By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Johnny To
Starring: Louis Koo | Simon Yam | Tian-lin Wang
Original language title: Hak se wui yi wo wai kwai
Country: hong_kong
Year: 2007
Running time: 82
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491244/
Bruce says: “It is not necessary to see Johnnie To’s ELECTION before seeing TRIAD ELECTION but I would strongly recommend it, particularly for anyone who plans to see both films. In TRIAD ELECTION, two years have passed since the bloodshed of the last election. Lok (Simon Yam) has been chairman and he and his fellow triad members have become rich and powerful in the process. In ELECTION, several of Lok’s loyal followers risked their lives to capture the baton and to help get Big D out of the picture. To obtain the title of chairman Lok made more than one promise he cannot keep. Lok has lost his cool reserve and is now easily agitated. Jimmy, one of Lok’s most trusted friends, has left the triad to become a successful businessman.
“Lok makes the decision that he should be re-elected and serve another two-year term, a move that is specifically outlawed in triad rules. Several triad leaders think Jimmy would make a perfect chairman since his business connections would be a nice fit with their underworld activities. Jimmy wants no part of the chairmanship until the Chinese mainland Security Bureau contacts him and tells him he must run or his business activities will be curtailed. Law enforcers may look the other way when it comes
to triad activity but they are extremely fussy about who is in control.
“So Jimmy gets sucked into the triad once again. Another bloody triad war follows with lots of nefarious activity and a fairly large body count. TRIAD ELECTION is entertaining up to the point where director To crosses the line dividing what is necessary and what is gratuitous. One torture scene has rival gang prisoners chained to German Shepherds in cells. And an ankle slashing scene is unfortunately memorable. As in ELECTION the film is saved by the exemplary acting of the leads, this time Simon Yam and Louis Koo. The cinematography is annoyingly uneven. 3 cats”