Google Doodle Celebrates Olympic Diver Vicki Manalo Draves

And Other Things to Know from Angry Asian America.



Celebrating Vicki Draves
Today's Google Doodle celebrates Filipino American diver and coach Victoria "Vicki" Draves, the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic medal. On this day in 1948, Draves won the gold medal in the women’s 3-meter springboard event at the London Summer Olympics.

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Meet the Bay Area rapper working on a COVID vaccine
Ruby Ibarra will save us all. With her rhymes an her science. You might know her as an incredible ass-kicking Filipino American hip hop artist. But did you know she works a day job? As a freaking scientist? She's a scientist at a Bay Area biotech company, working in the quality-control department on COVID-19 test kits and even a vaccine. She's got the smarts and the flow. I should not be surprised.
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Suspect Arrested in Death of Professional Poker Player Susie Zhao
A suspect is in custody in connection to the death of professional poker player Susie Zhao, whose burned remains were found at a Michigan park in July. A 60-year-old man was arrested on Friday in the investigation of Zhao's homicide. Charges have no been released, and the investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALLFBI or submit tips online to tips.fbi.gov.

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BCD Tofu House Founder Hee Sook Lee Has Died
Hee Sook Lee, who founded the beloved, Los Angeles-based BCD Tofu House restaurant chain, known for its bubbling pots of soondubu and its late night hours, has passed away. The Koreatown Youth and Community Center announced her death last week in a post on its Facebook page. No date or cause of death was given, although it appears Lee died in early or mid-July. Pour out some soondubu jjigae in her honor. Rest in peace.

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Wong Kar-Wai's New Series Is an Ambitious Ode to Shanghai
Blossoms Shanghai, famed auteur Wong Kar-Wai's first dramatic series, is an adaptation of the epic, multi-award-winning novel Blossoms by Jin Yucheng. The series "tells the story of an enigmatic, self-made millionaire, Mr. Bao (Hu Ge), and his journey of reinvention from a young opportunist with a troubled past to the heights of the gilded city of Shanghai. Set against the backdrop of massive economic growth in 1990’s Shanghai, the series unveils the glamour that follows his dazzling wealth and his entanglement with four fabulous women that represent the pursuits of his life: adventure, honor, love and innocence."

Criterion Collection teases Bruce Lee, Wong Kar-wai box sets

Annual doodle hints at upcoming home video releases for 2020.



Just a little bit of fun news from movie geeks who still like getting DVDs and Blu-rays for the home collection, like me. These days, physical purchases are reserved for special items. So this recent "announcement" from Criterion Collection has given me reason to save up some hard-earned cash.

As is tradition, the home video distributor specializing in "important classic and contemporary cinema" dropped its annual doodle teasing some of the year's upcoming releases, leaving it up to us cinephiles to decipher the maddeningly simple drawings. This year's clues hint at releases that align particularly well with my tastes: Wong Kar-wai and Bruce Lee box sets.

Casting Call: Wong Kar-Wai needs actors for 'Tong Wars'

Famed Hong Kong auteur to direct Chinese American gangster saga for Amazon.



It's true. Wong Kar-wai is doing TV. The legendary Hong Kong auteur is stepping into the episodic television format with the 10-part original Amazon series Tong Wars, "a gangster saga that resonates within the complex narrative of the Chinese American experience." The series follows the journey of Vicky Sun from a slave girl in turn-of-the-century Chinatown to the richest woman in 1970s San Francisco.

And they need actors! This open casting call notice for Tong Wars is currently being shared widely on social media. They're looking for Chinese actors of various ages who can speak fluent Cantonese and American English to play the series regular roles of Vicky Sun, Tom Sun, Lo Mo and Johnny Young.

Check it out:

Giveaway: The Grandmaster on DVD

Enter to win Wong Kar-wai's martial arts drama The Grandmaster on DVD



Check it. If you like your action flicks with a touch of class, then you must see Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi in The Grandmaster, available this week on Blu-ray and DVD, as well as On Demand and Digital Download.

Presented by Martin Scorsese, the latest film from acclaimed auteur Wong Kar-wai is a visually-stunning period martial arts drama inspired by the life of legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man -- teacher to Bruce Lee -- who survived the turmoil of 1930s China to change the world of martial arts forever.

The Grandmaster is an art house kung fu flick, equal parts gorgeous and kickass. Tony Leung is awesome as usual, but it's Zhang Ziyi who really steals the movie. She embodies the spirit of the movie, both stunning and fierce -- the real grandmaster we follow through Wong's saga of love, honor and vengeance.

Want to win a copy of The Grandmaster? I'm giving away some DVDs. Scroll down to the bottom for details on how to enter. But first, here's the trailer for The Grandmaster:

New Music: "Tony & Maggie" by lagrima

Debut single from DJ Phatrick's new soul/blues side project



Hell yes. This is so hot. DJ Phatrick turned me on to his new soul/blues side project lagrima. They just released their debut single "Tony & Maggie," featuring vocals by DC singer Amber Mimz and Oakland MC Do D.A.T. The title, of course, refers to Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, the immortal stars of Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood For Love, one of my favorite movies ever.

The accompanying video, cut with scenes from the movie, is visual hotness:

Zhang Ziyi versus Wack Mustache Man in The Grandmaster

This is how you make an asskicking look beautiful.



All right, I know I've already posted a bunch of Grandmaster stuff, but here's one more, and it's dope. Renown auteur Wong Kar-wai's latest film is a historical epic on the life of the legendary Wing Chun master Ip Man -- teacher to Bruce Lee -- and the martial artists of his time. In this awesome clip, Gong Er (Zhang Ziyi) faces off against Ma San (Zhang Jin), aka Wack Mustache Man, to restore her family's honor.

This is, hands down, my favorite scene in the movie:

Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi duel in The Grandmaster

Do you like kung fu? Here is some kung fu.



Take a moment out of your day to enjoy this rad fight scene from Wong Kar-Wai's The Grandmaster. That's Zhang Ziyi and Tony Leung as Gong Er and Ip Man, respectively, enjoying a private moment. And by private moment, I mean an awesome little martial arts duel between skilled masters. Not only is it badass, true to director Wong's style, it's also gorgeous:

Tony Leung stars as Ip Man in Wong Kar Wai's The Grandmaster

Win free tickets to a Los Angeles screening of the martial arts epic



The Grandmaster, starring Tony Leung and Zhang Ziyi, is the latest historical drama to spin the legend of martial arts master Ip Man, the man who taught Bruce Lee. It's also the much-anticipated new film from famed Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar-wai. Typical to the director's beloved style, it's slow, gorgeous, and at times incomprehensible. I really liked it. Here's the theatrical trailer:

kung fu cinema's new favorite folk hero

Who's more badass than Bruce Lee? Perhaps... the guy who taught Bruce Lee? The New York Times has a cool article on "the most popular kung fu screen hero of the moment," Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man -- mentor to none other than Bruce Lee, and the subject of several recent martial arts dramas: Enter the Teacher to the Dragon of Martial Arts Films.

There's Wilson Yip's kickass kung fu flick Ip Man, starring Donnie Yen in the title role, and its sequel Ip Man 2, which opens Friday in New York and Los Angeles. But there's also Herman Yau's younger Ip Man biopic The Legend is Born - Ip Man, and auteur Wong Kar-wai's long-awaited The Grandmasters: