Skip to main content

Mr. Long (2017)


Mr. Long is a 2017 internationally co-produced crime drama film directed and written by Sabu starring Chang Chen as Long. It was selected to compete for the Golden Bear in the main competition section of the 67th Berlin International Film Festival.

Professional hitman Long takes on an assignment in Japan. When things go awry, he has to flee. Badly injured, he takes refuge in a deserted part of a small town.

Freddy and Krasnaya Movie Review
***SPOILER ALERT***

K: Another movie and another wow! SABU is striking in its versatility. Mr. Long for me is a masterpiece. This is an outstanding movie! After watching, I could not sleep, constantly going over and over some moments from the movie in my head. Again, a film about fate, and this time also about loneliness that hurts the heart. Somewhere in the backyard of life there lives a silent and sad man who knows his job well, a woman with a child and a broken past, a group of people who rejoice at simple little things and are ready to come to the rescue completely disinterestedly, and somewhere in the same place, greedy people work, without any moral principles. And as you already know, we again have a cocktail of emotions and genres. It was desperately sad, sometimes funny and scary.

F: Oh boy... where to start? Ryu San is a Taiwanese hitman with a new contract. He has to go overseas and take out a Yakuza mobster. The job goes sideways and he ends up being beaten and then shot in the abdomen while escaping. Without his documents and almost dying, he finds a ghost town to rest and recover from his wounds. Luckily, or maybe due to karma for helping an abandoned dog in the past, a quiet child is around to help him. This is how we start our journey in this amazing China-Japan cultural crossover of a crime-drama movie. I love this movie from the depths of my soul and that, of course, means that I'm having a t-shirt made in its honor. 😂 (check the design below). I think there is not even a point in stating how obviously overlooked and therefore, overrated, this movie is. I don't care. I want it for my eyes only, just like a jealous girlfriend. Because of this masterpiece of a movie, we are going to skip the rules around here and extend SABU's theme week. So, 5 more movies by SABU are coming this way.

Mr. Long Movie GIF
Thy scene. Watch it fully below our ratings.
K: Two hours flew by unnoticed, SABU worked so meticulously on the film that, in my opinion, everything is perfect in it. The script is so solid that there are no questions left, each frame is verified in perfection and complemented by a minimalist soundtrack and a small amount of dialogue. I sat spellbound following the transformation of the main characters. The performance of all the actors is at the highest level. But I want to specifically mention Chang Chen (Long). His Mr. Long says almost nothing, and once again I realized that silence can tell more about a person, and actions can tell more than words. My heart was filled with happiness when the sadness and loneliness in Mr. Long's eyes finally disappeared and were replaced by the first happy, yet timid smile.

F: Krasnaya, you are right about everything. Chang Chen gave the character of Mr. Long his deserved coolness, coldblooded calmness and swift killing energy. We have mind-blowing cinematography. Just thinking about the disco scene or the footage of birds on temple rooftops makes my dopamine receptors act up. SABU's musical taste has aged like fine wine. This movie's score is simply perfect and it's glued to the flow of the picture. We have all kinds of tempo here and none makes you want to look at the clock. And what about SABU's writing? I had my foot back when it was revealed that the mother's boy was a drug addict. It was predictable that this was the case, and I was afraid that the mother wouldn't have a good backstory for her predicament. I was wrong and 100% satisfied with SABU's plot. The story might bring nothing new, but it's told in a wonderful and stylish way. I also love the way Taoist, Buddhist and Shinto elements are placed in the movie.

perfume japan fans gif
Perfume fanatics.
K: Desperately recommend watching this gem of a film. Take the time and live this story together with its characters. And a warning from me - don't watch this movie hungry. Freddie knows what I am talking about! SABU made a brilliant film that I definitely want to return to.

F: This is beyond a gem of a film for me. It is more like a meteorite full of precious metals. And, yes, those Taiwanese beef noodles were torture for me. To end, I have to say that SABU's recognized sentimentalism worked for me this time. That last moment in the picture when Mr. Long is heard sound and clear I started contorting my face and trying to prevent myself from crying in front of Krasnaya. She got me and started making fun of me... Go watch this one and see you next week for more SABU movie talk.

Ryu San Baseball GIF
A moment of weakness.
Freddy's Score: 100/100
Krasnaya's Score: 100/100

FINAL SCORE

Perfume Mr. Long Shirt
Can't wait to print it. If you wish to have the logo, let me know.
STRIP CLUB SCENE

RYU SAN VS YAKUZA

JUN MEETS RYU SAN

Our blog is update everyday at 21:00 (WEST)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Princess and the Goblin (1991)

Plot Summary: Princess Irene lives a peaceful life in her castle, but her kingdom is threatened by goblins living underground who plot to overthrow the realm. With the help of a brave young miner named Curdie and her magical great-great-grandmother, Irene must stop the goblins' plan and save her kingdom. Together, they embark on a whimsical adventure full of bravery, magic, and self-discovery. Director: József Gémes Producer: PannóniaFilm and Welsh Television Screenplay: Based on the novel by George MacDonald Starring: Claire Bloom as Great-Great-Grandmother Joss Ackland as King Papa Sally Ann Marsh as Princess Irene Peter Murray as Curdie Roy Kinnear as Goblin King Mollie Sugden as Goblin Queen   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Nostalgic Dive: Revisiting some 90s Kids' Cult Classic Today was family movie night, and I decided to reach dee...

The Beauty and Beast (1991)

Plot Summary: Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, is taken prisoner by a Beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's exterior to recognize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within. A magical love story unfolds, filled with adventure, self-discovery, and courage. Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise Producers: Don Hahn Screenplay: Linda Woolverton, based on the French fairy tale by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont Starring: Paige O'Hara as Belle Robby Benson as Beast Richard White as Gaston Jerry Orbach as Lumière David Ogden Stiers as Cogsworth Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Potts Jesse Corti as LeFou   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Family Face-Off: Beauty & Beast vs. Princess & Goblin We continue our weekend movie marathon at home with...

Porco Rosso (1992)

Plot Summary: In 1930s Italy, Porco Rosso, a suave, pig-headed seaplane pilot and bounty hunter, takes on sky pirates, rivals, and personal demons while soaring through breathtaking Mediterranean skies. Director: Hayao Miyazaki Producer: Toshio Suzuki Screenplay: Hayao Miyazaki, based on his manga *Hikōtei Jidai* Starring: Shūichirō Moriyama as Porco Rosso (Japanese) Michael Keaton as Porco Rosso (English) Tokiko Kato as Madame Gina (Japanese) Susan Egan as Madame Gina (English) Akemi Okamura as Fio Piccolo (Japanese) Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Fio Piccolo (English) Akio Ōtsuka as Donald Curtis (Japanese) Cary Elwes as Donald Curtis (English)   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Miyazaki and Me: A Love-Hate Relationship Today we travel to Japan (as we often do here at Cine It) with the youngest cinema lover in the house—my 6-year-...

In & Out (1997)

Plot Summary: Howard Brackett, a beloved English teacher in a small Midwestern town, finds his life turned upside down when a former student-turned-Hollywood star publicly "outs" him during an Academy Awards acceptance speech. With his wedding just days away, Howard must confront the unexpected revelation, leading to a comedic journey of self-discovery, societal expectations, and acceptance. Director: Frank Oz Producer: Scott Rudin Screenplay: Paul Rudnick Starring: Kevin Kline as Howard Brackett Joan Cusack as Emily Montgomery Tom Selleck as Peter Malloy Matt Dillon as Cameron Drake Debbie Reynolds as Berniece Brackett Wilford Brimley as Frank Brackett   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Frank Oz Comedy Inspired by Real-Life Events We’re back exploring Frank Oz’s filmography, and today’s feature is In & Out, a 90s comedy with a uniqu...

Moana (2016)

Moana is a 2016 American computer-animated musical adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. It was directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, co-directed by Chris Williams and Don Hall, and produced by Osnat Shurer, with a screenplay written by Jared Bush, and a story by Musker, Clements, Williams, Hall, Pamela Ribon, and the writing team of Aaron and Jordan Kandell. The film introduces Auliʻi Cravalho as Moana and also features the voices of Dwayne Johnson, Rachel House, Temuera Morrison, Jemaine Clement, Nicole Scherzinger, and Alan Tudyk. The film features original songs written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Opetaia Foa'i and Mark Mancina, and an orchestral score also composed by Mancina. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moana_(2016_film) In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. source: https://www.imdb...

Violation (2020)

Violation is a 2020 Canadian drama horror film directed and written by Madeleine Sims-Fewer and Dusty Mancinelli. It is the feature film debut of the two directors, who have collaborated on several short films displayed at film festivals worldwide. The film stars Madeleine Sims-Fewer, Anna Maguire, Jesse LaVercombe, Obi Abili, Jasmin Geljo, and Cynthia Ashperger. The film premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. It had its US premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on February 1, 2021 in the Midnight section. source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violation_(film) A troubled woman on the edge of divorce returns home to her younger sister after years apart. But when her sister and brother-in-law betray her trust, she embarks on a vicious crusade of revenge. source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12801814/ ***SPOILER ALERT*** F: Well, shit. If there are movies that I would like to unwatch, this is one of those. I felt violated...