Il Corruttore - The Corruptor
Trama
Il Corruttore (1999) In questo avvincente dramma poliziesco, il detective Danny Roman (Andy Garcia) è una recluta con gli occhi brillanti e la coda folta, assegnato al 27° distretto di Chinatown a New York. Il suo partner, il detective Nick Li (Yan Ni), è un veterano esperto con la reputazione di essere uno dei migliori poliziotti in servizio. Mentre lavorano insieme per abbattere una potente banda guidata dallo spietato Wah Lee (Tzi Ma), Danny ammira Nick come un mentore e un modello. Tuttavia, mentre i due detective approfondiscono il mondo della criminalità organizzata di Chinatown, Danny inizia a rendersi conto che i metodi di Nick sono tutt'altro che leciti. Nick ha sviluppato una rete di informatori e contatti malavitosi che gli permettono di ottenere risultati, ma a quale costo? Mentre Danny si sente sempre più a disagio con le tattiche moralmente ambigue di Nick, inizia a mettere in discussione i propri valori e il vero significato della giustizia. Mentre la posta in gioco si alza e le tensioni tra i due detective aumentano, Danny si ritrova diviso tra la sua lealtà a Nick e il suo dovere di difendere la legge. Nel frattempo, la banda di Wah Lee sta diventando sempre più sfacciata e diventa chiaro che non si fermeranno davanti a nulla per mantenere la loro presa su Chinatown. Il Corruttore è un'esplorazione stimolante delle zone grigie tra il bene e il male, così come dei confini sfumati tra giusto e sbagliato. Attraverso gli occhi di Danny, vediamo l'influenza corruttrice del potere e i pericoli di compromettere i propri valori in nome del progresso. Con il suo realismo crudo, i dialoghi taglienti e le interpretazioni eccezionali di Garcia e Ni, questo film è assolutamente da vedere per chiunque ami un buon dramma poliziesco.
Recensioni
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.
