Monday, May 29, 2017

Godspeed (路顺风) (SIFF 2017) - Movie Review



The Movie: Godspeed (路顺风)

The Director: Chung Mong-Hong

The Cast: Michael Hui, Na-Dou Lin, Leon Dai, Chung-Hua Tou, Matt Chung-tien Wu, Vincent Liang, Vithaya Pansringarm

The Story: A Taiwanese drug smuggler catches a ride with the wrong cab driver.


The Review:
This is a strange, yet oddly likable movie that just sort of meanders along without any real urgency. The plot is pretty straight forward and presents some basic life lessons about making the right choices and dealing with the results of having made the wrong ones in the past. Taiwanese director, Mong-Hong Chung, who also wrote the film, gives us two characters who are about as average and unassuming as you will find and drops them straight into ,the world of drugs, murder, and gangs. Legendary actor Michael Hui plays a struggling taxi driver who convinces a drug mule, played by Na Dow, to get in his cab instead of a newer, fancier option. From there, things go sideways both for them and for the drug lords who are waiting on the delivery to take place.


The Verdict:
Godspeed is by no means a high octane thriller, it is more of a quirky road trip comedy that really takes its time in developing the story and characters. Definitely worth a look for the acting performances and the life lessons on display. Oh, and just as a heads up, there is one particular interrogation scene that is pretty freaking brutal so be prepared for that.


Godspeed is an official selection of the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival.






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