Hit Team (2001)

When undercover cop Ho (Chin) is shot in a sting operation and medical expenses add up, his mates on the force band together to help him out. Without telling Ho, partners Don (Alex To) and three others team up to find the cash needed to send him to Switzerland. But the couple of million dollars they need for Ho's operation is hard come by on civil service wages - a raid on underworld cash reserves is their plan.

The lads quit the force except one partner - an armoury staffer (Tony Ho) who's not so pleased with Don's plan to rob the "underground bank". Though conceding that it's going towards a good cause, Ho sternly advises: "Don't hurt anybody. Just get the money and go". He repeats these words for good measure.

The heist, as might be expected, goes awry. Gangland bean counters are shot and killed, the raiders escape with cash, and the police call in their Hit Team squad investigate. Headed by young cop Chung (Daniel Wu), the four-member squad is assigned to all firearms cases in the SAR and this one's right up their alley. The tricks and weaponry used in the heist imply a connection to someone on the police force's tactical unit; the Hit Team have their first lead. Ho's buddies meanwhile have more to worry about than elite cops on their tails. The money they grabbed wasn't enough and another theft is planned, despite grave risk of retaliation from gangsters. As Ho tells Chung during investigations into the underworld cash stronghold, nobody would dare cheat the system. Robbing the underground's banking system just isn't something folks get away with, he says.

A theme of responsibility and partnership plays throughout the production, including duty towards others that surpasses that towards an organisation. The gist carries over to Don's scenes with his girlfriend (Wong); a lady burned by her previous man. The concepts are presented consistently through to Hit Team's final moments.

The script is less consistent. The Hit Team of the title plays second fiddle to the affair with Don and his mates, leaving the film divided between two sets of characters and sub-plots. A rivalry within the Hit Team in particular offers little that's new as newcomer Jane (Kuk) finds her position not accepted by all. Chung is shown dealing with a past and overcoming hurdles but information given is slim. The portion involving Ruby Wong is also too brief to prompt audience sympathy, instead appearing irrelevant save for reinforcing that men should show responsibility. As with Cop on a Mission, released in Hong Kong theatres at the same time, Hit Team's screenplay deviates to show the police in a poor light. Police investigation skills are implied as weak and their public relations lack transparency, while staff at various levels are seen dissatisfied with work or misplacing their responsibilities.

The overall look of the film offers efficient action, several interesting sets and good actors to enliven proceedings. Gunplay figures strongly into the film, offering brief bursts of gunfire to punctuate the drama. And locations from the streets to deserted fluoro-lit industrial blocks effectively house the scenarios. The cast is satisfying to watch in the roles they're given. Daniel Wu is effective bringing his character's present troubles to the screen, though portrayal of his past - revealed as he confides to an unknown lady - is hampered by its distanced delivery. Chin Kar-lok carries his side role without melodrama and Joe Lee adds yet another gangster role to his resume as the memorable Brother Joe.

The Imperial Theatre's hand-painted Hit Team billboard.

Credits:

Written and directed by Dante Lam
Executive producers: Dante Lam and Joe Cheung
Produced by Daneil Lam
Music by Tommy Wai
Starring Daniel Wu, Alex To, Tony Ho Wah-chiu, Chin Kar-lok, Jo Kuk Jo-lam, Ruby Wong and Joe Lee