Stuntman

Audience Reviews

View More

Alan W Jun 16 Albert and Herbert Leung's Stuntman is a lovingly crafted paean to all the hard work and sacrifices made by these dedicated and often fearless professionals in the Hong Kong action movie industry and an incredibly nostalgic look back to a foregone era when the likes of Jackie Chan and this film's lead Tung Wei first broke through. Appropriately cast as an ageing ex-stunt coordinator who's still haunted by a tragic event decades ago, Tung's Sam is coaxed out of retirement to do one last film when he met Lau Chun-him's eager whipper-snapper Lung who wants to break into the profession. What follows is a drama that pivots on its central characters choosing between pursuing one's passion or a steady way of living and between making great art or taking care of one's family. The colourfully expletive-soaked dialogue is super authentic, as are the staged action sequences, and the behind-the-scenes insights are fascinating but the film can also get a bit heavy-handed and mawkish especially with Sam and Lung's conflicts with their respective families, which were too neatly and easily wrapped up in the final reel. See more Kan S 10/23/2024 Overall, it is an interesting angle for an action-packed movie in Hong Kong. However, it can be more in-depth and the plot needs to be more reasonable. Acting is good but not excellent. So it is a"middie-of-the-road' movie for me. See more Lucas C 10/22/2024 Here’s a refined version: Stuntman is a recently released film in October that stands out for its focus on the untold struggles of Hong Kong's unsung stunt performers behind every successful action movie. It can be said to ride the wave of Twilight Walled City, another recent success, while revolving around the theme of "Hong Kong cinema heritage," which initially drew my interest. The film Stuntman is richer than expected, offering more visual storytelling, especially as the filmmaker pays tribute to 80s Hong Kong action movies by recreating an opening fight sequence reminiscent of Jackie Chan's Police Story. The screenplay is well-developed, with nuanced character arcs, and the story is thoughtfully structured, leading to a unified climax—an approach that’s rare in Hong Kong films nowadays. The ending is poetic and moving, with multiple setups and payoffs. The film also incorporates a fair amount of on-set humor, with absurdities that outsiders might find bizarre, bringing plenty of laughs. On one hand, the film celebrates the glory days of Hong Kong cinema; on the other, it delves into the sacrifices and tragedies behind the scenes, portraying the industry’s harsh realities without any sugarcoating. At its core, the film raises a thought-provoking question: “Is it truly worth it?” See more Jen L 10/20/2024 This is a debut movie directed by two new directors, so I think the story is well-executed. It has a simple script and a clear and positive message. It speaks to the struggles within the HK film industry while providing hope. I’d highly recommend it. See more Read all reviews

Stuntman

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW