NOWHERE TO HIDE(1999)


Yes, there's the campy dialogue. Big plot holes. A flower vase female role. Over the top action. And wayyy to much pidgeons.

But this John Woo action vehicle neverthless shines through with its style. Even the hardfisted directing could not stunt the charisma of Chow Yun Fat. His immaculately coiffed hair, and boundless magnetic personality is a solid foil to Danny Lee's hardnosed cop. This mutual respect between advasaries on either side of the law plays like a precursor to 2002's ANDY LAU-TONY LEUNG pairing in INFERNAL AFFAIRS. The action is fast, quick and stylishly excecuted. Paul Chu makes for a very engaging character, at times threatening to overshadow the leads, as Chow Yun Fat's good friend torn between friendship and survival.

If you can look beyond the one dimensional characters and a hackneyed plot, what you get is pure unadulterated fun. The Killer is a blast to watch and while i won't put it in the panthenon of great Chow Yun Fat films, its still a solid offering from a time where John Woo actually made good films. Alas that era is now past....