Watch Due West

Due West is a 2012 Hong Kong film directed by Roman Cheung, starring Justin Cheung, Gregory Wong, and Mark Wu. This coming-of-age drama tells the story of Frankie (Justin Cheung), a 20-something-year-old man who decides to leave behind his mundane life in Hong Kong and fulfill his dream of traveling to the United States. Frankie is a reserved and introverted man who works a dull office job and spends his free time smoking cigarettes and watching porn. He has no love life to speak of and only a few friends. One day, while having drinks with his colleague, he meets a girl named P K (Gloria Wong), who speaks about her travels in America. This sparks something within Frankie, and he decides to quit his job and embark on a journey to the USA.

As Frankie's journey begins, he quickly realizes that traveling alone is not as easy as it seems. The first challenge he faces is the language barrier. He struggles to communicate and is constantly misunderstood. Furthermore, he encounters various cultures and subcultures, as he travels from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Despite the difficulties, Frankie immerses himself in the American way of life. He goes to checkpoints like Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco and goes to concerts with people he meets along the way. Throughout his journey, he meets various people, and they become instrumental in his growth and self-discovery.

One of the people Frankie meets is an enigmatic man named Keith (Gregory Wong), who becomes Frankie's companion and mentor. Although they initially have a rocky start, Frankie sees through the facade and discovers that Keith is just as lost and aimless as he is. Through Keith, Frankie discovers the intercultural relationships and breaks out of his comfort zone. They spend time partying at night and traveling during the day, and eventually crossing the border from Mexico to the United States with the help of people they meet on their journey.

Things get complicated when Frankie meets Joanna (Joman Chu), a Chinese-American girl from San Francisco. The two fall for each other, but Joanna is already in a relationship. Despite Joanna's loyalty to her boyfriend, she and Frankie begin to spend more time around each other. Their friendship grows over the course of the trip, and in turn, Frankie's character changes.

Due West is a heartwarming tale of self-discovery, friendship, and love. The movie aptly captures the essence of a coming-of-age story as it showcases Frankie's journey. It also highlights the importance of self-awareness and the significance of experiencing different cultures. Frankie's journey is a representation of the growth and maturation of a young man who finds his place in the world.

The film's visuals do an excellent job in capturing the feel of America's various cities, their landmarks and natural landscapes. The beautiful shots of California and the various cities, Frankie's journey takes him through are quite engaging. The cinematography's variety shifts according to the different zones Frankie travels through, giving the movie a refreshing and new look every time.

The movie's lead actor, Justin Cheung, is superb, bringing out the subtle nuances of Frankie's character. His performance makes his character relatable and identifiable to the audience. Gregory Wong's portrayal of the flamboyant and eccentric Keith is also noteworthy. In contrast, Mark Wu's portrayal of the quiet and unassuming counterpart in the bromance is excellent.

The soundtrack is another excellent aspect of this movie. The tracks are well-tailored to Frankie's journey, with tracks featuring a mix of both Chinese and western music. It goes on to accurately portray Frankie's mindset at the time and gives the movie a universal appeal.

In conclusion, Due West is a story about growth and change. The movie is relatable, intriguing, and delightful without including any unwanted Hollywood clichés. Director Roman Cheung has made an engaging film that showcases the struggles of leaving one's comfort zone for the sake of self-discovery. A great film for anyone who wants to watch an engaging coming-of-age drama.