Vengeance (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Vengeance is a 2009 neo-noir
crime film
directed by Johnnie To
from a screenplay written by Wai Ka-Fai
. A co-production between Hong Kong
and France
, the film stars Johnny Hallyday
, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Lam Suet
, Simon Yam
and Sylvie Testud
. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, and released by ARP Sélection in France, and Media Asia Films
in Hong Kong. Vengeance tells the story of Francis Costello, a French chef and former asssasin. When his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are attacked by a gang of Triads, Costello heads to Macau
to embark on a violent quest for revenge, enlisting the aid of three hitmen.
The idea of Johnnie To directing an English-language film originated with the ARP co-founders and French producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin, who had Alain Delon
in mind for the lead role. In 2006, after the Pétins approached him with their idea, To met with Delon, who was not interested in making the film. The Pétins later recommended Johnny Hallyday, who was cast in the lead role after meeting with the director in early 2008. Principal photography
for Vengeance began in November 2008, and concluded in February 2009; filming took place on location in Hong Kong and Macau, with a crew mainly based in Hong Kong. Production of the film required that To work with a complete shooting script
, but he insisted on having his actors improvise the scenes.
Vengeance competed for the prestigious Palme D'Or
award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival
, and was released theatrically in France on 20 May 2009. The film was later released in Hong Kong on 20 August 2010. It premiered in North America at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
. Vengeance was met with positive reviews; critics praised various aspects of the film, such as To's direction, Hallyday's performance, as well as the cinematography and editing. During its theatrical run, Vengeance grossed over US$
1.3 million worldwide, having been released in Asia and parts of Europe. In the United States
, the film is being distributed by IFC Films
, which has made it available as a video-on-demand
selection on pay television formats.
) and kill her husband and two children. The woman's father, Francis Costello (Johnny Hallyday
), arrives to visit his daughter who is now suffering from serious injuries. She is nevertheless able to tell her father that there were three shooters and that she shot one of the killers in the ear. At a hotel, Costello meets Kwai (Anthony Wong), Chu (Lam Ka-Tung) and Fat Lok (Lam Suet
), a trio of hitmen who are hired to murder the unfaithful wife of Triad crime boss George Fung (Simon Yam
). After overhearing the murder, Costello reaches an unspoken agreement to walk away. Costello later tracks down Kwai's syndicate, hands them out a stack of Euros and his watch, and asks them to help him avenge his daughter's family's deaths. Before doing so, though, he takes a Polaroid picture of each of the hitmen, and writes down their names, so that he will not forget what they look like. Together, the three make their way to the apartment where the shooting occurred and surmise the weapons used.
The four men visit a landfill to meet Kwai's cousin Tony who supplies illegal arms. Tony mentions that he sold matching weapons to a trio of Hong Kong hitmen who work at Seafood Street. As the four men reach Seafood Street, they see a man with a pad bandage over his ear. However, they see only two men. Kwai's syndicate decide to wait until the men lead them to the third attacker. Costello deeply appreciates the effort of Kwai's syndicate, claiming that he owns a restaurant named as "Brothers" located in Champs-Élysées
and that Kwai's syndicate can take it over as payment. The two suspects head towards the countryside and Kwai's syndicate follows.
A showdown occurs at night after Costello, Kwai, Chu and Fat Lok follow the two men and reach a Nature reserve
with barbecue facilities. The third killer shows up. The trio meet their wives, their kids and Kwai's syndicate during the barbecue. After a tense standoff, the trio explain that they killed Costello's grandchildren because the children had seen faces. Not wanting to start a shootout in front of the three attackers' wives and children, everyone waits until they have left. A moonlit gun battle ensues, with both sides suffering injuries. The three attackers flee, and all seven retreat to tend to their wounds. Costello and Kwai's syndicate take refuge at a run-down apartment in Hong Kong to perform surgeries by themselves to remove bullets out of their bodies. Costello reveals that he is a former cop and has a bullet in his head for twenty years which is affecting his memories.
Shortly after they have tended to their wounds, Kwai receives a phone call from George Fung, who informs him that three of his men need help, and are with an underground non-registered doctor known as "Old Five". Fung tells Kwai that his men were attacked by three Chinese men and one white man. The four men realize that Fung ordered the hit on Costello's daughter and her family. They go to a man known as "Old Five". They kill the three attackers and leave Old Five alive, who then makes a call to Fung, reporting what had happened. Fung then contacts Kwai, explaining that Costello's son-in-law was handing over Fung's financial reports to the police. Fung also says he only ordered to kill the parents but not the children. Kwai replies that his syndicate has switched their loyalty from Fung to Costello as a matter of honor.
Later that night, Fung sends more killers to Kwai's refuge in order to eliminate Kwai's syndicate. A gunfight ensues, with the four men emerging victorious. As they escape, Kwai's syndicate lose track of Costello, who is walking through a crowded street, seemingly lost in the night rain. He pulls out the Polaroid pictures that he took of the hitmen earlier, and tries to find them in the crowd. They meet again, but it becomes evident that Costello has a problem with his memory, and has rapidly forgotten who his friends are, but also what he is doing. The hitmen try to explain to Costello that he is seeking revenge for his daughter, but Costello does not recognize her, nor does he understand the concept of revenge. The three men give up in despair, and take him to a beach where they meet a pregnant woman (Michelle Ye
) with a group of children. Kwai gives her a stack of money and ask her to take care of Costello. Kwai's syndicate return to Macau because they lost contact with Kwai's cousin Tony who supplies their ammunition. When they reach the landfill where Tony is living, they find him and his partner dying as they were tortured by Fung and his gang just as a large group of assassins sent by Fung show up and a huge gunfight ensues. Kwai, Chu and Fat Lok are killed. Costello and the pregnant woman learn of the shootout during a news report. Late that night, while Costello prays at the beach, he has visions of his daughter, her family and the three hitmen he hired.
The next day, Fung is having tea in a public square surrounded by his subordinates. He sees a beautiful woman (Kwai's pregnant friend) having tea in the same square. As he tries to get her attention, a large group of children come asking him to buy charity stickers. The children place stickers on Fung and his men. The pregnant woman leaves the square and meets up with Costello, then tells him that the man back in the square with the most number of stickers is Fung. Costello thanks her, makes his way to the square and begins to shoot a great many of the guards as well as Fung as chaos ensues, however, Fung turns out to be wearing a bulletproof vest. His subordinates help him run away from Costello, who gives chase on foot. As Costello walks, he checks the bystanders for stickers, which tips Fung off to the fact that Costello does not actually recognize him, apart from the stickers he is wearing. Fung removes the stickers from his coat, and puts them on the jacket of a subordinate instead. This causes Costello to shoot Fung's subordinates. Fung then removes his coat with all the stickers and runs off.
Costello picks up the trenchcoat and shoots more subordinates who get in his way. Fung is finally the last surviving member, so he attempts to walk nonchalantly by Costello, relying on the Frenchman's inability to recognize him without the coat, but as he is walking by, Costello sees a sticker on Fung's tie. Both men reach for their guns fire at each other. Fung is hit and Costello demands that he put the coat on, which Fung refuses, so Costello shoots him in the leg. Fung then puts the coat on and Costello checks the bullet holes in the coat and sees that they align with the bullets stuck in the bullet-proof vest he was wearing. Costello then stands up and says, "This jacket belongs to you" and fires a round into Fung's head killing him instantly.
In the epilogue, Costello is later seen at the beach with the pregnant woman and children as they all sit down for a joyful dinner.
Vengeance is a French
and Hong Kong
co-production between Hong Kong company Media Asia
and French distributor ARP Sélection. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, the independent production company founded by director Johnnie To
and screenwriter Wai Ka-Fai
. Vengeance may also be seen as a reunion for its Hong Kong cast and crew. The film reunites To and Wai, following their last collaboration on the 2007 Hong Kong film Mad Detective
, and actors Anthony Wong, Simon Yam
, Cheung Siu-Fai
, Lam Suet
and Lam Ka-Tung, all of whom appeared together in To's 2006 film Exiled
. Maggie Shiu, a veteran actress of To's films, also appears as part of the cast. The crew for Vengeance were based mainly in Hong Kong, some of whom are notable contributors of Johnnie To's previous films: Cheng Siu-Keung
, a long-time cameraman for To, served as a cinematographer for the film; Stanley Cheung served as a costume designer; during post-production Martin Chappell
served as a sound editor, while David M. Richardson served as the film's editor; Lo Tayu
served as the film's composer, having done the same for To's previous films, Election
, All About Ah-Long and The Big Heat
; Nicky Li, a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
served as an action choreographer
.
, Hong Kong, where they expressed their idea to him. The couple mentioned Alain Delon
as a possibility for the lead role.
To returned to France in May 2006, while his film, Election 2
, premiered "Out of Competition" at the 60th Cannes Film Festival
. He met with Delon, who had expressed his interest in working with To, and To promised to meet with Delon once a film treatment
was written. To returned to France in March 2007, where he handed the Pétins a step outline
of what he and screenwriter Wai Ka-Fai had envisioned. Delon, however, was no longer interested in the project. In July 2007, the Pétins met with French musician and actor Johnny Hallyday
, who was interested in making a new film. After meeting with Hallyday, who had expressed his love for world cinema
, the Pétins decided that he would be perfect in the lead role.
In February 2008, while promoting his previous film, Sparrow, at the Berlin International Film Festival
, To was approached by the Pétins, who had promised him that they would set up a meeting with Hallyday. While Hallyday was a fan of his films, To had never heard of Hallyday. The producers gave To footage from Hallyday's concert performances along with a copy of the 2002 French film The Man on the Train, in which Hallyday co-starred. After viewing the given footage, To had expressed that he had enjoyed the film, but was more impressed with Hallyday's concert performances. In March 2008, To finally met with Hallyday over a dinner, expressing their love for music. Upon their first meeting, To decided that Hallyday would be perfect in the lead role.
Production plans were nearly put to a halt when To was hired to remake the 1970 French crime film The Red Circle
, meaning that Vengeance would not be made until 2010. However, in June and July 2008, Ding Yuin-Shan, a long-time production assistant and English translator for To, contacted Hallyday and the Pétins, and told them that production plans for The Red Circle were falling behind schedule and that To would be ready to film Vengeance by the end of October 2008. Hallyday was ecstactic about meeting with the director once again, and prepared for his role by viewing several of To's previous films, before making his first visit to Hong Kong, where he would get the chance to meet with his co-stars. Before principal photography
began, Hallyday met his co-stars, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Simon Yam, and Lam Suet, during a dinner on 7 November 2008.
, Hong Kong. While the story is set in Macau, several scenes were shot in Hong Kong.
For To, filming Vengeance differed from his usual style of filmmaking. While he is used to improvising his scenes as a director, Vengeance marked the first time that To had to work with a complete shooting script
since the producers demanded that the story and dialogue already be written. Hallyday was the only actor to have read the script, while Anthony Wong had knowledge of the story. To explained, "To keep the actors natural and spontaneous. They don't have time to create something. They're given a situation and they act it right away." After filming was complete, the cast and crew celebrated by having a final dinner at a restaurant located near the Milkyway Image studio, hoping to meet again at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival
.
at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival
. In North America, the film premiered as a "Special Presentations" feature at the Ryerson Theatre
during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
.
The film was first released in France on 20 May 2009. It was later released in Belgium
on 27 May 2009. On 5 August 2009, Vengeance premiered in Asia at the 2009 Hong Kong Summer International Film Festival. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 20 August 2009. The film was also released in other Asian countries, including Malaysia on 27 August 2009; Taiwan
on 31 October 2009; and Singapore
on 5 November 2009.
reports that the film currently holds an 90% "Fresh" rating, with a rating average of 7.3 out of 10.
Vengeance first received praise from several critics who attended the screening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
. Chicago Sun-Times
film critic Roger Ebert
wrote that the film had "certain parallels" with Clint Eastwood
's 1992 film Unforgiven
. In his initial review, Ebert awarded Vengeance 3½ stars out of four, describing it as "a formula thriller done as an elegant genre exercise." Justin Chang of Variety
wrote that the film was "a smoothly executed revenge thriller." David Phelps, a film critic for The Auters concluded his review by writing, "If not one of To's worst films, Vengeance is one of his best." Manohla Dargis
of The New York Times
wrote that was film a "highlight" of Cannes, writing, "With his ruined face and pale snake eyes Mr. Hallyday holds the screen while Mr. To shakes it up." Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter
praised the film's cinematography and editing: "Cheng Siu-Keung's moody cinematography gives Vengeance a noir-ish sensibility while David Richardson's smooth editing pulls the action sequences together in a most satisfying way." Mike Hale of The New York Times
wrote, "Vengeance is not top-flight Johnnie To...But the To poetry keeps breaking through: a gun battle in a city park stops and starts as clouds pass before the moon."
Negative reviews had critics comparing Vengeance to To's previous films. Lee Marshall of Screen International
wrote, "What's really lacking in Vengeance is the narrative inventiveness which lifted films like Breaking News or PTU
out of the Hong Kong crime genre box and turned them into arthouse crossover items." Perry Lam of Muse
Magazine wrote, "Overall, the movie lacks the flashes of life and brilliance that mark the best works in the genre."
539,809, and selling 63,240 tickets. The film's revenues decreased by 66.9% in its second weekend, moving down to fourteenth place and earning $178,459 at the box office. After only two weeks of release, Vengeance grossed a total of $744,881 in France alone.
Vengeance was released in Belgium seven days after its release in France. On the weekend of 27 May 2009 to 31 May, the film opened at 22nd place in the box office, earning $10,397 on the opening weekend, with a total gross of $11,439. The film dropped down to the 29th spot in the box office, grossing only $6,886 in its second week. At the end of its three weeks of theatrical release in Belgium, Vengeance grossed a total $27,377.
Vengeance was later released in Hong Kong, where it opened at sixth place, grossing $121,837 on its opening weekend. The film dropped down to tenth place in its second week, grossing $37,629 for a total gross of $208,976. During the next three weeks of its release, Vengeance continued a decrease in revenue as well as the number of theatres screening the film. The film dropped down to 21st spot on the 3 September to 6 September 2009 weekend, grossing only $1,951. By the end of its theatrical run in Hong Kong, the film grossed $236,027. In total, Vengeance has grossed $1,346,952 worldwide, despite not being released in other parts of Europe.
and Blu-ray Disc
formats in France and Hong Kong on 11 December 2009. It is also available in VCD
format in Hong Kong. Releases for the French version include a single-disc edition DVD ; a two-disc special edition DVD ; and a special edition Blu-ray Disc. In France, the home video formats, along with its special features, do not include English subtitles.
IFC Films
currently serves as a North American distributor. In the United States, the film was released as a video on demand
option on pay television formats, beginning on 4 August 2010.
Neo-noir
Neo-noir is a style often seen in modern motion pictures and other forms that prominently utilize elements of film noir, but with updated themes, content, style, visual elements or media that were absent in films noir of the 1940s and 1950s.-History:The term Film Noir was coined by...
crime film
Crime film
Crime films are films which focus on the lives of criminals. The stylistic approach to a crime film varies from realistic portrayals of real-life criminal figures, to the far-fetched evil doings of imaginary arch-villains. Criminal acts are almost always glorified in these movies.- Plays and films...
directed by Johnnie To
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
from a screenplay written by Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai is a Hong Kong writer, filmmaker, producer and former TV director and producer.Wai is best known for his frequent collaborations with Johnnie To, another former TV turned film director and producer. In 1996, they formed Milkyway Image, which is now one of the most successful independent...
. A co-production between Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, the film stars Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Lam Suet
Lam Suet
Lam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
, Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
and Sylvie Testud
Sylvie Testud
Sylvie Testud is a French actress, writer and director. Her film career began in 1991. She was later highly acclaimed, and has twice won César Awards.-Biography:...
. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, and released by ARP Sélection in France, and Media Asia Films
Media Asia Entertainment Group
Media Asia Entertainment Group , Media Asia Group , is a Hong Kong production company and distributor for films made in Hong Kong and throughout China. It is a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development Company Ltd.- History :...
in Hong Kong. Vengeance tells the story of Francis Costello, a French chef and former asssasin. When his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren are attacked by a gang of Triads, Costello heads to Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
to embark on a violent quest for revenge, enlisting the aid of three hitmen.
The idea of Johnnie To directing an English-language film originated with the ARP co-founders and French producers Michèle and Laurent Pétin, who had Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
in mind for the lead role. In 2006, after the Pétins approached him with their idea, To met with Delon, who was not interested in making the film. The Pétins later recommended Johnny Hallyday, who was cast in the lead role after meeting with the director in early 2008. Principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
for Vengeance began in November 2008, and concluded in February 2009; filming took place on location in Hong Kong and Macau, with a crew mainly based in Hong Kong. Production of the film required that To work with a complete shooting script
Shooting script
A shooting script is the version of a screenplay used during the production of a motion picture. Shooting scripts are distinct from spec scripts in that they make use of scene numbers , and they follow a well defined set of procedures specifying how script revisions should be implemented and...
, but he insisted on having his actors improvise the scenes.
Vengeance competed for the prestigious Palme D'Or
Palme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
award at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
, and was released theatrically in France on 20 May 2009. The film was later released in Hong Kong on 20 August 2010. It premiered in North America at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
2009 Toronto International Film Festival
The 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 10 and September 19, 2009. The opening night gala presented the Charles Darwin biography Creation...
. Vengeance was met with positive reviews; critics praised various aspects of the film, such as To's direction, Hallyday's performance, as well as the cinematography and editing. During its theatrical run, Vengeance grossed over US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
1.3 million worldwide, having been released in Asia and parts of Europe. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the film is being distributed by IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
, which has made it available as a video-on-demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
selection on pay television formats.
Plot
In Macau, three men break into a house, shoot a French woman (Sylvie TestudSylvie Testud
Sylvie Testud is a French actress, writer and director. Her film career began in 1991. She was later highly acclaimed, and has twice won César Awards.-Biography:...
) and kill her husband and two children. The woman's father, Francis Costello (Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
), arrives to visit his daughter who is now suffering from serious injuries. She is nevertheless able to tell her father that there were three shooters and that she shot one of the killers in the ear. At a hotel, Costello meets Kwai (Anthony Wong), Chu (Lam Ka-Tung) and Fat Lok (Lam Suet
Lam Suet
Lam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
), a trio of hitmen who are hired to murder the unfaithful wife of Triad crime boss George Fung (Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
). After overhearing the murder, Costello reaches an unspoken agreement to walk away. Costello later tracks down Kwai's syndicate, hands them out a stack of Euros and his watch, and asks them to help him avenge his daughter's family's deaths. Before doing so, though, he takes a Polaroid picture of each of the hitmen, and writes down their names, so that he will not forget what they look like. Together, the three make their way to the apartment where the shooting occurred and surmise the weapons used.
The four men visit a landfill to meet Kwai's cousin Tony who supplies illegal arms. Tony mentions that he sold matching weapons to a trio of Hong Kong hitmen who work at Seafood Street. As the four men reach Seafood Street, they see a man with a pad bandage over his ear. However, they see only two men. Kwai's syndicate decide to wait until the men lead them to the third attacker. Costello deeply appreciates the effort of Kwai's syndicate, claiming that he owns a restaurant named as "Brothers" located in Champs-Élysées
Champs-Élysées
The Avenue des Champs-Élysées is a prestigious avenue in Paris, France. With its cinemas, cafés, luxury specialty shops and clipped horse-chestnut trees, the Avenue des Champs-Élysées is one of the most famous streets and one of the most expensive strip of real estate in the world. The name is...
and that Kwai's syndicate can take it over as payment. The two suspects head towards the countryside and Kwai's syndicate follows.
A showdown occurs at night after Costello, Kwai, Chu and Fat Lok follow the two men and reach a Nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
with barbecue facilities. The third killer shows up. The trio meet their wives, their kids and Kwai's syndicate during the barbecue. After a tense standoff, the trio explain that they killed Costello's grandchildren because the children had seen faces. Not wanting to start a shootout in front of the three attackers' wives and children, everyone waits until they have left. A moonlit gun battle ensues, with both sides suffering injuries. The three attackers flee, and all seven retreat to tend to their wounds. Costello and Kwai's syndicate take refuge at a run-down apartment in Hong Kong to perform surgeries by themselves to remove bullets out of their bodies. Costello reveals that he is a former cop and has a bullet in his head for twenty years which is affecting his memories.
Shortly after they have tended to their wounds, Kwai receives a phone call from George Fung, who informs him that three of his men need help, and are with an underground non-registered doctor known as "Old Five". Fung tells Kwai that his men were attacked by three Chinese men and one white man. The four men realize that Fung ordered the hit on Costello's daughter and her family. They go to a man known as "Old Five". They kill the three attackers and leave Old Five alive, who then makes a call to Fung, reporting what had happened. Fung then contacts Kwai, explaining that Costello's son-in-law was handing over Fung's financial reports to the police. Fung also says he only ordered to kill the parents but not the children. Kwai replies that his syndicate has switched their loyalty from Fung to Costello as a matter of honor.
Later that night, Fung sends more killers to Kwai's refuge in order to eliminate Kwai's syndicate. A gunfight ensues, with the four men emerging victorious. As they escape, Kwai's syndicate lose track of Costello, who is walking through a crowded street, seemingly lost in the night rain. He pulls out the Polaroid pictures that he took of the hitmen earlier, and tries to find them in the crowd. They meet again, but it becomes evident that Costello has a problem with his memory, and has rapidly forgotten who his friends are, but also what he is doing. The hitmen try to explain to Costello that he is seeking revenge for his daughter, but Costello does not recognize her, nor does he understand the concept of revenge. The three men give up in despair, and take him to a beach where they meet a pregnant woman (Michelle Ye
Michelle Ye
Michelle Ye Xuan is a Hong Kong actress. In 1999, she won the Miss Chinese International competition. Ye then signed a contract with TVB from 1999-2005. After she left TVB, She signed with Rich & Famous Talent Management Group Limited to pursue a movie career.Ye is fluent in Cantonese, English,...
) with a group of children. Kwai gives her a stack of money and ask her to take care of Costello. Kwai's syndicate return to Macau because they lost contact with Kwai's cousin Tony who supplies their ammunition. When they reach the landfill where Tony is living, they find him and his partner dying as they were tortured by Fung and his gang just as a large group of assassins sent by Fung show up and a huge gunfight ensues. Kwai, Chu and Fat Lok are killed. Costello and the pregnant woman learn of the shootout during a news report. Late that night, while Costello prays at the beach, he has visions of his daughter, her family and the three hitmen he hired.
The next day, Fung is having tea in a public square surrounded by his subordinates. He sees a beautiful woman (Kwai's pregnant friend) having tea in the same square. As he tries to get her attention, a large group of children come asking him to buy charity stickers. The children place stickers on Fung and his men. The pregnant woman leaves the square and meets up with Costello, then tells him that the man back in the square with the most number of stickers is Fung. Costello thanks her, makes his way to the square and begins to shoot a great many of the guards as well as Fung as chaos ensues, however, Fung turns out to be wearing a bulletproof vest. His subordinates help him run away from Costello, who gives chase on foot. As Costello walks, he checks the bystanders for stickers, which tips Fung off to the fact that Costello does not actually recognize him, apart from the stickers he is wearing. Fung removes the stickers from his coat, and puts them on the jacket of a subordinate instead. This causes Costello to shoot Fung's subordinates. Fung then removes his coat with all the stickers and runs off.
Costello picks up the trenchcoat and shoots more subordinates who get in his way. Fung is finally the last surviving member, so he attempts to walk nonchalantly by Costello, relying on the Frenchman's inability to recognize him without the coat, but as he is walking by, Costello sees a sticker on Fung's tie. Both men reach for their guns fire at each other. Fung is hit and Costello demands that he put the coat on, which Fung refuses, so Costello shoots him in the leg. Fung then puts the coat on and Costello checks the bullet holes in the coat and sees that they align with the bullets stuck in the bullet-proof vest he was wearing. Costello then stands up and says, "This jacket belongs to you" and fires a round into Fung's head killing him instantly.
In the epilogue, Costello is later seen at the beach with the pregnant woman and children as they all sit down for a joyful dinner.
Cast
- Johnny HallydayJohnny HallydayJohnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
plays Francis Costello, a retired assassin turned chef. The character is named after Jef Costello, the lead character played by Alain DelonAlain DelonAlain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
in Jean-Pierre Melville's 1967 film Le SamouraïLe SamouraïLe Samouraï is a 1967 French crime film directed by French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville, starring Alain Delon.- Plot :The story follows a perfectionist free-agent hitman, Jef Costello , who religiously adheres to a strict code of duty...
. - Anthony Wong plays Kwai, a Hong Kong hitman who agrees to assist Costello during his visit to Macau.
- Lam SuetLam SuetLam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
plays Fay Lok, Kwai's partner in crime. Lam's voice is dubbed by Conroy Chan. - Lam Ka-Tung plays Chu, another one of Kwai's partners in crime. Lam's voice is dubbed by Terence YinTerence YinTerence Yin Chi Wai is a Chinese film actor, singer, producer and media relations. Yin has starred in over 30 movies, released one solo album and is presently residing in Hong Kong.- Early life :...
. - Simon YamSimon YamSimon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
plays George Fung, the film's antagonist. He is a crime boss of Lok, Chu and Kwai. - Sylvie TestudSylvie TestudSylvie Testud is a French actress, writer and director. Her film career began in 1991. She was later highly acclaimed, and has twice won César Awards.-Biography:...
plays Irene Thompson, Costello's daughter. - Michelle YeMichelle YeMichelle Ye Xuan is a Hong Kong actress. In 1999, she won the Miss Chinese International competition. Ye then signed a contract with TVB from 1999-2005. After she left TVB, She signed with Rich & Famous Talent Management Group Limited to pursue a movie career.Ye is fluent in Cantonese, English,...
as a pregnant woman, who aids Costello in his fight for revenge. - Vincent Sze plays Mr. Thompson, Irene's husband and the father of her two children.
- Cheung Siu-FaiCheung Siu-FaiEddie Cheung Siu-fai is a Hong Kong actor best known for his many supporting or everyman roles similar to Liu Kai-chi.-Filmography:-TV series:-External links:* on Sina Weibo* at the Hong Kong Cinemagic* on LoveHKFilm.com...
, Berg Ng, and Felix WongFelix WongFelix Wong Yat-wah is a Hong Kong actor and singer. Wong is best known for his performances in many Hong Kong wuxia television drama series produced by TVB, such as The Legend of the Condor Heroes , in which he played the protagonist Kwok Ching...
appear as a trio of hitmen hired to kill Irene and her family. - Maggie Shiu plays Inspector Wong, a Hong Kong police inspector.
Production
| "...I’ve had this hope to do movies with people outside of Hong Kong, because I feel this exchange is good for me. Also, I wanted to bring more people to Hong Kong to make movies. I think that’s very interesting. This project is from France so it gave me the opportunity to do what I wanted to do." |
| — Director Johnnie To Johnnie To Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas... on making Vengeance. |
Vengeance is a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
co-production between Hong Kong company Media Asia
Media Asia Entertainment Group
Media Asia Entertainment Group , Media Asia Group , is a Hong Kong production company and distributor for films made in Hong Kong and throughout China. It is a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development Company Ltd.- History :...
and French distributor ARP Sélection. The film was produced by Milkyway Image, the independent production company founded by director Johnnie To
Johnnie To
Johnnie To Kei-Fung, born 22 April 1955, is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas...
and screenwriter Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai
Wai Ka-Fai is a Hong Kong writer, filmmaker, producer and former TV director and producer.Wai is best known for his frequent collaborations with Johnnie To, another former TV turned film director and producer. In 1996, they formed Milkyway Image, which is now one of the most successful independent...
. Vengeance may also be seen as a reunion for its Hong Kong cast and crew. The film reunites To and Wai, following their last collaboration on the 2007 Hong Kong film Mad Detective
Mad Detective
Mad Detective is a 2007 Hong Kong psychological crime thriller film produced and directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai. The film centers on a schizophrenic, former police inspector , who decides to come out of retirement to help a rookie cop solve a complex murder case, involving a missing...
, and actors Anthony Wong, Simon Yam
Simon Yam
Simon Yam Tat-Wah , born March 19, 1955, is a Hong Kong actor and film producer.-Background:The son of a former police officer of Shangdong heritage, his father was a Hong Kong Royal Police ship captain who was murdered by his colleague....
, Cheung Siu-Fai
Cheung Siu-Fai
Eddie Cheung Siu-fai is a Hong Kong actor best known for his many supporting or everyman roles similar to Liu Kai-chi.-Filmography:-TV series:-External links:* on Sina Weibo* at the Hong Kong Cinemagic* on LoveHKFilm.com...
, Lam Suet
Lam Suet
Lam Suet is a Hong Kong actor.-Biography:Lam was born in Tianjin, and came to Hong Kong as a youth in 1979 to receive inheritance money left by his grandfather. Soon after all the money had been squandered and Lam had to work various odd jobs to make a living.In the mid-eighties he got employment...
and Lam Ka-Tung, all of whom appeared together in To's 2006 film Exiled
Exiled
Exiled is a 2006 Hong Kong action crime drama film produced and directed by Johnnie To, and starring Anthony Wong, Roy Cheung, Francis Ng, and Simon Yam. The action takes place in contemporary Macau.-Plot:...
. Maggie Shiu, a veteran actress of To's films, also appears as part of the cast. The crew for Vengeance were based mainly in Hong Kong, some of whom are notable contributors of Johnnie To's previous films: Cheng Siu-Keung
Cheng Siu-Keung
Cheng Siu-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer, writer, and director. He is known for frequently collaborating with directors Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai as a cinematographer for their independent film production company, Milkyway Image.-Cinematographer:...
, a long-time cameraman for To, served as a cinematographer for the film; Stanley Cheung served as a costume designer; during post-production Martin Chappell
Martin Chappell
Martin Richard Chappell , born 1970 in Nottingham, England is a musician-turned-Hong Kong sound editor. He is most notable for serving as a sound editor on Hong Kong films made by Johnnie To and his production company, Milkyway Image.-Biography:...
served as a sound editor, while David M. Richardson served as the film's editor; Lo Tayu
Lo Ta-yu
Lo Ta-yu or Luo Dayou is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter who, during the 1980s, affected Chinese pop and rock music with his melodic lyrics, his love songs, and his witty social and political commentary that he infused in his more political songs, often to the point that some of his songs were...
served as the film's composer, having done the same for To's previous films, Election
Election (2005 film)
Election |society of Triads]]), is a 2005 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To. Featuring a large ensemble cast, the film stars Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-Fai as two gang leaders engaged in a power struggle to become the new leader of the Hong Kong Triad society.The film premiered as an...
, All About Ah-Long and The Big Heat
The Big Heat (1988 film)
The Big Heat is a 1988 Hong Kong film directed by Johnnie To, Andrew Kam Yeung Wah and Tsui Hark.-Cast and roles:* Waise Lee - Chief Inspector Waipong Wong* Joey Wong - Ada* Matthew Wong - Inspector Kwok-Keung Lun* Philip Kwok - Detective Ah Kam...
; Nicky Li, a member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team
Jackie Chan Stunt Team
The Jackie Chan Stunt Team , also known as Jackie Chan's Stuntmen Association is a group of stuntmen and martial artists who work alongside Jackie Chan.-History:...
served as an action choreographer
Stage combat
Stage combat is a specialized technique in theatre designed to create the illusion of physical combat without causing harm to the performers. It is employed in live stage plays as well as operatic and ballet productions. The term is also used informally to describe fight choreography for other...
.
Development
Having distributed several of Johnnie To's films in France, Michèle Pétin and her husband Laurent discussed the idea of having To direct an English-language feature film. In March 2006, the Pétins met To in Sai Kung TownSai Kung Town
Sai Kung Town or simply Sai Kung is a town on Sai Kung Peninsula, facing the Sai Kung Hoi , part of Sai Kung District in the New Territories, Hong Kong...
, Hong Kong, where they expressed their idea to him. The couple mentioned Alain Delon
Alain Delon
Alain Fabien Maurice Marcel Delon is a French actor. He rose quickly to stardom, and by the age of 23 was already being compared to French actors such as Gérard Philipe and Jean Marais, as well as American actor James Dean. He was even called the male Brigitte Bardot...
as a possibility for the lead role.
To returned to France in May 2006, while his film, Election 2
Election 2
Election 2 |Black Society]]: Value Peace Most), also known as Triad Election in the United States, is a 2006 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To with a large ensemble cast that includes Louis Koo, Simon Yam and Nick Cheung...
, premiered "Out of Competition" at the 60th Cannes Film Festival
2006 Cannes Film Festival
The 2006 Cannes Film Festival ran from May 17, 2006 to May 28, 2006. Twenty films from eleven countries were in competition for the Palme d'Or. The President of the Official Jury was Wong Kar-wai, the first Chinese director to preside over the jury....
. He met with Delon, who had expressed his interest in working with To, and To promised to meet with Delon once a film treatment
Film treatment
A film treatment is a piece of prose, typically the step between scene cards and the first draft of a screenplay for a motion picture, television program, or radio play. It is generally longer and more detailed than an outline , and it may include details of directorial style that an outline omits...
was written. To returned to France in March 2007, where he handed the Pétins a step outline
Step outline
A step outline is a detailed telling of a story with the intention of turning the story into a screenplay for a motion picture....
of what he and screenwriter Wai Ka-Fai had envisioned. Delon, however, was no longer interested in the project. In July 2007, the Pétins met with French musician and actor Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday
Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan...
, who was interested in making a new film. After meeting with Hallyday, who had expressed his love for world cinema
World cinema
World cinema is a term used primarily in English language speaking countries to refer to the films and film industries of non-English speaking countries. It is therefore often used interchangeably with the term foreign film...
, the Pétins decided that he would be perfect in the lead role.
| "He's alone and lost in Hong Kong. I was just like him...It's impossible on your own because people in the street don't speak any English. I really felt out of the loop, like Costello in the film...For this movie, I made use of the present. Everything I was experiencing and feeling in Hong Kong went into my role." |
| — Johnny Hallyday Johnny Hallyday Johnny Hallyday is a French singer and actor. An icon in the French-speaking world since the beginning of his career, he was considered by some to have been the French Elvis Presley. He was married for 15 years to one of the most popular French female singers: Sylvie Vartan... comparing his first visit to Asia to that of his lead character Costello. |
In February 2008, while promoting his previous film, Sparrow, at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
, To was approached by the Pétins, who had promised him that they would set up a meeting with Hallyday. While Hallyday was a fan of his films, To had never heard of Hallyday. The producers gave To footage from Hallyday's concert performances along with a copy of the 2002 French film The Man on the Train, in which Hallyday co-starred. After viewing the given footage, To had expressed that he had enjoyed the film, but was more impressed with Hallyday's concert performances. In March 2008, To finally met with Hallyday over a dinner, expressing their love for music. Upon their first meeting, To decided that Hallyday would be perfect in the lead role.
Production plans were nearly put to a halt when To was hired to remake the 1970 French crime film The Red Circle
Le Cercle rouge
Le Cercle rouge is a 1970 crime film set in Paris, France. It was directed by Jean-Pierre Melville and stars Alain Delon, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonté and Yves Montand...
, meaning that Vengeance would not be made until 2010. However, in June and July 2008, Ding Yuin-Shan, a long-time production assistant and English translator for To, contacted Hallyday and the Pétins, and told them that production plans for The Red Circle were falling behind schedule and that To would be ready to film Vengeance by the end of October 2008. Hallyday was ecstactic about meeting with the director once again, and prepared for his role by viewing several of To's previous films, before making his first visit to Hong Kong, where he would get the chance to meet with his co-stars. Before principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
began, Hallyday met his co-stars, Anthony Wong, Lam Ka-Tung, Simon Yam, and Lam Suet, during a dinner on 7 November 2008.
Filming
Principal photography for Vengeance took place in Hong Kong and Macau from 15 November 2008 to 31 January 2009. The cast and crew of the film began with a celebration on the rooftop of the Milkyway Image studio in Kwun TongKwun Tong
Kwun Tong is an area in Kwun Tong District, situated at the eastern part of the Kowloon Peninsula, and its boundary stretches from Lion Rock in the north to Lei Yue Mun in the south, and from the winding paths of Kowloon Peak in the east to the north coast of the former Kai Tak Airport runway in...
, Hong Kong. While the story is set in Macau, several scenes were shot in Hong Kong.
For To, filming Vengeance differed from his usual style of filmmaking. While he is used to improvising his scenes as a director, Vengeance marked the first time that To had to work with a complete shooting script
Shooting script
A shooting script is the version of a screenplay used during the production of a motion picture. Shooting scripts are distinct from spec scripts in that they make use of scene numbers , and they follow a well defined set of procedures specifying how script revisions should be implemented and...
since the producers demanded that the story and dialogue already be written. Hallyday was the only actor to have read the script, while Anthony Wong had knowledge of the story. To explained, "To keep the actors natural and spontaneous. They don't have time to create something. They're given a situation and they act it right away." After filming was complete, the cast and crew celebrated by having a final dinner at a restaurant located near the Milkyway Image studio, hoping to meet again at the forthcoming Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
The Cannes International Film Festival , is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films of all genres including documentaries from around the world. Founded in 1946, it is among the world's most prestigious and publicized film festivals...
.
Release
Vengeance first competed for the prestigious Palme D'OrPalme d'Or
The Palme d'Or is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival and is presented to the director of the best feature film of the official competition. It was introduced in 1955 by the organising committee. From 1939 to 1954, the highest prize was the Grand Prix du Festival International du...
at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
. In North America, the film premiered as a "Special Presentations" feature at the Ryerson Theatre
Ryerson Theatre
Ryerson Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario. It is owned by Ryerson University. It is located on 43 Gerrard Street East and has a seating capacity of 1250.-External links:*...
during the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
2009 Toronto International Film Festival
The 34th annual Toronto International Film Festival, was held held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada between September 10 and September 19, 2009. The opening night gala presented the Charles Darwin biography Creation...
.
The film was first released in France on 20 May 2009. It was later released in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
on 27 May 2009. On 5 August 2009, Vengeance premiered in Asia at the 2009 Hong Kong Summer International Film Festival. The film was released theatrically in Hong Kong on 20 August 2009. The film was also released in other Asian countries, including Malaysia on 27 August 2009; Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
on 31 October 2009; and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
on 5 November 2009.
Reception
Vengeance has received generally positive reviews from film critics. Based on only six reviews, review aggregator Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reports that the film currently holds an 90% "Fresh" rating, with a rating average of 7.3 out of 10.
Vengeance first received praise from several critics who attended the screening at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival
2009 Cannes Film Festival
The 62nd annual Cannes Film Festival was held from May 13 to May 24, 2009. French actress Isabelle Huppert was the President of the Jury. It was announced on March 19, 2009, that Pixar's film Up would open the festival...
. Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
film critic Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Roger Joseph Ebert is an American film critic and screenwriter. He is the first film critic to win a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.Ebert is known for his film review column and for the television programs Sneak Previews, At the Movies with Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, and Siskel and Ebert and The...
wrote that the film had "certain parallels" with Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood
Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an American film actor, director, producer, composer and politician. Eastwood first came to prominence as a supporting cast member in the TV series Rawhide...
's 1992 film Unforgiven
Unforgiven
Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with a screenplay written by David Webb Peoples. The film tells the story of William Munny, an aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more job years after he had hung up his guns and turned to farming...
. In his initial review, Ebert awarded Vengeance 3½ stars out of four, describing it as "a formula thriller done as an elegant genre exercise." Justin Chang of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
wrote that the film was "a smoothly executed revenge thriller." David Phelps, a film critic for The Auters concluded his review by writing, "If not one of To's worst films, Vengeance is one of his best." Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis
Manohla Dargis is a chief film critic for The New York Times, along with A.O. Scott. She was formerly a chief film critic for the Los Angeles Times, the film editor at the LA Weekly, and a film critic at The Village Voice. She has written for a variety of publications, including Film Comment and...
of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote that was film a "highlight" of Cannes, writing, "With his ruined face and pale snake eyes Mr. Hallyday holds the screen while Mr. To shakes it up." Kirk Honeycutt of The Hollywood Reporter
The Hollywood Reporter
Formerly a daily trade magazine, The Hollywood Reporter re-launched in late 2010 as a unique hybrid publication serving the entertainment industry and a consumer audience...
praised the film's cinematography and editing: "Cheng Siu-Keung's moody cinematography gives Vengeance a noir-ish sensibility while David Richardson's smooth editing pulls the action sequences together in a most satisfying way." Mike Hale of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote, "Vengeance is not top-flight Johnnie To...But the To poetry keeps breaking through: a gun battle in a city park stops and starts as clouds pass before the moon."
Negative reviews had critics comparing Vengeance to To's previous films. Lee Marshall of Screen International
Screen International
Screen International is a multimedia film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by EMAP, a British b2b media company.The magazine is primarily aimed at those involved in the global movie business...
wrote, "What's really lacking in Vengeance is the narrative inventiveness which lifted films like Breaking News or PTU
PTU (film)
PTU , is a 2003 Hong Kong crime thriller produced and directed by Johnnie To, starring Simon Yam, Maggie Siu, Lam Suet and Ruby Wong.-Synopsis:...
out of the Hong Kong crime genre box and turned them into arthouse crossover items." Perry Lam of Muse
Muse (Hong Kong Magazine)
Muse is a bilingual Hong Kong-based multimedia publisher specializing in content related to Hong Kong's art and culture scene.. Until December 2010, Muse published an award-winning monthly arts and culture magazine...
Magazine wrote, "Overall, the movie lacks the flashes of life and brilliance that mark the best works in the genre."
Box office
In France, Vengeance was released to 280 theatres and in its first week, opened at eleventh place in the box office, grossing only US$United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
539,809, and selling 63,240 tickets. The film's revenues decreased by 66.9% in its second weekend, moving down to fourteenth place and earning $178,459 at the box office. After only two weeks of release, Vengeance grossed a total of $744,881 in France alone.
Vengeance was released in Belgium seven days after its release in France. On the weekend of 27 May 2009 to 31 May, the film opened at 22nd place in the box office, earning $10,397 on the opening weekend, with a total gross of $11,439. The film dropped down to the 29th spot in the box office, grossing only $6,886 in its second week. At the end of its three weeks of theatrical release in Belgium, Vengeance grossed a total $27,377.
Vengeance was later released in Hong Kong, where it opened at sixth place, grossing $121,837 on its opening weekend. The film dropped down to tenth place in its second week, grossing $37,629 for a total gross of $208,976. During the next three weeks of its release, Vengeance continued a decrease in revenue as well as the number of theatres screening the film. The film dropped down to 21st spot on the 3 September to 6 September 2009 weekend, grossing only $1,951. By the end of its theatrical run in Hong Kong, the film grossed $236,027. In total, Vengeance has grossed $1,346,952 worldwide, despite not being released in other parts of Europe.
Home media
Vengeance was released on DVDDVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
formats in France and Hong Kong on 11 December 2009. It is also available in VCD
Video CD
Before the advent of DVD and Blu-ray, the Video CD became the first format for distributing films on standard 120 mm optical discs. The format is a standard digital format for storing video on a Compact Disc...
format in Hong Kong. Releases for the French version include a single-disc edition DVD ; a two-disc special edition DVD ; and a special edition Blu-ray Disc. In France, the home video formats, along with its special features, do not include English subtitles.
IFC Films
IFC Films
IFC Films is an American film distribution company based in New York, owned by AMC Networks. It distributes independent films and documentaries under the IFC Films, Sundance Selects and IFC Midnight. It operates the IFC Center....
currently serves as a North American distributor. In the United States, the film was released as a video on demand
Video on demand
Video on Demand or Audio and Video On Demand are systems which allow users to select and watch/listen to video or audio content on demand...
option on pay television formats, beginning on 4 August 2010.
Accolades
| Awards | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Award | Category | Name | Result |
| 29th Hong Kong Film Awards 29th Hong Kong Film Awards Ceremony for the 29th Hong Kong Film Awards took place on 18 April 2010 . Here are the nominees listed taken from the official website.Wang Po Chieh's original nomination for the Best New Performer was withdrawn after he was confirmed to be an actor in the 2008 Taiwan film Winds of September... |
Best Original Film Score | Lo Tayu Lo Ta-yu Lo Ta-yu or Luo Dayou is a Taiwanese singer and songwriter who, during the 1980s, affected Chinese pop and rock music with his melodic lyrics, his love songs, and his witty social and political commentary that he infused in his more political songs, often to the point that some of his songs were... |
Nominated |
| 4th Asian Film Awards Asian Film Awards The Asian Film Awards are presented annually by the Hong Kong International Film Festival Society to recognize excellence of film professionals in the film industries of Asian cinema.-History:... |
Best Composer | Lo Tayu | Won |
| Best Cinematography | Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung Cheng Siu-Keung is a Hong Kong cinematographer, writer, and director. He is known for frequently collaborating with directors Johnnie To and Wai Ka-Fai as a cinematographer for their independent film production company, Milkyway Image.-Cinematographer:... |
Nominated | |
See also
- Johnnie To filmographyJohnnie To filmographyJohnnie To is an award-winning Hong Kong film director, and producer.He has contributed to many projects, as a producer, director or a combination of the two. He made his directorial debut in 1980, when he directed The Enigmatic Case, a film starring Damian Lau...
- French films of 2009French films of 2009A list of films produced in France in 2009:-List:-External links:* at the Internet Movie Database...
- Hong Kong films of 2009Hong Kong films of 2009A list of films produced in Hong Kong in 2009:.-2009:-External links:* * Hong Kong films of 2009 at...