Red Doors
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Movie Reviews of Red Doors
Movie Review: Really should have been a daytime soap episode...
Summary: 3 Stars
That's what I wrote in some notes I took at the time I saw this in theatre a few months ago, on a double bill with the delightful "Linda Linda Linda". I was obviously not the only one left cold -- even though "Red Doors" was the promoted 'feature' film (by a protege of Martin Scorsese yet) it was sparsely attended compared to the enthusiastic audiences for "Linda". I thought "I must just not get it" so went back for a second viewing .. and still don't get the enthusiasm the other Amazon user reviewers show for this film. (During the local showing, the Boston Globe reviewer was lukewarm to "Red Doors", as is the Amazon editorial reviiewer. So I'm not the only grumpy gus.) It's telling that three months later, I have little visual memory of "Red Doors", while "Linda..." is fresh in my mind. (I'm writing this from those notes.)
Not that "Red Doors" is bad. It has high ambitions, and there is much well done on a scene-by-scene basis, but somehow the various plot threads just do not gel into a coherent whole. And though the crew and cast all seem like nice people, to be honest the acting (or is it the script forcing the performance?) is often strained and awkward.
While not a fully mature Hollywood type film, it also lacks the spark that distinguishes the best freshman efforts and independent films. It's too much as if it was written from a paint-by-numbers box. The plot, the various elements, are cartoonish, in broad exaggerated strokes. Dad isn't merely depressed, but suicidal, and not in a cute fake "Harold and Maude" sort of way -- the only reason his suicide attempts don't work is a combination of bad luck and a seeming lack of energy to carry them out. Med student (intern?) Julie's affair is not just with one of the numerous women in the health care setting, but with a glamorous and famous actress. (Plus, even on two viewings, it's not clear if this is her first experience with another woman -- there's no sense of context.) Sam's blonde bombshell of a trophy fiancee is just too handsome, politically correctly sweet, and lifeless. And so on.
I'd really rate this about 3.5*, but rounded down to counteract the (to me) overenthusiastic 5* reviews. It's not like this is the first or only Asian-American family drama (see the wonderful "Double Happiness" with Sandra Oh, for one of many instances) and deserves bonus points for its uniqueness. It tries very hard, and maybe that's the problem -- it just doesn't flow.
Movie Review: This not Asian America
Summary: 2 Stars
As an Asian American guy born in America, I think I am as American as Apple Pie. Unfortunate, neither society or Asian American girls see me that way.
For as long as I can remember I have been searching for my Asian America and after 23 years of searching. I have come to the conclusion that is there is no Asian America.
If you are an Asian guy, this movie will despressed the hell out of you. I am not sexist and I don't own Asian American women. They are their own people, but it sadden me that they feel no connection with their own people who have been marginalize in mainstream white american culture. White America has effective brainwashed a generation of Asian American girls and emasculate a generation of Asian American boys.
Aren't we allow to fall in love?
Movie Review: An Uncle Tom Asian American Film
Summary: 1 Stars
This film calls itself an Asian American film but is really an Uncle Tom work that panders to a mostly non-Asian audience.
To give you an example of how offensive this film is, the Asian father (the only Asian male character in this supposed Asian American movie) at one point stares into his own home from outside while all his Asian daughters are with their White trophies inside.
This film is a poor man's 'Joy Luck Club', which is another pandering self-hating work that celebrates Asian women who love their White Knights. To call this film an Asian American film is an insult.