By
J. D. Nguyen
John Woo Fans Unite!
For the dates of April 18th through the 21st, the
American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theater will
be hosting HARD BOILED: A TRIBUTE TO JOHN WOO in addition
to a special appearance by the visionary director
himself. Along with the chances of meeting him in
person, John Woo will host introductions and after-screening
discussions with a few of his masterpieces. Experience
the beautiful and stunningly directed films of John
Woo in 35mm on the silver screening, exclusively at
Grauman's Egyptian Theater.
Film
Listings and Showings
A BETTER TOMORROW 1996 95mins
Thursday, April 18th - 7:30 PM - DOUBLE FEATURE
The film that brought world attention to the Hong
Kong brand of "heroic bloodshed" cinema and set director
Woo on the fast track remains one of the highest grossing
Asian films ever released. Mark (Chow Yun Fat) and
best friend, Ho (Ti Lung) are cocky, C-note burning
gangsters embroiled in a massive counterfeiting scheme
- while trying to keep news of Lung's criminal ties
from his clean-as-a-whistle policeman brother, Kit
(Leslie Cheung).
A
BETTER TOMORROW KFC Cinema review
A BETTER TOMORROW II 1987 105mins
Thursday, April 18th - 7:30 PM - DOUBLE FEATURE
Chow Yun-Fat returns as Ken, Mark's twin brother,
to team up once more with Ho (Ti Lung) to redeem their
mentor, shipping magnate Lung (Dean Shek) when he's
forced to flee to New York after his daughter is killed
and he's framed for murder. Labyrinthine plot twists,
double-crosses and a bullet ballet of escalating massacres
punctuate this fever dream sequel. With Leslie Cheung.
A
BETTER TOMORROW II KFC Cinema review
THE KILLER 1989 110mins
Friday, April 19th - 8:30 PM
The film that put John Woo on the international map,
and almost single-handedly redefined the style, pace
(and body count) of the modern gangster film. Sensitive,
honorable hitman Chow Yun Fat accidentally blinds
singer Sally Yeh in a nightclub shoot-out, then falls
in love with her. Rule-breaking cop Danny Lee, hot
on Chow's trail, forms an uneasy alliance with the
killer when gonzo gang boss Fui-On Shing goes ballistic,
trying to take them all out in an escalating series
of gloriously operatic gun-battles, punctuated by
white doves, swirling pop music and Chow's impossibly
cool demeanor.
Discussion following with director John Woo.
HARD BOILED 1992 126mins
Friday, April 19th - 9:45 PM
Cop Chow Yun-Fat and enigmatic killer Tony Leung join
forces to take down a bloodthirsty gang of arms dealers
in Woo's over-the-top, expertly orchestrated follow-up
to THE KILLER. The nail-bitingly suspenseful hospital-full-of-hostages
third act manages to coax warmth and humor out of
one of the most hypnotically violent climaxes in cinema
history.
Director John Woo to introduce screening.
HARD
BOILED KFC Cinema review
BULLET IN THE HEAD 1990 120mins
Saturday, April 20th - 5:00 PM
Hailed by many as Woo's finest and most personal film,
BULLET… is a thrillingly beautiful and searingly cathartic
drama of three friends (Tony Leung, Jacky Cheung and
Waise Lee) in 1967 Hong Kong, who are forced to flee
after becoming unintentionally embroiled in a gang
vendetta. Woo unflinchingly charts their harrowing
escape into the fire of the Viet Nam inferno, as the
trio becomes targets for black marketeers as well
as Viet Cong, and run a gauntlet that will tear apart
their friendship in the process.
Discussion following with director John Woo.
FACE/OFF 1997 138mins
Saturday, April 20th - 8:30 PM
A wild, dizzying thrill ride of a pulp epic that is
probably the closest in spirit to Woo's earlier Hong
Kong thrillers. Federal agent John Travolta and psychotic
master criminal Nicolas Cage exchange identities when
a bizarre undercover operation to coax information
out of Cage's brother goes horribly wrong. Cat-and-mouse
pyrotechnics mushroom as the beleaguered undercover
man feverishly tries to recapture his nemesis and
his face!
Director John Woo to introduce screening.
ONCE A THIEF 1990 107mins
Sunday, April 21st - 5:00 PM
Full of jaw-dropping action but without a "body count,"
this fast moving caper stars Chow Yun Fat, Leslie
Cheung and Cheri Chung as street urchins grown up
to be art thieves, combing Paris and Europe to acquire
a mysterious painting that has become a 'holy grail'
for the trio. Director Woo expertly balances the humor
and romance with more serious conflicts of personal
loyalty amongst members of an improvised, untraditional
family.
THE KILLER 1989 110mins
Sunday, April 21st - 5:00 PM
The film that put John Woo on the international map,
and almost single-handedly redefined the style, pace
(and body count) of the modern gangster film. Sensitive,
honorable hitman Chow Yun Fat accidentally blinds
singer Sally Yeh in a nightclub shoot-out, then falls
in love with her. Rule-breaking cop Danny Lee, hot
on Chow's trail, forms an uneasy alliance with the
killer when gonzo gang boss Fui-On Shing goes ballistic,
trying to take them all out in an escalating series
of gloriously operatic gun-battles, punctuated by
white doves, swirling pop music and Chow's impossibly
cool demeanor.
About
Grauman's Egyptian Theater
The 77-year-old Egyptian was the famed impresario,
Sid Grauman's first deluxe movie palace in Hollywood
and was home to the very first Hollywood premiere
(ROBIN HOOD on October 18, 1922 starring Douglas Fairbanks).
The success of the Egyptian drew film industry notables
into the city of Hollywood (then a lush, agricultural
suburb) and soon Charles E. Toberman, one of the most
important developers of Hollywood in the 1920's, built
the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (1926); the now world
famous Chinese Theater (1927) and the El Capitan (1927)
which are all still standing today. Over the years,
the Egyptian premiered many Hollywood classics, including
Cecil B. DeMille's colossal THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923),
BEN HUR starring Charlton Heston; MY FAIR LADY starring
Audrey Hepburn; and FUNNY GIRL starring Barbra Streisand
Closed since 1992, the Egyptian, painstakingly restored
to its 1920s glamour, is a must-see for visitors to
Hollywood! This stunning architectural landmark brings
the legacy of grand movie palaces into the new millenium,
by utilizing state-of-the-art technology at work within
an historic exterior.
For Location and Ticket Purchasing Information visit:
http://www.americancinematheque.com/tixtheatregeneralinfo.htm#directions
For Information on other American Cinematheque Screenings
and Showcases visit:
http://www.americancinematheque.com
