The Life of Sister Thirteen - Portland Street Blues

Portland Street Blues is a spinoff of the popular Young and Dangerous series, taking a very minor character and showcasing her in a separate movie. The entire series is about the triads, specifially the young men and women who work for the leaders. Sandra Ng plays Sister Thirteen, who was born and raised on Portland Street, an area filled with gambling, prostitution, and other vices. She rises above all this to become a triad leader of Portland Street, and in the flashback, it tells her story. Her father is in the local triad, working for a viscious and womanizing leader who constantly takes advantage of others. Thirteen has a best friend, played by Kristy Yeung, who helps her con men out of money by promising to sleep with them. This gets them into trouble, when they try to trick the local gang leader. Yeung escapes, and Thirteen is held hostage. Yeung calls Thirteen's dad for help, and in the attempt to rescue his daughter, he is killed. Thirteen is beaten up and she flees, and is aided by a mysterious woman played by Shu Qi. Qi is a spurned love from a corrupt officer. The gang lord is killed by a hit man who also happens to be a kickboxer that Thirteen has a crush on. Thirteen flees again, this time with the kickboxer, to another area to hide working at a car repair shop. She falls in love with him, but it isn't returned. Yeung finds her and stays with her, but things get ugly when Thirteen sees that Yeung and the kickboxer are getting along really well. They have an arguement, and split. The repair shop is attacked by a triad, and she goes back to Hong Kong and joins the major faction of the triads. The corrupt officer is killed by Qi and Thirteen, for revenge, and Thirteen becomes the Portland Street triad leader. Because of her failed relationship with the kickboxer, she becomes a lesbian. In the end, she reconciles with Yeung, who is a major Taiwanese actress on tv, and the kickboxer, who is killed. Cameo appearance by the Young and Dangerous crew at the end.

This is a mish mash of a movie, if you haven't guessed by now. The uneven plot sinks some fine performances, especially by Sandra Ng, who won best actress for her performance. She has gone on to do better movies, notably Golden Chicken, which is her finest moment on film. Kristy Yeung and Shu Qi (who won best supporting actress) have fine supporting roles as well. But the resolution is too quick and tidy, amost convenient. I think the "realism" of the film, the on-the-streets filmmaking, slows things down. In the end I don't get a real feel for who Thirteen is; it's like she starts off as a real person and ends up being a cariacture. It's a shame, because Sandra Ng wrestles as much out of her role as she can. A rental, but with reservations.