Breaking News (2004 film)

Breaking News
Directed by	Johnnie To
Written by	Chan Hing Kai Yip Tin Shing
Produced by	Johnnie To Cao Biao
Starring	Richie Jen Kelly Chen
Cinematography	Cheng Siu Keung
Edited by	David Richardson
Music by	Ben Cheung Chung Chi Wing
Distributed by	Media Asia Distribution Ltd.
Release date	2004
Running time	90 min.
Country	Hong Kong
Language	Cantonese / Mandarin / English

Breaking News (Chinese: 大事件) is a 2004 Hong Kong film directed by Johnnie To. The film premiered out of competition at the 2004 Cannes Film Festival.

Plot

The Hong Kong Police found itself in a public relations crisis after a disastrous shootout and the scene of a police officer surrendering in apparent fear to the mobsters was captured and telecast by the local media. Inspector Cheung and his crew are assigned to the task of catching these mobsters, led by the intelligent and resourceful Yuen.

In the meantime, Superintendent Rebecca Fong leads an effort on the part of the Hong Kong Police to mislead the media and salvage the reputation of the police team. She sees the chance in a raid on the mobsters hidinng out in a downtown apartment, while Inspector Cheung leads his own team to search for the mobsters, with many gunfights breaking out in between.

Yeun hides out in the house of Yip, a bumbling taxi driver and father, who lives in the apartment. With the reluctant help of Yip's computer whiz son, he plays an intricate cat and mouse game with the police, releasing suspicious images of the police being defeated to the media. Superintendent Fong thwarts the effort with tricks of her own, including releasing a sumptuous packed lunch to the numerous squads on duty (in response to Yuen having lunch with the hostages).

Inspector Cheung successfully tracks down Yuen, though he is defeated only after a high-octane chase and gunfight sequence, with Fong held hostage.

Cast

• Richie Jen - Yuen
• Kelly Chen - Superintendent Rebecca Fong
• Nick Cheung - Inspector Cheung
• Cheung Siu-Fai - Eric Yeung
• Hui Shiu Hung - Hoi
• Lam Suet - Yip
• You Yong - Chun
• Li Haitao - Chung
• Simon Yam - Asst. Commissioner Wong
• Maggie Siu - Grace Chow

Awards

• 2004 Golden Horse Awards
• 2004 Cannes Film Festival: official selection

Remake

A remake of Breaking News has been set up by independent film company Gold Circle Films and art-house film distributor Paramount Vantage. American film director Joel Schumacher is in talks to direct the remake.

See also

• List of Hong Kong films

External links

• Official Site
• Official Website US
• Breaking News at IMDb