Jing yi wui long

I don't know what is going on with movies these days. Everyone is trying to be "creative" by using editing techniques that goes all over the place in time and space. It's a pain in the ass. This movie is very long and drawn out, and worst of all, the extended ending does not explain anything more. I was hoping for some clarification, but none came. As for the acting, call it over acting, especially the guy who played the fat dumb guy. This movie also doesn't know whether it wants to be a drama or a comedy. If you want courtroom drama, stick with "12 angry men" or "Witness for the Prosecution." Those movies are easy to follow and entertaining. This one is not.

The film examines in great detail not only the gruesome double murder but also the trial and the judicial process. The film asks the question whether or not the legal system can truly deliver justice under extenuating circumstances and how regular people fill in the gaps.

Almost all actors play their parts perfectly. The defendants are portrayed as a cold blooded mastermind and a bumbling clueless accomplice respectively and both actors become their roles. Yeung Wai Lun's cold stare never changes through the whole movie while Mak Pui Tung always seems to be on the verge of mental collapse without it seeming fake or over the top.

The lawyers all sound and act like the real deal, special mention goes to Lam Hoi Fung who delivers a humorous performance as an amoral and apathetic criminal lawyer who couldn't care less about his client.

The family members of the defendants all carry great emotional weight and provoke strong feelings of sympathy and despair from the audience. Xiena Chong and Chu Pak Him do quite a bit for two small roles and give it their all, ending with brief but memorable appearances. Harriet Yeung gives an absolutely heartbreaking performance as the sister of the second defendant, making one believe that she was genuinely breaking down on the stand.

The jury scenes are terribly hard to sit through, it appears the director/screenwriter decided the audience to be intellectual children and so decided to turn every juror into a walking stereotype who slowly explains every little political implication out loud. The main exception to this is Kiki Cheung whose character is rather well rounded and relatable as a person at the same time.

The two defendants are disturbing not only because of their gruesome acts but also what they represent as gross exaggerations of everyday people.

Overall a very well made and intricate courtroom drama which prevails despite the mind numbingly patronizing and condescending jury scenes. Hope to see more of this amazing cast and crew do more work in the future.

The Sparring Partner is a 2022 Hong Kong crime drama film directed by Ho Cheuk-tin and starring Yeung Wai-lun, Mak Pui-tung, and Michael Chow. The film is based on the true story of Henry Cheung and Angus Tse, who were convicted of murdering Cheung's parents in 2013.

The film is set in Hong Kong and follows the trial of Cheung and Tse. The film is told from the perspective of the jurors, who are tasked with deciding the fate of the two men. The film is a slow-paced and deliberate legal drama that focuses on the complex legal arguments and the moral dilemmas that the jurors face.

The film is well-acted and well-directed, but it is ultimately a very ordinary court drama. There is nothing special about the film that sets it apart from other films of its genre. The film is not particularly suspenseful or exciting, and it does not offer any new insights into the criminal justice system.

If you are looking for a gripping legal drama, then The Sparring Partner is not the film for you. However, if you are looking for a well-made and well-acted film that tells a true story, then The Sparring Partner may be worth watching.

Overall, I would give The Sparring Partner a 6 out of 10. It is a well-made and well-acted film, but it is ultimately a very ordinary court drama.

Hong Kong film have went low for quite a long time during a lot of reasons. The New titles is either completely commercial or not even care about how the box office perform.

The Sparring Partner, however, seems to find a way between them. It gave a shot on the commercial performance while reserving its authenticity.

The director's work is amazing, apparently he have learned a lot of techniques from the TVB related shows, which makes the film could successfully send out the excitement whenever the audience start to get bored.

I found this film interesting and it it really precious for the domestic Hong Kong film Market now.

The Sparring Partner is a thought-provoking courtroom thriller that perpetually spins the table with shifting perspectives. It starts as a murder trial story and expands into a rich compelling cross-sectional look at Hong Kong society.

Based on a 2013 Hong Kong murder trial, Henry Cheung and Angus Tong, are taken to trial for the murder of the former's parents, Cheung Kuen Kwai and Shiu Suet Yee.

Yeung Wai Lun and Mak Pui Tung give tremendous debut performances. Yeung plays Henry as a fact like a normal person living and breathing before you and is never theatrically scary like a movie psychopath. What's brilliant is how Yeung blurs the lines of what a psychopath is. Is Henry Cheung a psychopath with zero empathy or is he just trying to be?

The cast all bring a stark realism. Mak Pui Tung was mesmerizing as the mentally-disabled Angus, always mentally lagging and overwhelmed without overdoing it. Jan Lamb's apathetic matter-of-fact lawyer is the complete 180 from the typical movie lawyer who believes in their client. It's funny in a cheeky way when you think of how often lawyers are romanticized.

The Sparring Partner stylistically combines cinema verité, documentary reenactment, and a courtroom drama all in one. The story is meticulously layered, effortlessly weaving between killer Henry Cheung's subconscious mind, alternating viewpoints of his family members, and the jury judging his actions on society's behalf.

Using this kaleidoscopic structure, director Ho Cheuk-Tin extends the film from a true crime account to a societal look at traditional parenting, generational clash, and social class. Through the 9 jury members, the discussion between the old and new generations, male and female, and young and elderly, the case becomes a reflective commentary on Hong Kong itself.

Henry Cheung blames his parents for his misery and lack of life skills. They forced him to learn the piano despite his lack of interest and sent him to school in Australia where he was subjected to racial bullying. Henry's gambling debts led his parents to purchase a real estate property for his brother, which instigated his plan to murder them.

Was this tragedy caused by one man's psychosis, his unfortunate upbringing by his parents or society itself?

The cinematography shows its budgetary restraints but makes up for it twofold with creative visuals. The jury discussions are visualized as the 9 members witnessing the crime happen before them. Also, the portions when we glimpse into Henry's twisted imagination, which I won't spoil here, are darkly spectacular.

The Sparring Partner is one of the best films of 2022 and undoubtedly the best Hong Kong film of 2022. I expect acting, writing and directing nominations come awards season.