"Flower" Oscar campaigns

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Sony Pictures Classics' Michael Barker and Tom Bernard are so taken with a recently viewed final cut of Curse of the Golden Flower (opening 12.22) that they've decided to launch Oscar campaigns for the two principal talents -- star Gong Li for Best Actress, and helmer Zhang Yimou for Best Director.

Flower reunites these legends of modern Chinese cinema for the first time since the mid '90s following their collaboration on films such as Red Sorghum, Raise the Red Lantern, To Live and Shanghai Triad (all but one made during their passionate and very public extra-marital love affair that lasted about six years). "They're now working together at their peak of their talents," Barker has told The Envelope's Tom O'Neil. "They've created a film of great dramatic tension and visual splen- dor...we're really excited."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on November 1, 2006 at 4:27 PM

comment #1

Dan Revill says ...

I watched the trailer online last week. It looks impressive. I hope it truly kicks ass.

Posted by Dan Revill at November 1, 2006 5:05 PM

comment #2

actionman says ...

Gong Li is one of the hottest women alive. I will see anything she's in, regardless of subject matter. I just LOVE looking at her on screen.

Posted by actionman at November 1, 2006 5:05 PM

comment #3

lesterg says ...

Her performance in Miami Vice was actually painful for me to watch, but I'll give this a shot.

Also: she's hot, but she's no Ziyi Zhang.

Posted by lesterg at November 1, 2006 5:25 PM

comment #4

D.Z. says ...

I'm still waiting for Chow Yun Fat to get an Oscar, too.

Posted by D.Z. at November 1, 2006 6:10 PM

comment #5

slothroplt says ...

My favorite Yimou Zhang-Li Gong collaboration is To Live. That's an incredible film (You Ge is great as Gong's gambling-addicted husband). In fact, I think I've seen everything these two have done together and I have yet to be disappointed.

I'm definitely going to see this.

BTW, Li Gong is hot. Ziyi Zhang is HOT.

Posted by slothroplt at November 1, 2006 6:27 PM

comment #6

T. S. Idiot says ...

Ziyi Zhang is a girl. Gong Li is a woman.

Posted by T. S. Idiot at November 1, 2006 7:44 PM

comment #7

erniesouchak says ...

GREAT, another over-decorated Chinese melodrama. Spare me. House of Flying Daggers was SHIT.

Posted by erniesouchak at November 1, 2006 8:43 PM

comment #8

Movie fan09 says ...

hey everybody-
Jeff has a myspace!
ad him so he won't be lonely.
;)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=19238994

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 1, 2006 8:46 PM

comment #9

Arrow77 says ...

By the way, the "girl" is 27 years old. She's getting a little old to be called a girl.

Posted by Arrow77 at November 1, 2006 8:46 PM

comment #10

fallinginlovewithjiujiang says ...

Gong Li is my favourite actress~

Posted by fallinginlovewithjiujiang at November 2, 2006 5:51 AM

comment #11

Hillbillly says ...

Gong Li is hands down the most beautiful and talented actress in the world. She should have had SEVERAL Ocars by now.

Posted by Hillbillly at November 2, 2006 5:54 AM

comment #12

Hillbillly says ...

"Ziyi Zhang is a girl. Gong Li is a woman."

Amen, and a thousand times more talented.

COTGF will kick ass.

Posted by Hillbillly at November 2, 2006 5:55 AM

comment #13

fallinginlovewithjiujiang says ...

she is super hot in Miami Vince,but looks like she will be more hot in Curse of the Golden Flower,she is bravo!

Posted by fallinginlovewithjiujiang at November 2, 2006 6:02 AM

comment #14

kammy says ...

The only great thing about "Miami Vice" is Gong Li.

Posted by kammy at November 2, 2006 7:17 AM

comment #15

bipedalist says ...

Is that really Wells' Myspace page or a fake one?

Posted by bipedalist at November 2, 2006 7:53 AM

comment #16

btwnproductions says ...

Real or fake, I'd say the income response on the MySpace profile is wishful thinking on someone's part. If not, I'm in the wrong business.

Posted by btwnproductions at November 2, 2006 8:04 AM

comment #17

Movie fan09 says ...

Is that really Wells' Myspace page or a fake one?

oh yea.. someone is really gonna make a Jeff Wells myspace..b/c (no offense Jeff) film critics are h-o-t!

Posted by Movie fan09 at November 2, 2006 10:47 AM

comment #18

Dixon Steele says ...

Well put, T.S.

Gong Li is a stunning woman, Ziyi, while pretty, is not in her class. Sorry Zhang...

Posted by Dixon Steele at November 2, 2006 10:52 AM

comment #19

Sean says ...

alfred - I find it hard to believe that Jeff would be a fan of 'Boxcar Bertha' but not 'Casino', 'The Departed', etc.

Posted by Sean at November 2, 2006 11:10 AM

comment #20

Breedlove says ...

that myspace page was funny...has to be fake right? why does jeff ask for donations if he's making 250 grand a year?

Posted by Breedlove at November 2, 2006 11:18 AM

comment #21

Craig Kennedy says ...

If only my biggest problem in life was having to choose between Gong Li or Zhang Ziyi! I haven't seen To Live since whenever it played in US theaters, but I don't remember it having as big of an emotional punch for me as Raise the Red Lantern. It was good, but Lantern was a whole other level of experience for me. My interest in Yimou's martial arts "Hero" phase is cooling somewhat, but I'm intrigued by whatever he puts out. Zhang Yimou Presents: The Phone Book. I'm there...especially of Gong Li is in it.

Not sure if the opinion of a Sony executive means anything to me (what are they supposed to say? They hated it?), but I'm glad they're getting behind the film.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at November 2, 2006 1:39 PM

comment #22