This viewer must admit that he's a relative newcomer to Hong Kong cinema but this interesting and gripping thriller from director Johnnie To has left him wanting to see more. It's stylish, humorous, even poignant at times. It's not wall to wall action, but it doesn't need to be. It's also not particularly violent. The twisty script does keep one watching, intrigued at finding out just how things will develop from scene to scene. Also, the solid performances by the leads, Andy Lau and Ching Wan Lau, help a great deal.
Andy Lau plays Peter Cheung, a dying young man who learns that he has just weeks to live. So what he decides to do with his time left on Earth is play an elaborate "game", which ends up involving intrepid hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang (Ching Wan Lau) and the local mafia, led by Baldy (Waise Lee). What really gets the audience hooked is wondering just what the hell Peters' motivation is and what he hopes to gain from the whole experience.
The action, when it does take place, is well orchestrated, and director To does a good job at keeping a reasonable level of tension throughout his film. The pacing and editing are efficient enough at creating a story with a fairly brief running time of 93 minutes. In addition to the engaging lead performances, those who leave an impression are Shiu Hung Hui as comedy relief character Chief Inspector Wong Kai-Fat, who is believed by Ho to be inefficient and cowardly, and lovely ladies YoYo Mung and Ruby Wong.
The opening is pretty chilling and sobering, and the ending is quite satisfactory.
Overall, this is good fun.
Eight out of 10.
Andy Lau plays Peter Cheung, a dying young man who learns that he has just weeks to live. So what he decides to do with his time left on Earth is play an elaborate "game", which ends up involving intrepid hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang (Ching Wan Lau) and the local mafia, led by Baldy (Waise Lee). What really gets the audience hooked is wondering just what the hell Peters' motivation is and what he hopes to gain from the whole experience.
The action, when it does take place, is well orchestrated, and director To does a good job at keeping a reasonable level of tension throughout his film. The pacing and editing are efficient enough at creating a story with a fairly brief running time of 93 minutes. In addition to the engaging lead performances, those who leave an impression are Shiu Hung Hui as comedy relief character Chief Inspector Wong Kai-Fat, who is believed by Ho to be inefficient and cowardly, and lovely ladies YoYo Mung and Ruby Wong.
The opening is pretty chilling and sobering, and the ending is quite satisfactory.
Overall, this is good fun.
Eight out of 10.