Moviefone Editorial

Tag: Madison Hu

  • Movie Review: ‘Rosemead’

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    In theaters expanding its release on December 9 is ‘Rosemead,’ a taught, powerful new drama that spotlights the troubles of Asian American parents struggling to deal with mental health issues among their teenage children.

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    Directed by Eric Lin (the ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ cinematographer makes his directorial debut here), the ‘Rosemead’ cast is led by Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill’), Lawrence Shou and Madison Hu (‘The Brothers Sun’).

    Related Article: Lucy Liu Talks ‘Rosemead’ and the Tragic True Story It Is Based On

    Initial Thoughts

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    Given that the true story it is based upon is full of tragedy and pain, you should certainly go into ‘Rosemead’ expecting some downbeat developments.

    But don’t let that deter you from a powerful and thoughtful movie that boasts a typically great performance from Lucy Liu, here fully taking the chance to shine in a difficult, nuanced role.

    Script and Direction

    Director Eric Lin on the set of 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Director Eric Lin on the set of ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    With a script from Marilyn Fu (‘The Sisterhood of Night’) which also features additional writing from director Eric Lin, ‘Rosemead’ has its roots in an L.A. Times article by Frank Shyong about a Laotian mother living in the US who discovered her teen son’s disturbing fascination with school shootings even as he lived with schizophrenia.

    Director Lin finds the sensitivity in the story, focusing on an aspect of Asian American life not often touched upon, and bringing it to screens with the plenty care and thoughtfulness.

    Cast and Performances

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    Lucy Liu is the clear standout here; given the chance to really show what she can do as an actor, she proves she’s more than capable of filling out a character and bringing real heart and depth to a complicated person.

    She’s well supported by Lawrence Shou, who makes his feature film acting debut, and has the equally tough job of portraying her son, Joe, who grapples with his own demons.

    Final Thoughts

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    ‘Rosemead’ is a painfully sad story, but also a vital one, and has urgent things to say about the lack of communication between different generations of families, but particularly in the Asian American communities where silence can be as dangerous as fraught emotion.

    ‘Rosemead’ receives 72 out of 100.

    (L to R) Lawrence Shou and Lucy Liu star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lawrence Shou and Lucy Liu star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    What’s the story of ‘Rosemead’?

    Lucy Liu stars as Irene, who takes drastic measures to protect her troubled teenage son (Lawrence Shou).

    As his dark obsessions grow and time runs out, she is forced to make impossible choices: how far will she go and what is she willing to sacrifice?

    Who is in the cast of ‘Rosemead’?

    'Rosemead' opens in theaters on December 5th.
    ‘Rosemead’ opens in theaters on December 5th.

    List of Lucy Liu Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Rosemead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Lucy Liu Movies on Amazon

  • ‘Rosemead’ Exclusive Interview: Lucy Liu

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    Opening in theaters on December 5th is the new drama ‘Rosemead’, which is based on a true story and directed by Eric Lin and starring Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’) and Lawrence Shou.

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    Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lucy Liu about her work on ‘Rosemead’, her first reaction to the screenplay and the true story it is based on, her approach to her character, her character’s relationship with her son, and working with director Eric Lin.

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’.

    You can read the full interview below or click on the video player above to watch our interviews with Liu, Lawrence Shou and director Eric Lin.

    Related Article: Lucy Liu and Chris Sullivan Talk Steven Soderbergh’s ‘Presence’

    Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Lucy Liu stars in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and true story that it is based on and as a producer and actress why you wanted to tell this story?

    Lucy Liu: This project was just heartbreaking when I read it. The fact that it was based on a true story crushed me. I signed on for many different reasons. I think one of them was that this is a movie that is just not in the lexicon for our community, and I think it’s a universal message behind it. For that reason alone, it was crucial because I think that there’s so many other movies that are made about women or about families, but not for our community.

    MF: Can you talk about how you prepared both emotionally and physically for this role?

    LL: I think the preparation beforehand with the language was the most taxing part of it. But it also brought me into the performance because I was able to tether the performance to my own lineage and my history of my family, of where they came from, where their parents came from, and the struggle and the trauma of coming over to this country. Also then having to deal with racism and stigmatism and the separation of what this woman felt from her own community, I think was what was so devastating to me.

    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    (L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Joe and his mother and what it was like creating that on screen with Lawrence Shou?

    LL: Lawrence did an unbelievable job. This is his first foray into feature films. He’s incredibly talented and just a wonderful person. He’s all new and he’s just open and receives anything around him. I think for me, working together on this project, most of the people in it were from the Asian community and most of the people spoke the language. It was just a really nice place to be after being in the business for over 30 years and seeing how intimate and how special it could be. It also opened conversations within our own crew about our own personal stories of things that we’ve experienced, whether it was mental health or otherwise. So, I haven’t had that very often because normally you’re busy running around, kicking down a wall or whatever it is, or climbing a wall. So, it’s nice to have a nice connection with people in a different way, in a more intimate way.

    MF: Finally, can you talk about your experience collaborating with director Eric Lin on set both as a producer and actress?

    LL: Eric was able to really start from page one, and he came on very early and he was able to really digest it, and he has his own personal stories about why he wanted to do this movie. So, I think understanding that everyone had a struggle from somewhere, he was able to weave that into this movie and make it authentic and make it something that was able to be received in a way, and to gently bring that performance out of all of us without forcing it. He really understood the ability to generate what he needed in a kind and beautiful way.

    Director Eric Lin on the set of 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.
    Director Eric Lin on the set of ‘Rosemead’. Photo: Vertical.

    What is the plot of ‘Rosemead’?

    In a race against time, an ailing woman (Lucy Liu) is stricken by the discovery of her teenage son’s (Lawrence Shou) violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family.

    Who is in the cast of ‘Rosemead’?

    'Rosemead' opens in theaters on December 5th.
    ‘Rosemead’ opens in theaters on December 5th.

    List of Lucy Liu Movies and TV Shows:

    Buy Tickets: ‘Rosemead’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Lucy Liu Movies on Amazon

  • Movie Review: ‘The Boogeyman’

    Sophie Thatcher as Sadie Harper in 20th Century Studios' 'The Boogeyman.'
    Sophie Thatcher as Sadie Harper in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Boogeyman.’ Photo by Patti Perret. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    ‘The Boogeyman’, in theaters June 2nd, is just the latest adaptation of the work by prolific horror master Stephen King. And to stand out in an incredibly, and increasingly crowded field, the new movie needed to be something special.

    Long in development (long enough that it was being worked on when 20th Century Fox was still its own studio, only to be cancelled and revived by the now Disney-owned 20th Century Studios), it’s unfortunate to report that this latest attempt at a scary story is somewhat of a dud, with cheap scares that draw laughter more than screams and some big logic issues.

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    What happens in ‘The Boogeyman’?

    ‘The Boogeyman’ is adapted (by ‘A Quiet Place’s Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, with the most recent work from ‘Black Swan’s Mark Heyman) from King’s short story. Originally published in ‘Cavalier’ magazine in 1973, it was later collected into ‘Night Shift’ in 1978.

    Focused on a 1970s take on an alpha male called Lester Billings who has been traumatized by the death of his children at –– according to him –– the hands (or claws) of a terrifying creature, it’s a swift, brutal tale with a twist, one that the movie takes as its basic concept then expands upon.

    Chris Messina plays Dr. Will Harper a therapist in mourning for his wife, who recently died in a car accident. He’s raising daughters Sadie (Sophie Thatcher) and Sawyer (Vivien Lyra Blair).

    Chris Messina as Will Harper in 20th Century Studios' 'The Boogeyman.'
    Chris Messina as Will Harper in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Boogeyman.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Into Dr. Harper’s office stumbles Lester Billings (David Dastmalchian), who has a horrific story to tell: his children are dead, and while people will think he did it, they were actually slaughtered by a mysterious shadow creature that lurked in the darkness and toyed with him and his family.

    Harper calls the authorities, but Billings appears to kill himself in a secluded closet within the Harper house, traumatizing the good doctor and his daughters further.

    But that’s only the start of their problems –– both Sadie and Sawyer start seeing strange things, with Sawyer convinced she’s being haunted by the same creature that ruined Billings’ life. But is it all just a projection of their grief? And how does Billings’ widow (Marin Ireland) fit in?

    David Dastmalchian as Lester in 20th Century Studios' 'The Boogeyman.'
    David Dastmalchian as Lester in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Boogeyman.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Who else is in ‘The Boogeyman?

    The cast also includes LisaGay Hamilton, Maddie Nichols, Madison Hu, Lacey Dover and Daniel Hagan.

    Hopes for ‘Host’ director

    A big plus for the film would seem to be the presence of canny British director Rob Savage, who made a splash in 2020 with his creative, entertaining horror movie ‘Host’ in which a zoom seance held between friends during lockdown goes supernaturally, bloodily and mortally wrong.

    Savage followed that up with DASHCAM, the story of a rude, opinionated live-streaming DJ who encounters something awful when she offers a ride in her car to an old woman. Both movies play out entirely on computer (or phone) screens and are chillingly effective uses of that particular horror genre.

    Yet given both the budget and the scope to expand beyond that, Savage here falters, let down by a corny script that has more tropes than it does storyline and more archetypes than it does characters.

    While Savage brings some level of artistry to it all –– tilting camera shots, effective and evocative use of lighting in some scenes and a genuine sense of unease in one early moment –– it’s not enough to save a story that goes to ridiculous lengths to try and evoke some terror.

    Vivien Lyra Blair as Sawyer in 20th Century Studios' 'The Boogeyman.'
    Vivien Lyra Blair as Sawyer in 20th Century Studios’ ‘The Boogeyman.’ Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios. © 2023 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

    Messina and his younger co-stars do what they can to breathe life into their characters (Blair, a veteran of ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and ‘Yellowjackets’), Thatcher appropriately acting scared when needed, but it’s all a losing cause in a movie that will evoke giggles more than a desire to find covers to hide beneath.

    The movie also fails to follow its own internal logic; when Sawyer is introduced as the grieving young girl sleeping with a variety of lights on even before she’s haunted and hunted by the titular creature, it makes absolutely no sense that she’d later be content to sit alone in a darkened room with just the meagre light of a TV screen where she’s playing a PlayStation game to make her feel safe.

    Then there are the usual horror movie conventions wheeled out for the 700th time –– the girls screaming and making noise while their father is oblivious in another room, characters noticing creepy black tendrils littering a hallway and stairway but deciding to investigate anyway. And in a scene that could come out of a horror spoof, Sadie is driven by a friend to a particular house she’s investigating, one littered with graffiti calling the occupant a murderer and with a mailbox bent over on its pole by a vandal, only to asked, “is this the house”? Yes, young lady, we’re pretty sure it’s the house .

    It all builds to something increasingly silly and chaotic, characters making stupid decisions when a clear threat is lurking, and the creature itself switching tactics midway through with no discernible reason. And don’t get us started on the therapist who decides that the best way to cure a traumatized child with issues to do with the dark is immediately to plunge them into a darkened room. The movie makes far too many silly choices such as this to be credible.

    Final Thoughts

    There are plenty of great Stephen King adaptations out there, on screens big and small. ‘The Boogeyman’ is, sorry to report, not among them. This is one nightmare that’s more likely to be lurking in the bargain bin than on anyone’s must re-watch list.

    ‘The Boogeyman’ receives 3.5 out of 10 stars.

    'The Boogeyman' opens in theaters on June 2nd.
    ‘The Boogeyman’ opens in theaters on June 2nd.

    Other Movies Similar to ‘The Boogeyman’:

    Buy Tickets: ‘The Boogeyman’ Movie Showtimes

    Buy Chris Messina Movies on Amazon

    ‘The Boogeyman’ is produced by 21 Laps Entertainment, and 20th Century Studios. It is set to release in theaters on June 2nd, 2023.

     

  • David Dastmalchian, Chris Messina, and More Join ‘The Boogeyman’

    David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man in 'Suicide Squad'
    David Dastmalchian as Polka-Dot Man in ‘Suicide Squad’

    As he starts the cameras rolling, director Rob Savage has announced the cast for his next movie. The man behind horror hit ‘Host’ will do his best to scare Chris Messina, Sophie Thatcher, Vivien Lyra Blair, David Dastmalchian, Marin Ireland and Madison Hu for ‘The Boogeyman’.

    It’ll mark a new adaptation of the Stephen King story, which originally appeared in a March 1973 issue of Cavalier magazine before it was collected in his 1978 collection “Night Shift.” One of the titles King has made available to filmmakers under the one-dollar rights agreement, it has been turned into a short and at least one other movie before.

    The tale follows a 16-year-old and her younger sister, still reeling from the death of their mother, who are targeted by a supernatural boogeyman after their father, a psychologist, has an encounter with a desperate patient in their house.

    We don’t yet know who will be playing which role, but Messina should be familiar from movies including ‘Argo’ and ‘Birds of Prey’. Thatcher has been burning up the small screen via work on ‘Yellowjackets’ and ‘The Book of Boba Fett’, while Blair is probably best known for Netflix’s ‘Bird Box’ opposite Sandra Bullock. Ireland was seen in ‘Hell or High Water’ and Martin Scorsese’s ‘The Irishman’, while Dastmalchian should be no stranger to genre fans given his work in last year’s ‘Dune’, the first two ‘Ant-Man’ movies and ‘The Dark Knight’. Hu, finally, was seen in sci-fi movie ‘Voyagers’.

    Chris Messina on HBO's 'Sharp Objects.'
    Chris Messina on HBO’s ‘Sharp Objects.’

    This movie has had to hack its way through the development thorns for a while before it ended up in Savage’s hands. The script’s passed through the likes of ‘Malignant‘s Akela Cooper and ‘A Quiet Place’ duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. The current draft is by ‘Black Swan’s Mark Heyman. And on board to produce is prolific filmmaker Shawn Levy, who is supporting the movie via his 21 Laps company.

    Savage is a great choice to direct this, as his previous work has been inventing and, more importantly, chilling. He broke out with 2020’s pandemic -set thriller ‘Host’, which saw a Zoom call go spectacularly, lethally wrong for its participants. It won plenty of acclaim and marked him as a director to watch.

    He’s since followed that up with another low-fi horror, ‘DASHCAM’, which has been playing to great impact at film festivals and will arrive in theaters via Momentum Pictures this summer. Produced by the Blumhouse team, the movie, stars Annie Hardy, Angela Enahoro and Amar Chadha-Patel in the story of a musician on her livestream as her night takes a dangerous turn when she agrees to help a frail elderly woman out of town.

    ‘The Boogeyman’, which arrives via Disney’s 21st Century Studios, will premiere on Hulu next year.

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