Director Johnnie To and his Milky Way production company set themselves a challenge with Breaking News (2004): How to restage the street shoot-out from Heat but introduce it with an unbroken seven minute shot? Opening with a showdown conveyed in that one-shot take between a heist crew (led by Richie Jen) and a squad of investigators (led by Nick Cheung), the movie spills over into its main topic (as clued in by the title). When news footage of the shoot-out embarrasses Hong Kong police, an officer (Kelly Chin) is placed in charge of their media response. A tenement apartment building becomes the hide-out of the gang, and the site of “The Show” being broadcast with coordination by the police, a uniformed squadron swarming outside. While the team of investigators ignore media-friendly orders and remain inside to hunt the crooks, the shootouts give way to volleys between the two sides playing out over camera crews, phone cameras and internet connections.
Breaking News is efficient and compelling with its interweaving of the action thriller and media satire elements, communicated with a sense of style in the cinematography and the music (pseudo Massive Attack style pulsations). What really makes it a Johnnie To film, aside from the appearance of the irascible Lam Seut in a supporting role, is the sense of humour and heart that occurs throughout the tension. A cop with a weak stomach introduces a few fart gags at choice moments. And a lunch break with the criminals eating with their hostages is a wonderful sequence. As a result, Richie Jen steals the movie as the charismatic and clever head thief.
Available to stream on SBS On Demand. Recommended.
VHS Tracking 