Dying to Belong Gangster Movies in Hollywood and Hong Kong

by Nochimson, Martha P.

• ISBN13: 9781405163712
• ISBN10: 1405163712
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-05-21
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

This fascinating book begins with a new definition of the gangster film and a challenging exploration of the Hong Kong and Hollywood screen traditions. Illuminates the way gangster films deal with the ambiguities of modern life, correcting the notion that this genre is inconsequential sensationalism Contends that both American and Hong Kong gangster films are against-the-grain reactions to the central fable of modern democracies that promise immigrant (and other) outsiders that they can become social insiders Draws on a range of American films, ranging from Public Enemy and Scarface to Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, and The Godfather Explores a number of Hong Kong's 21st century gangster films, including Andrew Lau's great trilogy, Infernal Affairs, and Election and Election 2, directed by Hong Kong auteur Johnnie To Concludes with an exclusive interview with The Sopranos' creator, David Chase

Author Biography

Martha P. Nochimson is Associate Editor of Cineaste Magazine, and the author of No End to Her: Soap Opera and the Female Subject (1993), The Passion of David Lynch: Wild at Heart in Hollywood (1997), and Screen Couple Chemistry: the Power of 2 (2002).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

List of Illustrations

Immigrant Movie Gangsters: The Outside Story

A Frankensteinian Frenzy: Gangster Identity, Hollywood

Gangster Identity, Hong Kong: A Taoist Code Warrior

Hollywood: The Void of Material Success

Dark Laughter at The Materialist Illusion: Hong Kong

East Meets West: The Sopranos, Gangs of New York, Infernal Affairs

Afterword

The Lesson: From Here to Modernity

Appendix

Interview with David Chase (Excerpts From the Transcript)

Notes

Bibliography

Filmography

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.