Top five films to watch in Hong Kong this week (July 12-18), from Beirut to Skyscraper
The lightest Marvel Cinematic Universe outing yet, Hirokazu Koreeda’s masterful Cannes winner, a Hong Kong-set Dwayne Johnson thriller, a Middle Eastern spy drama and a 1989 John Woo classic make up our must-sees
Click on the film titles to read SCMP.com reviews.
1. Shoplifters
Hirokazu Koreeda ponders the essence of family ties while revisiting some of the darker shades of humanity that characterised his earlier films (Distance, Nobody Knows) in this quiet masterpiece. The story of an underclass Tokyo family who survive by committing petty crimes is a deserved Palme d’Or winner at Cannes. (Now showing)
The lightest instalment yet in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this second stand-alone feature about Paul Rudd’s shrunken superhero – hilariously under house arrest here – bridges Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War , and offers a thoroughly charming mix of action and comedy away from the wrath of Thanos. (Now showing)
3. Beirut
Bringing cold-war-type thrills to a tightly plotted Middle Eastern intrigue, director Brad Anderson’s 1980s-set espionage drama sees the excellent Jon Hamm play a perpetually drunk former American diplomat, who is urged to return to the war-ravaged Beirut to negotiate the release of a kidnapped C.I.A. agent (Rosamund Pike). (Opens on July 12)
4. The Killer
Tired of waiting for the next great Hong Kong film to come along? Then don’t miss this opportunity to catch John Woo’s 1989 “heroic bloodshed” classic on the big screen. From Chow Yun-fat’s honourable assassin to Danny Lee’s sympathetic cop, this is underworld bromance at its most hysterical. (July 14, part of the Cine Fan programme.)
5. Skyscraper
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