Breaking News

Breaking News (Dai Si Gin) (2004)

Runtime: 90 minutes

Directed by: Johnnie To

Starring: Richie Jen, Kelly Chen, Nick Cheung, Yong You, Shiu-Hung Hui

From: Several different Hong Kong companies 

Breaking news: I was happy to see this Johnnie To movie. I’ve only scratched the surface of his filmography, despite seeing 2013’s Drug War soon after release and finding it to be great. This will leave the Criterion Channel after today, forcing a watch now. 

I knew we were in good hands in the opening minutes. A police stakeout goes horribly awry. There’s a LONG tracking shot lasting a few minutes-panning along and moving up/down via a crane, capturing both the cops and criminals. The shootout continues after that-law enforcement looked particularly bad as media happened to be nearby, filming and photographing the bungled operation, including a cop holding his hands up in fear to a criminal pointing a gun at him.

How do they handle this embarrassment? Better training, a reprimand for the mistakes made, improved planning? Of course not! Instead, they manipulate the power of the press via engaging in a PR campaign. Let’s be glad such things couldn’t happen now anywhere in the world… both sides are followed.

I dare not reveal much more of the plot-the satire, the quality action scenes well-filmed, the humanizing moments. The score from Ben Cheung Siu-Hung and Chung Chi-Wing was uniquely effective… percussion, flamenco guitar, what sounded like bagpipes, and other interesting sounds. Yeah, a decent amount of the film is in a blue hue that is indicative of the early 2000’s-even then, that amused me. I missed out on not giving Breaking News a shot much sooner.