【電影簡介】

中國上海，法租界，第三屆環球花國大選公開賽盛大開幕。俊眉修眼，顧盼神飛，萬千佳麗撩人心。環宇直播，開天辟地，花國總統首次全球民選。在大選組委會主席馬走日（姜文飾）的操辦下，花國大選極盡民國之風流，俘獲億萬之關注。總決選上，三強名伶各顯身手，伯仲難分。眼看左青龍右白虎鶯啼如歌燕飛若舞，身懷大美心有大愛的完顏英（舒淇飾）最后登臺絕招頻出，顛倒眾生。

大選桂冠，花落完顏。聲勢浩大的第三屆花國大選讓馬走日一舉成名天下知，成為上海灘炙手可熱的人物，也讓他的搭檔兼發小項飛田（葛優飾）聲名鵲起。新一屆花魁完顏英履行承諾開始了對整個城市巡游，仰慕者千萬。然而事情的真相是，整個花國大選是馬走日一手操縱，他和完顏英之間也是姘居多年的舊相識，完顏英的再次當選，讓兩人之間的關系發生了微妙的變化。

【音頻文本】

In 2010, Chinese director Jiang Wen released an action comedy film “Let the Bullets Fly” which rocked the country’s movie market. Its huge commercial success made everyone believe Jiang had found the way to dominate Chinese cinemas. In fact, his grip on the audience was so firm that even critics refrained from pricking, or if they did whine their voices must certainly have been drowned in the deafening sound of adulation.

But with the advent of his new film “Gone with the Bullets”, the previously muffled discontent of his antagonists has suddenly found an outlet. Starting from real estate veteran Ren Zhiqiang who spoke of his difficulties understanding the movie, more and more self-styled critics blamed their bewilderment on the director’s ego. They believe that Jiang Wen had once again lost control in narcissistic self expression and this is going to cost him dearly in audience reception.

One thing about the film that sets the critics on fire is the vast number of messages hidden in the story.

In 1920, a Shanghai playboy Yan Ruisheng robbed and murdered a well-known prostitute, he was later caught and publicly executed. But that was not the whole story, before the case was closed, local media had explored and exposed almost every detail of the suspect and his victim. And after Yan’s death, his crime was told in China’s first full-length movie and once again became a product for public entertainment. “Gone with the Bullets” examines the relative truths in news reporting and filmmaking, the director’s idea is best represented by a scene where his character vandalizes a camera in a film set.

This is just one example of Jiang’s many implicit ideas. During 140 minutes of sitting, we also witness new money’s attempts to become respectably “old”, a politically married couple’s advices to their daughter regarding the importance of concubines and the wisdom about men, plus a lot more metaphors and mockeries. All of these can be too much to digest, it certainly took me a second viewing to get a better overview.

And comprehension is not made easier by the varied forms of expression.

Beginning with an extravagant beauty show featuring garish colors, loud music and way too many bared legs,the movie’s narrative is continued in talk show, black and white silent film and stage play, all the while paying tribute to “The Godfather”, “A Trip to the Moon”, “2001: A Space Odyssey” and many other classic films.

This wealth of information and sometimes contradicting opinions drive the critics over the edge. Some of them refer to Jiang Wen’s good upbringing and his other auteur films as evidence to suggest he is an elitist director and has no respect for the needs of the viewers.

I think these critics’ accusations are not well grounded.

First of all, one doesn’t have to be an elite to be able to enjoy classic music and classic films invokedin Jiang’s story, and the reluctance to exercise one’s brain should not be encouraged as normality. China’s movie industry has already seen too much banality made in the name of satisfying the audience. It is high time we stopped feeding the viewers with nonsensical comedies, it is the ultimate crime of disrespecta director can commit against his viewers.

Jiang Wen, on the other hand, has consistently encouraged his fans to think with his challenging storylines, and the images and music in his films are always enjoyable. Any viewer in their right mind who refuses to wallow in the mud of vulgarity will be able to appreciate the healthy amount of his narcissism. The only question is, who would you rather be?

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