I
expected much more from this would-be nail biter about cops and corruption in
Manhattan's Chinatown. After all, it stars Mark Wahlberg (Boogie Nights) and Chow
Yun-Fat (Hard Boiled), as well as the considerable directing talent of James Foley
(Glengarry Glen Ross, Fear). However, The Corruptor surprisingly falls flat (aside
from a slam-bang car chase in the middle).
Yun-Fat
and Wahlberg play new partners who find themselves at war with the Chinese mafia.
While battling the enemy, they must learn to trust each other. The film offers
all of the standard cliches of the Buddy Cop picture (Lethal Weapon)--minus the
chemistry. Wahlberg is quite effective as an eager officer out to dazzle his squad.
Yun-Fat, who struggles with the English accent, is watchable--but has yet to come
near the types of roles that were his bread and butter in Hong Kong.
Ultimately,
it doesn't seem like Foley's heart is in the action genre. Many of The Corruptor's
key action scenes are very clumsily shot--making it hard to hold anyone's interest.
For Yun-Fat, it is a considerable step up from last years ridiculous The Replacement
Killers, but still far from his potential. However, for Wahlberg and Foley it
is a gigantic step down.
