Starring: Annie Liu Hsin-you, Eric Tsang Chi-wai, Karena Lam Ka-yan, Anthony Wong Chau-sang
Director: Wong Ching-po
Category: IIB (Cantonese)
The confusing, poorly motivated and illogical shenanigans in Wong Ching-po's second feature confirm the impression that, as in Jiang Hu, the director's stylistic flair isn't enough to compensate for a weak sense of story and character. Despite a cast that includes some of the genre's most masterful players, the film doesn't come close to the majesty suggested by the poster, a Buddhist-themed take-off of The Last Supper that hints of epochal elements of betrayal, redemption, and salvation.
Not that Mob Sister doesn't contain these elements, but they're executed in such a muddled manner the result is frequently baffling. Szeto Kam-yuen's script centres on mob boss Gent (Eric Tsang) whose disreputable life is partially compensated by two redeeming acts: building a Buddhist temple, and raising Phoebe (Annie Liu), an orphan whose father was murdered by vengeful gang widow Nova (Karena Lam).
Sixteen years later, Phoebe returns from school in the US to find herself in the middle of mob rivalries involving Gent's adversaries and such allies as Chance (Simon Yam Tat-wah), Whacko (Anthony Wong), Bud (Alex Fong Chung-sun) and an ex-gangster-turned- monk (Yuen Wah).