"The man who can speak with his eyes"
August 21, 2021 8:35 AM Subscribe
How Tony Leung acts with his eyes, among other things. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai has played almost every type of role there is, from the comedic to dramatic, to tragic and romantic.
For the first time, he is playing his first villain role in the new Marvel movie Shang-Chi. The legendary actor describes in a recent interview with Elle how he approached the role: “I’ve never approached Wenwu from a villain’s standpoint. Rather, I tried to explore the reasons that led him to become who he is. He’s a man with history, who craves to be loved. He is also human, and he has a family. As I read [the script], I began to consider the many reasons why he’d turn out the way he is — a sociopath, a narcissist, a bigot.”
His next movie will see him team up with former Infernal Affairs co-star Andy Lau and director Felix Chong for a crime drama called "Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong".
For the first time, he is playing his first villain role in the new Marvel movie Shang-Chi. The legendary actor describes in a recent interview with Elle how he approached the role: “I’ve never approached Wenwu from a villain’s standpoint. Rather, I tried to explore the reasons that led him to become who he is. He’s a man with history, who craves to be loved. He is also human, and he has a family. As I read [the script], I began to consider the many reasons why he’d turn out the way he is — a sociopath, a narcissist, a bigot.”
His next movie will see him team up with former Infernal Affairs co-star Andy Lau and director Felix Chong for a crime drama called "Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong".
Kevin Feige was quoted in an interview about how audiences were "not ready" for Tony Leung, and the only reason I knew about this was because all the retweets from Asians and East Asian cinema aficionados going, um excuse me, he's literally the only reason this movie is on our radar.
posted by cendawanita at 9:43 AM on August 21, 2021 [13 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 9:43 AM on August 21, 2021 [13 favorites]
Nice!
Now I gotta binge me some Wong Kar Wai films.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 10:00 AM on August 21, 2021 [13 favorites]
Now I gotta binge me some Wong Kar Wai films.
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 10:00 AM on August 21, 2021 [13 favorites]
There's an argument to be made that his performance in In the Mood for Love is one on the greatest ever put on screen.
If that wasn't enough, he's in my favourite (John Woo) movie of all time: Hard Boiled.
posted by slimepuppy at 10:14 AM on August 21, 2021 [18 favorites]
If that wasn't enough, he's in my favourite (John Woo) movie of all time: Hard Boiled.
posted by slimepuppy at 10:14 AM on August 21, 2021 [18 favorites]
Hard Boiled was our "Let's get drunk And watch..." movie for my last two years of university.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:57 AM on August 21, 2021
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:57 AM on August 21, 2021
When we got married, we had a period of rending Wong Kar-Wai films from our local DVD rental place. We actually got to that cameo at the end of Days of Being Wild and just blinked and went "Whoa, couldn't have a film without Leung, eh? Still, we're captivated!"
It's only now that I learned the ordering of all that, which is amazing. It really felt like "And here's someone you love, being amazing for the camera!" the way we caught it.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 11:05 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
It's only now that I learned the ordering of all that, which is amazing. It really felt like "And here's someone you love, being amazing for the camera!" the way we caught it.
posted by rum-soaked space hobo at 11:05 AM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
There's an argument to be made that his performance in In the Mood for Love is one on the greatest ever put on screen.
There’s an argument to be made that In the Mood for Love is the most beautiful movie ever filmed. There is a a scene with Tony Leung leaning against a wall and smoking that is breathtaking.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:16 AM on August 21, 2021 [21 favorites]
There’s an argument to be made that In the Mood for Love is the most beautiful movie ever filmed. There is a a scene with Tony Leung leaning against a wall and smoking that is breathtaking.
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:16 AM on August 21, 2021 [21 favorites]
has played almost every type of role there is, from the comedic to dramatic, to tragic and romantic.
I notice the FPP discreetly omits tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, and poem unlimited.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:13 PM on August 21, 2021 [7 favorites]
I notice the FPP discreetly omits tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene individable, and poem unlimited.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:13 PM on August 21, 2021 [7 favorites]
I think I may now be old enough and have seen enough other Leung performances to properly appreciate 'Lust, Caution.'
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 12:55 PM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by Insert Clever Name Here at 12:55 PM on August 21, 2021 [2 favorites]
Leung was also great in the 1995 Vietnamese film “Cyclo.” He takes brooding to a whole other level.
posted by cazoo at 2:55 PM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
posted by cazoo at 2:55 PM on August 21, 2021 [3 favorites]
Can I confess I don't actually like the Wong Kar Wai movies that much? I find them all beautiful and boring.
Some of my favorite scenes include:
Tony & Takeshi Kaneshiro communicating with each other by playing music at each other in Red Cliff.
Tailing the mole in Infernal Affairs.
Ok I don't remember any specific scene, but I remember this Jin Yong-based Duke of Mt Deer series being really entertaining. (Note: it is also really really sexist.)
Tony and Maggie Cheung in Hero.
posted by toastyk at 4:57 PM on August 21, 2021 [6 favorites]
Some of my favorite scenes include:
Tony & Takeshi Kaneshiro communicating with each other by playing music at each other in Red Cliff.
Tailing the mole in Infernal Affairs.
Ok I don't remember any specific scene, but I remember this Jin Yong-based Duke of Mt Deer series being really entertaining. (Note: it is also really really sexist.)
Tony and Maggie Cheung in Hero.
posted by toastyk at 4:57 PM on August 21, 2021 [6 favorites]
I think I may now be old enough and have seen enough other Leung performances to properly appreciate 'Lust, Caution.'
Which on consideration undermines the "his first villain role" bit, doesn't it?
posted by juv3nal at 6:17 PM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
Which on consideration undermines the "his first villain role" bit, doesn't it?
posted by juv3nal at 6:17 PM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
My first Tony Leung was Police Cadet '85 which also had Carina Lau (who played his sister) and Chow Yun Fat (who played his uncle). It was good soapy TV.
Police Cadet '84 and '85 are both streaming for free on TVB USA. Unfortunately, no subtitles but if you understand Cantonese, enjoy Hong Kong 80s fashion, and want to see baby Tony Leung in action it's not a bad way to spend a night.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 7:01 PM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
Police Cadet '84 and '85 are both streaming for free on TVB USA. Unfortunately, no subtitles but if you understand Cantonese, enjoy Hong Kong 80s fashion, and want to see baby Tony Leung in action it's not a bad way to spend a night.
posted by Constance Mirabella at 7:01 PM on August 21, 2021 [1 favorite]
My first Tony Leung was Hard Boiled, followed by Bullet to the Head. He has made so many great films.
He is, of course, not to be confused with the other Tony Leung, who has also done Western art house films and starred with Chow Yun-Fat.
posted by rednikki at 8:00 AM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
He is, of course, not to be confused with the other Tony Leung, who has also done Western art house films and starred with Chow Yun-Fat.
posted by rednikki at 8:00 AM on August 22, 2021 [1 favorite]
An all-time favorite of mine. Thanks so much for the police cadet links!
posted by aspersioncast at 11:57 AM on August 22, 2021
posted by aspersioncast at 11:57 AM on August 22, 2021
The Lover. Oh how I adored him in that
posted by biggreenplant at 9:50 AM on August 23, 2021
posted by biggreenplant at 9:50 AM on August 23, 2021
One of the things that makes me enthusiastic for Shang-Chi is that everyone on the cast is going to be excited about working with Tony Leung. I don't think that there was anyone showing up thinking "who is this Leung guy anyway?"
I believe that his mere presence is going to bring the best out of those that are working with him. He is just that kind of legend.
posted by Quonab at 12:12 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
I believe that his mere presence is going to bring the best out of those that are working with him. He is just that kind of legend.
posted by Quonab at 12:12 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
Yes to all the clips and views, thanks!
The Lover is a wonderful film, but it's Tony Leung Ka-fai who is in it, not the Tony Leung Chui-Wai of this FPP.
posted by winesong at 3:22 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
The Lover is a wonderful film, but it's Tony Leung Ka-fai who is in it, not the Tony Leung Chui-Wai of this FPP.
posted by winesong at 3:22 PM on August 23, 2021 [2 favorites]
Nice video essay.
Sometimes writing gets a little superlatively - in this case though I think I agreed with every single one. Like Michelle Yeoh, I feel sad and envious for anyone who doesn't know of their work.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:57 AM on August 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
Sometimes writing gets a little superlatively - in this case though I think I agreed with every single one. Like Michelle Yeoh, I feel sad and envious for anyone who doesn't know of their work.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:57 AM on August 24, 2021 [1 favorite]
He's profiled in the newest GQ: Hong Kong Legend Tony Leung Tries His Hand at Hollywood
posted by hippybear at 10:09 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 10:09 PM on August 31, 2021 [1 favorite]
Thanks hippybear, that was a great profile. There's also a GQ YouTube video where he "breaks down his most iconic characters" including Hardboiled, Happy Together, Lust, Caution, and of course Shang-Chi.
posted by toastyk at 8:30 AM on September 1, 2021
posted by toastyk at 8:30 AM on September 1, 2021
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posted by Fukiyama at 9:29 AM on August 21, 2021 [4 favorites]