Where's Golden's Geisha?

Memoirs of A Geisha

Directed by Rob Marshall

Adapted Screenplay by Robin Swicord based on the book by Arthur Golden

The much-anticipated screen version of Arthur Golden's bestselling book opens with much hype. Casting three of Chinese cinema's darlings, the film looks set to be a runaway success.

The film opens with a young Chiyo being sent away to be a geisha. For the next half hour, the girl played by the delightfully wide-eyed 12-year-old Suzuka Ohgo suffers at the hands of big time geisha Hatsumomo played by the lustrous Gong Li. Besides the surreal cinematography, the stars of the film has got to be Suzuka Ohgo and Gong Li. By the time Ohgo's half-hour screentime is up, Gong Li has shown us how she embodies the character of Hatsumomo with aplomb- a woman full of vengeance, contrive and jealousy but with a yearning for love. See her finest at attempting to destroy our poor protaganist.

When Zhang Ziyi's Sayuri appears as a grown woman mentored by Michelle Yeoh's Mameha, you can't help but feel that Zhang's thunder has all already been stolen by Gong Li. Zhang can be seen as struggling with her English while trying to portray the vulnerable Sayuri. While language has proven to be a stumbling block, Zhang's acting feels so distant that it leaves an empty feeling and provides no continuation from the warmth that Ohgo brought to the screen as a young Sayuri. It is a clear signal that in her haste to woo Hollywood's audience (including her attempt at anglicizing her name to Ziyi Zhang), she has sacrificed whatever little acting ability that was more evident in Chinese films like 2046. Yeoh's mentor role is played nicely as it is - a steely woman who's determined to help her protege beat arch rival Hatsumomo.

In adapting the book for the big screen, screenwriter Robin Swicord has left out parts of the book that provides glimpses into the geisha world. Intricate details of how the kimono is worn and traits of a geisha are missing probably to shorten the already lengthy film.

The aim and result is definitely style over substance. If anyone deserves an acting accolade, it should be Gong Li and not the overrated Zhang. (B- because Gong Li was in it, else C)

View from the top

I had an incredible evening atop Mount Faber at The Altivo Bar. A very enchanting and panaromic night view, the night was cooling and interpersed with a heavy downpour. No one else around us so the cosy drinking hole was ours for the night. Had a Heineken and a long chat.

Well, it's certainly life's small little pleasures.