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R E V I E W
Runaway
Universe / 2001 / 98 minutes
Directed by Dante Lam Chiu Yin
Story by Dante Lam Chiu Yin; Screenplay by Jack Ng Wai Lun and Lau Ho LeungWith Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Anthony Wong Chau-Sang, Ruby Wong Cheuk-Ling
B A C K G R O U N D : director, in cinemas, recent and related films
Dante Lam Chiu Yin gained experience working as assistant director for Gordon Chan for several years. The first film he directed was the enjoyable police drama Option Zero in 1997, followed by the grittier and more violent Beast Cops (co-directed with Chan) in 1998. Th romantic When I Look Upon the Stars came next in 1999. Lam then really mixed things up with Jiang Hi: The Triad Zone in September 2000, a deconstructionist triad film. He returned to more familiar territory with Hit Team, which was released in February 2001. Neither of those films was very successful at the box office.
This film opened in Hong Kong cinemas in May 2001.
M O V I E : plot, performances, production, rating
Plot: Triads Dan and his younger partner King decide to take for themselves a large sum of money they collected for their boss, Kwan. They are discovered when they manage to cross up another crime boss, Ray, and so run away to Thailand to hide out. Sun, sand, and surf do not keep them from trouble, however, in the mysterious persons of the lovely Ching and a deaf mute.
Performances: Nick Cheung Ka Fai plays it nearly completely straight and sober as Dan - a little more life would have been welcome. Anthony Wong Chau-Sang is quite remarkable as Ray - you can see him thinking, a recognizably human trait that is all too often absent from the movie world. Ruby Wong Cheuk-Ling has more to do than usual in the role of Ching and does fine with the opportunity. I very much liked the tall and lanky Samuel Pang King-Chi as King. The cast is rounded out by Joe Lee Yiu Ming as Kwan (with one of the more memorable haircuts in recent film history), Low Houi Kang as a triad sent to Thailand after Dan and King, and, as the deaf mute who steals King's heart, Anya Wu.
Production: It's a pleasure to see director Lam stretching his wings again after the more conventional Hit Team (the end credits give 'special thanks" to a host of international directors, including Kubrick, Scorcese, Kurosawa, and Ozu). The story meanders along in a zig-zag manner rather than a propulsive race to the finish. With this film, that's a bonus - it's character driven and unpredictable. Film school flourishes (a touch of speeded-up motion, gentle jump cuts, and the like) are lightly used as accents. Upon reflection, it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what would improve the film. It doesn't quite seem to hang together as a whole. Does that really matter? Multiple viewings may be necessary to work out this seeming contradiction. The rather workmanlike look of the film manages to capture the holiday locations in a matter-of-fact but attractive way, as photographed by cinematographer Tony Cheung Tung Lung (Drunken Master II, Black Mask, Beast Cops, Sealed With a Kiss, Comeuppance). Chan Kei-Hop (several UFO productions as well as most of Lam's films) did the subtle, excellent editing job. Tommy Wai composed the entertaining musical score, which ranges from percussive and techno to lilting and tropical.
Rating: Category IIB. Considerable amount of profanity, as well as gun and knife violence with some blood.
D V D : look, sound, subtitles, features
Look: Generally, the letterboxed (approximately 1.85:1) presentation looks good. (I must confess to a bit of technical ignorance, though. It looks as if the actual picture is closer to a full frame, 1.33:1 aspect ratio, with black matting added at the top and bottom of the frame to make it look traditionally letterboxed. I don't know how to check this, and I haven't seen any other reviews so far. I'm open to correction on this point.) For the most part black levels are deep, colors are sharp, and flesh tones look natural. Some daylight scenes look washed out, however. The source print looks very clean.
Sound: The Cantonese soundtrack, presented in DD 5.1, sounded quite good with intermittent use of the surrounds and a limited amount of deep subwoofer action. Also provided is a DD 5.1 Mandarin audio version.
Subtitles: The white removable English subtitles are poorly translated and sometimes difficult to read because of the multitude of misspellings. Several times they flew by too quickly for me to read. Some dialogue at the end of the movie is not subtitled. Chinese subtitled are also provided.
Features: Eight chapters can be selected from a still-frame menu. The film's original theatrical trailer is included, as are trailers for Forever and Ever, Everyday is Valentine, and Gold Fingers. A six-minute "Making Of" provides behind-the-scenes footage and brief interviews, but no English subtitles. Filmographies are included for Nick Cheung Ka Fai, Ruby Wong Cheuk-Ling, and Anthony Wong Chau-Sang.
R E C O M M E N D A T I O N : buy, rent, or pass?
Rent. Highly recommended. Weirdly entertaining if not entirely successful.
(Reviewed 7/26/01)
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