Andy Lau must be a super popular idol of our time. Idols are always branded with a relatively solid image in people's minds. Andy Lau's image is like this: Ray-Ban sunglasses, T-shirt with chicken wings sleeves, if you add a coat, it must be a cowboy coat (washed water), white sandals, and most importantly, Andy Lau's hairstyle, his parting and his gesture of pulling his hair all define the character of a handsome Hong Kong guy in an era.
However, Andy Lau is more than an idol. His acting career of more than 20 years has gone through the golden age of Hong Kong's television industry, even the glorious stage of the film industry and pop music, and then ushered in the downturn of Hong Kong's film industry. During this period, he kept trying and transforming, and gradually became a pillar figure in Hong Kong films. In recent years, we have stepped out of Hong Kong and entered the mainland and international markets.
Today, it is difficult to simply define whether Andy Lau is a "star actor" or an "actor star". He even unconsciously became a symbol of some kind of Hong Kong spirit.
As Zhang Shuhao, a Hong Kong film critic, said, "Andy Lau has been growing. He is bent on stepping out of himself and challenging his mistakes. He is an idol who keeps saying goodbye to the past. His persistence and growth are the qualities that Hong Kong films should cherish at present. Looking back on his journey is an introduction written for the next page of Hong Kong films. "
Because of his prolificacy, his lasting charm and his close relationship with mainstream film types, we hope to explain his corresponding relationship with Hong Kong films and even the whole Hong Kong society by reviewing his footprints for more than 20 years.
In addition to an exclusive interview with Andy Lau in Beijing, this magazine also sent reporters to Hong Kong to interview Hong Kong film critic Shi Qi, vice president of Hong Kong Film Critics Association Deng Tu, senior lecturer of director department of Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Shu Kei, chairman of Hong Kong Film Awards Joe Cheung, Hong Kong screenwriter and director, Du Guowei, a teacher of Andy Lau Class Four, and Lin Jiadong, an artist of Andy Lau Film and Art Company. Their narratives from different angles constitute a pluralistic picture of Andy Lau.
Shu Kei, a famous Hong Kong film critic.
Andy Lau's Entertainment Spirit
Thoughtful Andy Lau
Andy Lau always knew that artists should "give" and "provide". He will take special care of the audience and media. He is considerate, and he knows what people want from him.
Some people say that Andy Lau's performance may not be the best, but he supplemented it with other factors, and he did his best within his ability. So, even if the environment changes, he will always be at the top. For example, early performances may not be physical. Later, with such a trend, Andy Lau went to fitness to meet the needs of the audience. So is the media. He provided enough material for the media and even set a topic for the media to report, so he is the least concerned by paparazzi among artists, and he has a good relationship with the media.
"consideration" is something that many artists are unwilling to do. It's hard, and it takes a lot of effort. But Andy Lau knows what an entertainment circle is, and his enthusiasm is rare among Hong Kong artists.
This is no joke, Andy Lau.
For the entertainment circle in China, age is always a big test, which Andy Lau will face in the future. The audience who used to like him is getting older and older, and the market for young people is becoming more and more difficult to grasp. Even if you are out of breath, you may have a distance from young people. For this, Andy Lau expressed anxiety.
The decline in Hong Kong film production is actually good for Andy Lau. He is more selective, has less time to help himself, and can make more films for himself. I think he knows how to choose, balance and control now.
It turns out that he makes 20 movies every year, as long as five are OK. Now he makes five movies every year, and there is no room for loss. So he devoted himself, collected a lot of information, made a lot of preparations, and often studied. His popularity is not groundless. Some people say that he will be above the director in filming now, but if he works harder and does his homework better than the director, there is nothing to say.
The difference between Andy Lau and the next generation of stars lies in his self-discipline. He is extremely demanding of his work. He is trustworthy, punctual and always does his best. Self-discipline is particularly important for artists. Art is about discipline and self-discipline. Young artists nowadays lack this.
We can see that Andy Lau is also undergoing transformation. He began to play the role of father and became mature. He knows exactly where he is. In a proper range, he is a very good person. For example, in singing, he will never try hip-hop or make himself a joke.
Joe Cheung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Awards
He is more bound by the WTO than Leslie Cheung.
From 65438 to the mid-1980s, Andy Lau switched from television to movies. In the past 20 years, he has also changed from an actor to a producer. It can be seen that he is really a man of heart in this industry. Every time we evaluate the Academy Awards, even though he knows that he may not get it, he will definitely come and join us. In the dark war, he finally got it. This is the accumulated score for so many years. When awarding prizes, many people felt, "Andy!" That's what people want, the right time and the right place.
The 1970s was the growth period of Andy Lau, which began to be successful in 1980s and reached its peak in 1990s. He was still alive even when the film industry in Hong Kong was in recession. Decades have passed, and I believe we can't forget the role he played. He already exists in his role.
Andy Lau and Leslie Cheung have many similarities. They are all handsome. First the stars, then the actors. However, Leslie Cheung is not as attached to the WTO as Andy Lau is. He is too persistent in some things to pass his own pass. Andy Lau has experienced ups and downs, lawsuits and investment losses. Instead, he passed his own customs, let go and became free. In recent years, we have seen that Andy Lau is much calmer.
He has been seeking transformation, and we have seen him make many attempts. After working with Du Qifeng, he put down his attitude, stopped taking the star route and found his own space.
He has been popular in Hong Kong film circles for more than 20 years and is an evergreen tree. This is one aspect of his vitality, and it also shows that there are no successors. Nicholas Tse, for example, was sharp and fierce when he came out, but his personality is like this, and he needs some precipitation.
Du Guowei, the head teacher of Andy Lau No.4 Middle School.
What he left behind is an idol gesture that will always be charming.
Andy Lau began to play drama in Form 3, when he was in Keli Middle School. I am the head teacher of his No.4 middle school, and I can say that I watched him enter the profession all the way.
As I remember, at school, he was very clever, spoke appropriately and was very popular with teachers. His family conditions are good and he has never suffered. I remember that his father was a fireman and his sister loved him very much. He lives in a dormitory, and every once in a while he will see him wearing new clothes, which always looks very energetic. He has always been a student who knows how to please the teacher, and later he entered the entertainment circle, not a self-centered person.
198 1, and attend the artist training class of TVB. Later, he always knew the way he was going. In the middle, he once asked me whether to be a very popular idol with many fans or an actor with good acting skills. Up to now, he still chose the latter.
When he first entered the business, the Hong Kong film industry was booming and there were many opportunities. At that time, if the film owners wanted to have fun, they acted a lot of chasing girls and Jianghu films. Many directors have looked for him. As long as we find him, the movie will become very gimmicky.
By the middle and late 1990s, Hong Kong movies were in a slump, and many low-budget movies appeared. Many people who make movies in Hong Kong want to make quick money. But those who can persist in the downturn are people who really have ideals and really like movies. At this stage, Andy Lau often asks me if there are any good books that I can invest in shooting.
1994, I made "I have an appointment with Spring" and wanted him to play Shen Jiahong, but there were too many factors at that time and the cooperation failed.
I'm Andy Lau's teacher, and I've seen him all the way, so I have a preference for him. Many people also say that his acting skills are not the best, but I always say that in my opinion, he is the best.
After so many years, he has become a big movie star and singer, won many awards, and is still so handsome. I think he should have no regrets. Along the way, he left a charming idol gesture forever.
Lin Jiadong, an artist of Andy Lau "Film Art" Company.
He is always meticulous about his work.
On Sunday, August 2 1, Andy Lau held a birthday party in Kowloon Club, and more than 90 guests, 1000 people from all over the world came to bless him. As a member of Andy Lau Film and Art Company, Lin Jiadong also attended the party, and then he met reporters in a bar in Tsim Sha Tsui and told them about Andy Lau in his eyes.
Outside the bar, a group of people are filming, and after filming, they all go to the bar for dinner. The pedestrians in the street are bustling, and the waiters in the bar are still the same, without any surprise or surprise. It seems that these people have always been a part of life, not stars.
We seldom have such a rest time at ordinary times, and Andy Lau always arranges the time very tightly. Sometimes, I shoot all night and everyone is exhausted. He's still there, leg press, stretching his muscles. Even when he was particularly tired, he closed his eyes for 3 minutes to solve the problem.
Once, he worked in the mainland, making advertisements during the day, making movies at night, and then flying back to Hong Kong. I went to see him. He took out a lyric from him and showed it to me, saying that it had just been written on the plane.
He is always meticulous in his work. When we filmed Meng Tong, he had to put on makeup. For hours, everyone was very careful. After ng, he had to start over. Even for leisure, such as bowling, he is methodical and talks about a set of theories.
In fact, there are many successful people in the circle, but once they have the status of Jianghu, it is easy to relax. Andy Lau has never done this. So now there are many government public service advertisements for him to shoot.
In Hong Kong, some people may not like his songs, but everyone appreciates his work attitude and spirit. At his concert, I saw many old people in their seventies and eighties waving light sticks to cheer for him.
Now I manage "Yingyi" company, with many affairs and meetings. He is always in good order. Sometimes in a meeting, he orders a pineapple bag and a cup of coffee, which is a meal, and he doesn't waste a minute. I admire his attitude towards his career for more than twenty years.
Andy Lau, I just don't like you being trapped. ...
I like Andy Lau, but not Andy Lau now. Inside the Law, Dragon in Prison, Love in Heaven, Speedy City, and Pursuit of the Ultimate Road are the favorites in the era of video halls! VCD and DVD collections of Go to the Furious Sea, Tears Run, Heaven and Earth and The True Story of Teddy Boy are the first choice! Andy Lau has a wide range of performances, which is unparalleled in the Hong Kong film industry. Hong Kong films have been performed in almost all kinds of subjects, and they are known as kings. I remember Andy Lau said in an interview: "I really don't know what kind of drama to shoot. Almost all types have been filmed ... ".
I think Andy Lau has become the ever-changing star king because he is born with an idol face and figure. His movie roles are always full of vigor and fashion (his hairstyle, clothes, words and deeds are still the consumption reference of fans and non-fans). His outstanding personal charm and strong plasticity make him the favorite of movie princes of all walks of life. Starring Andy Lau, it is not only the film quality guarantee, but also the box office income guarantee; On the other hand, the peak of Andy Lau's acting career coincides with the golden age of Hong Kong films. In 1980s and 1990s, Andy Lau boarded the shuttle bus of new wave movies, gangster movies, gangster action movies, literary films, alternative themes, Hong Kong-made commercial entertainment films and quasi-Hollywood blockbusters, which was smooth and natural, and his personal success also witnessed the brilliance of Hong Kong movies! You can say that Chow Yun Fat, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow are the symbols of Hong Kong-made films, but the former has taken refuge in Hollywood, and their performance scope has narrowed. Therefore, apart from Andy Lau, I really can't find the second person who can represent Hong Kong's film achievements.
Ah Fu is the100th film starring Andy Lau. I was inexplicably depressed and unhappy when I watched this film. Afterwards, I thought that I had watched too many hot-blooded young people played by Andy Lau, and suddenly I saw him playing the role of father, which was hard to accept. Countless days and nights, Andy Lau and I have experienced ups and downs of fate together, and I can't remember how many movies he was called "Hua Zai". The indulgence of lovers in "If there is love in heaven", the escape of rootless people in "Gun City", the sacrifice of the person in charge in "Tears Gone Over" and the firmness of law enforcers in "Law enforcers of heaven and earth" are all inspiring because of Andy Lau's interpretation.
From the first time I saw Andy Lau die in a bloody drama in "Thirteen Pacific Insurance on the Beach", I never thought that Andy Lau would grow old day by day, and what kind of movies would be played when he was old. In my mind, Andy will always keep the hairstyle popular in the 1980s, always wearing jeans, casual shoes, smoking, picking up girls and fighting-he is so handsome! I never complained about the makeup skills of Hong Kong filmmakers when I watched The Legend of the Mayor. How cute Andy Lau and Chingmy Yau frown-even if young people make mistakes, they are beautiful mistakes! If maturity is the beginning of aging, I would rather the whole world and everyone I love never mature. So I'm not surprised to see that Hong Kong movies are getting more and more Hollywood and international: what about your civic spirit? What about your local taste?
Andy Lau and Wu Zhenyu are different from Liu Qingyun and Huang Qiusheng. He can't be old. Getting old is unforgivable for people who like him. Some people may say that Andy Lau is not the best actor in Hong Kong, but I will definitely say that Andy Lau has acted in the best movies in Hong Kong. Instead of presenting idols, superstars and kings, it is better to simply evaluate him as a good actor. I never doubted Andy Lau's acting skills. He is a good actor. If with the passage of tears, the true story of teddy boy and heaven and earth without Andy Lau, what will be the result? Andy Lau is a brand, a symbol, his carefully designed hairstyle with perfect outline, his natural international face, his shameful fashion pioneer taste, his anger, his passion, his debauchery, his dignity, his reason, his calmness, his hesitation and his despair. No expression is empty, no action is exaggerated ... I don't want to. Because of him, the loyal audience of Hong Kong movies is increasing day by day. At least in the period when Chow Yun Fat's era is coming to an end and Stephen Chow's era has not yet arrived, Andy Lau's films have influenced the mentality of a generation. Remember the arrogance of Mong Kok? Remember Wong Kar-wai's sadness?
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Recently, I sorted out my DVD collection, and found that almost all the Andy Lau movies I bought were before Ah Fu. Even the popular new movies such as Infernal Affairs and Big Guy only felt that I had seen them once, and there was no need to watch them again and again. If you think about it carefully, what you miss is just an era that has disappeared and the film spirit of that era. I would rather spend my time reliving my tears than visiting the top of the Forbidden City, mice falling in love with cats, infernal affairs and so on.
The two films "Awkward Men and Women" and "Big Man" let Andy Lau get into a condom made of special materials. It doesn't matter whether he can do stunts like Hollywood without leaving a trace, but the film technology is second-rate, the story is third-rate, and the movie characters are not so friendly and much separated. Of course, Andy Lau still works as hard as before, but a movie won't gain value because of one person's efforts. I want to see a Andy Lau that is not in a condom, a top of the Forbidden City, lonely men and few women, blue-blooded men tightly wrapped in commercial, technological and fashionable packaging, and every move is posturing and coquetry.
So the Andy Lau I like is not Andy Lau now.
Theoretically speaking, actors and movies complement each other, but in practice, with the establishment of the director-centered system and the formation of the general direction of film research centered on writers and directors, when commenting on movies, people always pay more attention to the theme and structure of movies, while ignoring one of the elements of movies-actors-which is also a certain difference between fans and groupies. After all, the two sides have different views on "what is the soul of a movie". People who believe in the director's soul theory believe that a good actor can't save a bad film, but a good director and a good film can make the actors who are not very good or even professional shine at the moment. -So, when I was awake, I felt that the film reviews I wrote were too cruel. I gritted my teeth and swore that the bad movie in my mind would go to eighteen levels of hell, but I forgot that every movie should have the professionalism of actors, and even forgot how many images the protagonist of this bad movie has created in my heart.
Be grateful and never forget to be virtuous.
Andy Lau has made a lot of bad films, but there is nothing he can do. He is just an actor. I firmly believe that Andy Lau knows movies, otherwise there would be no support for Chen Guo's Hong Kong Production, and there would be no continuous success of Tian Ming Company. He has integrated his life into movies, and movies will repay him.
Be grateful and never forget to be virtuous.