Opening Day: 22 October 2009

Synopsis:

THE BLUE MANSION is a quirky murder mystery about a wealthy tycoon who dies suddenly under mysterious circumstances. He returns as a ghost to try to uncover the secret of his death. Two eager detectives investigate the death chasing all leads and suspects including the dead man's three children. The ghost witnesses his own funeral wake, attended by jealous relatives and business competitors as well as the police investigation that unveils hidden family secrets.

Movie Review:

Ah, the powers of censorship are upon us again. In the spotlight this time round is local director Glen Goei and his second feature film. Research tells us that a sex scene was cut, and a nude scene was pixilated to ensure its NC 16 rating in theatres. Of course, this review isn’t about the politics behind censorship policies, it’s about a local filmmaker making his second feature film, and how it fares since it has been more than 10 years after he made his rollicking debut Forever Fever (1998).

Goei returns with a murder mystery which plays out like a Cluedo game. We don’t know who the killer is. We don’t know what the weapon is. The only thing we know, there is a dead man in the study. And this dead man isn’t your average old man. He is Wee Bak Chuan, a patriarch figure who helms a lucrative business in selling pineapple tarts. Yes, you read it correctly: Pineapple tarts.

This says a lot about the quirkiness of Ken Kwek’s script which tells the story of a filthy rich Asian tycoon who is suddenly found dead in his own study. He returns as a ghost to try to uncover the secret of his death with the help of his family and the police. His own children and their spouses become natural suspects for his death, and does a terrible secret await? You bet.

Headlined by the who’s who of the theatre scene, you can expect this to be one talky affair. Right from the moment the 107 minute film begins, you hear the characters spout their dialogue. While there is hardly any moments for breathers, you are engrossed in their superb acting to care. These are stage actors after all, and you can only imagine how they will seize every second of their screen time to make their presence felt. Be it Adrian Pang’s perpetually angry character, Tan Kheng Hua’s unhappy wife figure, Lim Kay Siu’s repressed husband with a secret, Neo Swee Lin’s depressed single woman character, Patrick Teoh’s naturally amusing personification of a ghost or Emma Yong’s stunning figure (hint: there is some eye candy for the guys in this character), each and every cast member seems to be telling you: “Look at me act!”

This is not necessary a bad thing though, because it is indeed rare for a project to bring together these acting veterans. Watch out also for scene stealing performances by Pamela Oei, Sebastian Tan, Chermaine Ang, Wendy Kweh and a cameo by the director himself.

The art direction deserves credit, simply with the overpowering presence of the titular blue mansion. Shot at the renowned Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Penang, Malaysia, the distinctive indigo blue outer wall of the building makes it a perfect set for this murder mystery. Goei’s sure handed direction is evident in the film too, seeing how the competent cast effortlessly brings the story to a higher level of engagement. The only jarring thing is the awkward and inconsistent accent amongst the actors, but as if we haven’t gotten used to it in local productions already?

Although the ending doesn’t come as an innovative surprise, you get the message the filmmakers are trying to convey. It may not be one of the best local movies to date, but it did Singapore proud by opening the “Window on Asian Cinema” at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival this year. That, besides the death of Wee Bak Chuan, is definitely something to shout about.

Movie Rating:



(Watch this for the sheer presence of the blue mansion, and some powerhouse acting from the theatre veterans)

Review by John Li