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The Killer follows Ah Jong (Chow Yun-fat), a hitman that decides to perform one last job in order to pay for the surgery of a singer he accidentally blinded during a previous shoot-out. As a result, he ends up relentlessly pursued by the triad members that double-cross him, as well as Li (Danny Lee), a cop that might be just as determined as him.
In many ways, this feels like an improved version of A Better Tomorrow. Not sure if it's because I saw both almost back-to-back but I see a lot of parallels between both films. From the fights against triads, the climatic Mexican standoffs, the clash between cop and criminal, and the strained brotherly relationship down to the bloody end.
That "brotherly" relationship is what provides the backbone of the film, as we see both cop and hitman go back and forth; first as they play cat and mouse, and then as they join forces for a common goal. Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee have a great chemistry and you really believe the way their relationship grows as the film progresses.
Incidentally, Ah Jong's relationship with Jennie (Sally Yeh) doesn't feel as fleshed out which neuters some of the dramatic weight of the film. Even Ah Jong's relationship with his friend and mentor Sei (Chu Kong) feels more realized and heartfelt. Shing Fui-On does a lot of scenery chewing as the bad guy, but that makes him fun to watch.
But beside the performances, the main attraction of this film is the action setpieces and choreographies. There is an almost operatic fluidness to the way Woo films these stand-offs and shoot-outs that you can't help but be amazed by how gorgeous and cool it looks. There is such a nice mixture between the excesses of violence and the dance-like movements that you can't help but be amazed by it.
There is something really interesting about watching a film like The Killer, and recognizing its fingerprints in other action or crime films. From Woo's own Face/Off to The Matrix and John Wick; even L.A. Confidential, as different as it might be, has a ton of stylistic and thematic parallels to this. As it is, The Killer is probably one of the best action/crime films I've seen.
Grade:
THE KILLER
(1989, Woo)
(1989, Woo)
"At least we have one thing in common. We both use guns in our jobs. We just have different reasons."
The Killer follows Ah Jong (Chow Yun-fat), a hitman that decides to perform one last job in order to pay for the surgery of a singer he accidentally blinded during a previous shoot-out. As a result, he ends up relentlessly pursued by the triad members that double-cross him, as well as Li (Danny Lee), a cop that might be just as determined as him.
In many ways, this feels like an improved version of A Better Tomorrow. Not sure if it's because I saw both almost back-to-back but I see a lot of parallels between both films. From the fights against triads, the climatic Mexican standoffs, the clash between cop and criminal, and the strained brotherly relationship down to the bloody end.
That "brotherly" relationship is what provides the backbone of the film, as we see both cop and hitman go back and forth; first as they play cat and mouse, and then as they join forces for a common goal. Chow Yun-fat and Danny Lee have a great chemistry and you really believe the way their relationship grows as the film progresses.
Incidentally, Ah Jong's relationship with Jennie (Sally Yeh) doesn't feel as fleshed out which neuters some of the dramatic weight of the film. Even Ah Jong's relationship with his friend and mentor Sei (Chu Kong) feels more realized and heartfelt. Shing Fui-On does a lot of scenery chewing as the bad guy, but that makes him fun to watch.
But beside the performances, the main attraction of this film is the action setpieces and choreographies. There is an almost operatic fluidness to the way Woo films these stand-offs and shoot-outs that you can't help but be amazed by how gorgeous and cool it looks. There is such a nice mixture between the excesses of violence and the dance-like movements that you can't help but be amazed by it.
There is something really interesting about watching a film like The Killer, and recognizing its fingerprints in other action or crime films. From Woo's own Face/Off to The Matrix and John Wick; even L.A. Confidential, as different as it might be, has a ton of stylistic and thematic parallels to this. As it is, The Killer is probably one of the best action/crime films I've seen.
Grade: