A Guilty Conscience is a solidly entertaining courtroom drama featuring a strong ensemble cast and Dayo Wong in a dream-come-true leading man role that distinctly showcases his strengths as an actor first, and comedian second.
This is a serious legal drama with occasional laughs peppered in and distinctly not a comedy. It's the perfect vehicle for Dayo Wong, who beneath his philosophizing stand-up persona, is a character actor at heart yearning for the perfect role. Now, he's found that role and shines in it. It's a great follow-up to last year's Table For Six, continuing Dayo Wong's recent acting renaissance.
Adrian Lam, a government small claims magistrate who is tired of his lowly position, switches careers as a lawyer at his friend's popular law firm. Through gross negligence in his first case, Adrian causes his client Jolene Tsang to be sentenced to 17 years in prison for the manslaughter of her daughter Elsa.
When new evidence presents itself, a guilt-ridden Adrian seeks to right his wrongs and applies for a retrial to prove Jolene's innocence.
The cast does a great job and works together with synergy. Everybody plays their part well and individually have a moment to shine.
Louise Wong, in her second role since playing Anita Mui, was great as the wrongfully accused Jolene, showing promise as an actress. Renci Yeung projects intelligence and makes a convincing young lawyer as Evelyn, Adrian's co-counsel.
Tse Kwan Ho adds gravitas as the law-abiding government prosecutor representing the people squaring off against Dayo Wong, setting up an interesting triangular dynamic in the court trial. It's different from the usual prosecution versus defence dynamic.
Even Michael Wong, who normally scrapes my ears, made a great villain.
Jack Ng Wai-lun, the writer of Anita and Men on the Dragon, makes his directorial debut. He manipulates the audience skilfully through careful management of the tone.
Ng sets up the story and characters seriously, putting you into the plight of costing someone a 17 year jail sentence and also, what it feels like to be wrongfully accused of murdering your own child.
By the third act, the trial plays like a momentous sports event that has everyone on the edge of their seats.
There's a distinct moment where Dayo Wong's lawyer behaves outside of what a lawyer would be able to act in a courtroom trial. This shift doesn't make logical sense, but it makes emotional sense because the audience is 100% behind Wong, rooting for him to win.
This is how Jack Ng Wai-lun uses comedy, literally as a force for good to mock the unjust. The laughs release all the built-up emotions and it's satisfying to be a part of it. I recommend seeing it in a theater with a packed audience.
There's an air in the climate right now, perhaps from COVID or world news, that is creating a desire to see justice served. A Guilty Conscience satisfies that desire well... in a holiday viewing type way.
This is a serious legal drama with occasional laughs peppered in and distinctly not a comedy. It's the perfect vehicle for Dayo Wong, who beneath his philosophizing stand-up persona, is a character actor at heart yearning for the perfect role. Now, he's found that role and shines in it. It's a great follow-up to last year's Table For Six, continuing Dayo Wong's recent acting renaissance.
Adrian Lam, a government small claims magistrate who is tired of his lowly position, switches careers as a lawyer at his friend's popular law firm. Through gross negligence in his first case, Adrian causes his client Jolene Tsang to be sentenced to 17 years in prison for the manslaughter of her daughter Elsa.
When new evidence presents itself, a guilt-ridden Adrian seeks to right his wrongs and applies for a retrial to prove Jolene's innocence.
The cast does a great job and works together with synergy. Everybody plays their part well and individually have a moment to shine.
Louise Wong, in her second role since playing Anita Mui, was great as the wrongfully accused Jolene, showing promise as an actress. Renci Yeung projects intelligence and makes a convincing young lawyer as Evelyn, Adrian's co-counsel.
Tse Kwan Ho adds gravitas as the law-abiding government prosecutor representing the people squaring off against Dayo Wong, setting up an interesting triangular dynamic in the court trial. It's different from the usual prosecution versus defence dynamic.
Even Michael Wong, who normally scrapes my ears, made a great villain.
Jack Ng Wai-lun, the writer of Anita and Men on the Dragon, makes his directorial debut. He manipulates the audience skilfully through careful management of the tone.
Ng sets up the story and characters seriously, putting you into the plight of costing someone a 17 year jail sentence and also, what it feels like to be wrongfully accused of murdering your own child.
By the third act, the trial plays like a momentous sports event that has everyone on the edge of their seats.
There's a distinct moment where Dayo Wong's lawyer behaves outside of what a lawyer would be able to act in a courtroom trial. This shift doesn't make logical sense, but it makes emotional sense because the audience is 100% behind Wong, rooting for him to win.
This is how Jack Ng Wai-lun uses comedy, literally as a force for good to mock the unjust. The laughs release all the built-up emotions and it's satisfying to be a part of it. I recommend seeing it in a theater with a packed audience.
There's an air in the climate right now, perhaps from COVID or world news, that is creating a desire to see justice served. A Guilty Conscience satisfies that desire well... in a holiday viewing type way.