THE CONMAN (1999)

Starring: Andy Lau, Nick Cheung, Athena Chu, Bonnie Law, Jack Kao, Waise Lee, Ben Ng, Ng Chi Hung, Cheung Wai Yee, Emotion Cheung

Andy Lau has come a long way since his gambling ways in God of Gamblers and its sequel. Ten years on from the first GoG film, Andy has become one of the most famous and prolific actors in Hong Kong. He teams up with director Wong Jing again in a new take on the gambling genre.

Andy plays King, a swindler who uses tricks to win at card games, but his luck runs out one day, and after accidentally killing an opponent, he is sent to prison for five years. A blow to his head had left him colourblind, but he still commands respect from the triad world, and Dragon (Nick Cheung) is sent to pick King up when he is released from prison.

King and Dragon forge an unlikely partnership, with the latter becoming a student of the former. King wants to find his wife and child, but was told that they have died. Later, King falls in love with Ching Ching (Athena Chu), the younger sister of Dragon, but he realises that his wife and son are not dead, but living in a secluded area. His wife is later kidnapped by Handsome (Waise Lee), who wants King to help him beat Macao Mon (Jack Kao) at a game of cards.

As you would expect from a Wong Jing film, a lot of the narrative is taken over by the continuous usage of puerile jokes aimed primarily at the under 30 age group. Luckily, he doesn't overdo it, and the film moves at an easy pace, littered throughout with plenty of lighthearted moments, although there is an obvious lack of decent action. If you're thinking of a new version of God of Gamblers, then you're in for a huge disappointment since there is hardly any gunplay, with the focus on playing cards.

Andy Lau sheds his more comical acting abilities for a mentor role, and plays it evenly, with most of the juvenile antics going to Nick Cheung, who tries desperately to become the next Stephen Chow. Nick is an able comic actor in his own right, but sometimes he tries too hard, and he comes across as a bit of a tosser. Compare his performance in this film and Stephen Chow's in God of Gamblers 2, and it is obvious that no one can replace Chow as the god of comedy.

In the film, a lot of focus is on playing cards, and besides Poker, the most widely played card game in Hong Kong is "Chor Dai Dee". I am not sure whether this card game is predominately a Hong Kong phenomenon, or that it is played in other countries, but basically the rule is to rid your own hand of cards before the other three players. The Two of Spades is the highest card and goes down to the Three of Diamonds - the lowest (whoever is dealt this card begins the game). The person can put down any combinations of cards he likes (single card, pairs, three of a kind, four of a kind plus one, flush, full house etc.), and the other players must follow suit. It is an easy game to play, but like most card games, requires tactical skills to win (and luck).

RATING

7 / 10