Once again, Andy Lau plays a triad gangster with a big heart, a role he could literally play in his sleep. What makes A True Mob Story so special is that it is a tragic story from beginning to end, without a respite for the loveable rogue played by Andy.

In 1993, Cheung-dee (Andy Lau) was a tough gangster, willing to lay down his life for his boss. However, it was due to one incident that would change his life forever. When Prince (Mark Cheng) was held captive by Crazy Ball (Ben Ng), Cheung-dee comes to Prince's rescue, which would lead to Cindy's death (Carrie Ng), the wife of Cheung-dee.

Five years later, Cheung-dee has changed from a well-respected gangster to a coward and butt-licker. As well as trying to maintain a decent life as a single parent, he also has to spend time on errands for Prince and the triad gang.

Prince is really a hotheaded, spoilt and arrogant monster, but has a liking to Ruby (Suki Kwan), a nightclub hostess who is secretly in love with Cheung-dee. Both Ruby and Cheung-dee later become an item, but their happiness is cut short when Crazy Ball is let out of prison early.

Meanwhile, Cheung-dee has been helped by a barrister named Sandy Leung (Gigi Leung) to get him freed of GBH charges. But Sandy has fallen in love with Cheung-dee, much to the dislike of her boyfriend, Michael (Alex Fong), who is a cop in the anti-triad dept, and is investigating Cheung-dee for smuggling cocaine.

Things start to boil over when Crazy Ball kidnaps both Ruby and Cheung-dee's son. When Cheung-dee fails to show up, since he had been arrested by Michael, Crazy Ball gang-rapes Ruby and blinds Cheung-dee's son. Forced into a corner, Cheung-dee sets up Prince and his father, and takes his revenge on Crazy Ball.

This film has 'tragic' stamped all over it. Before the title rolls on the screen, you'd expect this to become the typical gangster flick where Andy Lau would get the opportunity to do some fancy gangfights and show up in his best evening attire, looking assuredly cool. Throw that thought into Victoria Harbour, as Andy Lau shows he is anything but cool.

Forced into situations not his making, and often made the scapegoat, he nevertheless has to go along with them, despite them not caring one bit about him, especially Prince, who Cheung-dee had saved all those years ago. You'd expect the man to have an ounce of gratitude, but no, not only does he want to bone Ruby, he also savagely beats Cheung-dee's son, and uses Cheung-dee's VCD factory as a base for smuggling cocaine. The bastard!

In my opinion, this is one of Andy Lau's best films to date, certainly on an emotional side, one of his most powerful. He invokes a huge dose of sympathy, but one can think that he could only blame himself for getting himself into those awful situations. Nevertheless, I think that A True Mob Story is an outstanding film.

One particular mention has to be made of Gigi Leung, who had her first film debut appearing as a geeky 'plain' teenager opposite Andy Lau in Full Throttle (1995). How three years has changed for Leung's outlook. She looks positively stunning, and very grown up.