Shanghai

A-List cast (though some of them horribly miscast), A-movie storyline but B-movie cinematography and B-movie direction. It's way too rushed to develop the characters and to create the right mood.

Seems like it could have been so much more, as you have a few interesting actors, and the setting is captivating. But it seems to never quite achieve the peak even when action happens. I guess it doesn't help that Cusack gives the feeling he's about to fall asleep in every scene. Like, when he learns war is literally starting, and he just looks like he's rather trying to remember what color are his own socks.

At the end of 1941, secret agent Paul Soames (John Cusack) arrives in Shanghai, China, to investigate the murder of a friend. The city is almost entirely in the hands of the Japanese and the mutual tension is palpable. To solve the case, Paul must dive deep into the mysterious world of the local rulers, but without making enemies. The latter seems to become impossible when Paul starts an affair with Anna (Gong Li), the wife of a powerful Chinese gangster boss.

Great premise, amazing'ish cast (J.Cusack doesn't really fit his role, and Famka.P is her usual bland self) and it looks the part, but storywise this never gets that interesting or emotional involving; thankfully there are a lot of scenes with K.Watanabe, Chow.Y-F and especially Gong Li, and those three are always worth the watch. *Preview*: #13#, story, Gong Li/10, actors, R3.

Feels like the it should've ended about 10 minutes sooner

only the seeting of the movie is worth a glance, nothing else.

History seem accurate and very well done!

A setting filled with promise that the movie never seems to capitalize on. It's decent enough, but the story won't knock your socks off and there's not really a memorable moment.

Nice setting, horrible acting. The ending is crap.

Very good film. Visually stunning, and with a strong cast who all deliver high quality performances here. The biggest weakness of the film is the narration, which is poorly written and could have been cut entirely. However overall this is a strong spy thriller which is unpredictable and engaging from start to finish. Reminiscent of Casablanca, except with much better plot, acting, cinematography, music, set design, direction and production.

Pretty routine spy thriller, but very elegant, and its unpredictability haunts the way the chaos of war should.