Paradox (2017 film)
| Paradox | |
|---|---|
 Official film poster | |
| Traditional | 殺破狼・貪狼 |
| Simplified | 杀破狼・贪狼 |
| Mandarin | Shā Pò Láng・Tān Láng |
| Cantonese | Saat3 Po3 Long4・Taam1 Long4 |
| Directed by | Wilson Yip |
| Produced by |
Cheang Pou-soi Paco Wong Ren Yue Stanley Tong Yang Guang |
| Screenplay by |
Jill Leung Nick Cheuk |
| Starring |
Louis Koo Gordon Lam Wu Yue Chris Collins Tony Jaa |
| Music by |
Chan Kwong-wing Ken Chan |
| Cinematography | Kenneth Tse |
| Edited by | Wong Hoi |
Production company |
Sun Entertainment Film Group Bona Film Group Alibaba Pictures Sunny Side Up (Never) Limited Sil-Metropole Organisation Wish Films Flagship Entertainment Shanghai PMF Media YL Entertainment and Sports (YLES) Rock Partner Film Huoerguosi Bona Media Aether Film Production |
| Distributed by | Bravos Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 98 minutes |
| Country |
Hong Kong China |
| Language |
Cantonese English Thai |
| Budget | US$14.5 million[1] |
| Box office | US$80.8 million[2][3] |
Paradox is a 2017 Hong Kong-Chinese action film directed by Wilson Yip, with action direction by Sammo Hung. Written by Jill Leung and Nick Cheuk, the film stars Louis Koo as a police inspector who travels to Bangkok to search for his teenage daughter and is aided by local detectives played by Tony Jaa and Wu Yue. Along the way, he encounters the mastermind of an organ trafficking gang (Chris Collins) who colludes with a local politician (Gordon Lam), leading to a series of hot pursuit.[4][5] Paradox is the third installment of the SPL film series, following the 2005 film, SPL: Sha Po Lang and 2015's SPL II: A Time for Consequences.[6] The film was released in China on 17 August 2017 and in Hong Kong on 25 August 2017 and has grossed US$80.8 million worldwide against a budget of US$14.5 million.
The film well received by critics, with praise directed towards action director Hung's choreography, which won him the Hong Kong Film Award for Best Action Choreography, and Koo's physical and emotional performance, which netted him both the Asian Film Award for Best Actor and Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor, winning his film first acting awards. Aside from winning the two aforementioned awards, Paradox also won Best Sound Design and received six other nominations at the 37th Hong Kong Film Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best New Performer, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing.
Plot
When Hong Kong police inspector Lee Chung-chi (Louis Koo) is informed about the sudden disappearance of his 16-year-old daughter Lee Wing-chi (Hanna Chan) during her trip to Pattaya, he decides to travel to Thailand to search for her daughter's whereabouts. There Lee receives assistance from local Chinese detective Chui Kit (Wu Yue) and his Thai colleague Tak (Tony Jaa) and also encounters American gangster Sacha (Chris Collins).
Clues connect the disappearance of Lee's daughter to a case involving the mayoral candidate of Bangkok's urgent need for a heart transplant. Lee also suspects the mayoral candidate's assistant Cheng Hon-sau (Gordon Lam) of colluding with Sacha to abduct his daughter. While suffering from the loss of his beloved daughter, Lee kidnaps corrupt officer Ban (Ken Lo) in order to get to the bottom of the case. As a result, Lee becomes a nationwide wanted criminal. Seeking revenge, Lee can only ask Chui to assist him in finding the whereabouts of his daughter.
Cast
- Louis Koo as Lee Chung-chi (李忠志)
- Gordon Lam as Cheng Hon-sau (鄭漢守)
- Wu Yue as Chui Kit (崔傑)
- Chris Collins as Sacha (沙查)
- Tony Jaa as Tak (阿德) (special appearance)
- Michelle Saram as Lee Chung-chi's wife (guest appearance)
- Jacky Cai as Siu-man (小曼)
- Ken Lo as Ban (阿斌)
- Hanna Chan as Lee Wing-chi (李穎芝)
- Vithaya Pansringarm as Commissioner Chai (猜局長)
- Sompob Benjathikul as Mayor Azis (阿齋茲市長)
- Siraphun Wattanajinda as Soei (桑兒)
Production
Filming for Paradox began in Bangkok on 29 October 2016, where a filming commencement ceremony was held which was attended by producers Cheang Pou-soi and Paco Wong, director Wilson Yip, action director Sammo Hung and cast members Louis Koo, Gordon Lam, Tony Jaa, Wu Yue, Chris Collins and Ken Lo.[4][5][7] For his role as an assistant for a Bangkok mayoral candidate, Lam learned to speak Thai from Lo, who is fluent in the language.[4][5] On 26 December 2016, it was announced that filming for the film's action scenes have all been complete.[8][9] Production for Paradox officially wrapped up after over three months of shooting in Hong Kong and Thailand in February 2017 with a wrap up banquet held on the 4th on the same month attended by the cast and crew members.[10]
Release
Paradox made its world premiere as the Opening Film of the 2017 Cine Fan Summer International Film Festival organised by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society on 15 August 2017[6][11] before being theatrically released in China in MX4D and China Film Giant Screen[12] on 17 August and in Hong Kong on 25 August 2017.[13]
Reception
Critical response
Paradox received mostly positive reviews, with critics praising Louis Koo's performance and Sammo Hung's action choreography. Edmund Lee of the South China Morning Post rated the film a score of 3.5/5 stars, praising Koo's physical and emotional performance, choreographer Sammo Hung's ferocious action scenes.[14] Elizabeth Kerr of The Hollywood Reporter praised Hung's creative action choreography, writer Jill Leung's use of time to uncover the protagonist's indiscretions and cinematographer Kenneth Tse's use of colors.[15] James Marsh of Screen Anarchy praised Hung's brutal action choreography, Koo's performance as having "gone above and above" and concludes his review by stating that the film "packs one hell of a punch".[16]
Box office
In China, the film grossed ¥212,476,100 during its opening weekend. debuting at No. 2.[17] By its second weekend, the film has dropped to No. 4 and has accumulated a total gross of ¥440,437,600 by then.[18] On its third week, the film grossed ¥12,810,300 and has grossed a total ¥502,799,402 by then.[19] During its fourth week, the film grossed ¥2,818,498, accumulating a total gross of ¥518,116,101 so far.[20] The film has grossed a total of ¥521,573,000 in China.[21]
Released on 25 August 2017 in Hong Kong, the film grossed HK$3,153,559 during its opening weekend, debuting at No.4. During its second week, the film grossed HK$3,551,677, accumulating a total gross of HK6,705,236 by then. On its third week, the film grossed HK$872,290 and has grossed a total of HK$7,577,526 so far.[22]
Paradox has grossed a total of US$80,801,962 from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Thailand.[2][3]
Awards and nominations
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37th Hong Kong Film Awards[23][24] | Best Film | Paradox | Nominated |
| Best Director | Wilson Yip | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Louis Koo | Won | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Gordon Lam | Nominated | |
| Best New Performer | Hanna Chan | Nominated | |
| Best Cinematography | Kenny Tse | Nominated | |
| Best Film Editing | Wong Hoi | Nominated | |
| Best Action Choreography | Sammo Hung | Won | |
| Best Sound Design | Kinson Tsang, George Lee | Won | |
| 12th Asian Film Awards[25][26] | Best Actor | Louis Koo | Won |
| Best Action Film | Paradox | Won | |
| 24th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards[27] | Film of Merit | Paradox | Won |
| 12th Hong Kong Film Directors' Guild Award | Best Actor | Louis Koo | Won |
| 54th Golden Horse Awards | Best Action Choreography | Sammo Hung | Nominated |
| Weibo Star Awards 2017 | Best Actor | Louis Koo | Won |
| Gordon Lam | Nominated | ||
| 23rd Huading Awards[28] | Best Supporting Actor | Gordon Lam | Nominated |
| MOVIE 6 Hong Kong Film Awards Public Voting | Best Film | Paradox | Won |
| Best Actor | Louis Koo | Won | |
| 1st Kongest Film Awards[29] | |||
| Best Film | Paradox | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Wilson Yip | Nominated | |
| Best Actor | Louis Koo | Nominated | |
| My Favorite Hong Kong Film | Paradox | Nominated | |
See also
References
- ↑ "FilMart: Sun Entertainment's 'Paradox' Packs Powerful Punch".
- 1 2 "殺破狼．貪狼-票房收入".
- 1 2 "Paradox - Box Office Mojo".
- 1 2 3 "《貪狼》沿用《殺破狼2》班底曼谷開鏡 古天樂Tony Jaa 吳樾 Chris Collins 連場開打 林家棟學泰文盧惠光叫「好爽」!".
- 1 2 3 "LOUIS KOO AND TONY JAA TRADE BLOWS".
- 1 2 "PARADOX World Premiere to Open Hong Kong Summer Film Fest".
- ↑ "Louis Koo plays negotiator in "Paradox"".
- ↑ "LOUIS KOO HAS FUN WITH THE PARADOX FIGHT SCENES".
- ↑ "古仔拍《貪狼》打得過癮".
- ↑ "LOUIS KOO TURNS INTO PARADOX WRAP FORTUNE".
- ↑ "Paradox – HKIFF Cine Fan 電影節發燒友".
- ↑ "杀破狼·贪狼". Gewara (in Chinese). Retrieved 23 August 2017.
- ↑ "巴福斯發行《殺破狼・貪狼 Paradox》前導預告｜8月25日 殺戮有時 救贖有時".
- ↑ "Film review: Paradox – Louis Koo channels his inner Liam Neeson for Wilson Yip's brutal return to SPL action series".
- ↑ "'Paradox': Film Review - Hollywood Reporter".
- ↑ "Review: PARADOX Scores Another Hit for the SPL Franchise".
- ↑ "China Box Office, August 18–20, 2017".
- ↑ "China Box Office, August 25–27, 2017".
- ↑ "China Box Office, September 1–3, 2017".
- ↑ "China Box Office September 8–10, 2017".
- ↑ "杀破狼・贪狼 电影详情 中国票房".
- ↑ "hkfilmart.com - 每週票房".
- ↑ "Nomination list of The 37th Hong Kong Film Awards".
- ↑ "Our Time Will Come wins five awards, including best film, at star-studded Hong Kong Film Awards". South China Morning Post. April 15, 2018.
- ↑ "Asian Film Awards 2018 nominations". South China Morning Post. January 11, 2018.
- ↑ "Asian Film Awards: 'Youth' Wins Top Prize From 'Demon Cat'". Variety. March 17, 2018.
- ↑ "第二十四屆香港電影評論學會大獎得獎理由撮要".
- ↑ "第23届华鼎奖提名：《战狼2》、《芳华》双雄逐鹿". Sina (in Chinese). March 20, 2018.
- ↑ "【最港電影大獎得獎名單】華仔拎「最港男演員」鄧麗欣摘「最港女演員」".