Film review: Z Storm covers no new ground, but has moments of interest
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)'s image has been tarnished recently by the removal of high-profile graft suspect Song Lin as head of its ethics advisory body, and the expenses scandal involving its former chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming.
Z STORM
Starring: Louis Koo Tin-lok, Dada Chan Ching, Michael Wong Man-tak, Gordon Lam Ka-tung
Director: David Lam Tak-luk
Category: IIA (Cantonese, English and Putonghua)
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC)'s image has been tarnished recently by the removal of high-profile graft suspect Song Lin as head of its ethics advisory body, and the expenses scandal involving its former chief Timothy Tong Hin-ming.
But the local film industry remains intent on celebrating the ICAC as a shining beacon of law enforcement. The Hong Kong International Film Festival commemorated the government body's 40th anniversary with a special programme depicting real-life ICAC cases earlier this year, and now David Lam Tak-luk's Z Storm features incorruptible ICAC officers going up against corrupt cops.
A blockbuster crime thriller with a number of scenes that recall the 2012 hit Cold War, the film begins with a Commercial Crime Bureau (CCB) operation at top accountant Law Tak-wing's (Lo Hoi-pang) office. This takes a shocking turn when CCB superintendent Wong Man-bin (Gordon Lam Ka-tung) indicates that he's prepared to help the veteran money man elude the law. In another surprise move, Wong attracts the attention of the ICAC after his wife, angry about his being a "gambling and whoring asshole", reports him to the anti-graft agency.
Determined to investigate Wong, despite the fact that he's a rising star of the police force, ICAC officer William Luk (Louis Koo Tin-lok) and his team end up working to stop the biggest financial fraud ever attempted in Hong Kong, one which involves the Z Hedge Fund, into which the Hong Kong government is putting money.