WILD CITY/ MAI SING
Hong Kong, 2015, 120 minutes, Colour.
Louis Koo, Shawn Yue.
Directed by Ringo Lam.
Wild City is Hong Kong production by veteran director, Ringo Lam. It is a blend of police investigation with gangster thriller, focusing on a former policeman who has been compromised because of his letting go of his half-brother. He now manages a night club and comes across a drunk woman, helping her and becoming involved in her being pursued, having taken money from a lawyer, the gangsters wanting the money back and pursuing the nightclub owner and his brother.
Colourful, and a variation on popular Hong Kong film themes.
1. A Hong Kong story? The director, his career, Hong Kong perspectives? Action films?
2. The Hong Kong locations, police presence, the world of criminals, criminal lawyers, homes, apartments? The bar? The musical score?
3. Action on the streets, the stunts, special effects, chases?
4. Themes of corruption, the law, is brought in from Taiwan, the abduction of the woman? Action, chase, cars, trucks, the boats? The confrontations?
5. The woman, her relationship with the lawyer, the flashbacks, the issue of the cash, taking it, drinking in the bar, T- Man and his help, her car, taking her to his mother, his brother finding her? The case, the pursuits, chases, in the boat, the money in the water, recovering the case? The fights?
6. T- Man and his story, a former policeman, resigning because of his brother and his criminal activity, owning the bar, the customers, the girl, his help, talking? His brother and the chase in the tow truck, his pursuit in the car? At the hotel, the cash, into the boat, the money in the water, recovery, the final fights?
7. The brother, criminal, driving the taxi, the tow truck, his pursuit in the truck, his relationship with T- Man, his mother? Attracted to the girl? In the boat? The fights?
8. The criminal boss, wanting the license, hiring the lawyer, the plan for the abduction, the thugs brought in?
9. The thugs, their role, Taiwan, the death, the funeral, vengeance?
10. The portrait of the police, investigations, pursuits, the relationship with T- Man, the arrest and interrogation, letting them go?
11. The Hong Kong thriller and introduction to the crime world?
