|
"Some you
win,
and dim sum you lose." |
Romeo Must Die |
|
Review by Ross Anthony |
Glaring streaks of reflected streetlights rebound
off a black sedan as it parks sharply next to a
silver sports car. Beat. Like synchronized swimmers,
five doors swing open, five
Chinese thugs in suits step out. Beat. Camera pans
sharp Chinese guy with cool shades as he pops out of
sports car to lead the gang into hip-hip club for a
little "exercise." Cool is the paint of this
American-made Hong Kong-style martial arts
film. Rival gangs attempt to curb contempt for
each other in order to secure a jointly profitable
business deal. Asian family on one side, African
American on the other. Mutual respect via mutual
fear. News of an irresponsible murder of one
prominent member compromises the truce and prompts
Jet Lee to bust his Hong Kong prison chains and fly
to the States to avenge his brother's death. He's not
interested in truces or illegal commerce - he wants
revenge.
In his search for the slayer Jet stumbles across help
from the daughter of the black gang's leader; she's
recording artist, Aaliyah - Juliet (if you will). Top
rap artist, DMX also makes an appearance.
The high powered warlords are brought to real life
with conviction by Delroy Lindo and Henry O, their
second-in-commands (Isaiah Washington and Russell
Wong) also do a kick-butt job of acting and
re-acting. Pawn thug, Anthony Anderson, maneuvers
smoothly between punches and punch lines. He's very
funny.
Jet li, of course, is loveably dangerous, saying it
all as he silently shuffles across an oriental garden
bridge carrying his late brother's deflated
basketball. Well, actually, he does have a bit more
to say with his fists, twists and computer graphic
assists. In one charming brawl, Lee manages to
de-belt his opponent. As the pants fall to the
ground, Lee fastens the poor guy's harry leg to his
head with the belt.
Though this is definitely an action flick, "Romeo"
does a fair job of portraying compelling and
interesting relationship pairings in-between and
during scuffles. Hand-to-hand and Heart-to-heart, and
don't forget the tasteful funnybone-to-funnybone
relief. Not in the now-popular, laden fashion via
comedic-costar as in "Rush Hour," here the humor is
an added flavor, not an equal balance.
Aside from acceptable improbabilities in fight
set-ups etc., "Romeo's" only mars are: 1) D.B.
Woodside wavers in his role as gang-leader Isaac's
number one son. 2) a scene in which a Mercedes
catches up to a BMW motorcycle in less than 100 feet.
I don't think so. 3) Strong from beginning to end,
the climax isn't weak, but not as resounding as the
beginning and middle, despite the low frequency thuds
that resonate front row seats as the titans plant
fist to bone.
Still these imperfections are no match for the strong
acting, fun dialogue, graceful agility of Jet Li, and
cool direction of first time director Andrzej
Bartkowiak. It's just a big cool fun movie.
|
|
Romeo Must Die. Copyright © 2000. Rated
R.
- Starring Jet Li, Aaliyah, Isaiah Washington,
Russell Wong, Delroy Lindo
- Directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak.
- Screenplay by Eric Bernt and John Jarrell.
Story by Mitchell Kapner
- Produced by Warren Carr at Silver/Warner
Bros.
|
Grade..........................A- |
Copyright © 2000. Ross Anthony, currently based in
Los Angeles, has scripted and shot documentaries, music
videos, and shorts in 35 countries across North
America, Europe, Africa and Asia. For more reviews
visit: RossAnthony.com |
|
|
|
|