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Breaking News (2004) |
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Johnnie To’s slick action-thriller, Breaking News, demonstrates that the Hong Kong heavyweight can still deliver quite a punch; another great chapter from a rich and greatly varied career.
The story opens with a violent clash between cops and criminals, in one of the most visually stunning shootouts committed to film in recent years. Professional thief, Yuen (Richie Ren), and his crew are interrupted during the completion of a heist, placing them in the sights of rogue cop, Cheung (Nick Cheung). When the news crews arrive and film the long shootout in the streets of Hong Kong, the public is outraged at the lack of preparation and protection from the police, and watch as the thieves make their escape. After the crew’s suspected hideout is revealed, bold, new police commissioner, Rebecca Fong (Kelly Chen) proposes that the police invite the media to film what should be a smooth takedown, in order to win back public approval. The events that follow lead both sides of the law into an unpredictable finale with the cameras rolling throughout.
Despite being an action-thriller, Breaking News clearly satirizes the subject of media manipulation and ‘spin’. Therefore the criticism that the film has received with regard to the lack of realism of some of the action sequences misses the point of the film altogether. The direction is sharp and taut, and the Michael Mann style shootouts deliver a stylish and very tense layer of action. But since there is so much more to the film than the gunplay, the action merely plays a supporting role in a far greater story. Commissioner Fong, with her intent on spinning every disaster to make one side look better in the eyes of the viewer seems to pay homage to virtually the whole concept of major media coverage, with slants and angles almost always given their play. The film also possesses a voyeuristic feel, that we the viewers are sitting, watching the violence onscreen no differently from the news crews editing footage from cameras planted in officer’s uniforms. For this reason, I believe this to be one of the bolder, more explicit subjects of Johnnie To’s recent works, in which he has blended these themes and observations with tightly shot action sequences.
The performances are quite varied, with Nick Cheung giving undoubtedly the most charismatic and energetic portrayal of the angry and determined cop, not in charge, but leading the assault nonetheless. Richie Ren gives an interestingly downplayed and subdued performance as the calm, intelligent criminal, but unfortunately Kelly Chen doesn’t appear very interested in what could have been a very rich character, depicting the media manipulator. My personal favorite supporting character was Yip, a cowardly and incompetent taxi driver played by Lam Suet, who is held hostage with his children when the criminals seek refuge in his apartment. This allows sympathy and humanity from Yuen and his crew towards this comedic fool, who, when asked to make food for the thieves, does not know how, as his young children always cook for him. It was very nice to see Simon Yam in a cameo appearance as the police superior, but Yam, the undisputed veteran, is seen here taking a back seat to the younger stars who top the bill.
Whether you’re already a fan of slick, maverick director, To, an action-junkie, or a fan of genuinely smart filmmaking, Breaking News has all this and more. Ignore reviews that bad-mouth the unrealistic action and see the film for yourself. I think you’ll be surprised.
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Mike Fury 12/7/2006 - top |
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