I was watching a documentary on Donnie Brasco- an undercover FBI agent who was able to move to the top of the Italian mob ring in the late 80s. That type of story may be universally existent which has led me to write a review on Election.

What’s interesting is that this gruesome yet powerful triad society is similar in Hong Kong- but not really talked about much. Johnnie To delivers a different approach adding a realistic touch to his movie perspective. Most gu wak jai gangster movies are just the good versus the bad or in HK, it’s just very bad especially with the movie industry in the past few years. However, the Director differs from the convention in offering to the audience a side of the triad that we really do not see much of.

There are scenes that may be melodramatic with the violence but the Director differs from the traditional HK persona of gangster movies- because we actually sympathize with the triad leaders in what, how and why they do what they do.

My favorite character is Tony Leung Ka Fai as Big D. His personality in the movie does justice to what we would think is a real gangster who desires power and wealth. His true inner needs are really felt throughout the movie as he internalizes it all with his energy, humor, and of course violence. Maggie Sui Mei Kay’s portrayal of a Big D’s mob wife is pretty neat. Even though she did not have much speaking parts- I can see why she was nominated for a best supporting role award.

Election is deep, in some way. It is more than just the usual action and violence. The movie tells of a history (literally), a culture that encompasses the Hong Kong society. The world pretty much knows of this existence- from the overwhelming violent gangster movies that have been produced for the past 40+ years. But over time, the subject becomes trite…and Election is the one of those interposing movies that causes us to rethink about how we should view their system. It is not always about that West Side story scene in which 2 gangs are taking out their knives covered by newspapers and it just so happens that each time there is a scuffle- the streets are very wet. 

When you first look at the cover for Election, you might say to yourself, “Sweet, the Chinese version of the Godfather, I’m going to buy this baby up.”  Well, please don't think that way, because you are wrong if you do.  Election is nothing like the Godfather, and in a sense, it shouldn’t be.  What Election is, though, is a movie about the struggle for power, and going through any means necessary in order to obtain that power.  Starring Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka Fei and Louis Koo, Election has some nice moments, but ultimately comes up short of expectations.

Johnnie To directs this film (what film doesn’t he direct in Hong Kong?) and does a decent job.  The acting is alright, with Simon Yam playing the cool and quiet kind of guy, but ready to snap at any moment.  Tony Leung Ka Fei is incredibly goofy, as he always is, and does a very memorable job acting the part of a potential gang leader, albeit a hysterically funny one.  I don’t know what the hell was the point of having Louis Koo in the movie, and I also don’t get the why Johnnie To included street whores in the beginning.  Just filler scenes I suppose. Nick Cheung tries to be serious, but he can’t.  Sorry Nick.

The storyline for Election seems interesting enough, but that’s just a figment of our imagination at this point.  There are so many scenes in this movie where it’s just, plain emptiness, you wonder why in the world would To include them in it.  If this was meant to be an action film, it fails miserably at that.  If this was meant to be a drama flick, it succeeds somewhat, because there are some parts that are pretty intense, it makes you think about what should happen next, but then again, you should already know what is going to happen next because, this is a film about Triads.  Although there is one scene that was completely unexpected, and makes this film worth watching…

It basically is the directing of this film that fails to produce a winning piece of art.  Election is great if you like to sit around and clip your toenails while you watch movies, but for most of us, we like to be engaged in the film.  Sure, there are some scenes, but that accounts for maybe 5 minutes of the total film.  Election is on and off with the interaction that it should have with the viewers, and some parts of this film are so incredibly non – believable you wonder what To was doing when he directed it.  *Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.*  Beware, the film has major plot holes as well, and it strays away from its supposed storyline many, many times (The interaction with the other gangs and other people with no correlation at all to the storyline?  Sigh…).  Maybe To was setting this film up for Election II, which is slated to hit HK Cinemas soon.  

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