Agrega una trama en tu idiomaPerth is the journey into the heart of Harry Lee, a 51-year-old part-time security guard and taxi driver. He belongs to a redundant generation, eclipsed by a fast-paced, elitist society that... Leer todoPerth is the journey into the heart of Harry Lee, a 51-year-old part-time security guard and taxi driver. He belongs to a redundant generation, eclipsed by a fast-paced, elitist society that is mesmerized with education and status. Harry desires to leave the antiseptic streets of... Leer todoPerth is the journey into the heart of Harry Lee, a 51-year-old part-time security guard and taxi driver. He belongs to a redundant generation, eclipsed by a fast-paced, elitist society that is mesmerized with education and status. Harry desires to leave the antiseptic streets of Singapore for his paradise on earth in Western Australia. His attempt to migrate is compl... Leer todo
- Dirección
- Guionista
- Elenco
- Premios
- 2 nominaciones en total
- Neighbor's Maid
- (as Stephanie Budiman)
- Dirección
- Guionista
- Todo el elenco y el equipo
- Producción, taquilla y más en IMDbPro
Opiniones destacadas
Having spent some years out in Singapore working and being familiar with the seedier side of the city, I was shocked and surprised that such a film could ever come of such a straight jacket society! The characters in the film were very real and raw. The masturbation sequence was a haiku to loneliness.
I heard rumors that the film is yet to be release in Singapore by the distributor's because of the violence and its setting in the 'non-existent' sex industry! Somethings don't seem to have changed after all!
Man, was I ever wrong.
The parallels to Taxi Driver are so obvious its almost ridiculous. Its not an homage to Taxi Driver, its not inspired by Taxi Driver, it simply copied from Taxi Driver.
The protagonist is in no way a likable character and he has no redeeming qualities. A character study of rage? If that involves extreme intoxication maybe. Regret? It's hinted at, but never really explained. Redemption? Hardly, if anything, he only ruins things for all the people around him.
I was really excited about this movie. For me, the most exciting part was the previews for the other movies put out by Tartan Asia Extreme. Either Singapore just has really weak movies, or I missed something major in this movie.
It is interesting at times, but the slow pace is a killer, and its blatant rip-offs of scenes from much more distinguished movies really brings it down.
Written and directed by Djinn, 'Perth' is a dark drama that holds entertainment value, though is not executed as well as it could have been. Djinn's screenplay eschews subtlety in favor of a more 'in-your-face' approach, and borrows heavily from other, better films. Harry Lee's journey is initially compelling, though ultimately far too predictable and reliant on well-worn cinematic tropes to have much impact. The dialogue is consistently stilted and- on occasion- laughable. Secondary characters are little more than caricatures, with the female ones being particularly ill-treated by Djinn's cursory characterization.
Having said that, 'Perth' is not a total travesty. Djinn has made attempts to make Harry Lee a well-rounded character, and these partially pay off. We understand him, even if we don't approve of his actions, and can appreciate that he is a victim of circumstance, as well as his own violent impulses. Additionally, Harry's friendship with an Indian expatriate named Selvam seems genuine, and their scenes feature batches of strong dialogue. Despite the fact that anyone even half-interested in film should know exactly how 'Perth' will end; it does contain elements deserving of praise.
The cinematography from Meng Hing Goh, for instance, which is stylish and inventive. Making use of interesting angles and filters, he ensures the film has an assured, gritty visual aesthetic. Never before has Singapore looked quite so sleazy, and- at its best- Goh's efforts put one in mind of the work of Michael Chapman. Also of note is Marcello De Francisci's score, which is mournful and delicate, adding undeniable emotional depth to the proceedings. Furthermore, Bin Li's editing is unobtrusive and efficient, helping establish the film's unfaltering pace.
'Perth' finds Kay Tong Lim starring as Harry Lee, delivering a wild performance one would be hard pressed to forget. Clearly subscribing to the same doctrine as Djinn, Lim goes incredibly over-the-top; leaving subtlety at the proverbial door. This is not to say it's a bad performance, because it isn't; he carries the film squarely on his shoulders. As is the case with much of Nicolas Cage's work, Lim's overacting is a constant source of entertainment. At the same time, he demonstrates an impressive range and emotional perspicuity. It's a shame Djinn didn't ask him to underplay the role; as there is no doubt that Lim could have done it flawlessly.
From the supporting cast, Sunny Pang and A. Panneeirchelvam do stand out work, starring as a thug called Angry Boy Lee and Selvam, respectively. Pang is particularly good, bringing more depth to the role than what was written. However, all the performances- including Lim's- are hindered by the film's being shot in English. While most of the cast speak the language fairly well, it is obviously a foreign tongue, and everyone involved has difficulty enunciating properly. This does impact the performances negatively, and also makes 'Perth' a little hard to follow from time to time.
At the end of the day, 'Perth' is a bit of a mixed-bag. While star Kay Tong Lim delivers a delightfully over-the-top performance, the film around him is less enjoyable. The screenplay relies on overly obvious tropes and cliches, which Djinn's paper-thin characterization only compounds. 'Perth' is a film about a man striving to reach an impossible dream. The irony is, 'Perth' itself is an impossible dream; and one that Djinn didn't put enough thought into.
¿Sabías que…?
- TriviaLim Kay tong's character Harry Lee is named after Singapore's founding Prime minister Lee Kuan Yew who was born Harry Lee Kuan Yew.
Selecciones populares
Detalles
Taquilla
- Presupuesto
- SGD 350,000 (estimado)
- Tiempo de ejecución1 hora 47 minutos
- Color