Somebody Up There Likes Me

Running time: N/A

Somebody Up There Likes Me is a rousing, beautifully made boxing movie from John Woo protege Patrick Leung Pak-kin, who it is quite apparent has taken on the attributes of Woo's highly-stylized, frenetic violence. Unlike Woo, however, Pak-kin shuns the moral ambiguity and welcomes a more conventional approach to story, thereby, making way for more honest characters. Ken (Hong Kong heartthrob Aaron Kwok) takes up boxing to impress the sister of a young fighter. Accidentally killing her brother in the ring, Ken takes on the dead man's quest to become champion. The story's progression and circumstances eventually lead to the lovers' break-up, an abortion and the underworld of brutal, illegal boxing matches. With his directorial debut, Patrick Leung Pak-kin signifies an important mark in today's cinema, as while following certain cinematic conventions, he uniquely identifies his own distinct autograph with a mature and thought-provoking film. Discussed as a portrait of current Hong Kong cinema, Somebody Up There Likes Me triumphantly balances the traditions of action and comedy, and directors Clifton Ko, Lawrence Ah Mon and Ann Hui turn in humorous cameos that signify the Golden Age of Hong Kong cinema. --Mike Rabehl