Since seeing Hard Boiled for the first time last month,I've been in the mood to check more of the credits of auteur John Woo. Taking part in a 90's Challenge on ICM before a best of 1991 movies poll kicks off,I was pleased to find a Woo title from the year,which led to me following the thief.
View on the film:
Not filming in Asia for the first time, (but retaining the Hong Kong crew)co-writer/(with Janet Chun & Clifton Ko) directing auteur John Woo gives his visual motifs a playful twist,by using the south of France location to wipe down (some) grit and present a "Caper"/heist flick, which sees Woo dip into his pre-Heroic Bloodshed era past with a glittering comedic dance number. Playing the heist out with vibrant, fluid camera moves casting a slick atmosphere over each sleight of hand, Woo turns the cards on the thieving by introducing his Heroic Bloodshed stylisation to the surroundings (send in the dove from above)lit up by a spectacular Bullet Ballet of burning red flames, rapid-fire Gun-Fu and invented stunts using items round the house in the 40-minute explosive final,which brings the sleight of hand unpredictability to the action.
Hit by both The Killer and A Bullet In The Head bombing in Hong Kong, Woo reunites with Bullet writer Janet Chun, and is joined by Clifton Ko in planning a captivating Caper,with Joe (played with a charismatic cheekiness by Chow Yun-Fat) and Jim's (played by a terrific Leslie Cheung) breezy dialogue,and a sweet side romance with fellow thief Cheri (played by a sweet and sly Cherie Chung) brewing a sparkling atmosphere, as the trio thrillingly plan each stage of the heist. Taking the wheels of the heist off the rails, the writers take great delight in spinning bonkers Caper twists involving Joe with the continuation of Woo's exploration of the samurai-style loyalty at the heart of Heroic Bloodshed (a Butch and Sundance poster is shown on a wall),given extra spikes by the parental-like betrayal from the elder which holds the orphan trio as a group,who escape all attempts to catch a thief.
View on the film:
Not filming in Asia for the first time, (but retaining the Hong Kong crew)co-writer/(with Janet Chun & Clifton Ko) directing auteur John Woo gives his visual motifs a playful twist,by using the south of France location to wipe down (some) grit and present a "Caper"/heist flick, which sees Woo dip into his pre-Heroic Bloodshed era past with a glittering comedic dance number. Playing the heist out with vibrant, fluid camera moves casting a slick atmosphere over each sleight of hand, Woo turns the cards on the thieving by introducing his Heroic Bloodshed stylisation to the surroundings (send in the dove from above)lit up by a spectacular Bullet Ballet of burning red flames, rapid-fire Gun-Fu and invented stunts using items round the house in the 40-minute explosive final,which brings the sleight of hand unpredictability to the action.
Hit by both The Killer and A Bullet In The Head bombing in Hong Kong, Woo reunites with Bullet writer Janet Chun, and is joined by Clifton Ko in planning a captivating Caper,with Joe (played with a charismatic cheekiness by Chow Yun-Fat) and Jim's (played by a terrific Leslie Cheung) breezy dialogue,and a sweet side romance with fellow thief Cheri (played by a sweet and sly Cherie Chung) brewing a sparkling atmosphere, as the trio thrillingly plan each stage of the heist. Taking the wheels of the heist off the rails, the writers take great delight in spinning bonkers Caper twists involving Joe with the continuation of Woo's exploration of the samurai-style loyalty at the heart of Heroic Bloodshed (a Butch and Sundance poster is shown on a wall),given extra spikes by the parental-like betrayal from the elder which holds the orphan trio as a group,who escape all attempts to catch a thief.