40
A mess on every narrative and technical level.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
0
Village Voice by Craig D. Lindsey
China Salesman has got to be one of the most baffling, expensive pats on the back China has ever given itself.
30
It’s the rare kind of sprawling, costly hot mess that achieves instant camp gratification other fiascos must wait decades to ripen toward.
30
Film Journal International by Maitland McDonagh
If it were half an hour shorter, China Salesman (released overseas as Deadly Contract, the epitome of generic titling) might be a candidate for “so bad it’s good (or at least kind of fun)” status. But it’s not.
30
Los Angeles Times by Noel Murray
The woodenness of China Salesman, coupled with the general oddness of a two-fisted adventure yarn about hyper-aggressive telecom companies, gives this movie some “weird cinema” appeal. But if you can’t tolerate stinky cheese, leave this one on the shelf.
0
RogerEbert.com by Simon Abrams
The film's nature as a work of propaganda would be more deplorable—or at least eyeroll-inducing—if it weren't so poorly blocked, scripted, performed, and choreographed. There is no joy in Seagal-ville, dear rubber-neckers, because pretty much everybody here has struck out.