PTU: Viewer Comments

PTU is, unmistakably, a Johnnie To film. That being said, it is not one of his most accessible films. The first time I watched it I felt a bit underwhelmed when it was over. But, being that it was a JT film, I decided to watch all the extras and give it another look. JT is one of those rare filmmakers that if I don't have a strongly positive reaction the first time I see his film I'll give it additional looks because I may be missing something. There aren't many directors about which such a statement can be said. But To works on so many levels you're almost always likely to pick up important subtleties through extra viewings.

PTU is basically a story that follows a series of characters whose storylines are constantly intertwining. The whole movie takes place in the course of one evening. So while it's not a 'real-time' flick, it is fairly compact. I think part of what makes the film hard to grab onto at first is that there is no true main character. This means that it can be tough trying to latch on to a favorite or settle in.

Also, much of what the characters are planning seem to be kept to themselves. Rarely do we get any foresight as to what's going to happen. This is not a movie where you'll be able to see the end from the beginning. You'll likely not be able to anticipate even what the next scene will be. And that can be disconcerting wherein most films there's a certain amount of predictability. Here, To crafts a story that leaves much in the dark, throughout (often quite literally because it takes place during one night).

That being said, this is a fantastic film. I wouldn't argue that it's amongst his best. But even on his worst day he makes most others look like amateurs. As usual, he gets nothing but first rate performances out of his stoic cast. He keeps dialogue to a minimum, doing what he does best and letting actions and mannerisms do much of the storytelling.

PTU is best described as a crime drama. It is very deliberately paced. There are no major set-pieces like in 'The MIssion' or 'Exiled'. It is more a series of smaller events that grow in consequence as we move forward. To fans and those who are intrigued by crime and cop dramas would most likely enjoy this. Some will find it slow or inconsequential. Some will find it altogether boring. But it really is the kind of movie that will grow on you. I doubt it will be anyone's favorite. But it is another solid entry into the Johnnie To library that I'm sure to revisit.

The PTU (Police Tactical Unit) are Hong Kong's beat cops, patrolling in teams of six in the late hours of the night. The team here are led by Sgt Mike (Yam), who comes to the aid of his friend Sgt Lo (Lam Suet, last seen in the dreadful Looking For Mr. Perfect), who has been beaten up by a street gang and had his gun stolen. Rather than report the incident straight away, Mike agrees to help look for the gun til dawn - if they haven't found it by then, then he'll have to report the incident, which will crush lo's impending promotion....as the night wears on, other factors come into play, making it a very dangerous night indeed for Sgt Lo and the PTU...

Whilst director Johnny To has portrayed the PTU as having a strong sense of teamwork, honor and camaraderie, he hasn't shied away from their notorious ways of dealing out instant justice and interrogating suspects. One scene shows Yam continuously slapping a teen across his face (in order to make his boss cooperate). Another sees one of the PTU get attacked by a knife wielding woman, and kicks her in the stomach, leaving a huge boot print on her tee-shirt...."wipe it off", he calmly tells her as she lies on the floor gasping for breath...

Yam is excellent as the Stoic PTU sergeant, wanting to do right by his friend, yet knowing that things are starting to get out of control, his conscience pricked by other members of his team. Lam Suet, who some of you will know as the gambling cop negotiator from Running Out of Time 2, does well here, caught in a mess of his own making, seeing his whole world start to crumble around him.

The movie is quite short at 88mins, but this suits the pace of the film. Enjoy the twists and turns, the realistic violence and the twisted humor on show. Definitely a classic, up there with Running Out of Time and Infernal Affairs.