Now Chinatown
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: B Film: B
Lee
(Lianne X Hu) is pushed into an indentured servant position, sent to work for cruel
employers in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, at a Chinese restaurant, and send money
back for her grandmother to survive on Western medicine in Steven Dunning’s
incredible Now Chinatown (1999). When a non-Asian customer (Dunning) happens
to go to the restaurant she works at, and meets her, he becomes interested in
her, but is not happy with her occurrently outrageous treatment. This extends to the powerful local official
who is a child rapist of every girl that comes over to the states.
Dunning
is the writer, producer, director, and male lead. It is usually a disaster when someone tries
this, but Dunning deserves kudos for pulling off a very good film here. This is one of the strongest, smartest,
greatest independent films I have seen in a very long time, a film I had heard
of and one that never got its due. In a
world of formulaic, pretentious films in the independent film world that are as
shallow as their commercial cousins, Now
Chinatown is the real thing. It is a winner!
Dunning
had an exceptional background going into this directorial debut, and he brings
with him an exceptionally talented cast and solid screenplay. The romance that develops between customer
and the employee he is interested in.
The film does nothing predictable and always feels like it is in the
moment. It does not even fall into the
different cultures formula because it is too busy telling its awesome story
about the need and want to be free and happy.
The
letterboxed 1.85 X 1 looks good, but is weak on fine detail. The color is good, but an anamorphic transfer
would have been nice, especially in a few shots where the Video Black looks
second-generation. That is rare, though. Cinematographer Jeff Orsa deserves credit for
shooting a good looking film. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo is too much towards the center speakers and for a film its
age should have offered more serious Pro Logic surrounds. The extras include a great commentary by
Dunning, the trailer, two very good cut scenes, outtakes, a piece on several
premieres, footage of Dunning’s past work, footage of his trip to China,
isolated music with stills to the scenes they go to, and many other pleasant
surprises too numerous to mention.
We cover
dozens of DVDs a week on this site, but once in a while, we get a real surprise
and Now Chinatown is one of
them. Like Donnie Darko, Pavilion of
Women, Antwone Fisher, Waking Life, The Believer and other small films that deliver big, Now Chinatown is the kind of film that
will only grow in reputation and that is why you should run out and buy it as
soon as possible. Yes, it’s that good.
- Nicholas Sheffo
