Double Tap (2000)

First, some terminology. The double tap is a target shooting method, viewers are taught at the start of this movie. The idea is simple; shoot twice in rapid succession and hit the target in just about the same place. It's a handy skill in the world of practical shooting competition - apparently practical because the shooting range is littered with sheets, tents, boxes and even a perspex shower cubicle as obstacles.

Rick Pang (Leslie Cheung) is a former champ, having left the competition circuit after a 1995 injury. Now working as a gunsmith and helping to train the occasional gunplay aspirant, Rick is on the range when another ace shooter - Inspector Miu (Alex Fong) - says he wants a face off. Rick, for some reason, agrees and at the next practical shooting competition the two are neck and neck. Competition peaks just as a disgruntled investor in the spectator stands has to spoil it all. He's lost $300 million in stocks and is on edge. He pulls a gun, gets all threatening and is ultimately double-tapped in the head by Rick. Previously one not one to kill ("No blood on my gun", he explains earlier), Rick suddenly discovers that killing feels great.

Three years later, there's a bloodbath in a hotel room. Forensics figure out how the dead guys were killed, the method of shooting used, and how long it took to top them off. Miu leads the case and rounds up all suspects from the gun club, including Rick. A lack of evidence sees Rick walk away scot-free. But Miu and his boys are sure Rick's their man. After all, reasons Miu, only Rick can do three double taps in five seconds. And so begins the cops' chase to pin their man.

Seeing this film on a quiet Sunday morning show turned out a reasonable way to start the day - Double Tap sped along with actioner antics that had me exit the cinema entertained. In that regard, the film worked. But there's little so resounding when the film slowly sinks in.

While Derek Yee's name in the producer credits hasn't had much appeal to me since seeing Till Death Do Us Part (1998), I still expected a bit of character development or interest in the story he co-wrote. According to the credits, Yee collaborated with the "Shooting consultant" in writing the story, which probably explains the "Guns don't kill; people do" statement creeping into the gun-heavy dialogue. Unfortunately there's little depth to be found here. Ruby Wong and Monica Chan are here, but there's simply too little of either. Chan in particular does very little as Miu's wife/girlfriend (at the very least the scriptfolks could have had her say Miu's first name for the use of this review) and Wong is Rick's girl for undefined reasons.

As far as the production goes, it's all rather grey. The action isn't particularly gripping, and is highlighted by the main stunt of Leslie leaping onto a highway (a clip used in the trailer). The filmmakers chose to rely on special effects a bit too heavily in the shootouts - the slo-mo bullet action in the climax is quite unnecessary and breaks the action. The sound features an uneasy blend of synch and direct sound for the voices, though thankfully production house Golden Harvest spared cinemagoers of another surround sound disaster such as their Dial D For Demons (2000) boasted.

A Double Tap billboard emblazons the Imperial Theatre

Credits:

Directed by Lo Chi-leung
Produced by Derek Yee
Script by Derek Yee and Joe Cheung
Starring Leslie Cheung, Alex Fong, Ruby Wong, Vincent Kok, Monica Chan
Cameos: Jimmy Wong and Lindsay Chan