BREAKING NEWS
Hong Kong, 2004, 91 minutes, Colour.
Richie Jen, Kelly Chen, Nick Cheung.
Directed by Johnnie To.
Nothing particularly new here: a bungled police raid, a shootout, a chase, criminals hiding in a block of flats and taking a father and children hostage. What is somewhat new is the role of the media and the police using the media. In order to restore its tarnished reputation, the Hong Kong Police authorities decide to put on a show of their tracking down of the criminals. Everyone is there, the police force en masse, the authorities in their trailer supervising strategy along with their media staff ready to edit footage when necessary and feed it to the avidly waiting journalists.
The film's audience has the inside edge as we know what is going on in the building. We are first hand witnesses to the cat and mouse chases. We enter the apartment and see what happens to father and children (including a hearty good meal had by all). We know how the authorities are trying to manage the media.
It generally goes as one might expect, hails of bullets, defiant stances, some final heroics. Johnnie To has made a number of martial arts movies as well as police action, so he knows what he is doing – and does it effectively.
1. The tradition of Hong Kong action films? Police thrillers? Dramas? The media? All combining for a film of 2004?
2. The streets of Hong Kong, the police and their action, the trailer, the apartments, the corridors? The facades of the building, and what was happening within? The authentic street scenes of Hong Kong?
3. The stunts, the chases, the violence? Impact? Musical score and mood?
4. The long sequence of the opening crime, the triads, the ruthlessness, the shootout in the street, the traffic police pulling the driver up, the possibility of things going off smoothly, the beginning of shooting, the policeman and his surrendering? The photographers and their capturing all this for the media?
5. The reaction of the police, the defeat, public opinion? The decision to go to the media? To safeguard the reputation? The public relations meeting, Rebecca Fong and her wanting a show? The issue of truth and lies, editing, feeding material to the media? The response of the public?
6. The media, the reporters, photographers, television cameras? The criminals and their using of the Internet, Rebecca and her access? Communication? The police and the feeding of information, editing?
7. The impact of the opening action, Inspector Cheung, his assistant, the activities of the police, chase, surrender? The reaction of the police to the man surrendering and its being interpreted for the media as sensible and heroic?
8. Rebecca Fong, at the meeting, her friendship with Eric, the ideas about the media, the memories of her father? Her saying she was black and white, tough, the plan, monitoring everything from the trailer, the strategies, allowing the lunch break, editing the material, her personal assistant doing the interviews, especially with the information coming via Internet from the criminals? The Internet confrontation with the criminals? Her leaving the trailer, her becoming a hostage, the shootout?
9. The police officials, their reactions, the dangers, the shooting?
10. The criminals, the irony of the two gangs in the same building, their joining forces, talking? The police pursuits floor by floor, room by room, the evacuation of the residents? The irony of the assassination appointment at four o’clock and the criminal getting the information?
11. Inspector Cheung, his assistant, their discussions about retirement, a big case, Cheung’s determination, continued pursuit despite being wounded?
12. The man and his children in his apartment, the children and their speaking bluntly to the criminals, the Internet connection, the decision to make dinner, the criminals and their liking to cook? The reaction of the man, hanging him out the window and the threat of his dying? The strategy for the escape, the blanket covering, the grenades? The criminals escaping?
13. The chase, the beginning of the showdown, Cheung and his pursuit on the bike, the mini-bus, Rebecca? The assassination target coming out of the building? The criminal being shot?
14. The final honours, the restoration of order in Hong Kong and its being declared a safe city? For Hong Kong audiences, for international audiences – and the excitement of police thrillers? The presentation of the media – and the critique of the media, its effect on public opinion?
