Making its North American debut at the 25th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival, ‘Weekend in Taipei‘ is the international action film for the year.
‘Weekend in Taipei‘ screened at the 25th annual Newport Beach Film Festival on Saturday, October 19, at Big Newport, and will be released in theaters on Friday, November 8, 2024 nationwide. Directed and co-written by George Huang (‘Swimming with Sharks‘ and ‘The Invisible Man‘), alongside co-writer Luc Besson (known for classics like ‘Léon: The Professional‘ and ‘La
Femme Nikita‘), the film beautifully finds the perfect balance of East meets West in its stylistic display of modern action.
Luke Evans shines as DEA agent John Lawlor, who is torn between duty and his love for the enigmatic Josephine “Joey” Kwang, played by Gwei Lun-mei. The stakes rise significantly with the introduction of Raymond, Joey’s young son, portrayed by Wyatt Yang in his feature film debut, who is an exceptional young man and was extremely excited to be apart of the red carpet followed by the Q&A at Newport. This new dynamic adds emotional depth, as John must now navigate his complicated feelings not just for Joey but also for her child, making the mission more personal and the stakes higher.
Sung Kang is such a talented actor, that his role of Kwang, Joey’s husband and John’s target, almost made me hate the man in real life. The character goes beyond the brooding, chill bad guy. Out side his, “businesses”, Joey and Raymond are his world and that weakness is what could also be his downfall.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Taipei, ‘Weekend in Taipei‘ expertly merges high-stakes drama with intimate moments, showcasing the city’s allure. The cinematography captures both the pulse of urban life and the tension of undercover work. At the Newport Beach Film Festival, George Huang shared that one of the biggest compliments he received from the world premiere in Taiwan was that, as a Taiwanese-American, he successfully showcased the country’s modernity and beauty.
While the plot of ‘Weekend in Taipei‘ leans into familiar tropes, the execution keeps viewers engaged, featuring expertly choreographed action sequences, humor and wit is reminiscent of the creators’ previous hits.
‘Weekend in Taipei‘ opens in theaters on Friday, November 8, 2024.
Summary
‘Weekend in Taipei‘ is the international action film for the year. It is more than an action film, it’s excitement personified.
