The prolific filmmaker Wong Jing directed and starred in “I Corrupt All Cops” (2009), a film about the establishment of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) by the Governor of Hong Kong to fight against corruption in the early 70s. Interestingly, the film's English initials clearly spelled out as ICAC whereas its Chinese title means “Money Empire”. Twelfth years later, Wong, the master of remakes, was back with yet another spin on ICAC this time with the help of four Hong Kong's finest actors. A sequel by name only with an interesting Chinese title, “Money Empire: Chasing Tiger, Capturing Dragon”.
In this new but fabricated crime drama yarn, we are back in British Hong Kong of the early 70s in which corruption and bribery rule big time under the watch of the greedy Chief Detective Chui Lok (Francis Ng) of the police force, who is in bed with local crime lord Wu Shi Hao, Crippled Hao (Tong Leung Ka Fai). Accordingly, in 1974 and under the leadership of Nash Pak Song An (Gordon Lam Ka Tung), the British Governor constituted ICAC to check on all corruption, especially those in the police force.
Meanwhile, Chen Ke (Louis Koo ) a fearless young lawyer, decides to challenge Detective Lok after witnessing the gross unfairness that is happening in his city and in no time at all, gangsters show up like clockwork and beat him up. Impressed by his principled stand against injustice, ICAC boss Pak, who happens to be his old college mate, asks him to join his agency to fight crime together and most of all, to investigate police corruption and to take down the partnership of Crippled Ho and Lok.
Films like “To be Number One” and “Lee Rock” both from 1991 and others already had their focus on the anti-corruption theme and the doing of real-life characters like Hao and Lok and Wong's rehash offers nothing notably new here. Furthermore, in his own “Chasing the Dragon” (2017) he too had Donnie Yen playing the triad boss Crippled Hao. That said, since his new narrative now focuses heavily on how ICAC go about recruiting and training new members, he just about forgets about his main characters' personal lives and backstories.
However, thanks to Liu Yuen Nan's art direction and costume designer Bai Yi Ting, this recent production wins points in bringing the period look of the early 70s Hong Kong to life, especially those colorful loud shirts and short jackets worn by the male characters. In contrast, Wu Yun Long's action sequences, which mostly consist of the gangsters charging and hacking at their enemies, are rather stale and uninspiring. For example, the over-the-top and far-fetched attack on the ICAC members by a horde of bloodthirsty thugs in an abandoned building totally lacks credibility. On the other hand, the shootout at the airport flares much better and suits the film's tone better.
It is a pity that Wong doesn't make full use of his all-star cast and for a start, Louis Koo is rather stiff and miscast as the young and crusading lawyer Chen Ke. Also, Gordon Lam's ICAC boss character Nash Pak turns out to be a supporting role and his laid-back performance is equally forgettable. Elsewhere, Francis Ng seems to be having a good time playing the corrupted detective Chui Lok. A highly restrained Tony Leung Ka Fai with his distracting heavy make-up, is almost unrecognizable, portraying the powerful crime lord Crippled Hao. Interestingly, the low-key devilish vibes ooze from both Ng and Leung makes them a pair that mirrors each other. Philip Keung is memorable as always in his eccentric way portraying a corrupt cop with a gambling problem who later teams up with the ICAC. Also worth a mention is chubby actor Kent Cheng's turn as Lak's trusted associate Pudgy, the kind of role he is always good at.
Apparently shot in two months, Wong is obviously playing it safe with this quick production while relying heavily on his star studded cast instead of his script and dialogue. Even though the performances are pretty minimal from all the leads, nonetheless, it ends up being quite entertaining but don't expect an original story with strong female characters or decent action.
