A MOMENT OF ROMANCE (1990)

Starring: Andy Lau, Ng Sien Lien, Tommy Wong, Ng Man Tat

Some critics reckon that Moment of Romance is Andy Lau’s finest film of his career. Maybe so, but I disagree. Even though Moment of Romance is a great film, and Andy Lau displays a very mature and conscientious performance, I still feel it isn’t his best film to date.

Lau has appeared in countless of triad films, usually as a small-time hoodlum, and this one is no different. He plays Wah Dee, a member of a triad gang, led by Trumpet (Tommy Wong). When a heist goes disastrously wrong, it is only Wah Dee’s excellent driving skills that saves them from being caught, but Wah Dee has unwillingly picked up an innocent bystander, Jojo (Ng Sien Lien). Trumpet wants to kill her, so that to stop her from pointing them out to the cops, but Wah Dee takes a liking to the girl, and persuades Trumpet to let her live.

Trumpet later decides to kill her anyway, but when Wah Dee saves her, he incurs the wrath of Trumpet and the gang. Wah Dee and Jojo flees to Macau, but they can’t stay there forever. Wah Dee decides to return to Hong Kong to kill Trumpet, the only way in which he and Jojo can stay in Hong Kong and live. But nothing ever goes to plan.

I do admit that this is shades above other triad films, and the intelligent script, coupled with excellent performances all round, make this a winner. In fact, this film has been parodied and mentioned in many films since, and remains a firm favourite with fans of Hong Kong movies. For example, Andy Lau parodied his Wah Dee character later in Needing You, which goes to show how high Moment of Romance is regarded.

It is these little moments of romance that makes up such a wonderful film, and one that can be added to the All time best films of Andy Lau. Excellent stuff.

RATING

9 / 10