#Simon Yam任達華

[hong-kong-art-man]

Why Should You Watch The Recent Murder Mystery Film The Goldfinger (金手指)? Is It A Good Movie? Did Tony Leung (梁朝偉) Act Well?

The recent Hong Kong film The Goldfinger (金手指) is a 2023 film written and directed by Felix Chong (莊文強), and staring 2 Hong Kong superstars Tony Leung (梁朝偉) and Andy Lau (劉德華).

Some expected to be a very exciting action crime thriller. They are wrong. The film turns out to be a nostalgic and heartrending biography of the most notorious swindler in the 1970s and 80s. It is also a tale of episodes depicting the vanished years of Hong Kong when money could buy anything and the pursuit of voluptuous life had corrupted the whole society.

The story is well-known. In the 1970s: a Malaysian man who had nothing came to look for money opportunities in Hong Kong. Within a few years, he, by dishonest means, became a Mr Moneybags. His improper schemes were finally unmasked and this scoundrel was put in jail. Incident to the long and complicated saga, 3 men i.e. the lawyer, the accountant and the judge who acquitted the scoundrel during the first trial mysteriously died. Up to now, nobody has been found responsible for the ghastful deaths. 

Murder mysteries are puzzles that are fun to resolve. The film The Goldfinger however did not attempt to resolve ‘whodunit’ and in fact is quite distanced from the crime truth. It may want the audience to speculate the truth by themselves. This is why some audience were disappointed because this murder movie, unlike those of Agatha Christie, did not make the ‘Q&A’ neatly wound up at the end of the story.   

From indulgent nightlife to lavish parties, the film depicts the heyday of Hong Kong in the 1970s and 80s, when money could be easily made from the newly flourishing stock market. The film also foreshadows the economic doom that would follow. Businessmen, lawyers, accountants and bankers all looked happy but ‘everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody.’ Regrets were before these people became criminals or after they became ghost.  

This great film is loved by me because it is about the good old days, or bad old days, that I actually went through when I was young. It might be loved by me for nostalgic reasons, but in any event, I have a high opinion of the work because the film is sincere, well-prepared and well-produced with meticulous artistic care. Actors like Tony Leung, Andy Lau and Simon Yam (任達華) are extremely glittering and their acting is impressively successful. 

This wonderful film makes us feel like we have journeyed with the story and characters. Some said film is a dream. I would say film can also be a reality which is an emotional echo forcing us to remember and think. I recommend The Goldfinger to anyone who is looking for a good movie to watch.

Creativity takes courage and I am proud that Felix Chong has the guts to do a not really commercial film.

Maurice Lee

Movie The Goldfinger trailer

Acknowledgement-Emperor Motion Pictures

Movie The Goldfinger Press Conference

Acknowledgement-Emperor Motion Pictures

Movie The Goldfinger trailer

Acknowledgement-CSCinemas

[hongkongblurays]

TRAILER FOR THE SIMON YAM FILES 任達華檔案 預告片

[ausnapfilmideas]

THE SIMON YAM 任達華 FILES 6: FATAL TERMINATION - 90's craziness from Error...

[refreshdaemon]

Poster cast of 도둑들 / The Thieves (2012):

김윤석 / Kim Yoon-seok as 마카오 박 / Macao Bak

김혜수 / Kim Hye-soo as 팹시 / Pepsee

이정재 / Lee Jung-jae as 뽀빠이 / Popie

전지현 / Gianna Jun as 예니콜 / Yenicall

任達華 / Simon Yam as 陳 / 첸 / Chen

김해숙 / Kim Hae-sook as 씹던껌 / Chewing Gum

오달수 / Oh Dal-su as 앤드류 / Andrew

김수현 / Kim Soo-hyun as 잠파노 / Zampano

曾國祥 / Derek Tsang as 強尼 / 조니 / Johnny

[ladamarossa]

夜驚魂 - He Lives By Night (1982)

[filmsfromasia-blog]

Oh my gosh... Simon Yam was stabbed yesterday at a publicity event; luckily he is fine and on the mend. We wish him a speedy recovery back to full fitness, from all of us at Terracotta. #simonyam #tombraider #hongkongactor #inthenews #任達華 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3019428/hong-kong-actor-simon-yam-tat-wah-stabbed-stomach-during https://www.instagram.com/p/B0Ly9qKFhAG/?igshid=1siadxm27wl6u

[hong-kong-art-man]

Most People Are Good At One Thing Or Another, But The Multi-talented Star Simon Yam Takes It All——Acting & Photography 

Photography refers to creating a photograph—now, including an ‘instagram’ as well. Whatever it may be—it is always an image produced by the action of light on a light-sensitive material or device, with or without colour, but the only colour which remains is our memory. Without the memory of a photograph, we would not be able to remember how we loved yesterday.

Stardom is the capacity to translate artistic vision into reality. There is a popular and talented actor in Hong Kong who was raised in the film industry but then moved to develop equally well the stardom in taking photographs. He is Simon Yam(任達華), tall, fit and handsome, who often appeared in Hollywood movies.

I asked Simon, “You are gifted with the ability of acting and photography. Why did you choose to act only in the 1970s?” He laughed, “Thank God! Apart from the tragedy that my father died when I was small and the harshness that my family was very poor, I have been a lucky man. I humbly admit that when I was a young man in the 70s, I possessed all the advantages: a good body, a camera face and tertiary education. Trying to be a model and actor was the natural course when I wanted to be after quick money to help my mother in those years. Actually, my childhood interest and delight were more in the beautiful things which existed in the world: sky, mountains, rivers, flowers and even rocks or fossils. I drew and sketched. I, unluckily, got no money to take any proper painting class. In 1986, I bought my first expensive camera Minolta. I told myself, ‘Painting is a visual art but photography is one and the same expression of art through space, colour, line and shape. Photography is easier to learn although it takes something really special to become great. For me, I just desire to express myself through art and becoming great is not my next stage of concern.’ So, I started to take some satisfying photographs, with a couple of clicks and simple steps. That was how I undertook photography as my hobby instead of painting.”

I wondered, “Simon, how do you handle acting and photo shooting at the same time?” He smiled, “Whenever someone asked me to act, the joy of me being able to take pictures in a new environment would burn out my imminent fear of labouring. Acting could be a tough job especially when I worked outside Hong Kong and the location might be a jungle or desert. I would face a series of tough and tiring moments, which followed each other in an endless cycle. When pain did come near me, my happy salvation was to be able to capture, with my camera companion, the beauty of colours, lights and shapes through my photographic ventures in the new places which my actor’s career could take me to, in fact, as many as I wished. Because of my photographer’s dreams, leaving home and leaving the familiar in Hong Kong are not nightmarish anymore. I can say hello to beautiful scenery and people. Life becomes exciting all over again. My artistic journey consists not only in having new eyes, but of seeking refreshing photographic inspirations which will transform into my creative work.”

Simon took a break and continued, “If I go to a strange place on earth, I shall usually do 3 things: visiting art museums, purchasing some saucy postcards and searching for beautiful old walls which become brownie points in my lonely journey.”

I asked him, “What camera do you use now?” Simon said, “Mostly Canon. I also use iPad. I am learning ‘iPad painting’ which is a cool invention without the trouble of bringing with me drawing board or easel. I can share some with you.”

Simon piqued my interest. I asked, “Did you have frustrating experience about taking pictures?” He was funny, “When things were too beautiful and I did not know how to manipulate them into an expression of art, I felt very confused! For example, some geological formations near Mount Tai, Shandong Province(山東省泰山) are rich in fossils of fascinating shapes dating back to 500,000,000 years ago. The Five Flower Lake(五花海) of Jiuzhaigou(九寨溝) is a multi-coloured lake and its bottom is criss-crossed by ancient fallen tree trunks enriched by bold blue, delicate orange, electric purple and festive green colours. I stood there for a long time and could not figure out what was the best way to depict such wonders.”

I put my final question on the table, “What is the artistic difference of acting and photography?” Simon considered it seriously, “For acting, drama created me. For photography, I created drama. The drama of the former is human and the drama of the latter is visual. Acting is a collaborative exercise while photography is a lonely job. When I act, people capture my moments which I could repeat if they want me to act again. But when I take photos, I capture a moment of other people that can be gone forever and impossible to reproduce.”

Simon Yam is a unique and intriguing man in the film industry. Sometimes he is expressive and sometimes he is quiet. Sometimes he is reactive and sometimes he is shy. He is forever changing. His tender fickleness is a charming quality of a superstar. I always get the funny idea that Simon should record an artistic video selfie of himself—it must be riveting to see how he, under the dual roles of an actor and a photographer, behaves at the same time.

MLee

Simon Yam X FUJIFILM 50R  Acknowledgement-FUJIFILM HK  https://youtu.be/uTTiMsDdNl8

Simon Yam Interview  Acknowledgement-SPH Razor  https://youtu.be/a7Fs17ktx2Q

“Sparrow” movie trailer with Simon Yam  Acknowledgement-Universe  Entertainment Ltd  https://youtu.be/gk11k7G0Hl4

Simon Yam Interview  Acknowledgement-CNBC International TV  https://youtu.be/VO3OoC7ERUw

“Nat Geo Awards” Simon Yam’s sharing  Acknowledgement-Nat Geo HK  https://youtu.be/Ye07lxgg5fE

[hong-kong-art-man]

“Stars, Too, Were Time Travellers. The 4 Great Stars That I Have Worked With And Salute.” ——The Respected Film Art Director Of Hong Kong Bill Lui 

In film, an ‘Art Director’(美術指導)works directly below the ‘Production Designer’(美術總監) and a large part of his duties are the administrative aspects of the art department. The Production Designer is the superior individual responsible for the overall look and tone of the film project. He works with the art director, set dresser, prop master and cinematographer to accomplish the director’s artistic vision of the film.

The former Chairman of Hong Kong Film Arts Association Bill Lui(雷楚雄) is a kind and helpful friend who always tries to lighten the burdens of other people. He was a great Art Director and is now an adored Production Designer working in the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Inside each of us is a natural-born story listener. I asked Bill, “Any good story to share from your interesting career?” Bill replied, “Maurice, you like to encourage people. Let me cite 4 charming actors whose heart-piercing supports to me are always unforgettable. They are, in the order of their seniority, Josephine Siao(蕭芳芳), Simon Yam(任達華), Maggie Cheung(張曼玉) and Nicolas Tse(謝霆鋒). As an ‘art controller’ in the film-making process, my judgements are based on my personal opinions and tastes but they can be very subjective. I am glad that the above good actors did tell me the other side of the coin, namely facts and angles that I might not have fully considered.”

“Josephine Siao was special because she was like a walking dictionary or caring mentor, probably due to the fact that she became an actress in 1953 when she was only 6 years old. She is also a film director. She is the jack of all trades and ‘master of all’ as well. In one movie, she had to play the role of a Cantonese opera actress. She went backstage to observe the opera actors for more than 10 evenings and took a note of all the suggestions that she intended to propose to me. I still remember her putting on a super-powdery and overpowering perfume on a film set. I was shocked and asked her why. She smiled, ‘Bill, it is the preferred scent of the Cantonese opera actresses and I do think the strong smell can help the other actors accepting me as the character in the film!’” said Bill.

Josephine Siao has been my lifelong idol——I never thought of anyone as a super movie star until I watched her film I love a Go-Go (我愛阿高高) in 1967!

I asked Bill, “I guess Simon Yam is the male version of Josephine Siao?” Bill laughed, “Not exactly. In the 70s, Simon was a fashion model, later a TV star and progressed to become a successful film actor in Hong Kong. Josephine was eager to serve others and Simon is helpful to the art direction of a film in a different way. He is more an independent perfectionist in everything he did. Whenever I knew Simon was in the cast, I had nothing to worry about him. He himself was a designer cum artist. I recall that in a film about a high society gigolo, Simon proposed to me, ‘Bill, I know your limited budget but such a gigolo will surely wear Giorgio Armani or Jean Paul Gaultier. Could I contribute half of the money needed and we go together to buy such brands to make the character more graphic.’ After this proposal, I saw him also dashing up to a gym to make sure that his body will look sexy to match the role.”

I probed, “Is Maggie Cheung like Simon?” Bill moved his head, “Maggie showed her support to an art director by listening to him. She gave me a lot of freedom to combine all the ingredients for her role. She said only one thing, ‘Bill, I trust you will take good care of all the stuff and see to it that all will pertain appropriately to the role. Do not care about if I look better or worse. It is not my concern. I will be very accommodating if the film can become better!’”

Raised in Britain, Maggie Cheung started her acting career after placing second in 1983’s Miss Hong Kong Pageant. She won the ‘Best Actress’ award at Cannes Film Festival in 2004. 90% of the Chinese population can say out her name loud. It is a pity that she is now semi-retired.

I asked, “Bill, the youngest is Nicolas Tse who is now about 40. What is he like?” Bill shared his thought, “Perhaps both his parents were good actors and he had learnt what professionalism should mean since his childhood. He joined the movie world at 16. He is too proficient in the dos and don’ts. Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. Youth is being not afraid to do. These two explain why whenever I asked Nic to do something exciting, he always answered, ‘Why not? Let me have a go!’ The world is fast changing and trends on art are forever moving too. I explore new ideas and I need unique stars like Nic telling me that he is willing to experiment with me. For me, Nic is more a ‘co-working partner’. He is now very popular in the Mainland and deserves such an outcome. Nic shows the difference between a star and an actor. A star will say, ‘How can I change the fix to suit me?’ An actor will say, ‘How can I change myself to suit the fix?’ Nic is incredibly clever.”

The possibility of a dream, the dream of making unreal into real, is the force inspiring art directors to do better and finer. If an art director is the painter, his stars cannot just be the canvas. They are interactive. A professional art director who works hard not because of his or her status or remuneration, but the ethical obligation under which the best in a film has to come together!

MLee

Interview with Josephine Siao Acknowledgement: RTHK https://youtu.be/I1znTY-06nk

Simon Yam Movie Acknowledgement: Filmko Pictures https://youtu.be/_TRyoxt7Rvk

Maggie Cheung Movie “Clean” Acknowledgement: youtube 　https://youtu.be/jj_o-onUIWA

Nicholas Tse Movie “Invisible Target” Acknowledgement: Universe Entertainment Ltd https://youtu.be/t-c8mxI2oTU