Partners (2002) | Simon Yam.com movie review

Partners (2002)

Universe Films Distribution Co., Ltd. | Century Creator Co., Ltd. | Sam Po Entertainment Production Co., Ltd.

Cast: Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Eric Tsang, Michael Wong, Yip Wing Cho, Lihan Pang,

Writer: Paul Chung Music: Alan Wong Cinematographer: Edmond Fung Editor: Poon Hung Art Director: Mable Kwan Martial Arts Director: Hon Chun Line Producer: Bill Wu, Prisana Trachai

Producer: Daneil Lam Executive Producer: Wynn Lau, Rainy Chan

Director: Bee Chan (Billy Chan Wu Ngai)

Genre: Action | Drama Languages: Cantonese, English, Thai Rating: IIB Length: 80 minutes

"I like guns, you know that"

Simon Yam as Kwan Yeung in PARTNERS Michael Wong in PARTNERS

Funny how you can usually gauge the quality of a film by the way it was released. Filmed mostly

in sunny Thailand, Partners was probably conceived for the direct to video market. Though

completed in 2001, it was held back from the public till mid-2002. With little going for it besides

its three black clad stars, Partners can be safely skipped by all but the most die-hard fans.

Simon Yam, as a trigger happy a**hole named Kwan Yeung, and Rick (Michael Wong), a

former cop, are a team of armed robbers who have been knocking over jewelry stores

left and right. After one failed operation, Kwan hands the leadership role to Chan Foon

(Eric Tsang), an ex Thai gangster with connections all over Southeast Asia. The newly formed

crime team heads to Thailand and robs a bank. Soon after the big score, Chan Foon gradually

drags his unfinished affairs into their lives, causing a rift by using them to help settle a score

with the rival of he and his former boss- a Thai gangster played by veteran actor Yip Wing Cho.

Partners comes off as an American production trying to cop the style of Hong Kong action

films. Slow motion is used gratuitously, trying to amp up scenes where there's nothing really

going on. Production values are fairly good, but they're wasted on a toilet paper script and

characters with virtually no humanity whatsoever. What is the audience expected to do-

cheer for the bank robbers as they blow away innocent security guards?

Chapman To, Wong, Tsang, & Yam Eric Tsang Lama meets Yam

Most of Michael Wong's lines are in English, so there's the absurdity of Wong speaking in one

language while his colleagues answer him another, like it's perfectly normal.Yam plays his most

one-dimensional role of his career- he's the cruel silent type and has little to say- or do, except

smoke, shoot and brood.

Ironically, the best thing about Partners is the subtitles. Clear white lettering with black outlines,

and few errors. This is how Hong Kong films should be presented.

Now all that's left to do is to make a decent movie that's worth a damn. Boys..?

yup

___________________________________________________

Related viewing: Hitman (1998) Jet Li, Eric Tsang, Simon Yam

Long Arm of the Law (1984) Lam Wai, Shum Wai