DECODED (解密) (2024)

Genre: Drama
Director: Chen Sicheng
Cast: Liu Haoran, Daniel Wu, John Cusack, Chen Daoming, Faye Yu, Ren Luyao, Chen Yusi, Wang Yutian, Zhou You, Zhu Zhu
Runtime: 2 hrs 36 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: mm2 Entertainment
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 29 August 2024

Synopsis: In the 1940s, the world was turbulent, and it was crucial to decipher the enemy's communication codes timely and accurately. Rong Jinzhen showed a unique talent. He was noticed by more because he accidentally solved a difficult problem.

Movie Review:

The protagonist of this Mainland Chinese production reminds this writer of how mathematician John Nash was portrayed in Ron Howard’s biographical drama film A Beautiful Mind (2001). Played with grace by Russell Crowe, Nash was presented as someone who had a brilliant mind but was socially awkward. Just as he found love in Alicia Nash (Jennifer Connelly who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance), he also became involved in cryptography work that might be serving a larger conspiracy. In the process he began losing his mind.

Back to this movie based on Mai Jia's novel of the same name. Our main guy is Rong Jinzhen, a socially awkward math genius who first gets adopted by a rich family, before being whisked off by the higher powers to supposedly serve the nation. Before long, he finds himself embroiled in code breaking work and falling in love with a comrade at the secretive agency. What’s interesting in this fictitious setup is the story backdrop: it is the 1940s and war is tearing nations apart, so any party who has the upper hand at breaking codes will be at advantage.

Soon, Jinzhen becomes increasingly obsessed in trying to decipher the codes he is presented with, and life begins spiralling downwards, to the extent that the emotional and physical toll begin affecting the people around him.

Helmed by Chen Sicheng (known for his blockbuster comedy film series Detective Chinatown), who also took on the producer and screenwriter duties, this is his first project to be adapted from a literary work. It is a huge challenge, considering the complexities of the code breaking world that had to be visualised on screen. This has to balanced with the political undertones that plague the era.

Chen does a commendable job by boldly creating Jinzhen’s dreams – some of the sequences are visually striking and look great on the big screen. One memorable scene sees Rong sprinting through a field with countless women dressed in Mao suits chasing after him, before he runs up to a watch tower and the camera pulls out to reveal a spectacular shot of the tower and the women dancing in a circle below. It is a bewildering shot, but it also feels poetically mesmerising.

What Chen is trying to achieve for the entire movie is a tall order, and the 156 minute runtime suggests that the film is trying to squeeze to many elements into one package. Maybe it is a case of indulgence, but some drearier sequences do slow the pace down, which will not sit well with impatient viewers. There are also some bizarre scenes which may draw laughs instead of awe.

That said, Jinzhen is played with full commitment by Liu Haoran, who looks unrecognisable in this role. With a receding hairline and a pair of glasses, the actor loses himself in the character and you can feel the genius breaking apart. This may just be the young actor’s big break in serious acting. He is supported by familiar faces like the ever confident Daniel Wu who plays a kind merchant, veteran Chen Daoming who portrays a government official who may be hiding some state secrets, and a sometimes nutty looking John Cusack who takes on the role of his mentor turned opponent, who each bring a certain gravitas to their roles. You almost feel that these are actual historical figures who have played a part in Chinese history.

Movie Rating:

(Chinese actor Liu Haoran delivers a totally committed performance in this ambitious spy thriller that features moments of bold brilliance)

Review by John Li