The Mission (1999)

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

10 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 Al	...	Cop (as Ai Wai)
Man Shing Yau	...	Scared Bodyguard (as Yau Man Shing)
Cub Chin	...	Hoi
Paco Yick	...	Assassin (as Tin Hung Yick)
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:

triad | punishment | assassination attempt | heroic bloodshed | 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:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

Hong Kong

Language:

Cantonese

Release Date:

19 November 1999 (Hong Kong)

Also Known As:

The mission

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

Lung: Get any cash?
Frank: Tens of thousands that's a certainty.

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Connections

Referenced in Fulltime Killer (2001)

User Reviews

Unique, and thoroughly enjoyable

I really enjoyed this movie, from the first 5 minutes. It's an edgey, not very dialogue driven action movie, but the cast really did a great job. This isn't to say the movie was just one shootout after another.

It isn't a mainstream "A Better Tomorrow" type Hong Kong gangster movie, and doesn't pretend to be. It's dark, the characters don't verbalise what they want to do or are thinking, but the nuances are all there. But it's befitting of the setting - they're Asian, male hired hands. It's not realistic expect them to be all philosophical and willing to wear their hearts out on their sleeve.

I also liked the movie because it cast some of the finest Hong Kong actors who were really working as a team, and no one was really glamourised to be the hero. Anthony Wong epitomises cool as his character Curtis (in Chinese his character's name was really "Ghost") with more grunts than dialogue.

Francis Ng does his edgey best, as does Roy Cheung. All three went on to make Infernal Affairs, one of my all-time favourites.