AppsScraps Movie Reviews

Jul 11, 2007

Formula 17

Release date: 2 April 2004 (Taiwan)

Not an Oscar contender granted but worth a watch. Tien heads to Taipei to find the love of his life and ends up attracted to a Brianesque (from Queer As Folk) playboy, Bai, who never beds twice. Predictable love story follows but it is handled in a refreshing manner, the climax being when Tien appears awkwardly at Bai's door and says, "Let's stop pretending. It's tiring". First time director, Chen Yin-Jung (a women) had a firm hand on the freestyling look she was after and its succeeds quite well. The film will have you laughing out loud and employs Amie-like sequences where characters knowing acknowledge the camera. There are ellipses, cutesy flashbacks, and even a nod to Peking opera-style. Tien's Taipei sidekick, Yu, is hilariously, over-the-top gay. Actually, all characters in this movie are gay which I would think was somewhat of a first for Taiwanese films.

Note: sadly, this film continues to be banned in one of my least favourite police states, Singapore. Also please note: I love the people, but thoroughly dislike the oppressive, backwards government they continue to tolerate.

My rating 8 out of 10.

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