[2014.04.11] NICK CHEUNG MUSCLES HIS WAY AHEAD AMONG BEST ACTOR NOMINEES

courtesy of singtao.com

The 33rd Hong Kong Film Award will take place in two days. One of this year's hot focus has to be the "Best Actor battle". All five nominees are top substance actors, four have already won Best Actor awards before. This battle is like the "Hua Shan Duel", seriously testing this year's jury.

Every year as usual the Hong Kong Film Award Best Actor battle attracts the attention of film viewers. This year has been talked about because all five Best Actor nominees are heavyweights, THE GRANDMASTER (YUT DOI JUNG SI)'s Tony Leung Chiu Wai, THE WHITE STORM (SO DUK)'s Louis Koo Tin Lok, THE WHITE STORM's Sean Lau Ching Wan, IP MAN THE FINAL FIGHT (IP MAN JUNG GIK YUT JIN)'s Anthony Wong Chau Sun and UNBEATABLE (GIK JIN)'s Nick Cheung Ka Fai.

In order to play THE GRANDMASTER Ip Man, Wai Jai studied wing Chun with Leung Siu Hung. While sparring with the stunt coordinator he even suffered a bone breaking injury. Playing Ip Man Wai Jai displayed the Grand Master presence in the rain in an alley as he battled hundred by himself with Wing Chun, thoroughly showing off his kung fu and acting.

In the film THE WHITE STORM, Lau Ching Wan, Koo Tin Lok and Cheung Ka Fai play brothers who grew up in public housing. The trio joins the police force together. Later they head to Thailand together to capture a drug lord and instead become under fire. Finally Ching Wan has to choose between Goo Jai and Ka Fai, with the other being pushed into a crocodile pit. In this scene Ching Wan completely releases the difficulty to part with brothers. Later he even has to express the emotional development of hating himself, showing Ching Wan's deep acting range. Goo Jai in the same film holds his own acting wise, especially when he reunites with Ka Fai. His eyes fall straight down as he suddenly slaps him. His emotions erupted thoroughly and his performance was exciting.

Lately many actors have played Ip Man in movies, but IP MAN THE FINAL FIGHT is about the middle aged Ip Man when he moved from Foshan to old Hong Kong then opened a Wing Chun class. This time Chau Sun differed from past performance. Aside from speaking with a heavy accent, he also conducted important research with Ip Chun (Ip Man's son) and designed Ip Man's true nature on his own to interpret anew. He gave the audience an all new Ip Man.

Ka Fai in the film UNBEATABLE played a past his prime fighter. Before hand he even got into chocolate bar shape and led to an overwhelming response outside. The entire city fought to transform into muscle men. Ka Fai even with this film at the 16th Shanghai International Film Festival and the 20th Hong Kong Film Critic Society Award won Best Actor. His acting has been recognized, naturally his odds were considered higher.

All 5 nominees had unique performances in their own films. The jury must have the biggest headaches, but both director Andrew Lau Wai Keung and Simon Yam Tat Wa picked Ka Fai to win Best Actor. Lau Wai Keung said, "Ka Fai from no figure to be so fit, not only his figure was great, he also had to act. As an actor, this wasn't simple at all. Thus of course I would choose him."

Brother Wa also felt, "UNBEATABLE is a very perfect film, full of Hong Kong people's special quality. Ka Fai gave so much, he deserved to win."

Ka Fai was obviously humble when he chose, "Aside from myself, everyone is a favorite, everyone performs well."