| Suen (Alex Man) is framed by born to be supremely über evil cop Ken (Karel Wong) and is blessed with a 3 year prison sentence. Upon his release, Suen tries to steer his life in the right direction when moving in with an old friend (Dicky Cheung, playing it dramatically straight which some of us aren't used to. It's a welcome change from the drooling idiot from The Black Panther Warriors) and newly found girlfriend with a shadowy secret. Prone to violence, Suen's hopes and dreams will obviously be crushed by Ken, who also happens to be the boyfriend of Suen's neighbour (Rosamund Kwan)...
From a relatively inexperienced main film crew, The Last Duel doesn't benefit from its overwrought drama, Rosamund Kwan in a flower vase role or the low-budget. However Alex Man comes through with an affecting performance that despite its melodramatic excursions is worthwhile. All this of course is at best fair dramatic cinema, a springboard for hysteric action and that Lau Chi-Ho graciously gives the production. Distressing and brutal prior to the final reel, the team comes through with what seems like a modest display of firepower due to the sparse number of characters involved in the scenarios but it definitely has raw power that has carried over from Man's performance. Plus Karel Wong is a great deal of fun in one of those 223% unsympathetic bad guy roles. Tommy Wong appears in support. |
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