Sparrow

Chief Sparrow Simon Yam

The mysterious Kelly Lin.

Sparrow" is Hong Kong street slang for "pickpocket" and this film from Johnnie To is about a gang of four such sparrows. They work together as a team lifting wallets from unsuspected tourists until one day the mysterious and beautiful Chun-Lei suddenly appears, requesting the gang to steal a key for her. They find her request irresistible. However the set-up begins to unravel itself when they complete their task, realizing that the exotic beauty has been slowly leading them onto a path of no return.

Johnnie To shot Sparrow (2008) during work on other projects and therefore took a total of three years to bring to fruition. Its stars To regular Simon Yam as the leader of the criminal gang and Kelly Lin as Chun-Lei who was in Johnnie To’s collaboration’s with Wai Ka-Fai, Mad Detective (2007) and Fulltime Killer (2001). This light hearted comedy is not what I’ve come to expect from the brilliant Hong Kong mucho action director, believe me you don’t normally describe the mans films as romantic and emotionally expressive? As with all his films its well made and the cinematography shows both old and new Hong Kong to its advantage, but nowhere near his best work.

Fulltime Killer

For many years professional assassin O (Takashi Sorimachi) has resided in an isolated world of killing and loneliness, which only becomes worse after the death of his love, Nancy. But his life begins to change once he meets the innocent Chin (Kelly Lin). Chin, hired to clean O’s apartment has never met her employer. However, soon the flamboyant and reckless Tok (Andy Lau) enters Chin’s life with a mission–to unveil O’s identity and usurp his place as the number one sharp-shooting assassin in the game.


Another Hong Kong gangster type thriller from Johnnie To, Fulltime Killer (2001) is based on a book by another HK filmmaker Edmond Pang Ho-Cheung. Some great action scenes between the two assassins but with its convoluted plot not Johnnies best work.

Vengeance

The French Elvis (1960s)

1963 was the first of my three visits to Saint Tropez in the South of France during the 1960’s. It was there that I first heard of the rock singer Johnny Hallyday. To describe him, as a big star in France at that time is a real understatement, his picture was every where, his records playing on radio and on every jukebox in every café and bar. He was known as the French Elvis and did not retire from performing live until 2007. Since the 1980’s Hallyday has appeared in around a dozen movies, the best known in this country is probably L’Homme du Train (2002) in which he starred along side Jean Rochefort as the mysterious stranger Milan. A great film, very well acted by the two leads and well worth a look if you have never seen it.

Francis Costello

Cult Hong Kong movie director Johnnie To has now cast the great singing star in his latest action packed gangster thriller Vengeance (2009). Hallyday plays Francis Costello a chef and former hit man who travel's from Paris to Macau to avenge the contract killing of his daughters husband and her two children, his daughter Irene played by Sylvie Testud (Lourdes 2009) lays badly wounded in a hospital bed. Costello enlists the help of three professional gunmen to assist him on his violent quest.

This French and Hong Kong co-production is Johnnie To’s first English speaking movie. Filmed on location in Macau and Hong Kong it has the look of comic-book noir coupled with To’s normal western style modern HK gangster film. One of the best action directors working today and if your not familiar with his work may I suggest you sample some. My recommendation would be Mad Detective (2007) Exiled (2006) both of which I have rambled about previously.