MOVIE REVIEW: 'Triad Election'


Longer cut of a review in the June 15 Oregonian ....




Director Johnnie To trusts you to catch up.

In his crime films, the Hong Kong genre master loves to drop viewers into underworlds full of honor-bound men following half-explained rules. Take his highly recommended 1999 action flick "The Mission," about five bodyguards who bond on the job: Mr. To parachutes you into the middle of their relationships and day-jobs and various crimes and assassinations in progress, with friendships developing wordlessly. You're forced to pay attention.

Just so with "Triad Election": You don't necessarily need a flowchart to keep up with all the betrayals, but it wouldn't hurt. The nuances make it worth the effort.

"Triad" is a sequel to To's 2005 film "Election"; its relationship to its predecessor is roughly that of "The Godfather Part II" to "The Godfather." The new film traces the bloody career arc of Jimmy (Louis Koo) -- an entrepreneur looking to distance himself from his organized-crime dealings and expand his business into mainland China.

Unfortunately, he's hampered by bureaucratic and legal roadblocks. And so -- while repeatedly assuring himself he's "only a businessman" -- Jimmy decides to open some back doors by running for the presidency of Hong Kong's gangster federation.

But the incumbent prez, Lok (Simon Yam) is planning a tradition-busting re-election bid. (He brutally seized his post by any means necessary in the previous film.)

What ensues is literal political bloodsport: Jimmy's escalating campaign against Lok is intricate, hyperviolent, beautifully shot and allegorically potent.

That campaign is packed with subplots and supporting characters that work with the shadowy cinematography to create a sense of immersion. Koo and Yam are terrific in their roles, with Mr. To turning Jimmy into a sort of Hong Kong Michael Corleone: There's a real poignancy to his corruption, even after his campaign employs sledgehammers and man-eating dogs. If you're willing to do the work, "Triad Election" pays you in tragedy.
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B; 92 minutes; unrated.

'Triad Election' (The Oregonian, June 15, 2007)

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Posted: Fri - June 15, 2007 at 12:00 AM        

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