Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)

The Worst Film Ever

Sorry, this movie sucks

Just perfect...

A Masterpiece!

A small group of upper middle class honor students use their squeaky clean image as camouflage to create alter-egos for themselves. Unfortunately, their arrogance grows with each additional step into the dark side, until they are in over their heads.Every high school student of an affluent family knows that the goal is to get into an Ivy League university as well as the scholarships that go with it. This includes having the grades as well as all the extra-curricular activities that "look great" on the applications. But there is also the undercurrent of all high school life – peer pressure as well as trying to rise above the norm to be the social elite. It takes some very clever proactive actions to make the transformation from "brain" to "cool" in the eyes of one's fellow classmates, as well as the right random situations, while maintaining the "goodie" image to the adult world. Ben and his friends have figured it out and think they have everything under control. Unfortunately, their neat formula for maintaining their dual-lives does not factor in random acts of chance, or emotions.This is a MUST SEE film, and hopefully a wakeup call, for every parent of "good students", of materially overindulged kids, or who really just does not pay attention. While it does take some actions to an extreme and even unrealistic proportion, it is so very possible that much of this COULD happen. Unfortunately, the film ends a little too soon. It never really addresses the consequences of walking away from certain illegal behaviors as well as the emotional and legal ramifications of others.

This movie is non-stop entertainment. All of the main characters are likable and easy to relate to, whether or not you are of Asian descent. The direction is pitch perfect, and basically subtle. This movie starts kind of slow and seems to be just a film about bored high school kids, until they start to abuse the power they have been given and it turns into an epic crime film. This is Lin's best feature, and although Fast 4/5 were good films (FF:TD was NOT), I would like to see Lin go back to this kind of story telling. Unknown actors giving amazing performances in a realistic movie filled with action and humor...what else could you ask for? This is one of my deepest sleeper picks, and I constantly show it to people who have not seen it. The movie also does a great job of both embracing stereotypes and shattering them, simultaneously.If you have not watched this film, go do it NOW.

I was genuinely surprised by the director's savvy: BETTER LUCK TOMORROW is about as impressive as it gets. Not to take anything away from the players (who, to a man, are excellent), but the cinemaskill here is top of the line. At no point in the proceedings did I opt to nod off or to check my watch or hit pause and go stretch my legs: I was too caught up in what was going on on screen. I'm sure it could be argued that the ending was telegraphed (especially when one takes into account the opening scene), but it seemed, somehow, to catch me completely by surprise. My favorite line comes when someone observes that "all of the Asian kids" are at the pivotal party. "The library was closed," one of the leads responds. Superb job all around.

Sorry folks but there are much better teen angst movies then this tripe. How does the acting gets acclaim? They were all horrible. Maybe it was the duologue which sounded like it was written by an edgy 15 year old. And the style...don't get me started. Pick one director and rip him off well, don't pick from a ton and rip them all off poorly. I counted Scorses, Lynch, Aronofsky, and the horrible Matrix directors.Having heard good things I wanted to like this movie, but come on. This is high school direction with a middle school play script. Bad bad bad movie. Just read Less Than Zero and be done with it. A few laughs was all it was good for.