Life Without Principle (奪命金). 2011. Hong Kong. Directed by Johnnie To. With Denise Ho, Lau Ching-wan, Richie Jen, Lo Hoi-pang. Digital. Courtesy Shout! Factory. In Cantonese; English subtitles. 107 min.
Hong Kong, one of the world’s financial capitals, rises and falls with the stock market. No one is immune to market fluctuations and the temptation of fast money. A police officer, a bank employee, and a gangster lead three loosely connected narrative threads united by a common denominator: greed. Johnnie To brilliantly reveals the methodical and deceptive tactics used to lure even the most naive and least resourceful individuals into outsized gambles. His masterful storytelling weaves together disparate characters and scenarios in an engrossing thriller set against the backdrop of the global financial crisis. Known for his compelling portrayals of the criminal underworld, To turns his lens on the financial sector, where the most unconscionable thuggery rules.