Running Out of Time (1999)

In "Running Out of Time," Chief Inspector Wong(Shiu Hung Hui) badly botches a hostage negotiation at a bank robbery, accidentally promising the robbers a helicopter they did not ask for. Luckily, he has Inspector Ho(Ching Wan Lau) around to help him out of this mess. But first Ho has to find a wheelbarrow large enough for his brass balls before going into the bank alone, which might also explain why he needs a little help to end the crisis. The next time Ho gets called off custodial duty, it is Cheung(Andy Lau) who takes a hostage at a financial center. Everything is not as it seems as unbeknowst to everybody else, Cheung only has a few weeks left to live. "Running Out of Time" is something of a mixed bag and a disappointment in wasting an intriguing setup on some weak comic relief. Otherwise, it is fun watching two charismatic characters playing cat and mouse, even with the plotting getting increasing murky as time goes on.

This movie probably as close to a perfect film as you're ever likely to see out of Hong Kong. All the elements click: a terrific script, that even manages to subvert the odd cliché, reliably imaginative direction by Johnny To, and excellent central performances by Andy Lau and Ching Wan Lau, the latter displaying his great comic timing to wonderful effect.