Hard Boiled
"Tequila" Yuen: Chow Yun-Fat
Tony/Alan: Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
Teresa Chang: Teresa Mo
Johnny Wong: Anthony Wong
Mad Dog: Philip Kwok
directed by: John Woo
IMDb link: http://us.imdb.com/Title?0104684
other links: special feature: Guest review by Brad Crain.
Version reviewed: DVD
Ratings:
nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;
DVD Audio: 9 of 10
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DVD Video: 6 of 10
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Subtitles: 9 of 10
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Story: 4 of 10
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Performances: 7 of 10
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CYF: 7 of 10
Welcome to the archetypal
stylishly
brainless
action
movie, courtesy of someone who can do (and has done) better. In case
you don't know who directed it, just look to your left.
The stylish part of this equation comes to you courtesy of Chow
Yun-Fat and Tony Leung Chiu-Wai. The interest of this film lies in
the performances of the two as different flavors of cop. Leung
Chiu-Wai has always been good at understated performances and so
is well-suited for this role as the frozen undercover cop who kills
first and asks universal questions later. Chow Yun-Fat gives his
best as the grimacing Tequila Yuen who kills first and doesn't bother
to ask questions at all.
The brainless part is yet another maniacal killer who is smuggling
guns. Goodness knows that's a fresh plot twist. And what better
and more surprising choice to play said maniacal killer than Anthony
Wong. Imagine. Anthony Wong as a maniac. What will they think of
next.
The action part comes to you courtesy of Mr. Philip Kwok, an extremely
talented actor in his own right and a genius director of stunt set pieces. Since
this film is nothing but a few bits of plot-glue holding those pieces
together, Philip Kwok should get the credit for any entertainment you might
derive from the action. From the testosterone-laden thundering motorcycles to
the appearance of Chow Yun-Fat from on high like an angel of death, Kwok's
mastery of suspenseful action is what makes the film more than just a
slightly embarrassing jumble of Woo's familiar servings of of male bonding,
people getting shot, angst, Chow Yun-Fat's dimples and Woo's own
obligatory cameo appearances as the wise old man of Hong Kong. I keep wishing that Woo would get it out of his system, whatever
it is, that makes him do the same things over and over again. Roger Waters had
best look out or he may lose his status as the most repetitive man in show business.
To say that Teresa Mo is wasted as Tequila's girlfriend almost seems
unneeded, because since when has there been an actress who wasn't wasted
in a Woo film? Even Emily Chu Bo-Yee.
To sum up this film isn't hard - it's a lot of explosions, people being
shot and some neat-o stunts, with a little bit of simplistic philosophy
thrown in for "depth". Maybe this would make a good party movie? For
what sort of party I'm not quite sure. One which features as much Cuervo
as Yuen, probably.
When I think of the stylistically near-perfect The Killer and
then see a film like Hard Boiled, I feel rather sad. The
Killer was made not only to be seen but to be felt, and felt
deeply. Hard Boiled was made to be seen (and I suspect made
to be seen by Hollywood studio executives above all) and nothing
else. What a shame. Anybody can make a movie without feeling, even
if not just anybody can cast Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung and Philip Kwok;
but why bother if you're not going to use them?
Yes, I expect more from John Woo. I do hold him to a higher standard.
Believe it or not, I admire John Woo. That's why I was so terribly
disappointed in Hard Boiled.
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