San qiang pai an jing qi (A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop) (2009)

So maybe you heard about that time the House of Flying Daggers guy did a Chinese-language remake of the Coens' first feature, Blood Simple? Hmm? Well whether you have or not, I'm here to give you a full report on the matter- the low-down, the skinny, if you will. In A Woman, A Gun, and A Noodle Shop, Yimou Zhang brings the gruesome, adulterous, murderous action of the Texas-set original into an isolated noodle shop and the surrounding desert in nineteenth century China. The aging shop owner Wang (Dahong Ni) is publicly respected for his wealth but privately abuses his wife (Ni Yan) for failing to bear him children.

He suspects her of cheating on him and hires a local police detective (Sun Honglei) to spy on her, and indeed she has been conducting affair with the well-meaning but dopey shop assistant Li (Xiao Shen-Yang). When Wang's wife (who is never named) purchases a gun from a Persian trader, a series of misunderstandings and gruesome deaths follow. But there's also a lighthearted edge featuring two goofy cooks (Ye Chang and Mao Mao) trying to break into the boss's safe for their wages.

I haven't seen Blood Simple in many a year, and while I remember totally digging it, I don't actually recall most of the film itself. I think that's an advantage to seeing Noodle Shop, as I was able to view it with a fairly non-comparative eye. One thing I will say: it brings more comedy to the proceedings. It is still in essence a dark, tense thriller, but it works in this comedic-relief subplot that works most of the time because it ties in well with the main narrative. Sometimes the tone is in question, resulting in so-so black comedy moments that could have been either amped up for humor or toned down to maintain the dramatic atmosphere.

I'm unfamiliar with Zhang's body of work so I'm not sure how he usually operates, but wow! The visuals on display here are phenomenal. The gorgeous striped desert vistas, tinted sky, and colorful costumes combine for a veritable feast for the eyes in saturated tones and detail-oriented shots. The pacing is excellent, resulting in a number of tense, quiet moments that work well with little to no dialogue. The performances are great as well: Honglei Sun as the calculating, opportunistic detective and Ni Yan as Wang's strong-willed, resilient wife are especially standouts.

Zhang has really transformed the Coens' material to make it his own, adding his own rich visual approach and sense of humor (though at times the latter is misplaced). It's a cool movie. Don't mistake it for a comedy though, as some misguided imdb reviewers apparently have.

4/5

PS Question for those who know more about Chinese culture than I do: The comedic character of Zhao is a clueless chubby guy made-up with huge buck teeth and a floppy bun, resembling a racist cartoon stereotype that can be seen in many earlier American films (Breakfast at Tiffany's, for example). It made me a little uncomfortable, actually, though I can only assume that wasn't anyone's intention. Is this kind of character some sort of archetype in Chinese media?

Pair This Movie With: Well, Blood Simple seems an obvious choice. I'll also put forth The Man Who Wasn't There, another Coen brothers movie about adultery and a vengeful husband, but with a more subdued, neo-noir atmosphere.