The Mission (1999)
"Cheung foh" (original title)

Triad boss Lung, who has just escaped being killed in an assassination, hires five killers for his protection. Their grown solidarity is under compulsion when Lung gives a special order.

Director:

Johnnie To

Writer:

Nai-Hoi Yau (as Yau Nai Hoi)

Stars:

Anthony Chau-Sang Wong, Francis Ng, Jackie Chung-yin Lui

9 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anthony Chau-Sang Wong	...	Curtis (as Anthony Wong)
Francis Ng	...	Roy (as Francis Wong)
Jackie Chung-yin Lui	...	Shin (as Jackie Lui)
Roy Cheung	...	Mike
Suet Lam	...	James (as Lam Suet)
Simon Yam	...	Frank
Tian-Lin Wang	...	Fat Chung (as Wong Tin Lan)
Eddy Ko	...	Lung (as Ko Hung)
Elaine Eca Da Silva	...	Mrs. Lung
Keiji Sato	...	Assassin (as Sato Keiji)
Wai Ai	...	Cop (as Ai Wai)
Man Shing Yau	...	Scared bodyguard (as Yau Man Shing)
Cub Chin	...	Hoi
Yick Tin Hung	...	Assassin
Jerome Fung	...	Cop

Storyline

Triad boss Lung, who has just escaped being killed in an assassination attempt hires the killers Curtis, James, Mike, Roy and Shin for his protection. Their grown solidarity is under compulsion when Lung orders Curtis to kill Shin in punishment for his affair with Mrs. Lung.

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Plot Keywords:

punishment | killer | assassination attempt | triad | gay subtext | 

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Taglines:

Five men. They appreciate each other's guts and wisdom, and they are always perfect partners in missions. But now, they'll have to hold their pistols at each other...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

A misszó - Halott üzlet

Company Credits

Production Co:

Milky Way Image Company

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

During the gun battle at the abandoned warehouse, the window is cracked by gunfire. After few gun shots, the bullet holes disappear.

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Quotes

Shin: How much longer does it take to get the job done?
Curtis: Are you in a hurry? You may go if you wish.

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Connections

Spoofed in Ngo oi Heung Gong: Hoi sum man seoi (2011)

User Reviews

Slick

Having sworn to never watch Hong Kong films, save those by Wong Kar Wei, the only reason I saw this film was the good reviews it received from the Hong Kong Film Critic Society. And I must admit it was a most pleasant surprise.

The film is a slick and well packaged story of five strangers in gangland coming together to get a job done, namely that of keeping a triad boss alive. The characters, while still stereotyped to a certain extent, are not the usually uncontrolled triad powermongers that are often portrayed in other less palatable fare. These people are professionals, and they knew how to get a job done. Faced with a sniper, none of them panic, and each of them know exactly what to do. The scene in the mall was tightly controlled and well orchestrated, with minimal movement and gun fire adding more to the tension then any hail of bullets can.

The direction of Johnnie To evokes images of films by John Woo, whose scenes of gun fights have always, in my opinion, verged on poetry in motion. To's characters are restrained, while the same degree of subtlety is employed with the plot. The audience, in my opinion an often mindless group who are unwilling to think and must be spoon fed every little detail, are left to find meanings and hints in little gestures.

The film also reminds me of Things To Do In Dallas, When You Are Dead. Five strangers, called together to serve a mob boss who is past his prime. And again, there is conflict among members of this special 'team'.

In the end, aside from a less than believable plot line, The Mission scores high on its entertainment value, both in its visual style and delivery.