Saturday, April 14, 2018

A Little TLC(w): Heaven Can’t Wait (1995)


I enjoyed this film, a pan-religious con-artist dramedy, which I can’t imagine there are too many of.  Interesting story, decent production values, and while I don’t know that the plot ultimately gets as much out of its concept as it might have, it’s very entertaining and more inventive than some of the mid-range comedies in Tony Leung Chiu-wai’s filmography.

Wong Tai-Fung has had a chip on his shoulder about religion ever since man landed on the moon and failed to find the sacred Moon Lady who was supposed to live there.  That cast doubt in Fung’s mind on all things divine, and he’s since made a career for himself conning people’s faith for profit.  An equal opportunist, he plays on Buddhist and Christian beliefs alike, and he hits pay dirt when he meets Chun, a sweet-natured if overly-trusting actor who bears a strong resemblance to Dada, revered Buddhist monk.  Soon, Fung is peddling “Dada’s” manufactured miracles for the devoted masses, raking in the cash and gaining plenty of fame for both him and Chun.  However, the beliefs Fung exploits may not be as wholly misplaced as he thinks.

It’s interesting to see how this movie plays with religious shysters from numerous angles.  With Fung’s help, “Dada” sells junk with claims of divine power, pulls off fake miracles, predicts the future (with the help of insider info,) and arranges for amazing signs to appear in unlikely places.  I’m a little more familiar with narratives about religious con artists in Christianity, sham faith healers and the like, and it’s neat to see how those various tricks and techniques play out differently (or in some cases, similarly) with Buddhism.  I also think it’s interesting how inclusive Fung is in the faiths he’ll manipulate.  Buddha, Jesus – it’s all the same to him, and he’ll easily pivot in any direction depending on where he can find the best advantage.

The film also gets into more “legitimate” means of using religion for profit.  The media circus that starts to build around Dada attracts the attention of Joan (played by Karen Mok from Wong Kar-wai’s Fallen Angels,) an ambitious reporter who gets miracles to pay dividends in her own way.  Although Fung and Joan come at their rackets in different ways – I’m not really counting Chun in the scam because, even though he’s the face of it, he’s to an extent as much of a sucker as the people he’s fooling – both grab at an opportunity when they see it and find unlikely ways to both get ahead by each helping the other.

As Fung, Leung is clever, charming when he wants to be, and self-absorbed when he doesn’t try to be otherwise.  I’m finding he’s played quite a few of this type of character, quick-witted schemers who don’t have many scruples about how they turn a profit.  Early on as I started watching some of his films, I noted that he’s played a lot of cops (Chungking Express, Infernal Affairs, etc.), but really, he’s probably played just as many criminals (Happy-Go-Lucky, People’s Hero, etc.,) both minor and major, and on at least one occasion (The Tigers,) has played a character who’s both a cop and a criminal.

Fung fits in well with other con artists Leung has played, most notably Happy-Go-Lucky’s Wei.  He’s smart enough that he could surely make a good living for himself on the straight and narrow if he wanted to, but he’s jaded enough that he prefers the satisfaction that comes from making a dishonest buck.  At the same time, though, he’s not entirely mercenary.  As much as he might protest otherwise, he’s not entirely immune to Chun’s naïve amiability, and for someone who scoffs at religion, he has an awful lot of conversations with an unspecified God.

Recommend?

In General – I would.  This is a pretty well-made film that entertains and intrigues in equal measure.

Tony Leung Chiu-wai – Sure.  Leung is good at this type of unscrupulous charmer, and Fung is a worthwhile addition to the set.

Warnings

Language, sexual content, some violence, drinking, and thematic elements.

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