Directed by Johnnie To (1999)

Starring: Francis Ng, Anthony Wong, Roy Cheung, Lam Suet, Simon Yam, Jackie Lui, Eddie Ko

This is the 3^rd of To’s trilogy from 1999, which was a busy year at least for him in directorial terms. The other two would be the excellent Running Out of Time and Where a Good Man Goes, which didn’t really do it for me, although my opinion does not seem to be the general consensus, so check it out anyway.

The opening scene systematically introduces to us the main characters before moving swiftly on to the spectacle of triad mogul Eddie Ko being hunted down in the "Superbowl Restaurant". After a narrow escape, Ko orders his brother (Simon Yam) to "get Curtis" (Anthony Wong). Curtis (now a hairdresser) is "got", as well as Francis Ng (barkeeper), Jackie Lui (Ng’s sidekick), Roy Cheung (pimpdaddy) and Lam Suet (?triad geeza?) in order to protect Ko. This they do and they forge a strong bond along the way, after a shaky start. They succeed in their "Mission", but it doesn’t end there.

The plot is really no more than a vehicle for a fine ensemble cast to show how slick they can be. Dialogue is lacking on occasions throughout, but much more is spoken without it. Expression is everything and the combination of To’s direction and sterling performances all round really deliver a supreme package, almost as if everybody set out to "out-cool" each other. Outstanding acting calibre is delivered throughout and Roy Cheung possibly puts in the performance of his career, in a role he is no stranger to, but here he has this relaxed manner, which in fact suits him more than his normal "I’m a complete bastard" persona. Each of the three action set pieces are shot as if the characters have not a bullet to waste, almost calm-like, yet still maintaining the kinetic energy you would see in your typical shoot-out.

The Mission is definitely one to watch for, but how the funkiest soundtrack in years lost out to the middle-of –the-round sounds of Fly Me to Polaris in the 1999 HK Film Awards baffles me. Check it for real. Ayi?