Eye in the Sky

Starring: Simon Yam, Kate Tsui, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Lam Suet, Maggie Siu

Synopsis:

Constable Ho Ka Po (newcomer Kate Tsui) transfers to Hong Kong Police Surveillance Unit and comes under the paternal wing of Dog Head (Yam). She finds herself thrown in at the deep end, as her unit are tasked with tracking down a highly skilled gang of jewel thieves.



Review:

Produced by Johnny To, director of Election and Exiled, this taut but straightforward thriller paints an eerie picture of Big Brother being used for The Greater Good.

Whilst it is a straightforward police procedural, it is at least an intelligent one, with intelligent characters and good writing. The opening sequence has the new recruit, "Piggy" (Kate Tsui) tailing her suspect, only to be confronted by him in a diner. Things don't get any easier for her as she is introduced to the less glamorous side of police work (especially the tediousness of all-night surveillance).

As we learn through her "new" eyes though, the team are very good at what they do: blending in with their surroundings, not giving off any "cop" vibes which might spook more seasoned crooks.

First-time director Yau certainly gets the atmosphere right - hand-held camera work at street level is blended well with cctv footage, giving the viewer a good idea of exactly how the surveillance team work and adds a level of belief to the story.

As you might guess, this is a low-key thriller, with only a splash of gunplay, although there are a couple of gruesome murders along the way. There is also a dash of humour, in part from the ludicrous "jokes" Simon Yam's character tells, but there's also a nice gag which sees a brawl peter out because all the participants get a little distracted.

Simon Yam is one of my favourite Hong Kong actors, who seems to have been around for ever. Here, he is totally unrecognisable - pot-bellied, dishevelled, glasses, mussed up hair - a million miles away from his usual debonair style. But then thats the point - you wouldn't give this guy a second glance on the street.

Kate Tsui has a newcomer's awkwardness which actually enhances her role. Her character's arc differs slightly from most in the movie, and her final scene is quite a crowd-pleaser.

Verdict:

Straight forward procedural, but intelligent and streamlined. Kate Tsui makes an able heroine, naive but strong-willed, whilst Simon Yam paradoxically shines through as dishevelled Dog Head.

Favourite scene

I love it when characters are at least as smart as the audience. There's a scene where the police think they have the whole gang under surveillance, when one of the senior officers spots how insubordinate one of the gang is acting. From this he is able to deduce that the leader isn't present. It's a nice bit of thought process which shows that the movie and its audience is on the same page.

7 out of 10 (Review by MikeOutWest)

(NB - Not currently available in UK - available on R1 on Tai Seng label)