Review of PTU (2003) by Naoya K — 31 Dec 2013

Breaking away from conventions of the genre, Johnnie To's PTU is one of its kind. From the outset, PTU is a police procedural that follows an ensemble of cops who bend the rules in order to withhold an unwritten code of honor and loyalty for each other. However, the film proves much more interesting than just that.

Not only does it operate entirely within a moodily crafted atmosphere on a single night (finely designed and photographed by To and his team), PTU features characters that drive the piece in a subtextual, cool, and almost silent way that is both unique and bold in its execution. The pools of light accentuate the calm yet eerie streets of nocturnal Hong Kong - all the more appetizing for viewers when our heroes, or non-heroes perhaps, emerge in cinematic formation out of the larger darkness - a trademark visual strength that To has developed over the years.

The confusing cat-and-mouse plot may alienate viewers initially, but the beauty of this work is the artistic direction that To infuses into every frame, sequence, and outcome. This is not the everyday narrative, nor is it planning to fall into any norms. This is a Johnnie To stamp on HK cinema; a film that further paves the way in which he continues to reinvent his personal style and stir up the patterns of cinema at the time. Likewise, although polarizing, PTU is a visual treat that begs for multiple viewings.