Watch Red Corner

The movie Red Corner, released in 1997, is a thriller with a premise that still feels relevant today. The story follows Jack Moore, a successful American lawyer played by Richard Gere, on a business trip to Beijing, China. Things take a dark turn when he wakes up in a hotel room after a night of heavy drinking and finds a dead woman lying beside him. The woman is one of his colleagues, and the Chinese authorities accuse him of murdering her.

What follows is a tense legal battle as Jack tries to clear his name and prove his innocence. He is represented in court by Shen Yuelin, a young, ambitious Chinese lawyer played by Bai Ling. Shen is initially dismissive of Jack, seeing him as just another arrogant foreigner who thinks he can get away with anything in China. However, as she delves deeper into the case, she begins to suspect that there is a wider conspiracy at play.

Red Corner is a film that explores the tension between American and Chinese cultures, and the ways that misunderstandings and preconceptions on both sides can lead to tragedy. Jack is used to the freedoms and legal protections afforded to him in America, and he struggles to understand the very different legal system in China. Meanwhile, Shen is caught between her loyalty to her own country and her growing sympathy for Jack, whom she comes to see as a victim of an unjust system.

The movie also touches on issues of gender and power, as well as the corrupting influence of politics and money. Bradley Whitford plays Bob Ghery, Jack's slimy colleague who may have played a role in the murder. Bob is a character who embodies the worst excesses of American corporate culture, and his arrogance and entitlement highlight the cultural differences between the two countries. As the legal battle heats up and the stakes get higher, it becomes clear that there are powerful forces working to ensure that Jack is convicted, no matter what the truth of the matter may be.

Despite its tense subject matter, Red Corner is a movie that is well worth watching. Richard Gere gives a nuanced and complex performance as Jack, and Bai Ling is equally impressive as Shen. The scenes between the two characters are the heart of the film, as they try to bridge the gap between their respective cultures and find a way to get justice for Jack.

Director Jon Avnet does a good job of balancing the thriller elements of the story with more nuanced character work. There are plenty of tense moments as Jack tries to navigate the legal system, but there are also quiet scenes where he and Shen discuss their personal lives and the broader socio-political issues at play. The cinematography captures the beauty and bustle of modern-day Beijing, and the film's score adds to the tension and mood.

Overall, Red Corner is a movie that holds up well almost 25 years after its release. Its themes of cultural misunderstandings and political corruption are sadly still relevant today, and its central performances are strong enough to hold the viewer's attention. If you're in the mood for a tense legal thriller that also has something to say about the world we live in, give Red Corner a chance.

Red Corner is a 1997 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 2 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.3.