Election 2

On the heels of Election (released in 2005), Johnny To has directed another terrific crime movie, Election 2. In fact, comparisons can be made to Coppola's Godfather films, or even Scorsese's recent film, the Departed (which was itself a remake of a Hong Kong crime trilogy, Infernal Affairs). The story, directing and acting are all top notch, and this has to be considered one of the top movies of the year, from any country. It's that good. Veteran actor Simon Yam plays Lok, the head of the Hong Kong triad syndicate, comprised of elderly board members who elect a new leader every two years. The first film dealt with Lok's rise to power, competing against rival factions to grab the top spot, which brings great power and prestige. But once elected, one can not be reelected. In Election 2, it is at the end of Lok's two year term, and Lok wants to do the unthinkable and run again. He has support from some of the board members, but others want to support a new comer, top businessman and illegal dvd copier and porn distributor Jimmy (played by Louis Koo). Jimmy wants no part in this ploy; however, after being busted in a deal at a restaurant, he discovers that in order to do business in China he must run for Chairman of the triads, and he reluctantly does so. During the course of the film we see Jimmy embrace the life he so much abhorrs, in the process becoming more brutal and violent than his rival, Lok. The scenes of Jimmy and his henchmen torturing one of Lok's supporters, then dispatching him is harrowing and disturbing. Even his own men are shocked by his callousness. But it does the job, he secures support of Lok's followers and his henchmen, and at the end of the film, Lok is killed, while Jimmy achieves his dreams of having business connections with the mainland, having a house on top of a hill, and marrying his sweetheart. Until at the end of the film, he discovers that it all has a price, and that is he must maintain leadership of the triad for many years to come; which means he has to break tradition and be reelected.

Apparently Election 2 was banned in China for its content, and I'm not talking about the bloody violence of this film. This is an indictment of China's assimilation of Hong Kong, by portraying Chinese officials as ruthless, coldblooded men who work with Jimmy to influence and control the long standing and venerable triad society in Hong Kong. Not that anyone is truly good in this film, but it is a unique and imaginative look at the inevitable assimilation of Hong Kong into China, using the factions as symbols for territory and the country. Simon Yam is good as always, but Louis Koo gives a command performance as Jimmy, a man who just wants to make a lot of money, but not get his hands dirty by being involved with the triads. His cold blooded anger at being forced to play the election game makes him into one of the most evil crime lords ever to grace the movie screen. And Johnny To, the one director remaining from the glory days of Hong Kong's film industry in the 80's and early 90's, is outstanding. Watch this film and compare it to Scorsese's the Departed -- they are eerily similar in visuals and cuts. But where Scorsese is revisiting the successes of his past films, To is building upon a remarkable filmography. Everything is shot just right, there are no wasted moments. The pacing, while slower than the first film, builds up to a satisfying climax, with a twist at the end that makes all involved pawns of a larger game. This gets my highest recommendation; one of the best films of 2006.