Red Corner (1997)
Bradley Whitford, Ling Bai, Richard Gere
Using a faulty thriller for his soapbox as an outspoken critic of China, a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an influential supporter of Tibetan freedom, Richard Gere resorts to the equivalent of propagandistic drama to deliver a heavy-handed message. In other words, Red Corner relies on a dubi... (read more) Using a faulty thriller for his soapbox as an outspoken critic of China, a devout follower of the Dalai Lama, and an influential supporter of Tibetan freedom, Richard Gere resorts to the equivalent of propagandistic drama to deliver a heavy-handed message. In other words, Red Corner relies on a dubious strategy to promote political awareness, but director Jon Avnet appeals to the viewer's outrage with such effective urgency that you're likely to forget you're being shamelessly manipulated. Gere plays a downtrodden TV executive who sells syndicated shows on the global market, and during a business trip to China he finds himself framed for the murder of the sexy daughter of a high Chinese official. Once trapped in a legal system in which his innocence will be all but impossible to prove, Gere must rely on a Chinese-appointed lawyer (played by Bai Ling) who first advises him to plead guilty but gradually grows convinced of foul play. Barely attempting to hide its agenda, Red Corner effectively sets the stage for abundant anti-Chinese sentiment, and to be sure, the movie gains powerful momentum with its tale of justice gone awry. It's a serious-minded, high-intensity courtroom drama with noble intentions ... but did it have to be so conspicuously lacking in subtlety? --Jeff Shannon
Flixster Users
R, 122 min.
Directed by:
Jon Avnet
Release Date: Oct 31, 1997
DVD Release Date: May 15, 2001
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Excellent thriller with Richard Gere. He is such a good actor. Amazing performance and a shocking view of the Chinese administration.
oh such a typical white guy visiting asian countries. don't try anything stupid in the countries those language has no alphabet.
story-wise, ended up in a very soapy thriller. even there're some funny lines...
A classic 90's Thriller.. Loved it !!! Richard Gere was awesome !! i wud definitely recommend it..
Debo confesarlo: en la escena de la persecusión, Richard Gere con traje gris parece un ex-candidato presidencial (obvio, en versión bonita)
This is a brilliant fil,m for Richard Gere fans (like myself)!
i think iv watched it neally as many times as Pretty Woman!
For someone who spends so much time behind bars in this film, Gere looks reasonably well-fed and tanned throughout. Come to think of it, there's a rosy glow surrounding most of the characters and locations which dispels the intended mood of repressio... (read more) For someone who spends so much time behind bars in this film, Gere looks reasonably well-fed and tanned throughout. Come to think of it, there's a rosy glow surrounding most of the characters and locations which dispels the intended mood of repression somewhat. That said, there are a few impressive scenes, notably a rooftop escape but somehow this never manages to catch fire.
Not very thrilling but Gere does a good job as does Bai Ling. The political slander is quite heavy handed but i guess if the cap fits.... . I am sure the script could have been better but the agenda just got in the way too much.
A pretty light weight political thriller but as light entertainment not bad at all.
Følelsen av håpløshet er det jeg husker best med denne. Det ligger, i følge det merkelige sammendraget her, masse politiske budskaper bak filmen. Who the FUCK cares. Oooh, så politisk oppdatert du er idiot Jeff Shannon, det skal være objektivt ... (read more) Følelsen av håpløshet er det jeg husker best med denne. Det ligger, i følge det merkelige sammendraget her, masse politiske budskaper bak filmen. Who the FUCK cares. Oooh, så politisk oppdatert du er idiot Jeff Shannon, det skal være objektivt sammendrag din TOFTING! Faen ass.
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