Cliff Walkers: Last News

Richard Kuipers Murder, treachery and political intrigue are the juicy ingredients of Zhang Yimou’s “Full River Red,” an entertaining if overlong mystery-comedy set in the narrow passageways and dark chambers of a Song dynasty military compound in 1146. With a twist-packed plot to match its labyrinthine location, Zhang’s fast-paced film motors along nicely as an engaging “Knives Out”-style whodunnit before stumbling a little in the protracted final act. A Lunar New Year smash hit in China, “Full River Red” will be released on 150 North American screens by specialty distributor Niu Vision Media on March 17.  The biggest commercial success of Zhang’s distinguished 35-year career, “Full River Red” has already grossed a whopping $671 million at home since Jan. 22. The 157-minute blockbuster continues the string of hits (“Cliff Walkers,” “Shadow,” “Sniper”) he’s delivered since big-budget international co-production misfire “The Great Wall” in 2016. Much less ornately decorated and colorfully photographed than Zhang’s famous wuxia epics “House of Flying Daggers” and “Hero,” this intricately plotted outing is more concerned with wordplay than swordplay.

Golden Reel Awards were held this Sunday, honoring the best achievements in sound editing across film, television, video games and student work with “Dune,” “Nightmare Alley” and “West Side Story” among the winners.The ceremony, which was held virtually, was opened by an address from Motion Pictures Sound Editors president Mark Lanza congratulating the members of the organization for their continued work over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.“These past two years, our members led the way in developing remote solutions that kept them working,” Lanza said at the ceremony. “We salute their ingenuity.

Jessica Kiang Somewhere in the land of worn-out metaphors, there’s a drawer overflowing with love letters from all the filmmakers who ever thought to make cinema of the making of cinema.