Visible Secret (2001)

Visible Secret (2001). 1h 41m | Unrated

“Visible Secretu0026#39;s directed and produced by one of the greatest living film-makers, Ann Hui. Annu0026#39;s won numerous awards – best director, best film, etc. – and if you arenu0026#39;t acquainted with her, well, go see Visible Secret and youu0026#39;ll know why sheu0026#39;s so good.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe leads are pretty good. Say what you like, Shu Qi – the sex-pot – is a good actress. I particularly liked her in the early karaoke scene.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut look out for the supporting actress Hui Ying Hong, the mother of a little boy called Hsiao Hsung in the movie. Sheu0026#39;s a famous Hong Kong actress with real kung fu skills. Here, sheu0026#39;s not called on to display her fighting prowess, but, boy, can she act. In one scene, you can literally see the veins on her temple popping out, so intense yet natural is her facial expression; it reminds me of Lawrence Fishburneu0026#39;s very fine facial expressions as Morpheus in The Matrix, when he was interrogated by Agent Smith.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVisible Secret is an intelligent movie – youu0026#39;ve got to concentrate on the plot or you wonu0026#39;t understand the ending. Everything ties together at the end, and if you understand it THEN – I couldnu0026#39;t, and a friend had to explain to me certain aspects of the movie even after a second viewing – youu0026#39;ll agree the storyu0026#39;s superb.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThough principally a horror movie, Visible Secret has some of the finest comedic moments Iu0026#39;ve ever seen on the silver screen. I caught it at preview, and the audience appreciated one funny moment so much a few persons actually applauded.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eVisible Secretu0026#39;s a real scary movie. And the best thing is, it doesnu0026#39;t rely on sudden, loud sounds to frighten you, which the lousy horror flicks resort to.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIncidentally, the poster for the movie, which shows a row of seated people in an underground train, was banned by the MTR in Hong Kong as being too scary. I donu0026#39;t think the posteru0026#39;s too scary, but I do think itu0026#39;s very clever. The tagline u0026quot;Whatu0026#39;s that sitting next to you?u0026quot; is eye-catching.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWatch out for the movieu0026#39;s play with sounds. Itu0026#39;s nearly as good as The Ring in its use of sound to create an eerie mood. Incidentally, I donu0026#39;t know of any director who uses sound as well as Ann. PAY ATTENTION TO HER USE OF SOUND.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne of the hallmarks of good movie direction is proper pacing. Director Ann excels at it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe original score is excellent.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eMany of the scenes are hauntingly beautiful.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI believe Visible Secret will go down in movie history like Gattaca – good but underrated. Donu0026#39;t be put off by anyone whou0026#39;s seen the movie and says itu0026#39;s lousy – they just donu0026#39;t get it.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eGo see Visible Secret. You wonu0026#39;t be disappointed. 10/10”