Today’s quick review: Chasing the Dragon. In 1960, Ho (Donnie Yen) and three of his friends arrive penniless in Hong Kong, hoping to make their fortune. The four of them make modest money as hired muscle for a street gang until Ho’s fighting ability catches the eye of Lee Rock (Andy Lau), a crooked cop. With Lee’s help, Ho soon rises up the ranks of Hong Kong’s criminal hierarchy. But with enemies everywhere, his reign may be short-lived.
Chasing the Dragon is a Chinese crime drama starring Donnie Yen and Andy Lau. Set in the corrupt, chaotic Hong Kong of the 1960s anad 70s, Chasing the Dragon charts Ho’s rise from lowly brawler to one of the most powerful drug dealers in the city. The movie has an organic, biographical plot that dives into the shifting alliances and violent betrayals of the city’s criminal underworld. Solid writing and two talented leads make it an engaging watch.
True to its genre, Chaisng the Dragon does not have any heroes. Ho is loyal to his friends but otherwise willing to use as much violence as it takes to reach his goals. Lee has a likable personality but is just as ambitious. Their quest to dominate the Hong Kong drug trade is marked by hard choices and ruthless moves to eliminate the competition. But their characterse are nuanced and their enemies are even worse, making them suitable leads.
Chasing the Dragon handles its drama well. The plot rotates between Ho’s burgeoning criminal career, Lee’s rise through the police department, and the power struggles between the city’s top criminals, the corrupt local police, and the British administration in charge of the city. Like other crime stories with a biographical style, this doesn’t lead to a tidy plot or a neat payoff, but rather a steady drip of interest from a variety of sources.
Watch Chasing the Dragon when you’re in the mood for a well-told tale of criminal ambition. Chasing the Dragon does not match the depth or vision of the best films in the genre, but the strength of its writing, leads, and presentation make it a worthwhile watch for anyone interested in the genre. Skip it if you’re looking for a more action-packed cime movie, as opposed to one focused on drama.
For a similar criminal rise and fall, try Scarface, Blow, Casino, The Outsider, or Kill the Irishman. For another crime drama starring Donnie Yen, try Infernal Affairs. For Donnie Yen in a more heroic role, try Ip Man.
6.8 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for all-around solid execution.