Triangle
(2007/Magnolia/MagNet DVD)
Picture: B- Sound: C+ Extras: C Film: B+
Three
drinking buddies Sam, Fai, and Mok are brought together by fate when they are
looking for a way to get quick cash. They
are told by an old man there lies a treasures buried in a government
building. Chased by Triad Mafia members,
a corrupt cop, and debt the three takes on the job, but soon their past come
chasing after them, will their friendship hold out or will they end up killing
each other before the night is out?
This is
the set up for Triangle, a 2007
collaboration by directors Johnnie To (Election,
PTU), Ringo Lam (Full Contact, The Victim) and Hark Tsui (Zu
Warriors, Black Mask) and works
very well. They don’t trip over each
other and focus on making the same movie.
This story is more like 3 tales put together, about 3 friends each one with
their own troubles. One has Triad Mafia
troubles, another has debts, and another has complex relation with a corrupt
cop, each one needs money to settle the matter. When the treasure turns out to be real there
is enough money to go around for everyone, but will greed or desperation be
their ruin? Friendship, trust and
survival are tested as others learn of the fortune, will they have a chance to
get away with the money or will it become a free for all? Fate, chance and choice seem to blur as they
come together as their stories become one, will their friendship hold or fall
apart?
This is a great film to watch, filled with mysterious suspense and sudden twists,
especially with the factors such as them being tailed by actual Triad Mafia
members, a corrupt cop and a crazy wife. The treasure keeps on changing hands as
another comes onto the scene, and the 3 friend’s reasons for wanting the
treasure change along with them. As the
story unfolds, it seems like fate or chance constantly brings them together
time again, and when the chips are down are they able come together. It is only then that they realize they had
something when the treasure is lost, the final scene ends in a darkened field
where a fire fight takes place... who ends up with the treasure is a surprise.
The
anamorphically enhanced 2.35 X 1 image is not bad as shot in anamorphic 35mm
film using the Technovision lens system, while the Dolby Digital 5.1 mix has
some soundstage problems, but the combination is watchable. Extras include behind the scenes footage, a
making of featurette and trailers for other Magnolia titles.
- Ricky Chiang
