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Starring
:
Lau
Ching Wan
Ruby
Wong
Lam
Suet
Wayne
Lai
Raymond
Wong
Producer
:
Johnnie
To
Wai
Ka Fai
Director
:
Johnnie
To
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WHERE
A GOOD MAN GOES (1999)
Reviewed
by Andrew Saroch
The
commanding persona of Lau Ching Wan takes the lead role of
Michael, an aggressive and impulsive gangster just released
from a Macau prison. Immediately on leaving prison, Michael
upsets Macau's taxi driving population by involving himself in
a scuffle with some of their number. The ex-con seeks refuge
in a small hotel that soon proves to be one of the only ones
in the area that will actually accept him through the doors.
With time on his hands, Michael searches Macau for the local
villains who owe him money and he uses his now familiar
strong-arm tactics to achieve this. Unusually though, the
thuggish anti-hero finds himself drawn to the honest and
hardworking Judy the landlady of his chosen abode and soon the
search for his money is pushed to the back of his mind. Any
hope of a sudden change in Michael's character is premature,
however, as pressure from an equally unpleasant cop continues
to bring out the beast in him and compromise any affections he
has for Judy. The time must come for Michael to decide where
his intentions lie and finally put behind him the aggressive
style he is so used to; but to do so will prove difficult with
both sides of the law wanting a piece of him.
Critics
remain sharply divided in their opinion of this Johnnie To
feature; some see it as a brave attempt to examine the need
for change and the difficulty achieving it, whereas others
have been offended by the misogynistic tone of the film.
Perhaps both sides can be understood as the film tackles
challenging issues bravely, but does feature a few scenes that
take away any sympathy or affection for the character of
Michael. In fact, one begins to ask whether or not the title
is meant as an ironic one because the supposed 'Good Man' is
anything but 'Good'. It's true that when put alongside the
other repugnant characters in the film, Michael seems less abrasive
than usual. However this cannot erase the definite impression
of antipathy towards the lead character and his extreme
actions.
On
the plus side though, Lau Ching Wan and Ruby Wong are superb
in the two main roles. Wong in particular gives an impressive
performance that gives firm indication of her star rising in
the future. To also makes good use of the Macau with plenty of
crisp cinematography exposing its raw beauty. These positive
parts of the film do not make up for what is a flawed attempt
to produce a different kind of film from the Milkyway stable.
The unrealistic and slightly uncomfortable relationship that
is the film's centre never lets the film be anything more than
a watchable film from a director who more should be expected
from.
Rating:
 
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