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Simply Perfect

Simply A Masterpiece

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

A friend of mine kept telling me to watch "Falling for Grace." While I do like romantic comedies, I don't typically like independent comedies - many of which are poorly done with stupid plots. I finally watched it and I was very pleasantly surprised. My friend was right - this really is a romantic comedy that actually has both heart and soul. The movie is about Grace Tang, a banker from New York Chinatown who yearns to be part of Upper East Side society, but her plan backfires when the "Prince Charming" she meets desires to close down the "sweatshop" her mother works in. Don't want to say more but circumstances become as complicated as that in "Working Girl" with some LOL moments reminiscent of the comedy in "Crazy Stupid Love." While the plot is classic romantic comedy, the Chinese family feels utterly authentic. You like them and you want to get to know more about them. The cast is uniformly strong with lots of recognizable New York actors. Kudos to Fay Ann Lee for writing and directing such a strong script. It feels like a big movie and you forget that it's just an awesome independent film. You leave wanting more. Why can't Hollywood romantic comedies make you feel this way?

Cinematography: 7/10 Way too much soft focus.Sound: 7/10 Fine for the English speakers. The incidental music is cloying.Acting: 5/10 This is a mixed bag, to say the least. BD Wong, Lewis Black, Christine Baranski, Ato Essandoh, Roger Rees, and Margaret Cho were fine. Christine Baranski was the best; her discussion with Andrew Jr about how he had to marry Kay was one of the most genuine moments in the film. On the other hand, Fay Ann Lee, Gale Harold, Stephanie March, and Ken Leung were much less satisfying, with Gale Harold being the absolute worst.Screenplay: 4/10 There were too many clichés from the romantic comedy field. I have nothing against clichés; even the oldest can be funny if done right. There were only a few recognizable attempts at humor. I found myself thinking that I should be laughing at this, but I did not laugh once.

All aspects of the production were extremely well done. This is an indie that was put together by big kids who know their business. Things like camera work, editing, lighting and sound were really paid due attention. Also impressive were sets, costuming and especially casting and acting. I don't often see this, but all the moving parts (people, places and things) meshed together beautifully. The director and editor both did a superb job.The only thing I can reasonably gripe about is that the music choices got sappy at times. But, it's a romantic comedy – not my usual neighborhood.As to the Whole Package, I left the theater feeling my ten bucks was well spent. But, it's one of those movies that I like better the more it rattles about in my brain. Which it won't. stop. doing. Oh no! As I suggested earlier this isn't my usual fare; but this one is a charmer. If it's in your quadrant, check it out.

Visit the official website "fallingforgrace.com" and check out the trailer to see for yourself - you will want to go see this movie.'Falling for Grace' is very much as New York City as Woody Allen's cinematic world. The sound of the metro and the CANAL Street Pictures - the very first image on screen already gives one the New York and Chinatown feeling. If you've been to New York and its Chinatown, there are plenty of NYC locale hints you may recognize - but not a prerequisite. The film's original title is "East Broadway" for the Tribeca Film Festival 2006 entry, hence it's definitely New York, New York. The opening credit roll simply fascinates me: the thoughts behind it having each actor's name with Chinese character translations briskly displaying (equal opportunity whether Asian or not) and the Chinese film title playfully appearing like 'falling' for grace: "Sub Mein Ling Lone" - meaning "in every way refined." Refined being cultivated, polished, elegant, well-conceived. This film with its story, dialog, production details and effort behind it all, is very much 'every way refined.'You might say the script is ambitious - written by director-producer Fay Ann Lee, who's also in the lead role of Grace Tang - so it is, yet it all comes together unobtrusively as you watch and follow the story unfolds, bringing smiles, chuckles, laughter and tears along the way. The dialog, including the Cantonese portions with easy-read subtitles, are well thought out and timely. Yes, coming out from Margaret Cho (the elegant side we get to see), the word "Jesus" can very well be the most endearingly delivered sound you'd ever heard. So a romantic comedy it is, with hints of political viewpoint on 'sweat shop' vs. big business intertwined, and family values, Chinese traditions rolled into one entertaining movie. A tall order and Fay Ann Lee and team delivered: with Gale Harold as Andrew, and wonderful supporting roles by Clem Cheung as Ba and Elizabeth Sung as Ma - the parents, Ken Leung as Ming the brother, even brief ones like Christine Baranski's 'emotional' line to son Andrew, and Ato Essandoh's Jamal quote so casually uttered at Central Park, "It's better to be disliked for what you are, than to be loved for something that you are not" - it's delightful.Had waited a year for the film to debut in San Francisco. It was exciting when I first saw the theatrical trailer on screen at Sundance Kabuki two weeks before July 20 - I love it. The trailer is available for repeated 'play again' on Myspacetv.com ("www.myspace.com/fallingforgracemovie"). The catchy song "wonderful crazy" from Katelyn Tarver sure captures the spirit of this film, and it can be heard on both the official site of "East Broadway" ("www.eastbroadwaythemovie.com") and "Falling for Grace" ("www.fallingforgrace.com"): "it's so wonderful crazy, it's so beautiful out of control, kinda scary amazing …cos my life's so wonderful, crazy, crazy, crazy." The official site includes info on the team's trip to China, visit to Tsinghua University in Beijing and the original "Shanghai Tang" in Hong Kong.It's been worth the wait. "Falling For Grace" is essentially a heartwarming and satisfying romantic comedy, cliché to some or not, it is a bold debut feature effort which can pass for a polished 'Hollywood' movie, and that's not bad at all. But being an independent film without big budget promotions, it definitely needs steady support and word of mouth to keep it circulating for wide distribution and successful following. May this be so. Kudos to the filmmakers of "Falling for Grace."