Together
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Liu Peiqi, Wang Zhiwen Brand: Sony DVD: Region Code 1 Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); Mandarin Chinese (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1 Format: AC-3, Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.85:1 Running Time: 116 minutes DVD Release Date: 2003-11-18 Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Studio: MGM (Video & DVD) |
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Movie Reviews of Together
Movie Review: Some good roles, but lacking in heart
Summary: 3 Stars
Don't get me wrong, this isn't a bad film, it's even a good one -- I am just not as wildly enthusiastic about it as so many are. I rented it with great anticipation, but for the most part was left somewhat cold. I vacillated between 4* and 3* on this one, but figure it this way: not as good as the same director's "Farewell, My Concubine" or "Temptress Moon", which in turn I find a step, or even two, down from many other Asian films such as those of Wong Kar Wai and Tran Anh Hung or "Song of the Exile", "To Live", or "A Mongolian Tale". In brief, this is the story of young 'Chun', Liu Xiaochun [Tang Yun], a country-mouse violin prodigy who comes with his father from the provinces to Beijing to pursue a career. Without money or connections, he has no chance in the official contest, and studies with an eccentric teacher, Prof. Jiang. He also develops a crush on thoroughly modern neighbor Lili [Chen Hong], who lives comfortably through the kindness of male 'friends'. When Prof. Jiang has taught him how to play from the heart, he transfers to another teacher, the rich Prof. Yu [played by director Chen Kaige] who can help him not only with technique but connection and influence.
There were several excellent roles, in particular Chun's father Liu Cheng [Liu Peiqi]whose devotion to his son's career is wholly authentic(perhaps too much to "career" per se -- given a choice between Chun's learning to play the best possible, or achieving fame and fortune, he unhesitatingly chooses the latter). Lili turns out to be a surprisingly well-played and essential character when at a crisis point she transforms from a shallow, self-involved floozy into an earnest, generous and supportive big sister and friend of Cheng's. Prof. Jiang also begins to come out of his slovenly, emotionally lost despond. Even the normally wooden rival in Prof. Yu's tutelage, Lin Yu [uncredited on my DVD], turns in an excellent scene in which she exposes Prof. Yu's machinations and realizes she truly does love the music, not just the idea of career. {Unlike a previous reviewer, who recommends editing out or cutting down the roles of Lili and Prof. Jiang, I feel they are much of what makes the film watchable at all.}
However, I found the main character, Chun, rather unconvincing. I only saw flashes of either the love of music or the dedication needed to achieve his goals (whether of fame or skill). Yes, the theme of devotion to music or other performing arts such as dance is a powerful one -- this exposition of that theme just doesn't do it for me. His actions often seemed poorly motivated, random, or at least as self-involved as Lili. Likewise, his occasional considerate or generous moments seemed random, not a sign of growing up or transforming.
There were several cases of choppy editing (or maybe unclear story flow), from the very start when he wanders away at the train station and we're all of a sudden in the tryouts. The late revelation of secrets from Chun's early childhood is contrived and unnecessary. And in the ultimate schmaltzy scene -- play it through in your head without the soundtracked orchestral accompaniment. A clever cinematic concept, but imagine the reality.