One of a number of Hong Kong movies
screening in local cinemas this summer
Detective vs Sleuths (Hong Kong-Mainland China, 2022)
- Wai Ka Fai, director, co-scriptwriter and co-producer
- Starring: Lau Ching Wan, Charlene Choi, Raymond Lam, Carmen Lee
Before 2019, crime dramas and actioners were among my favorite Hong Kong movie genres. In recent years, however, I've been loath to view films which with Hong Kong cops as heroes. And I'm far from the only person who feels this way -- which is why, for a time, Hong Kong crime dramas and actioners began to become akin to endangered species.
In the past year or so, however, Hong Kong filmmakers have returned to producing films in these genres that often are prime showcases of their technical abilities. And it's been interesting to see how some of them have managed to do so in unconventional ways -- including by way of producing works that involve crime and action but no cops (cf. Kelvin Chan's Hand-Rolled Cigarette), or offerings shot in Hong Kong but which aren't explicitly identified as being Hong Kong (i.e., Soi Cheang's Limbo).
In contrast, Wai Ka Fai's Detective vs Sleuths most definitely possesses characters who are Hong Kong police officers. But, in a nod (back) to the Hong Kong cinematic tradition of characters tending to be complex and "gray" (rather than metaphorically sporting white or black hats), many of its characters with police connections, even those who are nominally the film's heroes, are neither without weaknesses nor faults.
Take for example its protagonist: Lee Chun (portrayed by Lau Ching Wan), a police ace who got drummed out of the force after he started literally seeing demons and who, for much of Detective vs Sleuths, sports a yellow slicker of the type that, for Hong Kongers, will surely bring to mind that worn by extradition bill protestor Marco Leung; this even though Lee Chun's sports the word "Police" on its back. Then there's Chan Yee (played by Charlene Choi), the heavily pregnant police officer who realises that Lee Chun still is a very capable detective despite his eccentric ways and bouts of what can seem like certifiable insanity, and who hides a secret about her past that gives her extra incentive to see that justice is truly served.
After not interacting with each other for many years, Lee Chun and Chan Yee's paths cross again when they come together to investigate a series of gruesome murders being perpetuated by a group of vigilantes claiming to administer justice to murderers whose cases the police had declared to be "cold" (i.e., unsolved). While Chan Yee treats Lee Chun with respect, other police officers involved -- including her husband, Fong (Raymond Lam), and their superior, Wong Yan (Carmen Lee) -- are less inclined to do so; to the extent that they expect Lee Chun to be an accessory to the vigilantes rather than someone who, like them, wishes to prevent further murders from happening; this even though the people being hunted down by the vigilante group are folks who are on the suspect side morally.
The vigilantes' hunting down of the people they have should be punished with death, and Lee Chun and the police's attempts to figure out the vigilantes' next moves proceed at breakneck speed. So much so that the viewer of this wild ride of a movie might feel like they have little time to pause for breath and to think. This is undoubtedly a good thing as far as the filmmakers are concerned -- for not only does this keep the excitement levels up but also to prevent the viewer from noticing plot holes that surely abound as Detective vs Sleuths is the kind of film that preys on your emotions far more than it wants to intellectually impress.
At the same time though, the viewer still has should be able to appreciate this (surely deliberately) chaotic film's aesthetics. In particular, the work of veteran director of cinematography Cheng Siu Keung, cinematographer Ray Cheung Tai Wai, editor Allan Leung and editing supervisor David Richardson are noticeably impressive -- and it's notable that the film credits include that director of cinematography as well as cinematographer and editing supervisor as well as supervisor!
Also delivering up sterling work on this cinematic production are art director Jean Tsoi, styling specialist Stanley Cheung, costume designer Pat Tang and whoever was the location scout on this film that has quite the variety of locations (urban; rural; land; and sea). Ditto its often under-rated director, Wai Ka Fai -- who labored for so long under the shadow of Johnnie To when at Milkyway Image but, lest we forget, actually is a film veteran who made his directing debut back in 1992!
My rating for this film: 7.5
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