The Corruptor – Im Visier der Macht
Handlung
The Corruptor – Im Visier der Macht (1999) In diesem packenden Krimi wird Detective Danny Roman (Andy Garcia) als ein junger und eifriger Anfänger dem 27. Revier in New York Citys Chinatown zugeteilt. Sein Partner, Detective Nick Li (Yan Ni), ist ein abgebrühter Veteran mit dem Ruf, einer der besten Polizisten der Truppe zu sein. Während sie zusammenarbeiten, um eine mächtige Gang unter der Führung des skrupellosen Wah Lee (Tzi Ma) auszuschalten, sieht Danny Nick als Mentor und Vorbild. Als die beiden Detectives jedoch tiefer in die Welt des organisierten Verbrechens von Chinatown eintauchen, beginnt Danny zu erkennen, dass Nicks Methoden alles andere als einwandfrei sind. Nick hat ein Netzwerk von Informanten und Verbindungen zur Unterwelt aufgebaut, das es ihm ermöglicht, Ergebnisse zu erzielen, aber zu welchem Preis? Während Danny sich zunehmend unwohl mit Nicks moralisch fragwürdigen Taktiken fühlt, beginnt er, seine eigenen Werte und die wahre Bedeutung von Gerechtigkeit in Frage zu stellen. Als die Einsätze steigen und sich die Spannungen zwischen den beiden Detectives verschärfen, gerät Danny in einen Konflikt zwischen seiner Loyalität zu Nick und seiner Pflicht, das Gesetz aufrechtzuerhalten. Unterdessen wird Wah Lees Gang von Tag zu Tag unverschämter, und es wird klar, dass sie vor nichts zurückschrecken werden, um ihre Macht über Chinatown zu erhalten. 'The Corruptor – Im Visier der Macht' ist eine zum Nachdenken anregende Erkundung der Grauzonen zwischen Gut und Böse sowie der verschwommenen Grenzen zwischen Richtig und Falsch. Durch Dannys Augen sehen wir den korrumpierenden Einfluss der Macht und die Gefahren, die entstehen, wenn man seine Werte im Namen des Fortschritts kompromittiert. Mit seinem düsteren Realismus, den scharfen Dialogen und den herausragenden Leistungen von Garcia und Ni ist dieser Film ein Muss für jeden, der ein gutes Krimidrama liebt.
Kritiken
Sofia
This film should be discussed alongside "Training Day" for a more interesting comparison. Chow Yun-Fat and Denzel Washington, both iconic actors, play remarkably similar roles – seasoned veterans taking a rookie under their wing. Their performances and acting styles are also quite comparable... one appears to be a corrupt cop but is ultimately good, while the other seems good but is actually corrupt. Mark Wahlberg, at the time, was a relatively new face, having just gained recognition for "Boogie Nights," but his performance here shows real depth. Following this film, he starred in "The Perfect Storm," and then jumped to superstardom with his lead role in "Planet of the Apes." Finally, regarding the film itself, it falls short of "Train...
Giovanna
It's not bad. Chow Yun-Fat really embodies the character. He basically carries the whole film. The soundtrack has a very ancient Chinese feel to it.
Juliet
Re-watched and marked. I remember catching the Mandarin dubbed version on TV a long time ago. In the late nineties, Chow Yun-Fat arrived in Hollywood, which was still somewhat "merciful" at the time. Films like "The Replacement Killers" and this one still had a touch of Hong Kong cinema flavor, unlike some of the later terrible movies (especially "Bulletproof Monk" and the live-action "Dragonball Evolution"), which weren't even awkwardly hybrid; they were just purely nonsensical creations. This film is Chow Yun-Fat's second Hollywood movie. Mark Wahlberg, who hadn't yet become a major star, plays the supporting role. Interestingly, for some reason, Wahlberg starred in two films by Chinese filmmakers in the late nineties (the other one directed by Kirk Wong)...
Valentina
Is Chinatown a haven only for gangsters and prostitutes? Am I viewing America through a prejudiced lens, or is America viewing the Chinese through one?
Everett
This movie is a great showcase for Chow Yun-Fat at his peak, demonstrating his acting skills. Unlike "Replacement Killers," this film doesn't rely heavily on gunfights. The only truly outstanding action sequence is when Chow Yun-Fat first appears, wielding two guns with incredible style. The rest of the film focuses primarily on the development of the plot, with a significant amount of dialogue and dramatic scenes. Chow Yun-Fat's character isn't one-dimensional; he has plenty of opportunity to display the character's inner emotions. It's evident that Hollywood wanted to give Chow Yun-Fat a real opportunity to shine, but it didn't quite work out at the time. However, looking back at the film now, it feels like a classic. I particularly enjoy the story's setting in Chinatown. The film's narrative, editing, and soundtrack (including "Careless Whisper") are all excellent. However, there are a couple of things that I found less satisfying:
Angelina
This crime drama is undermined by predictable plot twists and one-dimensional characters, yet the chemistry between Yun-Fat Chow and Mark Wahlberg adds some much-needed depth to the film. As the unlikely partners navigate the complex web of Chinatown's gang wars, their banter and contrasting moral compasses create some tense and compelling moments, but the script ultimately relies too heavily on action cliches.
