Running Out of Time (暗戰). 1999. Hong Kong. Directed by Johnnie To. With Andy Lau, Lau Ching-wan, Yoyo Mung. 2K restoration. Digital. Courtesy Fortune Star Media Limited. In Cantonese; English subtitles. 93 min.
In this two-handed thriller, Johnnie To deftly blends action, comedy, and pathos to create one of Hong Kong cinema’s most engaging cop-criminal duos. Andy Lau stars as a terminally ill criminal mastermind who challenges a wily police negotiator (Lau Ching-wan) to a 72-hour game of wits across Hong Kong. To’s nimble direction keeps the audience guessing as the plot twists and turns, building to a poignant climax that transcends genre expectations. The film’s kinetic energy is tempered by moments of quiet introspection, reflecting To’s ability to find humanity in the conventions of the crime thriller. Running Out of Time showcases To’s gift for balancing commercial appeal with artistic substance, resulting in both box office success and critical acclaim. This landmark film, which spawned a sequel, solidified To’s reputation as a master of the Hong Kong action cinema, demonstrating his skill at crafting intelligent, emotionally resonant entertainment.