'Shaolin Soccer' scores at HK awards
April 22, 2002 Posted: 5:49 PM HKT (0949 GMT)
HONG KONG, China (Reuters) -- "Shaolin Soccer," a comedy that will soon
hit U.S. cinemas, has scored a resounding victory at the Hong Kong Film
Awards, one of the most prestigious accolades in the Chinese movie circuit.
With its unusual mix of martial arts and soccer, the film grabbed seven
of 19 awards on Sunday night, just below the eight that Oscar-winning
"Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" took last year.
The film stars and was directed by Stephen Chow, dubbed Hong Kong's answer
to Hollywood's rubber-faced Jim Carrey, and won awards for best film,
director, young director, actor, supporting actor, sound design and visual
effects.
It had received 13 nominations.
"I wish to thank some people. First of all, the late (kung fu star) Mr.
Bruce Lee because I was so enchanted by his films that I resolved to be an
actor," the deadpan comedian said.
While "Shaolin Soccer" may not have the international renown that "Crouching
Tiger" enjoyed after it took four Oscars last year, it commands a huge
following in Asia.
The film earned more than HK$60 million (US$7.7 million) at the local box
office last summer, making it Hong Kong's highest-grossing film on record.
Miramax, a unit of Walt Disney Co, bought the U.S. distribution rights for
the film even before it was released in Hong Kong. Its U.S. release is
expected soon -- marking Chow's U.S. debut.
Biggest upset
The night was a personal victory for Chow, whose brand of screen humour
has sometimes been seen by critics as parochial.
"Being of a mature age and getting this prize for best young director is
especially delightful," he said with a wry smile.
Chow is just two months short of 40, the cut-off age to be considered for
the young director award. His 51 movies have grossed more than HK$1.78
billion since 1989.
If there was a prize for the biggest upset of the night, it would have
certainly gone to "Lan Yu," a drama tackling the twin taboos of
homosexuality and the bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators
in Beijing's Tiananmen Square.
It earned a whopping 11 nominations, including best actor and best film,
but ended the night with nothing.
【節錄自CNN.com】
http://asia.cnn.com/2002/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/22/hongkong.film.reut/index.html
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