A True Mob Story (1998)


	A True Mob Story		Return to Review Archive - T
	\| review \| awards \| availability \|		Andy Lau and Gigi Leung
	Year:	1998
	Director:	Wong Jing
	Cast:	Andy Lau Tak-Wah, Gigi Leung Wing-Kei, Suki Kwan Sau-Mei, Mark Cheng Ho-Nam, Ben Ng Ngai-Cheung, Alex Fong Chung-Sun, Sam Lee Chan-Sam, Ng Chi-Hung, Chan Wai-Man, Lee Siu-Kei, David Lee Seung-Man, Wong Tin-Lam, Dennis Chan Kwok-San, Joe Ma Tak-Chung
	The Skinny:	Wong Jing makes a good movie! This commercial triad drama starring Andy Lau proves to be affecting and even a little complex.
	Review by Kozo:	Triple-threat Wong Jing wrote, produced, and directed this hit triad drama. It deals with the trials of a low-level triad boss named Cheung Dee (Andy Lau) as he finds himself double-crossed by those he trusts and hunted by those he’s hurt. Years ago, Cheung Dee saved boss Prince (Mark Cheng) from evil triad Crazy Ball (a vicious Ben Ng). The act of heroism won him fame and a territory. Sadly, the years since have not been kind, as he’s become a bit of a joke. Dee is now near-spineless, kowtowing to his bosses and taking credit where it isn’t deserved. Despite all this, he’s cared for by his long-suffering friend Ruby (Suki Kwan), who has held a torch for him since his wife died in the same fight that earned Dee his fame. Her affection for Dee is probably the most compelling relationship in the movie, but it’s downplayed as soon as Gigi Leung enters as his lawyer Sandy. She has faith in Dee, believing he’s a good guy despite his triad lifestyle. It turns out that Dee is a good guy - an example of the righteous triad glorified in movies like A Better Tomorrow. Unfortunately, Wong Jing’s triad underworld is not the one popularized in movies like Young and Dangerous. Dee’s spinelessness comes from the fact that his brand of righteousness is ineffective in the underworld - he becomes everyone’s patsy and whipping boy. It isn’t until Dee takes a stand and fights back that he regains his self-respect. This is a commercial story with some truly dark subtext - Wong Jing has managed to take his usual cloying themes and give them some weight. Helping things is Andy Lau, who turns in one of his best performances ever. He sometimes recalls his more smarmy and annoying characters, but he adds real depth behind the buffoonish facade. Suki Kwan is impressive as Ruby, and the usual gang of triad supporting players (Mark Cheng and Ben Ng) are effectively sinister. The film falters in the subplot of lawyer Sandy, who is possibly the most unrealistic character ever seen in an HK film. It’s mind-boggling to believe she would give up everything for Dee, but she does - and willingly. Sandy is Wong Jing’s deux ex machina, and she’s played with wooden flair by the typically wooden Gigi Leung. At least the film doesn’t compromise, giving us a moral among this battlefield of moral ambiguity: It doesn’t pay to be a wise guy - even if you’re a good one. It would be better if that message were more apparent, but you’re torn between rooting for Dee and wondering how a weasel like him can get off (despite his righteousness, he’s a pretty average triad). Wong Jing mixes his messages and leaves us wondering what the hell he’s talking about. However, the film is excellent entertainment. Wong Jing and Andy Lau have given us a dark, turbulent, and possibly unsatisfying ride, but one that is definitely worth taking. (Kozo 1998)
	Awards:	18th Annual Hong Kong Film Awards • Nomination - Best Song ("You're My Woman", performed by Andy Lau Tak-Wah)
	Availability:	DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Mei Ah Entertainment 16x9 Anamorphic Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks Dolby Digital 5.1 / DTS 5.1 Removable English and Chinese subtitles

		image courtesy of Mei Ah Laser Disc Co., Ltd.
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