John Woo
Hard Boiled

In the distant 1992, action movie guru John Woo, then little known in the West, gave life to what would be the last work (and masterpiece) of the first phase of his career, the "Hong Kong" phase, which would be followed by the "American" phase with larger productions and bigger budgets (which reached its peak with the well-known "Face-Off"): "Hard Boiled", a film whose protagonists are the themes most dear to the Chinese master, namely crime and adrenaline-pumping action.

The setting is, as tradition in the early phase of Woo's production, Hong Kong, in its nocturnal, noisy, luminous reality; this is the backdrop on which, among seedy neighborhoods and crowded streets with flashy signs, the storylines of the hard-boiled case unfold, featuring Inspector "Tequila" Yuen, portrayed by a convincing Chow-Yun Fat. The background of the characters, as well as the plot, draw heavily from genre literature: the detective, single (but in love) in his forties, quick to the trigger, honesty and loyalty above all (personal safety included, clearly), with a streak of cynicism; the boss, a bureaucrat more engaged in discussing his men's methods than fighting crime; the companions, ready to die for the cause, to the last bullet; and finally the criminals, the villains, those who have chosen the easier path, whose lack of scruples can be defeated only with the extreme tenacity of those still willing to fight for ideals. The atmosphere present, in the succinct dialogues rich with punchlines, and the alternation between these and action scenes, is almost comic book-like; and in this light should be read the actors' interpretations, human but devoid of drama, and very far from the pervasive showiness in American action cinema. The real art, however, is in the direction: in particular the majestic choreography of the shootouts, where Woo's skill and talent manifest fully, from the effectiveness of the frames to the study of details and individual devices, elements that would become important influences for future productions of the genre. The adrenaline-pumping pace of the action is skillfully dosed and interspersed with dialogue moments, a feature that contributes to the smooth viewing experience without boredom ever setting in and without making the presence of long shootouts and dynamic scenes overwhelming.

Additionally, it must be noted, the film is incredibly inspired from a landscape perspective: never in his subsequent works would the director capture so well the essence of the world where the story takes place, in which the aforementioned setting, his native Hong Kong, plays a key role.

In essence, "Hard Boiled", besides being a masterpiece of its genre on a technical level, is a work with a distinct original personality, based on a well-rendered and interpreted world, and develops in a simple, spontaneous, and enjoyable way, all characteristics that should define an entertaining film.
Warmly recommended of course to genre enthusiasts, as the title in question is a milestone, and to those who do not mind an hour and a half of adrenaline and fun; less warmly to those who prefer drama and copious screenwriting, but even for them I believe this is a world worth exploring, weaving through bullets here and there..