Drug War (2012 102min.) [Film4 12.50am saturday &+1]
A drug dealer is hospitalised following an accident, which leads to him being identified by the police and facing the death penalty. He agrees to help bring down the criminal organisation he works for in return for his life, assisting undercover officers to infiltrate the syndicate. Gangster thriller, starring Louis Koo and Ka Tung Lam. In Mandarin and Cantonese.
Director Johnnie To is a superstar in his native Hong Kong with a string of well-respected and commercially successful action/thriller films to his name.
Sadly, in the UK his work struggles to get a cinema release and he has become something of a cult figure through the home entertainment releases of his work.
Drug War is a high energy series of set-pieces linked with a slightly confusing plot that features double and triple crosses, identity swaps and multiple timelines.
However, even if you struggle to follow who is doing what to who and why there's loads to enjoy here. It's all really well shot and the action sequences are artfully constructed.
It's the kind of film Asian cinema does really, really well and those who enjoy the work of John Woo, Takashi Miike, Chan-wook Park etc. will find a lot to enjoy and admire here.
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