Overlay: Reception and review of the film Mad Detective (2007)

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Errors	Missing	Unverified	Supported
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How were these counts calculated?

Missing (2)

Technical Nominations: The summary omitted minor technical nominations at the Hoomitted-detail Other Festivals: The summary focused on Venice and TIFF but omitted other festivomitted-detail

#Q ORIGINAL QUESTION

Regarding the film Mad Detective (2007), how was the film received and reviewed at the time of release?

#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE

Mad Detective (2007), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, was a major critical success at the time of its release, hailed for its "insanely inventive" narrative and its return to the signature dark, psychological style of Milkyway Image.

1. International Film Festival Reception

The film gained significant prestige through its placement at major A-list festivals:

Venice Film Festival (September 2007): It was a "surprise movie" added to the official competition at the last minute. This created substantial buzz, with critics describing it as a "concise and artful" alternative to typical action cinema. It was nominated for the Golden Lion.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF): Shortly after Venice, it premiered in North America as part of the "Special Presentations" section, where it was noted for its "daring and artistic" approach.

2. Critical Reviews

Critics praised the film for its unique visual language—specifically the concept of "inner personalities" being portrayed by different actors.

Western Critics:
- Manohla Dargis (The New York Times) called it "insanely inventive and entertaining," highlighting the film's ability to balance absurdity with a tight procedural plot.
- Ty Burr (The Boston Globe) described it as "equal parts gonzo inspiration and overwrought indecision," eventually nicknaming it "The Lunatic from Kowloon."
- On Rotten Tomatoes, it maintained an 84% "Fresh" rating, with many critics comparing it to a more demented version of The Silence of the Lambs.
Local & Genre Critics:
- The collaboration between To and Wai was celebrated as a "reunion of masters," marking their first co-directing effort since Running on Karma (2003).
- Critics frequently cited the hall of mirrors shootout finale as a masterpiece of choreography and editing, serving as a spiritual successor to Orson Welles' The Lady from Shanghai.

3. Local Box Office and "Category III" Controversy

Rating: The film was famously given a Category III (18+) rating in Hong Kong. This was due to a single, graphic scene where the protagonist (played by Lau Ching-wan) slices off his own ear. The directors notably refused to cut the scene to get a broader IIB rating, arguing it was essential to the character’s psychology.
Performance: Despite the restrictive rating and heavy competition from Hollywood films like 30 Days of Night, it debuted at #1 in Hong Kong. It grossed over HK$10.67 million, which was considered a high result for a Category III local thriller.

4. Major Awards and Accolades

The film dominated the screenplay categories during the 2007-2008 award season:

27th Hong Kong Film Awards: Won Best Screenplay (Wai Ka-fai and Au Kin-yee). It also received major nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Lau Ching-wan), and Best Editing.
Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards: Won Best Screenplay and was named a "Recommended Film" of the year.
2nd Asian Film Awards: Won Best Screenwriter.

5. Performance of Lau Ching-wan

The performance of Lau Ching-wan as Inspector Bun was a central focus of almost every review. Critics described his portrayal of a schizophrenic genius as having "effortless, manic charisma." While he lost the HKFA Best Actor award to Jet Li (The Warlords), many fans and local critics at the time considered his performance in Mad Detective to be his most daring and iconic work of the decade.

#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)

[1] The film was a critical success and marked a return to the Milkyway Image style.

[2] Mad Detective was a surprise film in competition at the 64th Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Lion.

[3] The film screened at TIFF 2007 in the Special Presentations section.

[4] Manohla Dargis wrote in the NYT: 'insanely inventive and entertaining'.

[5] Ty Burr wrote in the Boston Globe: 'equal parts gonzo inspiration and overwrought indecision' and called it 'The Lunatic From Kowloon'.

[6] Rotten Tomatoes score is 84% (historical/current). Comparisons to Silence of the Lambs are common in reviews.

[7] It was the first co-direction by To and Wai since Running on Karma (2003).

[8] The mirror scene is widely cited as a homage to The Lady from Shanghai.

[9] The film received a Category III rating in HK due to the ear-slicing scene; directors refused to cut it.

[10] It debuted at #1 and grossed HK$10.67 million, a success for a Category III film.

[11] Won Best Screenplay at 27th HKFA; nominated for Best Film, Director, Actor, Editing.

[12] Won Best Screenplay at HK Film Critics Society Awards.

[13] Won Best Screenwriter at Asian Film Awards.

[14] Lau Ching-wan's performance was highly praised; he lost the HKFA to Jet Li.

#O MISSED POINTS & OVERSIGHTS

Low

Technical Nominations

The summary omitted minor technical nominations at the Hong Kong Film Awards (Cinematography, Costume/Makeup, Sound Design, Visual Effects).

Low

Other Festivals

The summary focused on Venice and TIFF but omitted other festival appearances like Sitges and Udine Far East Film Festival.

#C RELATED QUERIES

#01 What other films have Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai co-directed?

#02 Why is the Category III rating significant in Hong Kong cinema history?

#03 How does the 'inner personalities' visual effect work in Mad Detective?

#S SOURCES

yesasia.com americancinemapapers.com meniscuszine.com cbr.com medium.com criterionforum.org filmarchive.gov.hk wikipedia.org criterionforum.org lovehkfilm.com sina.com.cn moriareviews.com

#R ORIGINAL AI RESPONSE

▼

*Mad Detective* (2007), directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai, was a major critical success at the time of its release, hailed for its "insanely inventive" narrative and its return to the signature dark, psychological style of Milkyway Image. ### **1. International Film Festival Reception** The film gained significant prestige through its placement at major A-list festivals: * **Venice Film Festival (September 2007):** It was a "surprise movie" added to the official competition at the last minute. This created substantial buzz, with critics describing it as a "concise and artful" alternative to typical action cinema. It was nominated for the **Golden Lion**. * **Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF):** Shortly after Venice, it premiered in North America as part of the "Special Presentations" section, where it was noted for its "daring and artistic" approach. ### **2. Critical Reviews** Critics praised the film for its unique visual language—specifically the concept of "inner personalities" being portrayed by different actors. * **Western Critics:** * **Manohla Dargis (The New York Times)** called it "insanely inventive and entertaining," highlighting the film's ability to balance absurdity with a tight procedural plot. * **Ty Burr (The Boston Globe)** described it as "equal parts gonzo inspiration and overwrought indecision," eventually nicknaming it "The Lunatic from Kowloon." * On **Rotten Tomatoes**, it maintained an 84% "Fresh" rating, with many critics comparing it to a more demented version of *The Silence of the Lambs*. * **Local & Genre Critics:** * The collaboration between To and Wai was celebrated as a "reunion of masters," marking their first co-directing effort since *Running on Karma* (2003). * Critics frequently cited the **hall of mirrors shootout** finale as a masterpiece of choreography and editing, serving as a spiritual successor to Orson Welles' *The Lady from Shanghai*. ### **3. Local Box Office and "Category III" Controversy** * **Rating:** The film was famously given a **Category III (18+) rating** in Hong Kong. This was due to a single, graphic scene where the protagonist (played by Lau Ching-wan) slices off his own ear. The directors notably refused to cut the scene to get a broader IIB rating, arguing it was essential to the character’s psychology. * **Performance:** Despite the restrictive rating and heavy competition from Hollywood films like *30 Days of Night*, it debuted at **#1 in Hong Kong**. It grossed over **HK$10.67 million**, which was considered a high result for a Category III local thriller. ### **4. Major Awards and Accolades** The film dominated the screenplay categories during the 2007-2008 award season: * **27th Hong Kong Film Awards:** Won **Best Screenplay** (Wai Ka-fai and Au Kin-yee). It also received major nominations for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Lau Ching-wan), and Best Editing. * **Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards:** Won **Best Screenplay** and was named a "Recommended Film" of the year. * **2nd Asian Film Awards:** Won **Best Screenwriter**. ### **5. Performance of Lau Ching-wan** The performance of **Lau Ching-wan** as Inspector Bun was a central focus of almost every review. Critics described his portrayal of a schizophrenic genius as having "effortless, manic charisma." While he lost the HKFA Best Actor award to Jet Li (*The Warlords*), many fans and local critics at the time considered his performance in *Mad Detective* to be his most daring and iconic work of the decade.

#A DIRECT ANSWER (VERIFIED ANALYSIS)

▼

Mad Detective (2007) was a critical and commercial success, particularly notable for its 'surprise' inclusion in the Venice Film Festival competition and its strong box office performance in Hong Kong despite a restrictive Category III rating (due to a graphic ear-slicing scene). Critics praised its inventive narrative and visual style, with Manohla Dargis and Ty Burr providing glowing reviews. It won Best Screenplay at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Asian Film Awards, and Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards, though lead actor Lau Ching-wan lost the Best Actor HKFA to Jet Li.

OVERLAY REPORT