"I dare anyone who watches this film to take their eyes off her for more than a few seconds. Ng's performance is by far the best I've seen by an actor or actress in a Hong Kong film and rivals that of any female performance in an American film in the past decade."
- Alexander
Portland Street Blues (1998)
AKA: Young and Dangerous 8
Literally: Wise Guys Love Loyalty Chapter: Hung Hing 13th Sister
Director: Yip Wai Man
Producer: Raymond Chow
Cast: Sandra Ng Kwun-Yu, Shu Qi (Hsu Chi, Shu Kei), Kristy Yeung Kung-Yu, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Ng Man-Tat, Vincent Wan Yeung-Ming, John Ching Tung, Jun King-Man, Chi Hung , Ekin Cheng
Running Time: 114 min.
Plot: A spinoff of the Young & Dangerous series, this episode traces the history of Sister 13 (Sandra Ng) of the Hung Hing gang.
Reviews
ALEXANDER'S REVIEW: Sandra Ng's Best Actress victory at the 1999 Hong Kong film awards for her performance in "Portland Street Blues" ("PSB") was well-deserved She's absolutely mesmerizing as a young lesbian street kid named Thirteen who rises to rule Hong Kong's chaotic, gang infested Portland Street. I dare anyone who watches this film to take their eyes off her for more than a few seconds. Ng's performance is by far the best I've seen by an actor or actress in a Hong Kong film and rivals that of any female performance in an American film in the past decade. Her diminutive stature, elfin face, and expressive eyes that shift effortlessly from piercing anger to forlorned vulnerability belie her ruthlessness and anger at having witnessed both her father's brutal beating and her struggle with her emerging sexuality. It was refreshing to finally see a HK film that didn't feature a character that had seemingly stepped straight from the pages of "Vogue" or "Cosmo". Yes, former models Shu Qi ("Gorgeous") and Kristy Yeung ("For Bad Boys Only") also appear, but in very well-acted supporting roles that do not revolve around their sex-appeal.
"PSB" was apparently a hit at gay and lesbian festivals because of its honest portrayal of a young gay woman struggling to cope in a male dominated community ruled by violence. In a machismo-fueled film industry that often relies far too much on insulting stereotypes and exploitation, Ng's role is certainly groundbreaking.
As much as I loved Ng's performance, a couple of things did irk me. First, Francis Ng ("2000A.D.") is awful here in a cameo as a triad boss. Mercifully, he's only on screen for a few short minutes. Second, the ending reminded me of the 80s video for "Love Is a Battlefield" where a strutting Pat Benetar leads a legion of tough guys across a...er...battlefield. Third, why must every HK action film, no matter how grim, violent, or serious the subject matter, include at least one absurdly over-the-top/slapstick performance? Ng's father is portrayed here as a bumbling imbecile which makes absolutely no sense in an otherwise violent, romantic and dramatic film.
Regardless, "PSB" is an enjoyable film with a stunning performance by Sandra Ng. Recommended.
ALEXANDER'S RATING: 8/10
