What's New is a recurring column that looks at the new films, music, books and DVD releases in and/or about Chinese mainland
New Film: Zootopia
This comedic neo-noir adventure takes place in a city run by anthropomorphic animals. Once Upon a Time’s Ginnifer Goodwin voices a rookie bunny cop who forms an unlikely partnership with a con artist fox voiced by Arrested Development’s Jason Bateman. Together they must try to solve the case of the missing otter, which leads to them being targeted as part of a larger conspiracy. The film has already been praised for creating a world that would have been designed by animals. It’s the first of two Walt Disney Animation Studio feature films this year – the first time that’s happened since 2002. In theaters nationwide on March 4.
New Film: The 33
Antonio Banderas headlines this ensemble film based on the 2010 Chilean disaster that trapped 33 miners underground for 69 days. The Desperado star portrays Mario Sepúlveda, whose videos updating rescuers on their condition caught the world’s attention. The 33 touches on the lesser-known parts of the story like the mine company’s initial refusal to attempt a rescue or to listen to early safety complaints. Director Patricia Riggen expertly captures the terrifying collapse and the dire conditions inside. However, audiences know that there’s a happy ending around the corner. The heart-warming film is already the second highest grossing film in Chilean history. In theaters nationwide on March 4.
New Film: Ip Man 3
Is there anyone that works harder in the Hong Kong film industry than Donnie Yen? With Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny also in theaters, Yen returns to portray the legendary Chinese martial artist Ip Man. In the third edition of the series, he is living a serene life in 1959 Hong Kong. The film covers his tutelage of his most famous student, Bruce Lee. In the spirit of his legendary protege, Ip Man 3 imports a big foreign baddie, and it’s a doozy. Mike Tyson co-stars as a greedy American property developer whose nefarious expansion plans leads to an inevitable showdown with Ip Man. The film’s already picked up eight Hong Kong Film Award nominations including for Best Film. In theaters nationwide on March 4.
New Books: Chris Ruffle - A Decent Bottle of Wine in China
In this fascinating memoir, Yorkshireman Chris Ruffle recounts his seemingly Quixotic adventures building a vineyard complete with a Scottish castle in thecountryside of eastern China. Despite the many, many roadblocks, he's been able to make Treaty Port Vineyards with popular wines, international attention and a growing domestic market of people visiting the vineyard and staying at the castle. A Decent Bottle of Wine captures the changing nature of China's countryside while providing inspiration for readers to pursue their own version of the China dream. Available on Amazon and through Earnshaw Books.
New Music: Lantern Festival - Pan Yuda
Already a respected producer and mixer in the Beijing underground, Shen Lijia has given the country's electronic underground a boost with his Ran Music label. After a stellar year that included releases by Soulspeak and Animal Pop, they've kicked off 2016 by teaming up with Hong Kong producer Lantern Festival. The Chinese TV inspired single promises to "strike a balance in aesthetic for a type of Asian dream wave" previously unheard. On the B-side, Beijing based producer throutin significantly reworks the single for a trippy remix. Available on Ran Music's Bandcamp.
New TV: Horace and Pete
Nobody is doing more interesting things with their creative freedom than Louis C.K. After years of struggling as an absurdist comic in the New York underground, the former Chris Rock Show scribe has found his voice as a ridiculous everyman. His FX show Louie has been one of the best comedies in recent years but all of his attention is currently on his stealth new web TV series, Horace and Pete. With episodes written, directed and starring Louis CK, the show has an old school feel to it back when TV shows were filmed staged shows. Steve Buscemi co-stars as the co-owner of the titular bar with episodes filmed and released within a week. Even more impressive is the way the show is being distributed - for USD5 per show on Louis CK's website, directly e-mailed to you.
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