My Name is Fame by Lawrence Lau Kwok Cheung (2006)
14 July 2007I am a huge Lau Ching Wan fan, and it is so good to see him back, and in a great vehicle for him, where he is basically parodying himself. The film is of course not a gritty realistic film, but it does show some of the pitfalls of the film industry, and is a great look into the pitfalls of the Hong Kong film industry, and is also a really cute love story, and a great story of one mine finding his redemption and brining himself back from an unhealthy place. This is really one of the most enjoyable Hong Kong films I have seen in a while and I highly recommend it for everyone.
Lau Ching Wan plays Poon Ka Fai, a TV actor who had previously won the best new actor award, and now plays bit parts and has such an attitude that his career is basically going away, though he is a great actor, and has a great deal of knowledge about the craft. At every job Poon lays into the director and crew about how they could do things better, and what they are doing wrong, and berates a young beautiful extra that can’t keep her eyes off him named Faye Ng (Huo Siyan). She tries to attach herself to Poon, but he blows her off, but inevitably runs into her again.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS…
Poon goes over to see his ex wife who runs an extras casting place, and again runs into Faye Ng, and agrees to go with her on her extra job, and on the job helps improve her acting. He ends up going with her again, and eventually becomes her manager. Quickly she cons him and moves into his place, as he continues to improve her career, but his career has completely stalled. Poon slowly teachers her the ins and outs of being a good actor, how to remember emotions and use them in a scene, and really hone her skills, and her star begins to rise.
Finally she gets offers to get a new manager, and Poon freaks out and doesn’t let her join a girl band, but she finds an art film being directed by Gordon Chan Car Seung in Japan that she wants to do, but it needs extensive nude scenes, and Poon is not comfortable with it. He does prep her, but he won’t go with her. They finally kiss and show they love each other, but then she leaves for Japan. Instead of Poon falling back into his old heavily drinking ways he ends up changing his life for the better, especially after a long talk with his fellow actor Tony Leung Ka Fai, who tells him how he has to really work if he wants a career, put himself out there, and that is the only way to keep going.
Poon ends up working out, quitting drinking and smoking, and becoming a good actor again, and getting work. When Faye Ng comes back to town, he is working on a job, and only gets to say hello to her, not spend any time with her, and she has to leave for a 9 month job in mainland china.
We cut to 9 months later, and it is the night of the Hong Kong Movie Awards and Poon is up for best supporting actor. As the award comes up, it is Faye who will give the away, and Poon is waiting for it, but instead we see him talking to his last director about the craft and how important it is to just do ones best in what one does. And that is the end, an amazing ending.
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Really a wonderful and enjoyable film. Now if only Lau Ching Wan would be in another Johnnie To crime drama, but it is great seeing him get such great work, lets hope he gets more soon. A really enjoyable film.
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