A cop is blamed for his wife’s murder and joins with the assassin to try to escape Hong Kong in Alfred Cheung’s neo-noir On The Run, on Blu-Ray from 88 Films
That was bleak. After a slew of comedies, or at least somewhat tongue-in-cheek flicks, featuring star Yuen Biao such as Shanghai Shanghai, Rosa, and Saga of the Phoenix, the dour nature of On the Run, another from Golden Harvest, threw me for a loop. Interesting within that range of flicks, all coming within 2 years of this, to find a nihilistic cop-conspiracy action-drama. A damned good one, but it took a second to get myself in the new groove for Alfred Cheung’s On the Run, written by Cheung and Keith Wong.
With the controlled, tense, claustrophobic pressure of a film, Alfred Cheung, who directed my recently reviewed Paper Marriage in the Sammo Hung box (Hung produces as part of his production company here), crafts a solid neo-noir film. On the Run follows cop Heung Ming, played by martial arts superstar Yuen Biao. He’s a good cop, honest, with heart and conscientious. Too bad the rest of his Hong Kong police force, at least his division, isn’t. It’s not long before an assassin guns down his estranged wife and, you guessed it, he’s blamed. Thus, he gets On The Run. As things happen, Ming teams up with Chui Pai, the assassin who killed his wife. She’s now in the same police syndicate’s sights, and they must work together to get out. Patricia Ha is wonderful as the torn, feeling assassin. Ruthless when needed to be, with a soul elsewhere, it’s a great look. The conspiracy goes, of course, right to the top, and there is little recourse. I think I lost a little in translation, but I’d be willing to be those living in Hong Kong or know more of the history of the time (it’s contemporary to release) would catch more of the cultural milieu. From the commentary, it seemed to be reflective of a highly unstable, corruprtoin filled government, reading the looming switch of control. But even without the full cultural contexts, I found it driving, tough, and wholly thrilling.
There’s a sad desperation in it all. From high towers to darkened alleys, On the Run is a spiraling descent into hellish corruption with few ways out. If any. On the Run is a neo-Hong Kong noir and a grueling but engaging watch. It’s violent and nasty. No one is left unscathed. Ming’s little girl sees so many people killed in front of her. Whether it be his mom, his brother (played by Lau Shek-Yin from Saga of the Phoenix), or others, plenty of folks are going to be shot. Violence on violence. Cheung shoots out as many eyes as Fulci would stab.
However, don’t expect much martial arts action with Biao’s presence. There are a few moments, but this is a more straightforward thriller than it is action-based. Alfred Cheung’s direction is top-notch, moving it forward with pushing and punishing drive, and while familiar, the plot is well done. On the Run works as the violence-soaked neo-noir it is.
The Package
88 Films’ release of On the Run is a single-disc Blu-ray in a black see-through case. The sleeve is reversible with new art by Sean Longmore on one side in English and the original poster in Cantonese on the other. The O-ring cardboard sleeve features the new art.
The Presentation
88 Films sources the film from original elements for a new 2k transfer. With the noir sentiments, filmed often in darkness, it looks good. Nothing is lost in the situation, and details are well developed. The audio is Cantonese 2.0 mono only, with English subtitles.
The Features
2 Commentaries
- The Podcast on Fire Network: Kenneth Brorsson and Phil Gordon
- Asian Cinema Experts Frank Djeng & F.J. DeSanto (this pair is no surprise to any recent Hong Kong release)
The two commentaries are entertaining and information-filled, complementing one another well. The first is more technical, talking to the film more directly as it goes, and the second is a wider look at the culture and the entertainment that comes from it at the time, how its themes reflect life in Hong Kong. From my recollection of listening to them back-to-back, not too much overlap of discussion.
Running Away
Director/Writer Alfred Cheung discusses this film, how it fits into his wide array of filmmaking (27 films over 36 years), and how his personal love of noir worked into the film. (21m)
Predicting the Future
David West discusses how this film reflected the culture of Hong Kong, with the looming switch from British to Chinese control, how the island was working at the time, and the contemporary notes someone like me wouldn’t quite get until told (okay, I can Google, but I’m lazy. Media producers, you do the work for me!). So I highly appreciate that! (19m)
Alternate Ending
Removes a little from the end plus credits (2m)
Trailer
A very long trailer at 5m gets more into the details than I’d like! (but then again, I don’t watch trailers at all for that reason)
Final Thoughts
Alfred Cheung’s On the Run, now on Blu-ray via 88 Films, is a tight and thrilling neo-noir, often dour and saddening. Leads Yeun Baio and Chui Pai are great, as is the look of the film. The package with 2 commentaries and a few interviews is a nice pick-up as well.