quinimdb
Much has been said about John Woo's 1992 crime-action extravaganza "Hard Boiled", and for good reason. It is about Tequila, an impulsive, tough-as-nails cop that doesn't always play by the book, and it is also about Lung, a self loathing undercover cop that is morally confused. Both Tequila and Lung are on a hunt for an illegal weapons cache, but they are both on opposite ends of the operation, and neither is aware of the other for much of the screen time. One thing this film gets right from the very start is a sense of vulnerability for the characters. Yes, they are skilled and crafty policemen who can take on many at once in a gunfight, but there is always the feeling that they, and, by extension, all of the other characters in the film, could be killed at any moment. This feeling is largely due to the unexpected death of a character at the beginning of the film, which sets us on edge for whats to come. It definitely helps that every scene is incredibly well choreographed, well shot, and well edited, and everything is easy to follow because of that, even during intricate action scenes in which bullets are flying in many directions and many characters are trying to avoid them while trying to hit the others with their bullets. Although he relies on it heavily, Woo's use of slow motion is always effective in increasing the tension of the moment. All of the effects used in the action scenes are practical, with real explosions, incredible stunt work, and of course ridiculously large quantities of blood. All of the technical aspects of these scenes are undeniably fantastic, but that doesn't mean anything if the story and characters aren't involving, but luckily this has a crime story that is complex and characters that aren't perfect, but have genuine moments of empathy.A lot of the action in the film also has another reason than to simply look cool: it's to build character. Many people talk about the incredible 3 and a half minute long one take action scene near the end of the film, but what most don't realize is that without context, that scene doesn't evoke nearly the same emotion. Without the build up to that scene and an understanding of the characters, it is admirable, but not nearly as visceral and intense. One of the reasons it works so well is not just because of the amazing choreography, but because this is a turning point for Lung as a character. Up until this point, he has been haunted by his mistakes and the bad things he has been forced to do. However, during the moment in the elevator after he shoots the cop, Tequila helps him realize that, while mistakes that impactful are definitely difficult to handle, he doesn't have to dwell on them, and the sooner he moves past his fear of doing an irreversible wrong, the sooner he can do justice to others and move on. After they come out of the elevator, the music begins back up again, signifying a tonal shift, and a shift away from Lung's fear and guilt. Also, the character of Lung has been having an identity and morality crisis throughout the film, and as the viewer we never quite know who's side he's on, until around this point, when he confesses that he has never killed a cop.Speaking of the ending, I feel the rest of that 30 minute finale is vastly underrated compared to that one incredible shot. That whole sequence is fantastic. The stakes are incredibly high, with hundreds of babies, children, and injured people trying to be saved from the hospital, and many situations when I genuinely couldn't imagine how they would make it out, yet every-time they made it out, it totally made sense. It also cuts between many different characters and many different action scenes at once, yet it doesn't get knotted and confusing.This is a intense and fast paced crime story that builds from one action scene to the next, conveying character through its action with style that doesn't replace substance.
sol-
Hell-bent on revenge after his partner is killed by firearm smugglers, a maverick detective forms an uneasy alliance with an undercover cop to take down the smugglers in this popular Hong Kong action movie. The film has received much praise over the years for its creatively choreographed action sequences and the large degree of imagination placed into the action does not disappoint, but the film is never quite the cohesive whole that it could have been. The plot comes second to the action every step of the way. 'In the Mood for Love''s Tony Leung is solid as the internally divided undercover cop who dreams of going to Antarctica where it is "always light" to escape the darkness of never quite knowing for sure which side of the law he is on. Chow Yun-Fat is less impressive though as the loose cannon cop and the whole revenge motivation is very formulaic. The two leads also learn to get along very quickly given all the initial tension between them. John Woo's directing style is, however, more detrimental than any arguable gaps in the screenplay. The energy that Woo exhibits behind the camera is undeniable with slow motion shots, dreamy dissolves and 'wipe' scene transitions in the mix, but through relying on so many unsubtle techniques, Woo's directing style constantly calls attention to itself, which at times makes it hard to become immersed in the action. If one takes a greater interest in action sequences than narrative elements, this is not likely to be a problem, but those who prefer traditional filmic storytelling may be best advised to proceed here with caution.
CinemaClown
An absolutely ballistic, no-holds-barred, over-the-top yet purely unadulterated action extravaganza to come out from Hong Kong during the the early 90s, Hard Boiled takes action in cinema to a whole new level with its heart-pounding & jaw-dropping sequences and cements John Woo's reputation as the most influential director when it comes to action filmmaking.The story of Hard Boiled concerns two ace cops; one is a tough-as-nails detective in his department while the other one is working as an undercover agent & has risen sharply in the underworld over the years. The plot covers their initial friction with each other followed by a mutual partnership as the two eventually team up to take down & wipe out Hong Kong's most ruthless mobster & his crime syndicate.Directed by John Woo, the film is action-packed from start to finish & features some of the most breathtaking stunts ever captured on camera. The story is equally gripping & never really gets discarded during the moments of action. Cinematography makes heavy use of slow-motions & clever angles during the action sequences yet every detail is firmly captured. Editing keeps the story explosively paced, and the background score makes effective use of jazz tracks to go with the plot.Coming to the performances, the two most impressive work comes from Chow Yun-fat & Tony Leung as the ace detective & undercover agent respectively and both exhibit a charismatic screen presence throughout the film's runtime. Anthony Wong also chips in with a brilliant contribution as the head of the Triad while his henchman Mad Dog, played by Philip Kwok, effortlessly steals every moment he is in.On an overall scale, Hard Boiled is a viciously potent, highly influential, perfectly choreographed, wildly entertaining & immensely satisfying cinema that delivers everything an action junkie can ask for. A top-gear, full-throttled action spectacle & an instant classic in every way, John Woo's Hard Boiled is a must for every film lover out there & is a template for any filmmaker looking to make a quality action entertainer.Although there are moments in the film that completely defy logic, I honestly didn't even care if the rounds in those guns never seem to go empty for the gunfights are so exquisitely filmed & fabulously shot that even after two decades, it remains in a league of its own. If you still haven't seen this genre-defining masterpiece of mayhem & destruction, then get your hands on it as soon as possible. You can thank me later.
