Mad Director = Mad Detective

Way back in the early ‘90s Hong Kong cinema was known for three things: Jackie Chan’s acrobatics, Jet Li’s bone-crushing , and John Woo’s bullet ballets. True to form, Hollywood made it a priority to poach these icons and bring them to America at large. While all three found great success in the transition, only Woo totally crossed over without looking back. As a consequence, HK cinema was left scrambling to find someone to take up the mantle. Many tried to make their mark, from hacks like Joe Ma to the highly competent like Corey Yuen, but it wasn’t until Johnny To stepped up to the plate did the industry finally have a new action maestro. With an astounding 25 films to his credit in the last 8 years alone (and that’s just as a director!), few can boast his prolific output and sheer quality.

Best known for his Election films (think The Godfather of the East), To has become the world’s foremost purveyor of celluloid gun violence. In fact, some would argue that he has surpassed even Woo at his peak. You’re not likely to find a better executed shoot ‘em up than his Exiled, which melded the insane choreography of Woo’s iconic Hard-Boiled with the aesthetic sensibilities of Sergio Leon. To continues his streak with his latest, the actioner with a supernatural twist Mad Detective. Reunited with his frequent screenwriter and co-director Ka-Fai Wai the film stars Ching-wan Lau (Lost in Time) as Bun, a cop who can “see” the true selves of people; an ability that makes him the perfect investigator but doesn’t come without a psychological price, which eventually leads to his dismissal from the force. Skip five years ahead and a brutal crime brings Bun out of imposed retirement to find the truth…with devastating consequences for all involved.

IFC recently presented the film at the NYAFF to raves. The film will be platforming at the IFC Center on July 18 and hopefully elsewhere in the coming weeks. To is currently prepping his remake of Jean-Pierre Melville’s crime classic Le Cercle Rouge (The Red Circle) with an all-star cast including Chow Yun-Fat, Liam Neeson, Alain Delon, Tim Roth, and possibly Orlando Bloom. The Media Asia/Studio Canal co-production will be his first English language film and by far his biggest budget.