The new international trailer for Mikael Hafstrom’s Shanghai, which has sat for two years, is finally online at YouTube (I caught it at Collider). Not sure of what production or post production issues kept the film on the shelf, but the production value on it looks lush. Have to agree with Matt Goldberg though in the source article: as far as trailers go, this thing does tend to give away just a tad too much. And for cripes sakes, what is it with Jeffrey Dean Morgan dying in damn near everything he’s in? I like the guy. I’d like to see him hang around a bit more.
The film synopsis courtesy of Twitch: Nothing is what it seems in this Casablanca-style international thriller set in the ancient Chinese city a week before the attack on Pearl Harbor. U.S. Secret Agent Paul Soames (John Cusack) has just arrived to investigate the murder of his best friend, only to become quickly immersed in a web of conspiracy and lies that beset the city. Shadowed by a Japanese intelligence officer Tanaka (Ken Watanabe), Soames’ investigation quickly centers on a charismatic local gangster, Anthony Lanting (Chow Yun-Fat) – and Lanting’s beautiful wife, Anna (Gong Li). Before long, Soames and Anna are involved in an affair that will put everything they have at stake. As national loyalties are traded fast-and-loose for those of the heart, Soames and Anna must race to solve the mystery and make it out of occupied China before the city’s collapse.
Shanghai stars John Cusack, Gong Li, Chow Yun-Fat, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Ken Watanabe, Rinko Kikuchi, David Morse, Franka Potente and opens on June 17th in China. Still waiting the official date here in the States.