In China, the manufacture and distribution of drugs is a capital offense. When you're caught there are only two options, either you turn informant, or shoot your way out and pray for the best.
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I’ve never been able to understand the algebra of how/when a great film talent suddenly gets “discovered” by the larger film world. I mean I get it when a hot new director suddenly bursts onto the scene and grabs everyone’s attention with their first film, but what about when an older master suddenly gets his or her moment in the spotlight after years of churning out numerous high quality productions?
Among Hong Kong Cinema Cultists, Johnnie To has always been a revered name. Over the course of his thirty year career he has produced more than fifty films ranging from romantic comedies to triad shoot-em-ups. But it wasn’t until the mid-2000’s that his name started to gain any cache within the broader, world-wide film community. What changed? Certainly his cinema hasn’t changed. Maybe it has to do with the internet making it easier for people to discover exciting talents? Or maybe it’s just chance?
Whatever it is, I’m glad that Johnnie To is finally getting the attention he deserves. Though some of his films are more successful than others, they are all of a consistent high quality and most importantly, they always strive for something more than just cheap thrills. The final act of Drug War is absolutely brutal and leaves you with so many conflicted thoughts and emotions. As much as I enjoy the action cinema of someone like John McTiernan, Predator and Die Hard have never been able to elicit anything from me other than sheer joy. Of course there’s not thing wrong with that, but a cinephile cannot live on explosions alone.
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