THE CORRUPTOR (M). (New Line Cinema/Village Roadshow) Director: James Foley Stars: Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Paul Ben-Victor, Brian Cox, Andrew Pang, Byron Mann, Elizabeth Lindsey, Kim Chan, Jon Kit Lee, Tovah Feldshuh, Marie Matiko Running time: 110 minutes.
The influence of Asian cinema on Hollywood has become increasingly obvious, with directors like John Woo leaving their mark on the action genre. Bullets, bodies and blood fly thick and fast in this brutally exciting action thriller that seamlessly combines the kinetic energy and violence of the distinctive Hong Kong style of film making with the slickness of Hollywood. What is most surprising about The Corruptor is that this riveting, blood soaked actioner comes from James Foley, a director best known for his powerful character driven dramas (At Close Range and After Dark, My Sweet, etc).
The action takes place in New York's colourful Chinatown district, an area with its own unwritten codes and rules. Chen (played by legendary Hong Kong action star Chow Yun-Fat) is a veteran detective who has policed the streets of Chinatown. However, a long time ago he fell under the spell of Uncle Benny (Kim Chan), Chinatown's unofficial godfather, and has since walked an uneasy tightrope between his two masters. A vicious war erupts between the old style Triads and the new Fukienese Dragons, and the body count rises. The heat is suddenly on Chen. Complicating matters is the discovery of a series of dead bodies of anonymous young Asian girls in garbage piles throughout Chinatown.
Enter young Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg, from Boogie Nights and The Big Hit, etc), an idealistic young cop assigned to Chen's task force. "You don't change Chinatown; Chinatown changes you," cautions Chen, who develops an uneasy alliance and grudging respect for his new partner.
Yun-Fat is at his coolest, laconic best here, and Foley gives him plenty of opportunities to demonstrate the skills that have made him so famous. This is a much more exciting and violent film than The Replacement Killers, his Hollywood debut, and should please fans of the genre. Wahlberg is also quite good here, and holds his own alongside Yun-Fat.
The Corruptor is over plotted, but Foley doesn't allow the mechanics of the story to slow the film down or get in the way of the action. He directs with bruising efficiency. The film's undoubted highlight is a brilliantly staged, breathtakingly exciting car chase through the streets of New York that exacts a high toll amongst innocent bystanders and sets new standards for the genre.
Juan Ruiz-Anchia's fluid camerawork and Howard Shore's crisp editing bring a sense of energy to the film. The Corruptor certainly crams a lot into its incredibly taut and tight 110 minutes.
**** Screens at Village cinemas from May 6. greg king http://www.netau.com.au/gregking
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