jadavix "The Longest Nite" is a deliriously entertaining Hong Kong crime flick with style to spare. It also has an unexpected dash of humour to offset the grim proceedings.Crooked cop Sam (played by the usual charming "Little Tony", Tony Leung Chiu-Wai) is attempting to broker a meeting between Triad figures in Macau. He is a brutal figure, shattering a man's hands with a sauce bottle in a restaurant, and doling out gruesome torture to an alcoholic hostess played by Maggie Siu.A suspicious, menacing bald man, Tony (played by Lau Ching Wan) appears out of the blue and becomes an ever-present thorn in Sam's side. Who is he? And what does he want? Well, I'm going to level with you, reader: I don't really know. Presumably the movie revealed that at some point, but I don't think it's really important. This movie was riveting, entertaining from start to finish, with many humorous and nasty touches. Lau Ching Wan was perfect as the shadowy bald man, and although the camera loves little Tony, I think he may have been a bit miscast as the crooked cop.I didn't understand every aspect of the plot but I'm not sure you're meant to. I mean, have you ever understood every detail of a Hong Kong crime flick?

SpearheadBT The Longest Nite is really something. If you, like me, love those violent, dark and gritty - evoking an almost apocalyptic atmosphere - Hong Kong crime films, like The Big Heat (another Johnnie To film even if Tsui Hark had a firm hand on the creative process), then you ought to get glued to the screen in a similar fashion. But unlike The Big Heat, the comedy here is totally nonexistent. The city of Macau depicted here is ridden with criminals and corrupt cops, who sometimes associate themselves with one of the two major gangs. Both have been at each other's throat for some time, making some businesses go down in the process which displeased an old but powerful triad boss who owned a lot of them. He then threatened both to stay low and to preferably leave the city. Tony Lung delivers a very good performance as the protagonist, a corrupt cop – violent but surprisingly calm – who tries to keep the peace between both gangs. Unfortunately a price is put on the head of one of the two bosses, and it is rumoured it could be the other one who did so. Things then become sour, setting the stage for this gripping crime thriller. Lau Ching Wan plays this badass outsider – a mean one, but not from the cool breed – with a mysterious purpose. He initially seems more like a nuisance to Tony Lung's character, Sam, but as the movie advances his unknown motives start to feel all the more distressing. In the bleak world of The Longest Nite, there's no real good characters to root for. Sam is the closest to a good guy as you'll find, but early on his bad side is more obvious as he is not the victim he'll become later, the story taking unexpected turns and unfolding in a fashion reminiscent of Se7en. The film starts with a short narration briefing you on the situation right before throwing you deep into the mess. Afterwards, you'll need to assimilate as much as possible of what is happening to understand well what is happening, and it can sometimes become hard to follow when you forget which boss is who. Anyway, the filming style is great too, the camera often looks around while not being so steady, giving a certain grounded feel, making you feel a witness of the events the movie shows you. The title being quite appropriate, the whole thing mostly takes place during a single night. The film isn't that long so things can become a bit hectic; not rushed, but you can feel how stressed and always on the edge the characters probably are. All this can be felt through the visuals too. Almost the totality of the film is taking place at night, occasionally under the neon lights of the Asian city. Add in smoke here and there, some other lighting work and the likes, and you've got everything to love about the aesthetics of Hong Kong crime cinema, further reinforcing the gritty and bleak mood conveyed through the story and characters.The Longest Nite is an essential viewing for anyone into these intense, violent and gritty Hong Kong crime films. Not necessarily like the more romantic and theatrical work of John Woo – feeling almost like Greek tragedies – but more down to Earth stuff even if it's quite unrealistic in how bleak the whole thing is.

marquis de cinema Tony Leung Chiu Wai is cast against type as the corrupt and violent Police officer in this Noir thriller. He gives his most deepest and powerful performance since playing the mentally tough protagonist of John Woo's Bullet in the Head(1990). In the tradition of the pessemistic noir pictures of the 1940s. A complex and thrilling story with surprising plot twists. Mixture of Martin Scorsese, Fernando Di Leo, John Woo, and Takeshi Kitano. Another fabulous movie from Patrick Yau with his tight and taut direction. Has Patrick Yau done anything recent as it seems he hasn't done anything since Expect the Unexpected(1998). The most talented director from Hong Kong of the late 1990s. Involved in the production was Johnny To who is known for his dark and grim action and crime thrillers. The sequence in the warehouse is stunning. Ching Wah Lau is terrific as the cool and enigmatic stranger. The whole gangster poltics in the movie echos the ideas of Martin Scorsese's mob flicks and Fernando Di Leo's Italian Crime movies especially Il Boss/The Boss(1973). The gunbattle between Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Ching Wah Lau reminds me of the best of John Woo. The final scene reminds me a lot of the final sequence from the Takeshi Kitano movie, Violent Cop(1989). The Longest Nite(1997) is more closer in tone to Takeshi Kitano than John Woo.

MIles-11 An almost completely satisfying 85 minutes; I'd have a hard time coming up with five minutes of the movie I'd like to see cut out. The movie starts off slow but intense, and gradually builds to fast and even more intense. Both leads are, of course, great. There are a lot of plot holes and logic jumps, but that's almost a given in a conspiracy-themed movie. Aside from that, there are really only a few small complaints to make; the action ending seems a little contrived. Some of the Foley work is pretty weak. A major character meets his/her demise in an extremely unsatisying manner. There's a couple of sloppy edits towards the end. The establishing shots are stolen from NYPD Blue. But really, when I'm so desperate for downsides that I'm nitpicking the EDITING, you know it's a great movie! Patrick Yau is well on his way to becoming one of the best directors in Hong Kong.