Loving You -
If I've learned anything from this movie, it's that it takes a bullet to the head to raise a family. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, this is another reliable, not to mention more melodramatic and heartfelt entry in Johnnie To's filmography I would describe as
Regarding Henry with Hong Kong cops instead of lawyers. If that made you want to stop reading, I'll add that even though it's secondary to Inspector Lau's (Lau) journey to recovery, the stuff that made To popular here is up to his standards. It kicks off in typical exciting fashion with a botched drug bust, which also kicks off Lau's rivalry with frighteningly stone-faced drug lord Gwan (Tsung-Hua). Besides, the action would not hit as hard if it were not for how well To and frequent collaborator Lau put you inside the inspector's head, no pun intended. From his less than cordial treatment of his team to his avoidance of anything domestic - even disgustingly so, like in a scene at a bar - he makes Al Pacino's detective from
Heat seem put together. As for what happens after his tragic encounter with Gwan and subsequent recovery, Lau makes his attempts at reconciling with his co-workers, his wife as well as his desire to start a family believable and thankfully not saccharine. Don't worry, though: the movie not only concludes like you hope all Johnnie To movies will, but it does so in literally explosive fashion. The director even manages to add some of his trademark tongue-in-cheek humor in the process.
This movie mostly succeeds as an action thriller and as one that shows how time, your age, etc. are not roadblocks on the path to become a better version of yourself. I still would not rank it alongside To's best like
The Mission,
Drug War, etc. For one, not to fault Carman Lee's performance as Lau's wife, but her transition from wanting to move on from her husband and start over to being completely at his beck and call while he recovers seems too convenient. Also, given that there is more human drama than usual, the movie could stand to have more breathing room, if you will. I delight in the quiet moments in To's movies that do not always advance the plot, but that let us get to know everyone better, of which there are fewer than usual. From Lau's typically great work to all the scenes with him and Tsung-Hua to its optimism, it still checked more boxes for me than not. I mean, if a movie makes you want to bring doughnuts to the office just because, how could it possibly be bad?
My guy (or gal): Lau for how well he proves it's again, never too late.