Election (2005) - A Review

 

Election, directed by the great Johnnie To.

Election is a Triad/crime movie released in Hong Kong in 2005, starring Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Tony Leung Ka-Fai, Louis Koo Tin-Lok, Nick Cheung Ka-Fai, Lam Suet, Maggie Siu Mei-Kei, and David Chiang Da-Wei. Election was directed by Johnnie To Kei-Fung, with action choreographed by Wong Chi-Wai.

Simon Yam (at the forefront) as Lam Lok.

In Election, Simon Yam plays Lam Lok, a crime boss who is in contention for the chairman position of the Wo Lin Shing triad, the oldest triad in Hong Kong. He is a quiet, contemplative man, who has a young son, and the support of many triad members and bosses.  He is even-tempered and shows the qualities of a good leader.

Tony Leung Ka-Fai (in the middle) as Big D.

Tony Leung Ka-Fai plays Big D, the other Triad boss in contention for the chairman position of  Wo Lin Shing. He is flashy, cocky, ambitious, and impetuous. He wants the chairman position, and is willing to do anything to win the election. He also has his supporters for the chairman position.

As you can imagine, two totally different personalities up for the chairman position causes a lot of problems within the Triad brotherhood. Lam Lok ends up being elected for Wo Lin Shing chairman, and Big D is not happy about this. Big D commands his Triad members to find the symbolic baton in China (which the chairman possesses throughout his term) and bring it to him. Lam Lok and his fellow higher ups also instruct their members to find the baton before Big D gets it. A lot of betrayals, violence, and intrigue ensues. All Lam Lok wants is to become chairman and bring prosperity to the organization. Big D tells Lam that if he is not elected, he will start a new society, and that there will be a war between their Triad groups. Wo Lin Shing and the Hong Kong police do not want this to happen.

Things get bloody and violent...

I've heard of Election for years, but I never found a physical copy of it back in the early 2000s, so it isn't until now (2022) that I was able to watch it. Knowing that Johnnie To directed it, one of the best directors in Hong Kong, watching this movie comes with a bit of hype to live up to. It did live up to the hype. This is a very good movie! Truthfully, I do not like movies that glamorize criminals or criminal organizations, so I avoid most Triad/Mob/Yakuza movies, but this movie didn't glamorize the Triad at all. At first, it may seem like it does, but eventually, you'll see being in a Triad is not worth it.

The story is very compelling, with an underlying tension running throughout the movie. You never know how certain characters are going to react to certain situations, and it puts the viewer on edge. The performances from all the actors are top notch. Simon Yam as Lam Lok is cool, calm, and collected. You actually root for him throughout. He seems like a good leader. On the other hand, Tony Leung Ka-Fai as Big D is a gigantic, arrogant, overambitious jerk. You see from his actions and reactions to certain situations that he would be a terrible leader. I really did not like his character. There are many betrayals in this movie, and characters switch sides for the good of the brotherhood.

The descriptions of this movie describe it as action-packed, but it really is not. There are bursts of violence and chase scenes, and there is one fight scene. The fight scene is more of the brutal kind, with knives and choppers/machetes involved. In a movie about Triads, there are no guns involved in this one. Still, that fight scene is pretty good and fits the movie's tone.

So, should you watch Election? I would say yes. It is directed by the excellent Johnnie To, and it is really well made. It will have you on the edge of your seat. Though there is not that much action, what action there is, is good. If you have an interest in the criminal underworld, this movie will give you some idea of how Triads work. Apparently, the Triad rituals portrayed in Election are pretty close to accurate. Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-Fai give excellent performances as well. Branch out and check it out, you may like it! I know I did.

Reviewed by David Williams