How many years have I not seen Andy Lau's villain on the big screen?
In my impression, Andy Lau's villain can be traced back to "Infernal Affairs" in 2002 and "Disciple" in 2007.
Andy Lau has participated in more than 200 works and has a deep understanding of movie roles, but why are there so few villains?
He did not answer this question positively.
But after watching the new film "Sneaking" released on New Year's Eve, Mr. Tomato is almost certain: the reason why Andy Lau does not play the villain is because he plays it so well that it is easy to cause psychological shadows to the audience, and he must be cautious.
Since the beginning of this year, Andy Lau has had many successful roles.
At the beginning of the year, Tu Hengyu in "The Wandering Earth 2" has been remembered so far, and Vasily in "Moscow Action" is also both good and evil, full of charm.
But Lin Zhen'an in "Stealth" is different from these characters.
After two days of release, the box office exceeded 100 million, and this "Sneaking" has a magic that many Hong Kong films do not have.
And a large part of this magic falls on Lin Zhen'an played by Andy Lau.
In the film, Lin Zhenan, who lives in Hong Kong, is a gold medal barrister.
He is meticulous in appearance, suits and leather shoes, smiling, sincere and friendly to his wife and friends, no matter how you look at it, how to be a good gentleman.
But the occurrence of a drug trafficking case has revealed another side of Lin Jin'an.
A batch of up to 4 tons of drugs arrived in Hong Kong, and the bigwigs behind the scenes were arrested, and Lin Zhen'an was the lawyer of the bigwigs Uncle Chao.
Uncle Chao, who was arrested, did not panic at all, but looked at the clock at the police station, waiting for the time for him to go out, because every time there was a problem, Lin Zhen'an would help him get it done.
But this time, he miscalculated.
Although he was strong-armed, he cleaned up all the evidence and people in his hands that were enough to accuse him.
But he didn't know that Anan next to him was an undercover agent of the police.
Anan discovered the key evidence of Uncle Chao's drug trafficking, and at this time, even Lin Zhen'an had nothing to do.
Uncle Chao told Lin Zhen'an that he didn't need a lawyer anymore.
After hearing this, Lin Zhen'an turned around and walked out of the police station directly.
When he was downstairs looking at his watch with a mysterious smile, Uncle Chao fell from a height, and he ended his life by jumping off the building.
The strange thing is that although the bigwig was arrested, the 4 tons of drugs in Hong Kong still did not stagnate.
Who is the real boss behind the scenes? The police have been searching hard, but they have not been able to break through.
At this time, another undercover agent of the police played an important role.
Xiu Hao has known Lin Zhen'an for many years and is the most trusted person by Lin Zhen'an's side.
He investigated and found that Lin Zhenan was the big guy behind it, he not only had direct contact with the drug warlords, but also "innovatively" began to sell drugs online on the dark web in Hong Kong.
The police know almost nothing about all this, and the hacker team under Lin Jinan can even hack into the Hong Kong police's database to obtain personal information of the police.
On the contrary, Xiu Hao's information is also among them.
A dragon battle between brothers for many years is about to break out.
As a Hong Kong film, "Sneaking" has many elements of classic Hong Kong movies, drug trafficking, undercover, gangsters, brothers, ...... But as a movie released during the New Year's Eve, "Stealth" still puts watchability first.
This visibility is reflected in three levels.
The first layer is the highlights, cool points and explosive points.
During the New Year's Eve, what the audience is looking forward to more is actually a movie that can make people cool and adrenaline-pumping.
In terms of story, "Stealth" exceeded expectations, its main line was delicate enough, solid enough, the rhythm was fast and powerful, and the suspense was full of suspense.
Especially the back-and-forth contest between the undercover agent and the drug dealer boss, mixed with brotherhood, is very obsessive.
In terms of commercial elements, "Stealth" also leads the New Year's Eve films.
At the beginning of the film, it was a surprisingly violent drug dealer chase scene.
The drug trade in the abandoned factory, the drug dealers, the buyers, the flying tigers, the anti-drug police, the wrestling in all directions, and the bullets are flying.
Lin Jiadong, who was holding a sniper rifle on the top floor, became the only uncertain factor in this transaction, his identity has not been revealed at this time, and every bullet affects the hearts of the audience.
After the factory battle, there is another exciting car chase scene, when the car crashes into the obstacles, this action scene will end.
Later, there are many such high-energy shootout scenes.
Lin Zhen'an's bloody wedding and the arrest of Lin Zhen'an at the last moment all intuitively presented the "big gunfight scene" in front of the audience, which was enough to shock the eyeballs.
In addition to gunplay, there is also action.
It is worth mentioning that Peng Yuyan, who was in a suit and leather shoes this time, became a representative of the action.
He plays the role of Superintendent of the Narcotics Network Investigation Bureau and often goes out on his own missions.
There was a scene of fighting with the killer in the red winery, Peng Yuyan also let it go, and under the teaching of Wu Zhi, he did several battles with fists and swords, real knives and real guns.
Watching the "husband" face the knife-wielding gangsters empty-handed on the big screen, I don't know how many girls have their hearts raised to their throats.
Finally, "Stealth" also has the scale that Hong Kong films are all over-the-top.
The scene where the police were caught undercover and interrogated was shocking.
In order to present the best effect, actor Zhu Jianran was really drowned in the water during filming and reached the physiological limit state.
Whether it is waterboarding or the final eyebrow shot, the retention of bloody and violent elements is also the basis for Hong Kong films to describe human nature and expose reality.
The whole "Sneaking", it can be said that there is nothing you want, there are all kinds of cool and explosive points, which is most suitable for this year's New Year's Eve atmosphere.
The second layer is the acting skills of the four emperors and one queen.
"Stealth" can be said to have reached the peak of the lineup in terms of cast.
The configuration of "Four Emperors and One Queen" is unique in Hong Kong films over the years.
Andy Lau, Lin Jiadong, Ren Dahua, Zheng Zeshi and Liu Yase, in the film, you come and go, every look is a play, and those subtle emotional changes can only be discovered through extremely careful immersion in the movie.
Among them, Tomato Jun's favorite is still the Sven scum Lin Zhen'an played by Andy Lau.
This role is a villain that Andy Lau can be included in textbooks, and it is a villain who has been feared over the years, not relying on image but acting skills.
In fact, Andy Lau plays Lin Zhen'an, which is very compatible, not that the villain role is, but that the two actually have something in common in temperament.
Andy Lau debuted for 40 years, more or less obsessive-compulsive, he has a precise plan for his career, strict management of his body, and meticulous observation and experience of every role, and strives to do his best.
These are precisely Lin Zhen'an's characteristics.
Although he is a villain, Lin Zhen'an has a very detailed plan for doing things, he hides behind the scenes, never shows his face, only shows himself as a lawyer, but behind his back he is a bigwig who controls hundreds of millions of drug business, he has his own cognition and recklessness, in order to make money and personal interests, he can be desperate and sacrifice everything.
At the same time, Lin Zhen'an is an extremely complex and multifaceted character.
When he faced his wife and daughter, he always had a gentle, amiable, and approachable image, with a personable demeanor, clean shoes, and a smile on everyone's face, looking at the elite style of Kochi.
But under the elegant skin, what is hidden is an arrogant, cold-blooded, murderous and arrogant crazy drug dealer.
Because of Andy Lau's excellent performance, at the beginning of the movie, the audience couldn't even tell the true face of this person.
But in the back, especially when he gave the most ruthless order to exterminate his mouth, threatened the police with his exaggerated smile, and even lost his mind, in order to track down the police's family, regardless of the exposure of his hacker team, the madness in his bones was terrifying.
People are complex, a drug lord, and there may be two sides of the same body wearing a mask.
There are many such images, but the biggest charm of Lin Zhen'an played by Andy Lau is that he uses his performance to perfectly combine these two aspects, there are many scenes, the good guy Lin Jin'an and the madman Lin Jin'an, both achieve seamless switching.
For example, the moment when he saw the computer screen and found out that Xiu Hao had betrayed him.
Another example is the moment when he saw his daughter's video and refused to cooperate with the police.
Andy Lau's change of face makes us believe that Lin Zhen'an really exists, and under the guidance of the director, the causes of Lin Zhen'an's illness and the rhythm of losing his mind step by step are completely convincing.
Andy Lau has acted in more than 200 films, and his interpretation of Lin Zhen'an is perfect, he knows the inner world of such a character, so he can express the darkness and suffocation of Lin Zhen'an's soul through a smile and a line.
Tomato Jun predicted that many years later, Lin Zhen'an will be a character who has to be mentioned when it comes to Andy Lau, this role is too charming.
Lin Zhen'an's outstanding portrayal, and part of it will be distributed to Lin Jiadong.
The cooperation between the two actors is seamless, and half of Lin Zhenan's madness is set off by Xiu Hao, who plays the undercover police officer.
Fifteen years ago, Lin Zhen'an rescued Xiu Hao, and the two have become close friends since then.
But Lin Zhen'an didn't know that Xiu Hao had been lurking beside him as an undercover policeman.
When this news was unintentionally exposed, Lin Zhen'an's attitude and emotions towards Xiu Hao were extremely complicated.
On the one hand, he was reluctant to have a friendship for so many years, and on the other hand, the positions between them were completely contrary.
When Lin Zhen'an asked Xiu Hao, are you going to die for me or for me, Lin Jiadong's expression is still fresh in people's minds.
That kind of fear, weakness of heart and fear made Lin Zhen'an's aura several times stronger.
And then Xiu Hao's various vacillating positions also showed that in his heart, Lin Zhen'an also had enough weight.
The two actors, together, present the complexity of human nature between the two brothers of the undercover agent and the drug lord.
The most enjoyable thing about "Stealth" is also here.
The third layer is the novelty of Hong Kong films brought by "Sneaking".
Although police and undercover are common elements of Hong Kong films.
But "Stealth" is not just a "set of formulas", on the basis of the classic story, it also has its own innovations.
Combining the film with the times, the dark web live drug trafficking proposed to sell drugs to all over the world in the form of live broadcast sales.
The upgrade of this method has a narrative function, and it also allows the new department of the "Internet Drug Investigation Bureau" to meet with everyone.
On the big screen, it is the first time to fully present the close cooperation between hackers and drug dealers in online drug trafficking, from the source to the sale, the entire chain is presented in a popular science way, and it also opens the audience's eyes for the first time.
The most important thing is the fight against drugs, anti-drugs and drug dealers in the movie, from online to offline.
The offense and defense of online hackers and police are concretized, with a cyberpunk-like sci-fi effect.
The contest between offline drug dealers and undercover agents complements the online offense and defense, forming an effective positive feedback and bringing a better look.
In fact, there are two deepest meanings of "Stealth".
One, it's a tribute to those stalkers.
Tomato Jun remembers that in the end, in the martyrs' cemetery, a female policeman complained to Peng Yuyan about the hardships of being an anti-drug policeman.
Peng Yuyan said: No one forced you to be a policeman.
Yes, from the dead Anan to the undercover Xiu Hao, the undercover spirit is actually the chivalrous spirit in Hong Kong martial arts films.
The other is to publicize anti-drug propaganda.
Andy Lau said that he went to the anti-drug prison every two months, and he also served as a guest at the graduation ceremony of the "Anti-drug Leadership College" in Hong Kong, China.
In fact, he is using his influence to promote anti-drugs, so that more people can stay away from drugs, and help more people get lost.
On the last day of running towards 2024, with Andy Lau, four actors, and one actress, it is an extremely happy thing to have such a movie to accompany the New Year's Eve.
Positive movies will give the new year a good start and a good beginning, I dare to assert: "Stealth" will be popular all over the country.
In addition, the enjoyment of watching a high-quality movie is also an indispensable consolation this year.
No wonder some viewers say: Watch "Sneaking" on New Year's Eve, and it will definitely work next year.
(Movie Rotten Tomatoes Editorial Department: Miao Miao)