R E V I E W

You Shoot, I Shoot

Golden Harvest  |  2001
Directed by Edmond Pang Ho Cheung
Written by Vincent Kok Tak Chiu, Edmond Pang Ho Cheung

With Eric Kot, Cheung Tat Ming

B A C K G R O U N D
director, in cinemas, recent and related films

Edmond Pang Ho Cheung wrote the best-seller, Fulltime Killer, that was recently adapted to the screen by directors Johnny To and Wai Ka Fai. He also co-scripted Undercover Blues, Killer, and The Cheaters. This venture marked his directorial debut.

The film played in Hong Kong cinemas in August 2001. It grossed HK $1.778 million.

M O V I E

plot
Times are tough all over. Assassin Bart (Eric Kot Man Fai) has trouble getting paid, and new free-lance assignments are drying up, so his wife (Audrey Fang Chi Suen) encourages him to "cold-call" potential clients. "Rich bitch" Mrs. Ma (played by Miu Fei Lam) wants him to videotape the murder she orders. Kot finds killing and filming at the same time too difficult, so he forcibly recruits an assistant director, Chuen (Cheung Tat Ming), to do the camerawork. Chuen has dreams of becoming the next Martin Scorcese and directing a film featuring his dream girl, Michiko (Higuchi Asuka), a Japanese porn actress. The resultant video is an instant hit with the "rich bitch" and her similarly jaded cronies. A successful new business is created: "You Shoot, I Shoot" Productions.

performances
Eric Kot Man Fai delivers a very funny performance as Bart. Cheung Tat Ming is fully his equal as the cinematically ambitious but sweet Chuen. (I first noted him in a supporting role in Big Bullet; he has worked quite steadily, with nine film appearances in 2001 alone.) The large comic ensemble is quite solid; stand-outs include the straight-faced Michael Chan Wai Man as Bill, a would-be Triad boss who hires Bart and Chuen to do a job on a rival, and the duo of Lam Suet and Tats Lau as would-be cutthroat competitors.

production
Merry and free-wheeling, the first in the two-disc set moves along briskly with bright colors, inspired production design, a guerrilla music soundtrack filled with off-beat songs, and genuine hilarity spiking the proceedings. The Hong Kong assassin movie sub-genre is ripe for the taking, and neophyte director Edmong Pang gleefully spices things up with his liberal use of handheld cameras, unique camera angles, and rapid-fire yet precise editing. Such trickery is entirely appropriate for the subject matter, by the way.

Upon inserting the second disc, however, a certain weariness takes hold. The basic premise is still very amusing, as are the numerous riffs and capable performances, but too much hot air and filler is added (including a gentle romantic sub-plot) and the cake begins to collapse (have I mixed too many metaphors into the batter?). The ending is satisfying, rather like giving the audience the chance to lick its fingers (OK, I went too far, I know). In any event, the film soars more than it stumbles, and earns all of its many laughs.

The fine cinematography is credited to O Sing Pui; art director Bill Lui can take credit for the hilarious differences between Bart and Chuen's places of residence; Wenders Li was both film editor and DV camera operator (for those great POV -- point of victim -- shots); Peter Kam composed the marvelous musical score (which sounds like a twisted take on those twangy-guitar '60's spy movie soundtracks).

rating
Category IIB. A little profanity, some sexually-explicit talk and situations, and gunshot violence played for laughs.

V C D

look
Eminently watchable, as long as you bear in mind that it's a VCD, and so black levels are not very deep, colors are a bit soft, and flesh tones don't like quite right. Still, the source print is clean and it's an acceptable presentation.

sound
I listened to the Cantonese dialogue track, and it sounded fine. Higher quality sound would be preferable, of course, but it sounds fairly good, all things considered. A Mandarin track is also provided.

subtitles
The non-removable (burned in) white Chinese and English subtitles move a bit fast at times and occasionally are difficult to read.

features
Be sure to stick around for the trailer that plays at the conclusion of the movie (on the second disk).

R E C O M M E N D A T I O N
buy, rent, or pass?

Buy. It's a shame that a DVD is not available, but the VCD quality is acceptable in order to enjoy this comedy.

(Reviewed 01/10/02)

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