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Wilson Kwong
Tomatometer-approved critic
Wilson is a Toronto-based cinema enthusiast and writer. He will never stop obsessing over Hong Kong cinema.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Dream Scenario (2023) |
Dream Scenario is creatively charged storytelling at its best, with Borgli creating such an open canvas for audiences to reflect on the film’s thematic proses through some truly effective world-building. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 23, 2023
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Hit Man (2023) |
Hit Man is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end, and hopefully a star-turning role for the ever-so-deserving Powell. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 23, 2023
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Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person (2023) |
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person was simply a delightful treat from beginning to end that is beaming with creativity and atypical humour. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 16, 2023
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The Critic (2023) |
Despite having some truly talented performers help him with this task, The Critic is a far cry from the masterpiece it sets out to be. But for many, seeing McKellen on screen is likely still enough to make this trip worthwhile. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 16, 2023
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Les Indésirables (2023) |
While the film doesn’t necessarily provide a lot of answers to the socio-political problems it poses, Ly’s depiction is bound to ignite discourse. All in all, it’s hard to argue that Les Indésirables is an impressive piece of filmmaking. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 16, 2023
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Songs of Earth (2023) |
For a documentary, Songs of Earth is an intensely atmospheric exercise in filmmaking. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 16, 2023
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Dumb Money (2023) |
Much like the movement itself, Dumb Money is lifted by a vibrant kinetic energy that seems to grow organically as the story progresses. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 16, 2023
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I Like Movies (2022) |
Through some very effective quirky deadpan humour, and endearing performances from both Lehtinen and D’Ugo, I Like Movies manages to strum all the right cords in a truly unique celebration of cinema itself. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Aug 25, 2023
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North of Normal (2022) |
Stone has strong storytelling sensibilities, and has created a narrative experience that’s grounded in honesty, and never lacking in empathy. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jul 29, 2023
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Marguerite's Theorem (2023) |
Marguerite’s Theorem isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but it does offer a touching romance with serious undertones, that’s a tender reminder of how to elevate a tried and true narrative without necessarily reinventing it. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jul 16, 2023
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All to Play For (2023) |
Deloget still manages to craft a film that is full of conviction and purpose, even if the journey itself isn’t an overly refreshing experience. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jul 16, 2023
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A Little Prayer (2023) |
While not the loudest and most showy of films, A Little Prayer is a surprisingly quiet narrative that’s instilled with dramatic force. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 05, 2023
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Sometimes I Think About Dying (2023) |
The film is a thoughtful reflection on inner loneliness and is crafted in a way that normalizes what its protagonist is experiencing. Lambert directs with confidence, and should be lauded for creating something so unique and captivating. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 05, 2023
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Jamojaya (2023) |
There’s plenty of thoughtful ideas embedded into the film, but Chon takes more of an aimless gaze into a story that really needed more cohesion and tact. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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Shortcomings (2023) |
While flawed by its troubling protagonist, the film is still quite enjoyable and Park shows great promise as a director. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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Radical (2023) |
Finding that difficult sweet spot of blending together lighthearted comedic tendencies with sociopolitical seriousness, Christopher Zalla’s Radical is a great exercise in empathetic storytelling. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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Theater Camp (2023) |
It’s an age-old story that’s worth retelling, and Theater Camp does so with a heartfelt warmth that clearly stems from its filmmakers’ personal affection for the craft. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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Fair Play (2023) |
Using the intensely charged world of high-stakes finance as a backdrop, Fair Play is a surprisingly thrilling relationship drama that tackles gender dynamics in a refreshing way. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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Magazine Dreams (2023) |
Elijah Bynum’s Magazine Dreams is a clinically deranged character study that amps up its intensity to a hard ten, yet somehow bathes in its melancholia to create some semblance of relatability. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 28, 2023
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The Menu (2022) |
It’s playful and thought-provoking in all the right ways, and holds up a mirror to society’s increasingly superficial consumption of art. Mylod has proven himself to be an extremely versatile filmmaker, and The Menu is all the evidence you need. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 23, 2022
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Bros (2022) |
Stoller and Eichner have created something that will likely speak to a broad audience base, and harvests some important commentary in a manner that is both accessibly digestible and highly entertaining. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 23, 2022
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Aftersun (2022) |
Aftersun is a revelation, and Wells deserves all the accolades that will hopefully continue to come her way. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Causeway (2022) |
Anchored by strong performances from both Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway is a striking feature film debut from Lila Neugabauer. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Victim (2022) |
It might not embrace the larger societal discourse with open arms, but ends up doing that anyways through a more intimate and character-driven lens. Blaško should be lauded for his standout feature film debut. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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The Wonder (2022) |
Lelio has always been a talented filmmaker with a unique creative flare, and The Wonder is no exception. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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My Policeman (2022) |
Grandage had good intentions and seemed to be adapting material near and dear to his heart, but fell short of creating something truly impactful. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Bones and All (2022) |
The film swept me off my feet in its ability to blend seemingly opposing motifs and create such a perfect union of emotions. Love is never perfect, but Bones and All is certainly close to being perfect. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Tár (2022) |
Tár is a prime example of emotionally varied and exhilarating dramatic filmmaking at its finest. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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White Noise (2022) |
White Noise is a surprisingly playful meditation on our collective fears (and obsessions) with death, a film that is oftentimes uneven but nevertheless engaging enough to inspire strong emotional responses. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Princess (2022) |
There’s certainly a lot of good-intentioned filmmaking behind Princess, but these intentions aren’t enough to carry the film to any meaningful finish line. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 17, 2022
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Blue Island (2022) |
But a film like Blue Island really epitomizes the power of cinema in preserving the truth, which is no small feat, and in the current realty of Hong Kong, a valiant victory. - VCinema
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| Posted Jun 06, 2022
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Love on a Diet (2001) |
Although I always knew that this was a film that would stand the test of time on a personal level, I didnt think it would hold such a high tier of relevance 15 years on. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Shaowu the Bad (2017) |
The film has great elements that work well on its own, but when taken together as a whole, isnt unified enough to create the type of emotional impact one would expect - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Paradox (2017) |
The films existence is indeed a paradox that needs further explanation, and its title is therefore quite creatively apt. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Alifu, the Prince/ss (2017) |
For most general viewers, there will certainly be a sense of unfamiliarity, which punctuates the importance of films like this. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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The Third Wife (2018) |
When it comes to cinemas growing need for more female voices, seeing someone like Mayfair create such a powerful debut is exactly what the medium needs right now. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Furie (2019) |
Headlining a revenge thriller that is sure to be seen as a female version of Taken (2008), Ngo delivers a heartfelt performance in a film that is far from perfect, but still manages to pack in a couple of furious punches. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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First Love (2019) |
Theres no question that First Love is a Miike film, but thats not to say that it feels tired or uninspired. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Gundala (2019) |
Whats not forgivable is the films failure to choreograph enthralling fight scenes, given the talent pool and reputation of Indonesian cinema. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Saturday Fiction (2019) |
This is a welcome return for Gong Li as an actress and another reminder that Lou continues to be one of Chinas most talented filmmakers. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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No.7 Cherry Lane (2019) |
Yonfans film serves as a literal reminder of Hong Kongs past, while also hinting at the possibility of an artistic future, albeit from one of the industrys oldest working filmmakers. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 13, 2022
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Kung Fu League (2019) |
In the end, the absence of Yen and Li in their iconic roles is likely a blessing in disguise, as the biggest issue of Kung Fu League comes from the way it treats its four legendary masters. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Minari (2020) |
Minari is a film that uses cultural context and nuance to explore complex family dynamics and relationships, which at its core, equates to universal emotions that anyone can relate to. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Enter the Fat Dragon (2020) |
Having said that, even without curbing your expectations too much knowing that this is essentially still a Wong Jing film, Enter the Fat Dragon is a fairly enjoyable piece of Hong Kong cinema. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Pari (2020) |
Although Pari has a lot to say, and does so in an interestingly well crafted way, its hard to claim that the film delivers anything of great substance. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Jiang Hu: The Triad Zone (2000) |
If you have even the slightest interest in Hong Kong cinema, and havent seen this gem of a film, it is certainly worth your time. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Line Walker 2: Invisible Spy (2019) |
When all is said and done, despite its association with a known franchise, viewers will likely be drawn to Invisible Spy primarily because of the films cast. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch (2019) |
In the end, what this sequel ultimately demonstrates is that Wong Jing continues to be capable of sound commercial filmmaking, albeit when he has a directing partner. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Throw Down (2004) |
Make no mistake about it, this is peak Johnnie To if there ever was such a thing. - easternKicks.com
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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Shanghai Triad (1995) |
In the end, Shanghai Triad isnt the most complex or nuanced film out of Zhangs varied filmography, but it still manages to be a layered examination of the triad world. - VCinema
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| Posted Feb 12, 2022
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