7th Singapore Short Cuts - 'Hotel 66' by Anthony Chen
Jeremy: Hotel 66 finds its frequency in a kind of stagey naturalism. In an old creaky hotel fitted with dramatic wall paper and its corridor walls still in a shade of yesteryear's green, two situationally opposed characters cross paths - one is male prostitute who appears like a valued guest and one is pretty hotel staff who is asked to wear a security guard's uniform to avoid looking like a prostitute. Sounds like stage play doesn't it? At first glance, Anthony seems to have taken a step back after his more thought-provoking and daring pieces like Ah Ma and Haze. And by saying a step back, I don't mean the fact that he is opting for a classical style, I mean it feels like it's playing catch up with Wong Kar Wai of the early 2000s. I do admit feeling a little disappointed though the end product is still amazingly immaculate, like his previous works. I mean, for all the Wong Kar Wai wannabes in Singapore, I will give this film the prize for the best tribute film.
Raymond: I know Alvin has a lot to say on this one, so let me just give the himbo's perspective k? I love Wong Kar Wai, and the Wong Kar Wai influences are all over this film. So naturally I'm going to be biased and say I love this one too. I love the production design, the mise-en-scene is amazing - from the hallway of the apartment block to the interior lighting and the wallpaper of the lead actor's apartment. And the two leads look ridiculously good. The tenant has a quiet charm to him; he's not overly brooding, and with the right amount of friendliness to come across as polite, as well as a restrained, enigmatic quality to him. The security girl has a freshness and innocence to her that seems so contrary to a security personnel, but it totally fits her character. Her face looks youthful and for lack of a better word - cute - and she's just adorable. Between the two I really can't decide who I like more lol. The whole film has a beautiful lushness to it, and while the director takes his time to build their relationship, it never gets boring at any one point in time.
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