Chungking Express Movie Review

The girlfriend of Cop 223 (Takeshi Kaneshiro) has just left him, and while he drowns his sorrows in a pineapple binge, he tries to see if any of his old girlfriends will go out with him. Then he meets a tough blonde drug dealer (superstar Bridget Lin)! The girlfriend (Valerie Chow) of Cop 663 (Superstar Tony Leung) has just left him, and while he's at a fast-food restaurant called the Midnight Express, counter girl Faye Wang makes it very clear that she wants him. So clear, in fact, that she completely obsesses on him, rather like the hero-worshipping kids in 1964's The World of Henry Orient. How many times can you listen to “California Dreamin'” withtout screamin'? (Wang's character plays the 1966 hit every chance she gets.) Terrific acting and direction plus stylish cinematography and editing made Chungking Express the premiere Rolling Thunder selection from Wong Kar-Wei aficionado Quentin Tarantino.

1995 (PG-13) 102m/C HK Bridget Lin, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Faye Wang, Valerie Chow, Piggy Chan; D: Wong Kar-Wai; W: Wong Kar-Wai; C: Christopher Doyle, Lau Wai-Keung; M: Frankie Chan, Roel A. Garcia. Nominations: Independent Spirit Awards ‘97: Best Foreign Film. VHS, LV, Closed Caption