Review of Running Out of Time (1999) by Naoya K — 19 Nov 2015
A first-class action suspense from Hong Kong made almost a half decade before "The Infernal Affairs" was made. Johnnie To gets into his prime time with this film and "Hero Never Dies," which was made right a year before this one.
Simply speaking, To's films, especially this one, skip meaningless introduction and character establishment and start with the moment something has happened or is happening. In other words, it's climax throughout the film, from beginning to end, in his films.
Music heightens the tense. Also, he doesn't let characters speak too much - He knows what they do talks much more to us audiences than what they say. The process Andy Lau character and Ching-Wan Lau character find a certain degree of friendship and in which the heroin played by Yo-Yo Mung and Andy Lau character fall in love to each other represent To's style very well.
Comical scenes inserted between the scenes very suspenseful work great in the film too (especially the relationship between Ching-Wan Lau character and Suet Lam character). Besides To's direction, Andy Lau and Ching-Wan Lau, one of To's favorites, give such great performances.
One thing makes me grade down this film is Andy Lau in drag, and nobody can tell it's a man. Editing (meaningless fast-mo's) in some parts is distracting, too.
This review of Running Out of Time (1999) was written by Naoya K on 19 Nov 2015.
Running Out of Time has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
