Wolff rating: FAIR
Plot summary: A Chinatown crime unit is entangled in local Tong (mafia) politics as a new man joins the force. His problem? He's white.
Biased, pithy comments: Oh, nearly. Although the film is excellently shot (I'm a big fan of any film that has lots of zooming cameras and a good textures on the walls), the characters are not the least bit involving and the story slow. Chow Yun-Fat seems sort of spastic at times, while Wahlberg is staring and dull. There is a rock 'em sock 'em car chase in the middle (which, on the DVD version, can be seen before the MPAA took out the gore) and other neat touches. But did I care about any of it? Nah. There is one moment about halfway through where the plot finally comes together and makes sense---we finally understand why this story is the least bit important and compelling, but the rest of the time it's like an medium episode of NYPD Blue where we haven't spent 5 years getting to know the characters.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Paul Ben-Victor.
Directed by: James Foley