Finishing the Game: The Search for a New Bruce Lee

I was at Park City and have to say aside from a few films, it was quite a downer. Most of the films valiantly tried to explore serious topics but felt self important. After the intensity of seeing a couple of these films earlier in the morning, FINISHING THE GAME, a lighthearted spoof was the perfect movie to let out some tension via laughter. Director Justin Lin skillfully takes aim at racial stereotypes and the ridiculous nature of the movie biz, mocking everyone from door to door salesman to the diligent Asian med students. Lin's actors, many of whom he has previously worked with, inhabit the world he has created perfectly. Among others, there's Roger Fan as "Breeze Loo", the B-movie star who is perfectly delusional; Meredith Scott Lynn as casting director "Eloise Gazdag", the character you'd love to hate; and Sung Kang as "Cole Kim" the over-eager bumpkin" actor vying for the part. The costume design adds a wonderful visual element to the piece, and I take my hat off to all who had to don the Bruce Lee-esquire jumpsuits. Overall, it was everything it set out to be.

There are very few movies I consider truly bad. I love B grades, I love cult films. I love chop sockies and Japanese sci fi from the 50s and 60s.

I can watch almost anything and enjoy it.

But there is one thing that is worse than a truly bad film. And that is a truly bad film that actually thinks it is a good film. And that is exactly what we have here. Unfunny, pointless crap that thinks it is clever.

And apparently so do a few other people. If you are the vapid sort who finds art in a ordinary object simply because it is contained in a plexiglas cube you too may find this exercise in mundane satire brilliant.

But if you are looking for comedy, an irreverent examination of the Brucesploitation phenomena or a martial arts spoof you will want to keep looking and not waste your time with this thief of life.

I just saw this up at Park City. i waited in line for two hours and i have to say it was worth it. The premise is incredibly strong and the film is filled with enough kooky characters to make Christopher Guest proud. It is a solid and smart film. I was laughing out loud consistently. the main thing i love about the film is that it deals with issues without hitting you in the face with it. ultimately it shows in an entertaining way that things haven't changed at all through time. the performances were all strong and the music rocked. the camera work was authentic and the colors just popped. overall, go see it when it comes out.

I was up at the 2007 Sundance film festival this year. After being turned away at the wait list line (twice), I finally got into a screening of Justin Lin's "FINISHING THE GAME". It was, at the very least, very well worth the freezing wait.

I was at Sundance in 2002 when "BETTER LUCK TOMORROW" made it's world premier. So I thought it was very cool that I was also there for the world premier of "FINISHING THE GAME". Though the two films are significantly different (BLT being a dark drama while FTG is an all out crazy comedy), they are both vintage Justin Lin. And Lin pulls out all the stops. As a film maker, Lin has really challenged and proved himself in most (if not all) mediums of film making and genres. From a powerful indie drama (BLT), to a studio sports film (Annapolis), to a 100 million dollar summer blockbuster (FF3 - Tokyo Drift), Justin Lin returns to his indie roots with the comedy, FINISHING THE GAME. This 70's comedy following Hollywood's retarded search for the next Bruce Lee (Lee died unexpectedly with only having shot the last 12 minutes of fight footage of his passion project, The Game Of Death) showcases Lin's abilities to direct comedy. FTG is just flat out Hilarious.

But more importantly, this film, I believe, will become known as a very Significant film. Much like Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing" or John Singleton's "Boyz In The Hood", Lin has crafted a film filled with social and political commentary but disguises it as a laugh out loud comedy (a very difficult thing to do well in film making). Lin navigates these waters with precision and poise so beautifully. The film takes a deep look at and takes stabs at Hollywood superficiality, racial/ethnic expectations in the 70's, and pain and denial of people's dreams, hopes, and fears. The ironic thing is that very little has changed in 35 years. We deal with the same exact issues as today, 2007. With this, Lin has crafted a Signficant film in cinema for all to experience and enjoy.

Of course, Lin is greatly helped by many of his players. Cinematography by Tom Clancy (not the writer) really brings that 70's documentary style to life. Candi Guterres set design just adds to the incredible 70's flavor of the film. Cast performances are exceptionally strong across the board. Roger Fan as the beyond delusional Breeze Loo expertly conveys the hidden pain of deluded passion. Sung Kang delivers a charming and atypical performance as the Southern dreamer trying to make it happen in Hollywood. And Meredith Lynn Scott hits the tone spot on as the self-indulgent casting director.

Distribution for the film were in "secret talks" during Sundance. Word is they will be releasing the film some time in October 2007. No official confirmation as of yet...

Done in the style of a 1970s mockumentary, "Finishing the Game" is based on the premise that, when Bruce Lee died in 1973 at the age of 32, he left behind twelve minutes of footage for a movie entitled "The Game of Death." Determined to bring Lee's final dream to fruition, a group of dedicated filmmakers set out to find a replacement for the star in the hopes of finishing the project. "Finishing the Game" is a fictionalized account of that search (the actual movie was released in 1978).

Unfortunately, beyond its spot-on '70s fashions and hairstyles, oh-so-groovy soundtrack and overall air of genial good-naturedness, "Finishing the Game" offers little of quality for anyone craving a good behind-the-scenes movie parody. Lacking both polish and finesse, the movie represents a major comedown for director Justin Lee after his stunning triumph with "Better Luck Tomorrow" a few years back. The half-hearted Josh Diamond screenplay scarcely makes an effort at being funny, and the concept itself is simply too thin to be successfully stretched out over even a relatively meager 84-minute-long running time.

Barely flash-in-the-pan cameo appearances by the likes of James Franco, MC Hammer and Ron Jeremy do little to support an otherwise likable cast. And there isn't even any decent martial arts action to make the movie much fun for fans of the genre being satirized.