Am zin (1999)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Johnnie To

Writers:

Nai-Hoi Yau (written by) &
Laurent Courtiaud (written by) ...

Release Date:

23 September 1999 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Crime

Tagline:

A criminal genius, who has only 14 days left in his life. A CID, who has the support of the entire police force. A psychological but fatal game between two men of super talent.

Plot:

Police inspector and excellent hostage negotiator Ho Sheung-Sang finds himself in over his head when he is pulled into a 72 hour game by a cancer suffering criminal out for vengeance on Hong Kong's organised crime Syndicates

Plot Keywords:

Negotiator | Hostage | Hong Kong | Revenge | Police

Awards:

5 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Andy Lau	...	Cheung
Ching Wan Lau	...	Inspector Ho Sheung-Sang (as Lau Ching Wan)
YoYo Mung	...	Leung Yuen Ting - Girl on Mini Bus (as Yoyo Mung)
Waise Lee	...	Baldy (as Lee Chi Hung)
Shiu Hung Hui	...	Chief Inspector Wong Kai-fat (as Hui Shiu Hung)
Suet Lam	...	Suet, Baldy's Henchman (as Lam Suet)
Ruby Wong	...	Head of Interpol
Wai Ai	...	Cop at bank (as Al Wai)
Wai Kin Lam	...	Negotiator Hui (as Lam Wai Kin)
Robert Sparks	...	Diamond Dealer
Wai Leung Hung	...	Building Caretaker (as Hung Wai Leung)
Ching Ting Law	...	Elevator Cop (as Lo Ching Ting)
Man Shing Yau	...	Bank Robber (as Yau Man Shing)
Tin Hung Yee	...	SPU Leader (as Yee Tin Hung)
South Kei Lee	...	Street Thug (as Lee South Kei)

Also Known As:

Hidden War (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title) (Hong Kong: English title) (literal title)
An zhan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
Running Out of Time (International: English title)

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese | English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | South Korea:12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:PG | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Hong Kong, China

Company:

China Star Entertainment

Quotes:

Cheung: Where am I going to die, when am I going to die... all that doesn't matter to me any more. The most important thing is that I don't die in a police station.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Hong Kong Stories (2003) (V)

The best of enemies

These are my thoughts after re-watching Aau Chin on a VCD recently bought at HK$15 (definitely NOT a pirated version). I still found it quite enjoyable.

The "setup", while not brilliant, is carefully done, with attention to details. No doubt the audience will find the total incompetence of the villiant "Baudy" quite unbelievable. But he only serves as something on which the duel between the two heroes is built.

Here's is where this film differs from many others in this genre (most notably John Woo's), in which the two heroes usually start off in sharp confrontations, although they may end up appreciating each other. Not here. Right from the beginning, Lau Ching-wan and Andy Lau give you the impression that they are engaged in no more than a friendly game of chess. I, for one, like this arrangement, as a refreshing change.

Lau Ching-wan delivers his usual easy style that is well liked by his audience. He is the mouse in this cat-and-mouse game, a dignified mouse, for that matter. Andy Lau is the cool cat, actually too cool. Hong Kong movie stars who are also Canto pop stars (and that accounts for some 90% of them) often have to watch the role they play in movies to ensure that they wouldn't tarnish their image as a singer. Andy Lau, however, is so popular that I don't think he needs that caution. He just like to look cool in this movie. Didn't hurt either, as it won him his first Hong Kong Oscar.

Finally, while this is a good movie from director Johnny To, my top favorite of his is The Mission, in which style is king.