Overall Rating Awesome: 50% Worth A Look: 34.62% Average: 13.46% Pretty Bad: 0% Total Crap: 1.92% 6 reviews, 16 user ratings

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In the Mood for Love

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by Stephen Groenewegen

"Moods"

In the Mood for Love is an entrancing mood piece.

In Hong Kong, early 1960s, two young couples rent adjoining rooms. Mr Chow’s wife is always away, so is Mrs Chan’s husband, and we realise - before they admit it to themselves and eachother - that their partners are having an affair. Gradually, the
unassuming and unfailingly polite Mr Chow (Tony Leung) and Mrs Chan (Maggie Cheung) begin to share time together and eventually, perhaps, something more.

Writer-director Wong Kar-Wai shot a love scene between Cheung and Leung (two of Hong Kong’s biggest stars) but did not include it in the finished movie. Nevertheless, In the Mood for Love is almost unbearably erotic thanks to the stars’ chemistry, and
the sensuous cinematography of Hong Kong’s rain-drenched streets (Mark Lee Ping-bin took over from Chris Doyle when the shoot was extended).

Cheung wears a different high-necked cheong sam dress in every scene. She combines grace, frailty and pathos in her nightly, solitary sojourns for noodles. Tony Leung (whose perfect portrait of brooding sexuality won him the Male Actor prize at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival) seems almost too charismatic to be playing a cuckolded husband.

Their initial awkwardness together gives the movie some lovely, unforced humour (Rebecca Pan and Lai Chen are memorable in supporting roles). The dreamy images are backed by a beautiful, insistent score from Michael Galasso. [Stephen Groenewegen]

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link directly to this review at http://efilmcritic.com/review.php?movie=4905&reviewer=104
originally posted: 05/05/01 15:16:24

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User Comments

10/19/06 William Goss Soap opera almost too slow, subtle for its own good. Well-acted & pretty, but not perfect. 3 stars

2/02/06 Reklc "He who desires but acts not...", said Blake, that's what this movie is about. 5 stars

1/05/06 Noami Absolutely hypnotic film. I am speechless. 5 stars

12/29/05 rk The tension of the unconsummated love in this movie makes it an exquisite spectacle. 5 stars

12/11/05 K. Sear A lot looser than I would prefer but captivating in it's own way. 4 stars

11/28/03 john a bi long winded at times but beautiful nontheless 4 stars

1/01/03 Andy Todes greatest film of all time 5 stars

9/19/02 The Bomb 69 hard to explain, very slow to develop but haunting when it does 4 stars

1/16/02 Robert Excellent film...story told through scenes and expressions, not dialogue-heavy 5 stars

6/07/01 Rico sweet,stylish,nostalgic.Reminds me of mom&dad during 50s/60s. Beautiful. 5 stars

3/26/01 nowak Moody, slow, stylish, claustrophobic 4 stars

3/23/01 stu55y Absolute must-see 4 stars

3/16/01 Spetters Very subtle, very beautiful in all facets, but also quite frustrating. 4 stars

3/07/01 Peanut I am in the mood for a blowjob right now. Oh, Deanna where are you? 1 stars

3/01/01 Deniz Selman best film I've seen in at least the last 2 years...perfectly shot, perfectly executed. 5 stars

2/09/01 Heather Beautiful, stylish, intriguing movie about a couple having a affair 5 stars

IF YOU'VE SEEN THIS FILM, RATE IT!
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USA 16-Feb-2001 (PG) UK N/A Australia 29-Mar-2001 (M)

Directed by Wong Kar-Wai Written by Wong Kar-Wai Cast Maggie Cheung Tony Leung Chiu-Wai Lai Chen Rebecca Pan Siu Ping-Lam Faye Wong

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