Starring: Anthony Wong Chau-sang, Shawn Yue Man-lok, Guo Xiaodong
Directed by: Soi Cheang Pou-soi
Category: IIB (Cantonese)
A low-octane script puts the emotional brakes on one of the year's most technically deft thrillers.
Director Soi Cheang Pou-soi has crafted a tightly paced cops-and-robbers adventure that accomplishes wonders on wheels while petering out when it comes to a gripping tale.
Cheang, one of Hong Kong's quirkier directors, becomes trapped in the pitfalls of racing dramas by placing undue emphasis on stunts to the detriment of story development.
The scenario by Joey O'Bryan, Szeto Kam-yuen and Francis Fung Yat-chun contains plenty of potentially idiosyncratic roles, first is veteran policeman Lo (Anthony Wong Chau-sang), a car-shy officer nearing retirement who nearly lost his life years earlier in a crash involving Jensen (Guo Xiaodong), a notorious underworld getaway driver.
Lo's partner is hotshot Sean (Shawn Yue Man-lok, above), whose derring-do forms a neat contrast with the oldster's caution. This is shown in the movie's exciting opening, staged by action choreographer Chin Ka-lok, and adroitly combines humour and stunts to introduce one of Hong Kong law enforcement's odder couples.