Though I didn't get to catch the live telecast of the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards, I was eagerly following the results on Yahoo! Hong Kong. So here are some brief thoughts on the results. (list from Lovehkfilm.com)
BEST PICTURE
Winner:
• The Warlords
Nominees: Eye in the Sky, Mad Detective, The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, Protégé
Thoughts: Bigger isn't necessarily better, so I'm a little underwhelmed that the uneven THE WARLORDS got the big award over MAD DETECTIVE. Sure, it had awesome production values, the battle scenes were great, but once the film shifted to character drama, it really was kinda weak.
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner:
• Peter Chan Ho-Sun (The Warlords)
Nominees:
Yau Nai-Hoi (Eye in the Sky), Johnnie To Kei-Fung, Wai Ka-Fai (Mad Detective), Ann Hui On-Wah (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Derek Yee Tung-Sing (Protégé)
Thoughts: I like Peter Chan as a filmmaker a lot, I like COMRADES: ALMOST A LOVE STORY and PERHAPS LOVE (more than most people do, I think), but I really find WARLORDS a lesser piece of work compared to the previous two. But it's undeniable that the staging of the battle setpieces was awesome. Obviously, my favourite film of them all was MAD DETECTIVE.
BEST ACTOR
Winner:
• Jet Li (The Warlords)
Nominees: Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing (The Detective), Simon Yam Tat-Wah (Eye in the Sky), Lau Ching-Wan (Mad Detective), Andy Lau Tak-Wah (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Huh. Didn't expect this. Was thinking that Lau Ching Wan would win his second consecutive award (probably never happened in HK Film Award history before), or that Aaron Kwok will finally get something. I personally thought Aaron's performance in THE DETECTIVE is better than Jet Li's in THE WARLORDS. I'm befuddled by Andy and Simon's nominations. Simon is indeed better in EXODUS, and he really had just a supporting role in EYE IN THE SKY. As for Andy Lau, I felt that he was serviceable, but slightly out of place in THE WARLORDS.
Jet Li didn't know that he had won the award even when they announced his name
BEST ACTRESS
Winner:
• Siqin Gaowa (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Nominees:
Rene Liu (Kidnap), Teresa Mo Sun-Kwan (Mr. Cinema), Zhang Jingchu (Protégé), Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin (Simply Actors)
Thoughts: Definitely the rightful winner of the award. Her performance in THE POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT elevated the show.
Siqin Gaowa accepting her award
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner:
• Andy Lau Tak-Wah (Protégé)
Nominees:
- Nick Cheung Ka-Fai (Exodus), Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei (Mr. Cinema), Chow Yun-Fat (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Louis Koo Tin-Lok (Protégé)
Thoughts: Yeah, Andy Lau's performance in Protégé is one of the highlights of the show. But that could've happened solely because he's Andy Lau. I'm cool with him winning, I wouldn't mind Nick Cheung winning for EXODUS though. His profanity-laced statement in the police station is one of the most memorable scenes of the film.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner:
• Siu Yam-Yam (The Pye-Dog)
Nominees:
Maggie Siu Mei-Kei (Eye in the Sky), Karen Mok Man-Wai (Mr. Cinema), Vicki Zhao Wei (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Anita Yuen Wing-Yee (Protégé)
Thoughts: Haven't watched THE PYE-DOG, wiil do so one of these nights. But I think Maggie Siu and Vicki Zhao were good in their roles. (the latter was a surprise in THE POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT, I've been too used to see her in horrible films, or churning out sub-par performances)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner:
• Wai Ka-Fai, Au Kin-Yee (Mad Detective)
Nominees: Yau Nai-Hoi, Au Kin-Yee (Eye in the Sky), Li Qiang (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Chun Tin-Nam, Lung Man-Hung, Go Sun (Protégé), Xu Lan, Chun Tin-Nam, Aubrey Lam Oi-Wah, Huang Jianxin, Ho Kei-Ping, Kwok Jun-Lap, Jojo Hui Yuet-Chun, James Yuen Sai-Sang (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Yup, deservingly. And I'm shocked by the amount of writers THE WARLORDS had.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Winner:
• Kate Tsui Tsz-Shan (Eye in the Sky)
Nominees: Wong Hau-Yan (The Beseiged City), Linda Chung Ka-Yan (Love is Not All Around), Tsei Tsz-Tung (Protégé), Wen Jun-Hui (The Pye-Dog)
Thoughts: Tsei Tsz-Tung was really cute in Protege :( But yup, definitely Kate Tsui. Seeing a young new actress carry a show so well as a lead in her first major performance was a rarity. A lesser actress would've MURDERED the very good EYE IN THE SKY. Of course, I saw this film months before I saw LUST, CAUTION. Obviously, I was more blown away by Tang Wei, and that's really not because of the explicit sex scenes.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner:
• Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai (The Warlords)
Nominees: Charlie Lam Chi-Kin (Exodus), Cheng Siu-Keung (Mad Detective), Kwan Pun-Leung, Yu Lik-Wai (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Venus Keung Kwok-Man (Protégé)
Thoughts: No complaints here.
BEST EDITING
Winner:
• Kwong Chi-Leung (Protégé)
Nominees: Oxide Pang Shun, Curran Pang Jing-Hei (The Detective), Lee Tung-Chuen (The Warlords), Tina Baz (Mad Detective), David Richardson (Eye in the Sky)
Thoughts: Hard for me to judge, though the only two films that I remotely remember being impressed by their editing were THE DETECTIVE and EYE IN THE SKY.
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner:
• Yee Chung-Man, Yi Zhengzhou, Pater Wong Ping-Yiu (The Warlords)
Nominees: Yank Wong Yan-Kwai (The Beseiged City), Alfred Yau Wai-Ming (Blood Brothers), Anuson Pinyopotjanee (The Detective), Yee Chung-Man, Kennerth Mak Kwok-Keung (Protégé)
Thoughts: Well, yeah, THE WARDLORDS. It's an epic period piece, after all.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND MAKE-UP
Winner:
• Yee Chung-Man, Jessie Dai Mei-Ling, Lee Pik-Kwan (The Warlords)
Nominees: Tim Yip Kam-Tim (Blood Brothers) Surasak Warakitcharoen (The Detective) Stanley Cheung Sai-Kit (Mad Detective) Ma Yu-Tao (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Thoughts: Look above.
BEST ACTION DESIGN
Winner:
• Donnie Yen Ji-Dan (Flash Point)
Nominees: Li Chung-Chi (Invisible Target) Chin Kar-Lok (Protégé) Benz Kong To-Hoi (Twins Mission) Ching Siu-Tung (The Warlords)
Thoughts: The action scenes in Flash Point made me giggle gleefully like a kid.
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Winner:
• Joe Hisaishi (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Nominees:
Payont Permsith, Jadet Chawang (The Detective) Andre Matthias (The Drummer) Peter Kam Pui-Tat (Protégé) Chan Kwong-Wing, Peter Kam Pui-Tat, Chatchai Pongprapaphan, Leon Ko Sai-Cheung (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's go-to composer... not winning? Inconceivable!
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Dialogue between Gui Lun Mei and Stephen Fung is funny
Winner:
• 逼得太緊 ("Forced Too Close" from Love is Not All Around)
Composer: Dennie Wong
Lyrics: Lin Xi
Performer: Kary Ng Yiu-Fei
Nominees:
- "Brothers" (from Brothers)
Composer: Eason Chan Yik-Shun
Lyrics: Andy Lau Tak-Wah
Performer: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Eason Chan Yik-Shun
- 星光伴我心 ("Starlight Accompanies My Heart" from Mr. Cinema)
Composer: Peter Kam Pui-Tat
Lyrics: Keith Chan Siu-Kei
Performer: Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei
- "Happy Wanderer" (from Ming Ming)
Composer: Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming, Jason Choi Tak-Choi
Lyrics: Lin Xi
Performer: Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming, Zhou Xun
- 問天不應 ("No Reply From Heaven" from The Pye-Dog)
Composer: George Lam Chi-Cheung
Lyrics: Calvin Poon Yuen-Leung
Performer: George Lam Chi-Cheung
Thoughts: No idea. At least it's not Ming Ming. Nothing against the actual song, just that I'll be damned if MING MING would start being referred to as 'the HKFA-winning MING MING'.
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Winner:
• Sunit Asvinikul, Nakorn Kositpaisal (The Warlords)
Nominees: Wachira Wongsaroj (The Detective) Tu Duu-Chih, Kuo Li-Chi (The Drummer) Steve Burgess, Sam Wong Lui (Flash Point) Kinson Tsang King-Cheung (Protégé)
Thoughts: Easy choice.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Winner:
• Ng Yuen-Fai (The Warlords)
Nominees: Suchada Somasavachai (The Detective) Raymond Man Siu-Lun (Mad Detective) Leung Wai-Kit, Don Ma Wing-On, Leung Yiu-Fung, Frankie Chung Chi-Hang (The Magic Gourd) Ho Siu-Lun, Chow Kin-Hung, Ching Han-Wong (Protégé)
Thoughts: ... there were visual effects in Protege?
BEST ASIAN FILM
Winner:
• Lust, Caution (TAIWAN)
Nominees: Getting Home (CHINA) Secret (TAIWAN) The Sun Also Rises (CHINA) Tokyo Tower: Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad (JAPAN)
Thoughts: If Lust, Caution had been eligible for the HK Film Awards, it would've swept the awards here.
BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Winner:
• Yau Nai-Hoi (Eye in the Sky)
Nominees: Adam Wong Sau-Ping (Magic Boy) Derek Kwok Chi-Kin (The Pye-Dog)
Thoughts: I want to see more films from Yau Nai-Hoi in the future.
=================
So, that's it. Anyone here who wants to share their thoughts too? Did you feel that The Warlords really deserved to sweep all the big awards here?
BEST PICTURE
Winner:
• The Warlords
Nominees: Eye in the Sky, Mad Detective, The Postmodern Life of My Aunt, Protégé
Thoughts: Bigger isn't necessarily better, so I'm a little underwhelmed that the uneven THE WARLORDS got the big award over MAD DETECTIVE. Sure, it had awesome production values, the battle scenes were great, but once the film shifted to character drama, it really was kinda weak.
BEST DIRECTOR
Winner:
• Peter Chan Ho-Sun (The Warlords)
Nominees:
Yau Nai-Hoi (Eye in the Sky), Johnnie To Kei-Fung, Wai Ka-Fai (Mad Detective), Ann Hui On-Wah (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Derek Yee Tung-Sing (Protégé)
Thoughts: I like Peter Chan as a filmmaker a lot, I like COMRADES: ALMOST A LOVE STORY and PERHAPS LOVE (more than most people do, I think), but I really find WARLORDS a lesser piece of work compared to the previous two. But it's undeniable that the staging of the battle setpieces was awesome. Obviously, my favourite film of them all was MAD DETECTIVE.
BEST ACTOR
Winner:
• Jet Li (The Warlords)
Nominees: Aaron Kwok Fu-Sing (The Detective), Simon Yam Tat-Wah (Eye in the Sky), Lau Ching-Wan (Mad Detective), Andy Lau Tak-Wah (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Huh. Didn't expect this. Was thinking that Lau Ching Wan would win his second consecutive award (probably never happened in HK Film Award history before), or that Aaron Kwok will finally get something. I personally thought Aaron's performance in THE DETECTIVE is better than Jet Li's in THE WARLORDS. I'm befuddled by Andy and Simon's nominations. Simon is indeed better in EXODUS, and he really had just a supporting role in EYE IN THE SKY. As for Andy Lau, I felt that he was serviceable, but slightly out of place in THE WARLORDS.
Jet Li didn't know that he had won the award even when they announced his name
BEST ACTRESS
Winner:
• Siqin Gaowa (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Nominees:
Rene Liu (Kidnap), Teresa Mo Sun-Kwan (Mr. Cinema), Zhang Jingchu (Protégé), Charlene Choi Cheuk-Yin (Simply Actors)
Thoughts: Definitely the rightful winner of the award. Her performance in THE POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT elevated the show.
Siqin Gaowa accepting her award
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Winner:
• Andy Lau Tak-Wah (Protégé)
Nominees:
- Nick Cheung Ka-Fai (Exodus), Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei (Mr. Cinema), Chow Yun-Fat (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Louis Koo Tin-Lok (Protégé)
Thoughts: Yeah, Andy Lau's performance in Protégé is one of the highlights of the show. But that could've happened solely because he's Andy Lau. I'm cool with him winning, I wouldn't mind Nick Cheung winning for EXODUS though. His profanity-laced statement in the police station is one of the most memorable scenes of the film.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Winner:
• Siu Yam-Yam (The Pye-Dog)
Nominees:
Maggie Siu Mei-Kei (Eye in the Sky), Karen Mok Man-Wai (Mr. Cinema), Vicki Zhao Wei (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Anita Yuen Wing-Yee (Protégé)
Thoughts: Haven't watched THE PYE-DOG, wiil do so one of these nights. But I think Maggie Siu and Vicki Zhao were good in their roles. (the latter was a surprise in THE POSTMODERN LIFE OF MY AUNT, I've been too used to see her in horrible films, or churning out sub-par performances)
BEST SCREENPLAY
Winner:
• Wai Ka-Fai, Au Kin-Yee (Mad Detective)
Nominees: Yau Nai-Hoi, Au Kin-Yee (Eye in the Sky), Li Qiang (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Derek Yee Tung-Sing, Chun Tin-Nam, Lung Man-Hung, Go Sun (Protégé), Xu Lan, Chun Tin-Nam, Aubrey Lam Oi-Wah, Huang Jianxin, Ho Kei-Ping, Kwok Jun-Lap, Jojo Hui Yuet-Chun, James Yuen Sai-Sang (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Yup, deservingly. And I'm shocked by the amount of writers THE WARLORDS had.
BEST NEW ARTIST
Winner:
• Kate Tsui Tsz-Shan (Eye in the Sky)
Nominees: Wong Hau-Yan (The Beseiged City), Linda Chung Ka-Yan (Love is Not All Around), Tsei Tsz-Tung (Protégé), Wen Jun-Hui (The Pye-Dog)
Thoughts: Tsei Tsz-Tung was really cute in Protege :( But yup, definitely Kate Tsui. Seeing a young new actress carry a show so well as a lead in her first major performance was a rarity. A lesser actress would've MURDERED the very good EYE IN THE SKY. Of course, I saw this film months before I saw LUST, CAUTION. Obviously, I was more blown away by Tang Wei, and that's really not because of the explicit sex scenes.
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Winner:
• Arthur Wong Ngok-Tai (The Warlords)
Nominees: Charlie Lam Chi-Kin (Exodus), Cheng Siu-Keung (Mad Detective), Kwan Pun-Leung, Yu Lik-Wai (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt), Venus Keung Kwok-Man (Protégé)
Thoughts: No complaints here.
BEST EDITING
Winner:
• Kwong Chi-Leung (Protégé)
Nominees: Oxide Pang Shun, Curran Pang Jing-Hei (The Detective), Lee Tung-Chuen (The Warlords), Tina Baz (Mad Detective), David Richardson (Eye in the Sky)
Thoughts: Hard for me to judge, though the only two films that I remotely remember being impressed by their editing were THE DETECTIVE and EYE IN THE SKY.
BEST ART DIRECTION
Winner:
• Yee Chung-Man, Yi Zhengzhou, Pater Wong Ping-Yiu (The Warlords)
Nominees: Yank Wong Yan-Kwai (The Beseiged City), Alfred Yau Wai-Ming (Blood Brothers), Anuson Pinyopotjanee (The Detective), Yee Chung-Man, Kennerth Mak Kwok-Keung (Protégé)
Thoughts: Well, yeah, THE WARDLORDS. It's an epic period piece, after all.
BEST COSTUME DESIGN AND MAKE-UP
Winner:
• Yee Chung-Man, Jessie Dai Mei-Ling, Lee Pik-Kwan (The Warlords)
Nominees: Tim Yip Kam-Tim (Blood Brothers) Surasak Warakitcharoen (The Detective) Stanley Cheung Sai-Kit (Mad Detective) Ma Yu-Tao (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Thoughts: Look above.
BEST ACTION DESIGN
Winner:
• Donnie Yen Ji-Dan (Flash Point)
Nominees: Li Chung-Chi (Invisible Target) Chin Kar-Lok (Protégé) Benz Kong To-Hoi (Twins Mission) Ching Siu-Tung (The Warlords)
Thoughts: The action scenes in Flash Point made me giggle gleefully like a kid.
BEST ORIGINAL FILM SCORE
Winner:
• Joe Hisaishi (The Postmodern Life of My Aunt)
Nominees:
Payont Permsith, Jadet Chawang (The Detective) Andre Matthias (The Drummer) Peter Kam Pui-Tat (Protégé) Chan Kwong-Wing, Peter Kam Pui-Tat, Chatchai Pongprapaphan, Leon Ko Sai-Cheung (The Warlords)
Thoughts: Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's go-to composer... not winning? Inconceivable!
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Dialogue between Gui Lun Mei and Stephen Fung is funny
Winner:
• 逼得太緊 ("Forced Too Close" from Love is Not All Around)
Composer: Dennie Wong
Lyrics: Lin Xi
Performer: Kary Ng Yiu-Fei
Nominees:
- "Brothers" (from Brothers)
Composer: Eason Chan Yik-Shun
Lyrics: Andy Lau Tak-Wah
Performer: Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Eason Chan Yik-Shun
- 星光伴我心 ("Starlight Accompanies My Heart" from Mr. Cinema)
Composer: Peter Kam Pui-Tat
Lyrics: Keith Chan Siu-Kei
Performer: Ronald Cheng Chung-Kei
- "Happy Wanderer" (from Ming Ming)
Composer: Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming, Jason Choi Tak-Choi
Lyrics: Lin Xi
Performer: Anthony Wong Yiu-Ming, Zhou Xun
- 問天不應 ("No Reply From Heaven" from The Pye-Dog)
Composer: George Lam Chi-Cheung
Lyrics: Calvin Poon Yuen-Leung
Performer: George Lam Chi-Cheung
Thoughts: No idea. At least it's not Ming Ming. Nothing against the actual song, just that I'll be damned if MING MING would start being referred to as 'the HKFA-winning MING MING'.
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Winner:
• Sunit Asvinikul, Nakorn Kositpaisal (The Warlords)
Nominees: Wachira Wongsaroj (The Detective) Tu Duu-Chih, Kuo Li-Chi (The Drummer) Steve Burgess, Sam Wong Lui (Flash Point) Kinson Tsang King-Cheung (Protégé)
Thoughts: Easy choice.
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Winner:
• Ng Yuen-Fai (The Warlords)
Nominees: Suchada Somasavachai (The Detective) Raymond Man Siu-Lun (Mad Detective) Leung Wai-Kit, Don Ma Wing-On, Leung Yiu-Fung, Frankie Chung Chi-Hang (The Magic Gourd) Ho Siu-Lun, Chow Kin-Hung, Ching Han-Wong (Protégé)
Thoughts: ... there were visual effects in Protege?
BEST ASIAN FILM
Winner:
• Lust, Caution (TAIWAN)
Nominees: Getting Home (CHINA) Secret (TAIWAN) The Sun Also Rises (CHINA) Tokyo Tower: Mom & Me, and Sometimes Dad (JAPAN)
Thoughts: If Lust, Caution had been eligible for the HK Film Awards, it would've swept the awards here.
BEST NEW DIRECTOR
Winner:
• Yau Nai-Hoi (Eye in the Sky)
Nominees: Adam Wong Sau-Ping (Magic Boy) Derek Kwok Chi-Kin (The Pye-Dog)
Thoughts: I want to see more films from Yau Nai-Hoi in the future.
=================
So, that's it. Anyone here who wants to share their thoughts too? Did you feel that The Warlords really deserved to sweep all the big awards here?
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