Full Contact (1992)
If the idea of watching Chow Yun Fat playing a hardcore biker sounds a bit odd, trust me, it works, and he further proves why he is one of the coolest actors in the world. He exudes toughness, charm, and swagger throughout, and if for no other reason than that, all Chow fans must see this movie. That said; Full Contact is an absolutely wonderful revenge drama, loaded with awesome action sequences, and plenty of enjoyable moments.
The story is sinfully simple, Chow enters into a shaky partnership with a psychopath played by Simon Yam, they are to pull off a heist, and Chow is only getting involved to help out his buddy (Anthony Wong) who is in debt. But, as the heist comes to an end, Chow is double crossed, and left for dead. Chow survives though and after being nursed back to health, he seeks his vengeance.
This could easily have been a forgettable film. But, Ringo Lam’s direction is top-notch, visually stunning, and very stylish. Plus, at the heart of the film, there are a couple of great performances, the aforementioned Chow Yun Fat, and a bizarre twist from Simon Yam as a flamboyantly gay villain. Yam oozes evil, psychosis, and a general sense of danger. The role may now be considered politically incorrect, but it works, and in many ways it’s a powerhouse performance.
In essence, this is a simple movie, but it is dressed up to look, and feel great. Part of the effect comes from a sort MTV style of direction, in other words it’s all style over substance, but I love it anyway.
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