, and he was quick to say “Yes.”
“If I get a chance, let’s have some fun,” Lau said, to which she responded: “Thank you.”
“The Golden Era” and Hui have been honored at other film award events in Asia, and it was Hong Kong’s submission to the Academy Awards foreign language film category, though it wasn’t one of the final five nominees.
Rom-Com Mainstay Hugh Grant Shifts To The Dark Side and He’s Never Been Happier
After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead.
"Sorry about that," he apologizes. "Tech hell." Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the "devil's tinderbox."
"I think they're killing us. I hate them," he says. "I go on long holidays from them, three or four days at at time. Marvelous."
Hell, and our proximity to it, is a not unrelated topic to Grant's new film, "Heretic." In it, two young Mormon missionaries (Chloe East, Sophie Thatcher) come knocking on a door they'll soon regret visiting. They're welcomed in by Mr. Reed (Grant), an initially charming man who tests their faith in theological debate, and then, in much worse things.
After decades in romantic comedies, Grant has spent the last few years playing narcissists, weirdos and murders, often to the greatest acclaim of his career. But in "Heretic," a horror thriller from A24, Grant's turn to the dark side reaches a new extreme. The actor who once charmingly stammered in "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and who danced to the Pointer Sisters in "Love Actually" is now doing heinous things to young people in a basement.
"It was a challenge," Grant says. "I think human beings need challenges. It makes your beer taste better in the evening if you've climbed a mountain. He was just so wonderfully (expletive)-up."
"Heretic," which opens in theaters Friday, is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, co-writers of "A Quiet Place." In Grant's hands, Mr. Reed is a divinely good baddie — a scholarly creep whose wry monologues pull from a wide range of references, including, fittingly, Radiohead's "Creep."
In an interview, Grant spoke about these and other facets of his character, his journey... Read More