Breaking News (film)

Infobox Film

name = Breaking News
image_size =
caption =
director = Johnnie To
producer = Johnnie To
Cao Biao
writer = Chan Hing Kai
Yip Tin-Shing
Milkyway Creative Team
narrator =
starring = Richie Jen
Kelly Chen
music = Ben Cheung
Chung Chi Wing
cinematography = Cheng Siu-Keung
editing = David Richardson
distributor = flagicon|Hong Kong Media Asia Distribution Ltd.
flagicon|Hong Kong China Film Group
released = 2004
runtime = 90 min.
country = flagicon|Hong Kong Hong Kong
language = Cantonese / Mandarin / English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0414931

"Breaking News" (zh-tcy|t=大事件|cy="Daai si gin") is a 2004 Hong Kong film directed by Johnnie To. The film premiered out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The Hong Kong Police finds itself in a public relations crisis after a disastrous shootout and the scene of a police officer surrendering in apparent fear to the mobsters was captured and telecast by the local media. Inspector Cheung and his crew are assigned to the task of catching these mobsters, led by the intelligent and resourceful Yuen.

In the meantime, Superintendent Rebecca Fong leads an effort on the part of the Hong Kong Police to mislead the media and salvage the reputation of the police team. She sees the chance in a raid on the mobsters hidinng out in a downtown apartment, while Inspector Cheung leads his own team to search for the mobsters, with many gunfights breaking out in between.

Yuen hides out in the house of Yip, a bumbling taxi driver and father, who lives in the apartment. With the reluctant help of Yip's computer whiz son, he plays an intricate cat and mouse game with the police, releasing suspicious images of the police being defeated to the media. Superintendent Fong thwarts the effort with tricks of her own, including releasing a sumptuous packed lunch to the numerous squads on duty. After PTU officers were defeated in the first raid attempt, SDU operators were called in to flush out Yuen and his fellow mobsters.

Inspector Cheung successfully tracks down Yuen, though he is defeated only after a high-octane chase and gunfight sequence, with Fong held hostage.

Cast

* Richie Jen - Yuen
* Kelly Chen - Superintendent Rebecca Fong
* Nick Cheung - Inspector Cheung
* Cheung Siu-Fai - Eric Yeung
* Hui Shiu Hung - Hoi
* Lam Suet - Yip
* You Yong - Chun
* Li Haitao - Chung
* Simon Yam - Asst. Commissioner Wong
* Maggie Siu - Grace Chow

Awards

* 2004 Golden Horse Awards
* 2004 Cannes Film Festival: official selection

Remakes

A remake of "Breaking News" has been set up by independent film company Gold Circle Films and art-house film distributor Paramount Vantage. American film director Joel Schumacher is in talks to direct the remake.

Another remake called "Goryachie Novosti" (international title: "Newsmakers") is currently shooting in Russia. It is produced by Moscow-based Tandem Pictures and Gothenburg's Illusion Film. The Russian version of "Breaking News" is helmed by young Swedish director Anders Banke. [http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/johnnie-to-goes-to-russia-first-stills-for-newsmakers/]

ee also

* List of Hong Kong films

External links

* [http://www.breakingnewsthemovie.com Official Site]
* [http://www.palmpictures.com/film/breaking-news/ Official Website US]
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