“Crazy Rich Asians” is the first English language Hollywood movie with an almost all-Asian cast in 25 years and one of my favourite actresses, Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh is starring in it. Michelle, born on August 6, 1962 in Ipoh, Malaysia is a Malaysian Chinese actress who became famous after starring in a series of popular Hong Kong action films in which she performed her own stunts. She is known internationally for starring in the James Bond film, “Tomorrow Never Dies”, and the Chinese-language martial arts film, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.
“Crazy Rich Asians” was released in the United States on August 15, 2018, by Warner Bros. Pictures. Critics have praised the performances and production design in “Crazy Rich Asians. “It has got a terrifc cast, glamorous locations, witty jokes and a story with a lot of heart,” adds another critic.
That is why I am looking forward to watching the movie in the cinema. For me, good films should preferably be watched on the big screen which offers a larger than life sound experience and a high level of quality viewing. There are other reasons why I want to watch the movie.
One of them is leading actor, Henry Golding, born on February 5, 1987 in Betong, Sarawak, Malaysia. Half Iban and half British (his father is English and his mother is Iban), he has never acted in a movie before. However,the model and television host has been a presenter on BBC’s “The Travel Show “ since 2014.
According to Wikipedia, Henry lived in Terengganu until the age of 7 when his family moved to England. A trained hairdresser, he is based in Malaysia and Singapore. In a story carried by the BBC World News, it is said that Henry’s ability to stay calm in any filming environment plus his charisma and infectious character has made him one of Asia’s most lovable television hosts.
Henry is married Liv Lo, an Italian–Taiwanese TV presenter and yoga instructor. He was interviewed on the Ellen Show by Ellen DeGeneres about three months ago and on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon a few days ago. Another reason why I am looking forward to watching “Crazy Rich Asians” is because the film is based on Kevin Kwan’s novel of the same name.
The film is produced by Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson of Color Force and directed by Jon M. Chu. Besides Henry and Michelle, the film also stars Constance Wu, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Nico Santos and Lisa Lu, Ken Jeong. It is about a young Asian American woman who travels to meet her boyfriend’s family, only to find them to be among the richest in Singapore. Kevin, a Singaporean–American novelist, is best known for his satirical novels, Crazy Rich Asians, China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.
In 2014, he was named as one of the “Five Writers to Watch” on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of Hollywood’s Most Powerful Authors. Four years later, he made Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people and was inducted into The Asian Hall of Fame, a project of the Robert Chinn Foundation established in 2004.
Claiming the novel was based on his own childhood in Singapore, Kevin’s intention in writing the novel was to introduce a contemporary Asia to a North American audience. I admire good novelists like Dan Brown,Amy Tan, the late Agatha Christie and Pearl S. Buck. I can write news reports, features and columns but so far, I have not attempted any novels. I have not read any of Kevin’s books before because I was not aware of him. In future, I will definitely read them.
“Crazy Rich Asians” is a romantic comedy drama.I love romantic dramas and I love comedies. What is life without love and laughter? Love and laughter, I think, make life worth living.
The film also features places of interest in Singapore. I love Singapore. I like travelling on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) there, window shopping and enjoying the fruits and snacks at the Bugis Street Market, one of the biggest, cheapest and probably hottest places to go shopping in the whole of Singapore. I also love Sentosa, the resort island in Singapore; its attractions include a 2 km (1.2 mi) long sheltered beach, Fort Siloso and the Resorts World Sentosa, featuring the theme park Universal Studios Singapore and one of Singapore’s two casinos. I have not been there for years. Perhaps it is time to revisit Singapore again after watching “Crazy Rich Asians” .
Films are good for promoting countries and places. After watching “Crazy Rich Asians”, many movie goers, I am sure, will make it a point to visit Singapore and experience for themselves the sight and sounds of Singapore. For instance, Jeju island in South Korea is popular with Malaysians and Korean drama fans in the world because many of the dramas were shot there.
Do you know that American films have also been shot in Sarawak? One of them is “Farewell to the King”, a 1989 American action adventure drama film written and directed by John Milius. Starring Nick Nolte, Nigel Havers, Frank McRae and Gerry Lopez, the film is loosely based on the 1969 novel, “L’Adieu au Roi” by Pierre Schoendoerffer.
Filming began on August 24, 1987 and the film was shot on location in Bau, Sarawak. Another American film shot in Sarawak is “The Sleeping Dictionary,” a 2003 American romantic drama film written and directed by Guy Jenkin and starring Hugh Dancy, Jessica Alba, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Mortimer, and Bob Hoskins.
The film tells the story of a young Englishman who was sent to Sarawak in the 1930s to become part of the British colonial government. Local movie fans are now waiting for the filming of “White Rajah,” the story of James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak, to start. “White Rajah” will be produced by Hollywood producer, Rob Allyn, founder and CEO of Margate House Films. Allyn wrote the film’s original screenplay based on Brooke’s diaries and letters, archives of the Brooke Heritage Trust, and the help of Jason Brooke, a British Museum historian and current heir of the Brooke family, who also serves as a technical adviser on the film.
The film has the official backing of the Sarawak government. During a signing ceremony in September, 2016, Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg was quoted as saying the film was an initiative by the state government to promote Sarawak as a natural studio and a result of negotiations between the Brooke Heritage Trust, the film producers and the state government through Sarawak Tourism Board.
Shooting was supposed to commence in mid-2018 with director, Sergei Bodrov helming it. Bodrov is famous for “Prisoner Of The Mountain” (1996) and “Mongol” (2007); both films were nominated for Oscars in the Best Foreign-Language Film category. It is already August. I wonder what is happening to the film. In the meantime, let us watch out for “Crazy Rich Asians.” I am sure we will have lots of fun watching it. See you in the cinema!
