Hard Boiled2025-09-28
Vancouver, BC
I really do need to watch more of John Woo's Hong Kong efforts, but it's hard to imagine him topping this one. It's a tour de force in action filmmaking. The heightened sense of melodrama — I mean, we open on a guy wailing away on a clarinet in a cozy little jazz bar — makes every slow-mo that much more grandiose. A space where motorbike jumps and deaths by a thousand bullets come together, forming an unforgettably operatic symphony of violence.
Watched at the Cinematheque in Vancouver, part of their Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong programming. This was likely my last time visiting the Cinematheque, with VIFF filling up my schedule until I move back to Ontario in mid October. The Cinematheque has absolutely been a highlight of my short time in Vancouver; a welcome escape from daily life with their thoughtfully curated programming. What they offer truly is special in the landscape of film exhibitors across Canada. I will miss them, but I hope Vancouver continues to support what they do!
Watched at the Cinematheque in Vancouver, part of their Once Upon a Time in Hong Kong programming. This was likely my last time visiting the Cinematheque, with VIFF filling up my schedule until I move back to Ontario in mid October. The Cinematheque has absolutely been a highlight of my short time in Vancouver; a welcome escape from daily life with their thoughtfully curated programming. What they offer truly is special in the landscape of film exhibitors across Canada. I will miss them, but I hope Vancouver continues to support what they do!