Millennium Mambo [Blu-ray]

Hou Hsiao-hsien's Millennium Mambo is a much-misunderstood marvel – a stylish and seductive submersion into the techno-scored neon nightlife of Taipei. Presented in a stunning 4K restoration, the film stars Shu Qi (The Transporter) as an aimless bar hostess adrift from her blowhard boyfriend and drawn towards Jack Kao's suave, sensitive gangster. Structured as a flashback from the then-future of 2011 to the then-present, Millennium Mambo is a transfixing trance-out of a movie, drenched in club lights, ecstatic endorphin-rush exhilaration, and a nagging undercurrent of ennui.

The Special Features accompanying this release include an audio commentary by Rolling Stone film critic K. Austin Collins, as well as a video essay by Adrian Martin and Cristina Alvarez Lopez. Additionally, the re-release trailer is included.

Hou Hsiao-hsien's Millennium Mambo is a mesmerizing cinematic experience that immerses the viewer in the pulsating rhythms and hazy ambiance of Taipei's nocturnal underworld. The film's nonlinear structure and languid pacing create a dreamlike quality, blurring the boundaries between reality and the protagonist's emotional state. Shu Qi's captivating performance as the adrift bar hostess anchors the film, conveying a sense of detachment and melancholy that permeates the entire narrative.

The stunning 4K restoration amplifies the film's visual allure, accentuating the neon-drenched club scenes and the subtle interplay of light and shadow that define the movie's aesthetic. The techno-infused score, with its hypnotic beats and hypnotic refrains, further contributes to the film's immersive and intoxicating atmosphere.

In his audio commentary, K. Austin Collins delves into the nuances of Hou's directorial approach, examining the film's formal techniques and the thematic resonance of its fragmented, elliptical storytelling. The video essay by Adrian Martin and Cristina Alvarez Lopez explores the film's cinematic language, highlighting the director's masterful use of camera placement, framing, and editing to capture the ebb and flow of the characters' emotional journeys.

The re-release trailer, with its tantalizing glimpses of the film's sensory-rich visuals and moody atmospherics, serves as a compelling invitation to experience Millennium Mambo on the big screen. Hou Hsiao-hsien's film is a cinematic gem that transcends its genre trappings, offering a mesmerizing and contemplative exploration of urban ennui, emotional dislocation, and the allure of the nocturnal underworld.

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