Rent Fulltime Killer (2001)

Stylish Hong Kong actioner - Fulltime Killer review by Alphaville

Johnnie To’s 2001 killer v killer movie suffers from comic-book characterisation and plot, but it’s still a stylish and attention-grabbing film. Technically, To’s camera is constantly on the move so there’s always something good to look at and he’s a master of crane shots that add extra flair to the action stunts. The stunts themselves seem to have been done by the actors themselves, including jumping off balconies (see illuminating Making Of feature on DVD). The scene where Any Lau is trapped between platform and speeding underground train actually seems to have been done for real. Add a score that puts a moody take on affairs and you have a film that, even when it makes no sense, is constantly watchable.