Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Protégé (2007)
Director: Derek Yee
Movie review
From Time Out London
In a crumbling Hong Kong tenement, Nick (Daniel Wu) is worried that the single mum next door is rather more dedicated to her heroin habit than her little daughter. His compassion is complicated, however, by the fact that he’s a cop, working undercover for the past eight years for drugs lord ‘Banker’ (a grey-flecked Andy Lau).An arrest is tantalisingly close thanks to Nick’s inside knowledge, yet having gained the narcotics baron’s confidence, he’s now due to inherit the business as the latter contemplates retirement. If the question of Wu’s loyalty is far from cut-and-dried in this superior crime drama, what’s not in doubt is ‘One Nite in Mongkok’ director Yee’s desire to expand on the familiar HK celluloid crimescape.
A documentary impetus delineates the steps of the drugs distribution network, for instance, and while the action set-pieces have punch, they’re secondary to character drama, where credible father-son interplay adds warmth to the chilly existential challenges of the undercover operation. No straight-ahead genre flick this, but an uncommonly absorbing human story.
Author: Trevor Johnston
Time Out London Issue 1965: April 17 - 23, 2008
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing






What do you think?
Post your review now