Once upon a time, Zhang Yimou made good movies, but Full River Red is not one. While the production and scope of the film is huge which I can only applaud, it's production is massive with the money clearly onscreen. However, as a comedy thriller trying to emulate the likes of the Coen brothers, it doesn't work. The cast doesn't commit to their bits leaving many of the performances high and dry; it's ultimately disapppointing for anyone looking for something resembling Yimou's older works, and there's a horribly awkward tonal shift towards the end. Maybe just stop hiring Shen Teng for comedies, he isn't funny...
Review of Full River Red
