...Shanghai, in the 1930's...a most uneasy and tumultuous, though in a way, adventurous time in Chinese history...has often been favored, as a most compelling and lucrative setting in many Asian-produced films, released in the past several decades...and in perusing the archival pages of Shanghai's unstable and violent, albeit opportunist history, during this time, it might well be understandable, as to why this particular era readily made for a most interesting and exotic locale, for film. The area itself was often embroiled in power struggles...both of international intrigue, as well as within it's own social cache; with Shanghai divided between Chinese and European factions, and gambling, prostitution & opium smuggling being the underground order of affairs, violence and corruption took a ruling hand. Corporate and governmental underhandedness became as prevalent as the growing cliques of warring, territorial gangsters, whose embrace of fame, power and riches helped to usher in a great and overpowering measure of lawlessness amongst the social masses, who were grossly divided...with the rich and powerful living it up, as if there was no tomorrow, and the underclass firmly held down in submission. And all of this, right on the cusp of Japan's formidable bid for occupation of Shanghai, and it's surrounding areas...in what would be an unflinching, no-holds-barred assault, which would change the very foundation and history of the area...
...richly entrenched in the history of this area, at this particular time, and exquisitely translated into compelling cinematic fare, are found woven, classically thespian...almost Shakespearean-level...stories of absolute power, brotherhood, romance, betrayal, lust, family, loyalty and patriotism...with sometimes, the lowest and least likely of persons...finding the courage, determination and willingness to sacrifice...to rise up to and attain great heights of power and wealth. But as the old saying goes, 'power corrupts...and absolute power corrupts, absolutely'; indeed, a profound and poignant axiom...though, in the end, as the story has been told, time and time again...the greater the height, the greater the fall...
...as the revered and respected Cheng Daqi elatedly looks out over the elegant balcony seating, at the staged drama unfolding on the theater stage before him...the star of which is a most elegant and beautiful beau, a woman from his past...he cannot help but reflect back upon the past, how he came to first meet this beautiful woman, and how he came to achieve the powerful and influential position, which he presents finds himself. As a rebellious, reckless and arrogant young lad, caught up in the life of street gangs, he happenstance comes to meet Ye Zhiqiu, an aspiring opera performer, and the two fall instantly in love. However, juxtapositioned events haphazardly fall into place, causing Cheng to be fatally incarcerated...and forced to part with his new-found love. However, while in prison, Cheng finds inspiration in a revered mentor, Mao Zai, accompanies him on a daring prison break, and is introduced to & taken under the wing of Hong Shouting, a notorious Shanghai gangster...the both of whom become blood brothers...
...under Hong's tutelage, Cheng himself becomes a a respected and feared, though honorable gangster, in his own right. Some years later, after himself having married, Cheng finds himself taken aback...awashed in emotional recollection...in having re-encountered his beloved Ye...now, an established & famous opera performer...and herself, married to a respected writer. In the midst of hoping to win her heart, once again, Cheng finds his respected position placed in dire jeopardy...as well as the life of his once beloved...not only in attempting to win back his lost love, but also, the relevation that covert and underlining political motivations, involving not only the local secret service, but also, fatefully insistent and impending Japanese invaders, demandantly want to see Cheng step down from his position of power...or else...
...for this viewer, it is genuinely hard to know where to start, in exuding how extraordinary "The Last Tycoon"...a most compelling mix of crime drama and war intrigue, is...epically unfolding in a sometimes elegant, sometimes ugly, scale. The story itself, although somewhat sluggish, on the get-go, is nonetheless engaging, gripping, as well as captivating, once one finds & embraces the complex rhythm of the tale, and it's ensuing characters. There are unmistakable and inspired nods toward mainstream domestic gangster epics, such as "The Godfather" and "Scarface"...clever and trite little winks, that exhibit a most familiar flavor, in that respect, without being overly contrived and cliched. With Shanghai as the centerpiece locale...almost a character unto itself...in these proceedings, this film shines best, in scenes that showcase this exotic, early-century metropolitan locale...a shimmering brilliance, amidst the meandering, carefree gaiety of the patronizing upper class...call it a 'calm before the storm'...a fitting metaphor, just short of the ensuing, explosive, jaw-dropping aerial attack scenes of destruction, devastation and death, which...though clearly CGI enhanced...are seamlessly and dynamically comparable to anything that Hollywood might have to offer...
...with nearly all of the supporting performances being formidably superior to the task of character support, it is the cache of gangster protagonists, herein, which help carry this engaging drama play to a most compelling and embraceable level. Once again, as he as often done in the past, actor Chow Yun Fat, in the role of the 'honorable' gangster Cheng, excels (...and that's an understatement) in his keen ability to emotionally emote and communicate to the audience, with merely a glint in the eye, or the slightest twitch out of the corner of his mouth; anything greater than that, promises a relishingly powerhouse, gasp-inducing moment...and a continued testament to Chow's extraordinary performance ability (...once again, working here, under the direction of Jing Wong...the two of which collaborated often before, most notably in the 'God of Gamblers' film series). In contrast, Xiaoming Huang affords an equally extraordinary, and surprisingly seamless performance as the younger and more handsomely virile Cheng, in the flashbacks...less seasoned and more arrogant, though exuding the same measure of will and determination, as what would be his older self; in a way, though the casting of Chow Yun Fat and Xiaoming Huang emphasized the 'equal to the task' acting ability of the two, rather than their minimally ability to 'look' like each other, Xiaoming's performance almost seem to complement the bygone days of Chow's early career...a time when he himself was more youthfully handsome, and much like Xiaoming's interpretation of the youthful Cheng, also less seasoned, more arrogant...and dramatically predating a talent yet to come...
...a genuine surprise to be had, in "The Last Tycoon", is seeing actor Sammo Hung...here, in the role of the older gangster, and 'brother' to the protegee Cheng character, Hong. A much more restrained performance, than what Sammo has been known for, he is no less a formidable presence...early in the film, in his much more prominent 'gangster' capacity, and later, a seasoned, albeit respected relic...almost disregarded, as far as his power and influence...having succumbed to the indulgent pleasures of what life...and his amassed riches...have to offer. Equally surprising, considering his vast and notable repertoire in films, and his comparably notable performances in such, is how fleeting actor Francis Ng's appearance as the gangster Mao, is in this particular film, considering his character's influence upon the Cheng character...though notable, probably one the least literary developed main characters, herein...
...if it was at all possible to classify a film as nearly 'too good, for it's own good', "The Last Tycoon" might just well fit that bill. A compelling and engaging, albeit intriguingly raveled and complex story...some extraordinarily powerhouse performances...a most exotic and shimmeringly brilliant, albeit dangerous and adventurous setting...loosely based upon actual Chinese triad boss, Du Yuesheng...all of this makes for an extraordinary piece of war-instilled crime drama, not to be missed...
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