Li Mi De Cai Xiang (2008) Reviews

• A cinematic treat

  harry_tk_yung2009-03-10

  "Equation of love and death" is not a superb film. Rather, it's a simple story (crafted suspense notwithstanding) that is well told with cinematic techniques. I suspect that told as a stage play or a book, this story will not be as engaging. For his trouble, Cao Baoping is rewarded with the honour of Best New Director at the San Sebastian film festival. Unlike the pompous English title, the original Chinese title is sweetly simple: "Li Mi's guesses". Zhou Xun plays the title role Li Mi, an undistinguished taxi driver. Her "guesses" pertain to why her boyfriend, a high school sweetheart who went off to seek his fortune four years ago, refused to show up again despite writing her over 50 detailed letters over the period they are apart. The problem with the script is its grossly over-dependence on coincidences – people happen to be at places at a certain times. Sensible restraint however, is evident, in not overplaying the suspense and twists, as the story unfold with accidents, crimes and searches for the truth. Even better is the dialogue which is crisp at to-the-point. Obviously, the soul of this movie is Zhou Xun. One local film reviewer refers wittily to her effort to "ugly-up" to give credence to the role. I suspect that to the huge population of devoted Zhou Xun fans, her natural looks make her even more adorable. But it's performance that really counts and in this department, said fans can be proud of her too. She is also supported by a superb cast led by two excellent actors from the enormously successful movie "Assembly": Zhang Hanyu as the taciturn police inspector who helps her and Deng Chao as the boyfriend who tries to elude her. As mentioned, under the suspense-thriller packaging, this is really quite a simple story. As a motion picture, it has been rendered interesting and absorbing, through skillful direction and excellent acting.

• Excellent mystery

  webforge1012012-07-10

  Was not sure what to expect but I knew the cast was superb, but I really loved this movie and highly recommend it. Seen it twice and first time I was on the edge of my seat and moved. Zhou Xun's acting was the best I have seen her and really powerful. You'll be surprised by this film. Much better than the current score would suggest. Will never forget her crying scene...she deserves more recognition for the role she played in this. Everyone else is also very well cast and does a great job. Worthing checking this out for sure especially if you like gritty urban mysteries and surprises, then you'll like this one. You might find yourself wanting to watch it twice yourself.

• Its all about the girl as Xun Zhou give a performance of a life time trying to figure out where her boyfriend went to

  dbborroughs2009-06-28

  Xun Zhou is a cab driver named Li Mi. She is a chain smoking, fast talking cabbie trying to work out the meaning of the universe or more specifically what exactly happened to her boyfriend who has been missing for four years. As the film opens we get a series of inter-cut cab rides as she talks to her stunned passengers about the numbers of their relationship, how many letters sent over how many months? Is there a pattern, a reason behind it all? She also shows them pictures of her missing ex in the hopes that someone will be able to tell her where he is. One day two gentlemen climb into her cab who will up set her life and who will set events in motion that will unravel the mystery of the missing boyfriend. A hypnotic central performance by Xun Zhou is the reason to watch this very good little film. She is something almost other worldly in a performance that is, simply put, one of the most amazing things I've ever seen on the screen. I'm talking top three or at worst top five. She grabs you from the start and holds your attention and proceeds to rock you back on your feet, or in your chair, six ways to Sunday. Its amazing. If there is any justice this film will get some form of wide distribution and be seen around the world instead of in film festivals or as DVDs imported from Hong Kong. Its simply not right that the work Xun Zhou is doing will not be seen by more people. (And if you want to know how good she is compare her performance to her other great performance in things like Perhaps Love) Outside of Xun Zhou the film is good. The cast is great. I don't think anyone is even remotely bad. The film belongs to Zhou, but everyone else holds their own and gives her something to act against. The story is the weak spot here. It's a little too neat in how everything ends up tying together. Some of where this film wanders can seem a bit far a field, which is the reason I haven't given too many details about the plot. It's a bit choppy, with events not always seeming to play out completely, but at the same time the film is more a character study of Li Mi so the film shows us what we need to follow her quest. Its a battle between expectation and actuality and looking at part of the film again this morning I find it plays better the second time since I wasn't expecting it to behave in a certain way. I really liked this film a great deal. This is one of those films put on the list and keep an eye out for since it's a little gem thats going to be hidden from view.