My Blueberry Nights is director Wong Kar-wai's first English feature film, with a star-studded cast. For the leading actress, he brought in jazz star Norah Jones, who gives her debut acting performance with this film. Norah Jones's performance is not as stunning as her music career, but with Director Wong's vision and beautifully shot scenic give a pleasurable story about this heart-broken girl searching for true love and herself.
We can see the ghosts from the past in the characters of this film, especially those from Chung King Express。The character, Elizabeth, played by Norah Jones has similar innocent touch of Wong Faye in both Chung King Express and 2046. The scene in where Jude Law keeps calling people, is it not a mirroring to Takeshi Kaneshiro in Chung King Express? The policeman played by David Strathairn is a tribute to Tony Leung's character in Chung King Express. Rachel Weisz's drunken image offers a reflection of Brigitte Lin, again, from Chung King Express. The precision in details of Director Wong is well known, even the take away shop in Chung King Express is transformed into a New York cafe, tin cans are turned into blueberry pies, and keys are just copying over. As for time stamps, he changed it from cast dialogue to subtitles.
We are not saying the director is trying anything new with My Blueberry Nights: there are less floating shots. With more static shots, it brings out the inner feeling of characters. We have to say we are surprised by the director's choice with Norah Jones as the leading lady. Her performance in the film did a pretty good job, to share us the heart of a girl who wants love, but afraid to. Another musician turned actress in this film, Chan Marshall (a.k.a. Cat Power) is comparatively stiff with her brief appearance. Besides Norah Jones's surprisingly good performance, Rachel Weisz also gives her stunning performance with this gamble-addicted wife, giving up the usual pretty and elegant look.My Blueberry Nights is like a twin sister to Chung King Express, both stories took place in cities. There are no more reality and fantasy check as in 2046, so that you can understand the storyline.
Interaction between people is the lesson which the director often gives with his films. This time, it is Elizabeth's search for love. The film is shot beautifully, I really hate the hair stylist who gave Jude Law such a crappy look.