HARDBOILED

Hong Kong, 1992, 126 minutes, Colour.
Chow Yun- Fat, Tony Leung, Teresa Mo, Philip Chan, Anthony Wong.
Directed by John Woo.

Hardboiled is one of several films that made John Woo’s reputation internationally. It is one of several police thrillers including The Killer, A Better Tomorrow, that John Woo made in the late 80s and early 1990s. They focused on police work, undercover detectives, the triads, and were characterised by choreographed violence, especially in the shootouts. It might be said that the films show a great depopulation of the city of Hong Kong with so many police and criminals dying.

The film is fast-paced, a long shootout early in the piece. John Woo regular Chow Yun- Fat is the hard-boiled undercover policeman. Chow Yun- Fat was to go to Hollywood and appear in a range of films including Anna and the King, The Replacement Killers, Bulletproof Monk. He also appeared in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. A young Tony Leung is the gangster who joins the police. Leung was later to move into the films of Wong Kar Wei like In the Mood for Love and 2046. He also appeared in Lust, Caution. Anthony Wong has been a standard character actor in many Hong Kong films – and some with Australian themes as well.

John Woo was soon to move to the United States and direct Hard Target with Jean- Claude Van Damme. He also made Broken Arrow and his masterpiece, Face/Off with John Travolta. His films in the 21st century have not been nearly as successful as his hard-boiled films from Hong Kong.

1.The impact of this police thriller? Triads, undercover police? Hong Kong style?

2.The work of John Woo, his stories, characters, action, choreographed violence? Stylised violent police thrillers? His influence on western film-makers?

3.Hong Kong locations, interiors, the streets of Hong Kong, hospitals and factories? The harbour? Authentic feel? Musical score?

4.The title, Inspector Yuen as hard-boiled, his work, the criminals even harder?

5.The introduction to Inspector Yuen, crushing the glass, playing jazz, the set-up in the club, the attack, the activity and the shootout, Yuen’s rashness, the criticisms of his superiors, the death of his friends? The funeral? His continuing to pursue the criminals, especially Johnny Wong? The contact with Alan? His hiding out during the raid and then attacking? His own personal life, relationship with Teresa, the songs, the cards? Her giving him information? His relationship with his superiors, hard-boiled with them? Having not much life of his own, always on the job? The discussions with Alan, changing Alan’s mind, recruiting him? The search for the arms? The death of Uncle Hoi? The pursuit of Johnny, the hospital, the shootouts? The death of his informer after putting him in the hospital, Alan saving his life? The information about where the arms were? The search of the hospital, the attack of Johnny Wong and his henchmen, the massacre? The threat to the staff, to the babies? Teresa? Inspector Yuen and the final confrontation, baby in arm, blood-spattered, his getting out of the hospital? The confrontation in the square, Alan taken by Johnny Wong? Alan making the move, the humiliated Yuen and his ability to shoot? The elimination of the gang? Yuen’s future? A portrait of a John Woo hero?

6.The triads, Mr Hoi, his arms deals, his fatalistic sense, discussions with Alan? Not going to Hawaii, knowing that his time had come? His henchmen? His gang? The set-up for the arms raid? Alan’s presence? Johnny Wong and Alan getting his help? The elaborate shootouts? The confrontation with Alan, his being shot by Alan? The change of power?

7.Alan, his relationship with Uncle Hoi, lieutenant, the other members of the gang? His assassination in the library – using the book with the gun in it, the policeman(**?or men?) at the table? Inspector Yuen and the investigation, seeing the blood marks, the book, finding the gun? His observations of Alan, especially in the confrontation with Hoi? His talking with him, turning him, getting his collaboration? Their working together, searching for the arms, the death of Foxy – and Alan trying to save him with the cigarette lighter? Going to the hospital, the assassin and the death of Foxy? The search for the arms, the elaborate search in the basement? The final confrontations, fighting, Alan in uniform? His finally being taken by Johnny Wong? His move, Wong being killed? His own death?

8.Johnny Wong, arrogant, his rivalry with Mr Hoi? Trying to recruit Alan? Alan and his using him, the death of Hoi? The arms deal, the shootouts? Johnny Wong and his ruthlessness, not suspecting Alan, hiring his assassin? The showdown in the hospital, his massacring the staff? Taking Alan, trying to humiliate Yuen, his death?

9.The assassin, ruthlessness, shooting at a factory? His patch over his eye, his telling Wong not to be cruel and unnecessarily killing staff? His confrontation with Yuen, killing Foxy in the hospital, the final fights, his criticisms of Alan? Watching Wong’s massacre of the staff, killing him?

10.The portrait of crime in Hong Kong? The power of the triads? The work of the police, helpless, undercover agents, ruthless? Hard-boiled?