Chungking Express
I love this crazy, beautiful movie so goddamn much.
This is such a special movie. A film about time and change, yes, but first and foremost, a film about love. About how love can give us hope, keep us moving, give us the strength to grow, and how even the smallest, seemingly insignificant amount of love can do so much. A showing of how very different people can be affected by the same emotion. It's truly the strongest emotion, and no other film has showed that quite as personally or effectively as Chungking Express. A film that touches me deeply and drives me to reevaluate myself, to strive to act on love, romantic or otherwise. I know that sounds cheesy, but it's true.
Not only is it super touching and yada yada, but an absolute blast to watch. It's expertly shot, masterfully acted, the script is fantastic and THE MUSIC! They have like 4 songs to play the entire movie and they make it work so hard it's honestly impressive. THEY PLAY CALIFORNIA DREAMING 9 TIMES AND IT JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER (yeah I counted.) It's one of those films that I simply can't stop smiling while I'm watching it. Undoubtedly Kar-Wai's most optimistic work, it makes me wish he wasn't so damn depressing all the time. I love his work, but I want more like this. Something happy, optimistic, uplifting, and with that signature shoegaze dreaminess.
Yeah, it's a film I believe to be truly special. I would give it 6 stars if I could.
(Also Faye is the single greatest character ever put in fiction and I'm not budging on that. I love her so much. I would die for her.)