Hard Boiled
Director: John Woo
Actors: Chow Yun-Fat, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Teresa Mo
PlotIn the underbelly of Hong Kong, a hard-nosed, jazz-loving cop nicknamed "Tequila" Yuen is determined to take down a syndicate smuggling guns. His path crosses with an undercover officer, Tony, working within a triad gang. The film opens with a chaotic shootout at a teahouse, where Tequila's partner is killed amidst the fierce gunfight, heightening his thirst for revenge. The operation's failure pushes Tequila towards a relentless pursuit of the crime boss behind the violence. In parallel, Tony deals with the burdens of his double life, walking a tightrope between his duties as a cop and the expectations of the criminal organization he has infiltrated.
As Tequila's relentless quest for justice continues, both he and Tony navigate a labyrinth of crime and morality. Their paths converge when their respective missions align against the backdrop of the criminal underworld. The quest leads them through a series of intense confrontations, with Tequila's disregard for standard police procedure causing friction with his superiors. Capturing the essence of loyalty and sacrifice, the story unfolds through gun battles and philosophical contrasts between law enforcement and criminal honor. The tension swells as the lines blur between right and wrong, leading to a climactic and explosive showdown where personal and professional loyalties are put to the ultimate test.
Writers: John Woo, Barry Wong, Gordon Chan
Release Date: 16 Apr 1992
Runtime: 128 min
Rating: R
Country: Hong Kong
Language: Cantonese, English
Home Video Reviews
Early Woo's 'Hard Boiled' charms with raw action and stellar cast but has a poor Blu-ray transfer.
Read our review of Hard Boiled Blu-ray to find out more