Decidedly minor stuff for such a major filmmaker, but there's something remarkable about watching a master like Johnnie To reverse-engineer an entire thriller from one idea he just had to try - in this case, a shootout unlike any you've seen before.
Overview
Realising that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to buy time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
Director To fills in the messy back story neatly as he introduces the supporting players, who provide comedy or menace (and sometimes both).
To trusts his actors, and uses them so well that you often forget that we don't know much about them beyond the worried look in their eyes, the smirk on their lips and the arch of their brows.
It's not a career highlight for the director. But a relatively ordinary film from Mr. To packs more genuine entertainment value than what passes for above-average Hollywood action fare these days.
A rollickingly entertaining movie.
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