Running Out of Time (1999)
literal translation: Hidden War
cast: Lau Ching-wan, Andy Lau, Waise Lee, Hui Siu-hung, and Lam Suet
director: Johnnie To

"Running Out of Time" has the outward appearance of being a slick cat n' mouse tour de force, but feels more like a film that is being watched by characters in a bar in a better film.

But from what little I have seen of famed director Johnnie To's body of work, this is only to be expected.

Oh sure, Andy Lau does a good job as the thief playing head games with hostage negotiator Lau Ching-wan; Waise Lee is suitably left on the back burner as a triad; Hui Siu-hung fills his role well as Lau's superintendent; and Lam Suet is likeable as one of Lee's triads.

However, as "Running Out of Time" slowly runs out its running time it becomes clear that the film has no objective whatsoever besides seeing who can outwit whom better. I struggled constantly to find a point to the film that grows more implausible with every breathe it takes, but came up short.

Most audiences responded quite well to "Running Out of Time," which seemed to be spearheaded by the leads Lau Ching-wan and Andy Lau. They are good. Andy Lau even went on to win Best Actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards for this role. He certainly portrays a slicker demeanor than the film itself and Lau Ching-wan is well cast as a hostage negotiator reluctantly thrown into Lau's psychological 14-days-to-live of catch-me-if-you-can games.

Yoyo Mung appears in an overly glorified cameo as well as Ruby Wong.

Like the females who appear and then disappear, quickly most of "Running Out of Time," moments of humor withstanding, appears to be a slick suspense picture but quickly fades under the weight of implausible antics.