HOME Digital Reporter Amy Dean delves into our Hong Kong Crime film season and reviews Once A Gangster…
Once A Gangster from writer, director Felix Chong (Infernal Affairs) is a colourful triad parody which oozes Hong Kong culture from beginning to end. It stars two of Hong Kong’s most popular actors, Jordan Chan as Roast Pork and Ekin Cheng as Sparrow.
What stood out for me was the quick action and technical ability on such a moderate budget. It gives it a grit onscreen. Also with scenes being played out within the streets and venues of Hong Kong, you were immediately immersed into a triad world awaiting the next fight.
In the opening scene one of the new recruits is stood in a military style line up wearing loin cloth’s holding palm leaves above their head in a initiation style ritual. Not only are you thrust into the underbelly of the triad world with an expectation it will be another crime film, but with the shot of a clenched behind bracing under the words of a triad gang member you know this is delivering the complete opposite. For someone new to Hong Kong cinema, this film got me intrigued from the start unable to see which way it was going to go.
The plot twist and turns, and from the writer of Infernal Affairs and The Departed that is something that I anticipated and Felix Chong delivered to the very end. At times, I did get a bit lost with the film, and the jokes did seem a bit on the nose but this could be due to the subtitled translation not conveying exactly how witty it is. But this has given me the motivation to watch further Hong Kong films to get a better understanding of its heritage, politics and Hong Kong cinema.
The wise voice in my head says “It is definitely worth a watch” but maybe after watching a few Hong Kong films prior….Or, you can listen to the other voice and do what I have done and throw yourself in the deep end! What is there to lose?
Watching the film certainly made me want to travel back to Asia and soak up the atmosphere of the busy streets. and to learn more about films from this part of the world, minus the triad initiation process.
Once A Gangster screens on Tue 1 March as part of our CRIME: Hong Kong Style season. Book tickets and watch the trailer here.