If there is any question as to whether Hong Kong action movies are still as vital as they once were, director Johnnie To (Exiled) is a big part of the answer. But what sets him apart from the renowned HK action masters, such as John Woo and Tsui Hark, is his signature New Wave vision of the mean streets of Hong Kong. His movies are filled with compelling characters facing their own dark realities amidst elements of classic film noir.

In To's thrilling masterpiece, Election, and its sequel, Triad Election, he examines the political power struggle within an organized crime society deeply rooted in its 100-year old rituals. It would be no exaggeration to compare Election's impact to Coppola's The Godfather, Scorsese's Goodfellas, or the master work of To's colleague Andrew Lau, Infernal Affairs (of which Scorsese's The Departed was the American remake).

The Wo Shing Society is the oldest and most respected crime organization in Hong Kong. Every two years the society democratically elects a new chairman to run its business operations.

Two potential leaders are chosen: Lok (veteran actor Simon Yam), a respected leader in the community and single parent to a young son, and Big D (another HK vet, Tony Leung Ka Fai), an arrogant businessman with a bad, explosive temper. As each elder in the society campaigns for his favorite candidate, both Lok and Big D rely on what they know best: bribery, cheating, and making good on threats.

The chief elder, Uncle Cocky (Tam Ping Man), sways the other elders to vote for Lok based on his strong loyalty to the organization. Big D is outraged by the results and goes on a rampage, beating every elder who supported Lok. His actions leave him only one option: Start a new organization and steal the Dragon Head Baton, the revered symbol of the chairman's authority. From there, To's tale twists and thunders toward its end, spinning a grand yarn filled with masterful performances along the way.

The sequel, Triad Election, begins two years later. Lok's position has expired and the society is in the process of electing a new chairman. The elders favor Jimmy, but he wants out of the society so he can pursue a legitimate business. When he has a chance to expand his business in Mainland China, he runs into a snare: seizing their opportunity, his Chinese government counterparts press him into running for chairman as their puppet.

Meanwhile, Lok is still obsessed with the power he once held. Unable to contain his lust for power, he decides to break the 100-year old tradition and seek re-election for himself, even as he worries over dragging his son in deeper with him. As Lok and Jimmy head for their inevitable showdown, To
has a few more plot strands to twist, resolving the conflict with a devastating conclusion.

The strength of Election relies on the cinematic genius of Johnnie To, who puts his own strong touch on the action scenes but interweaves moments of tense drama and light comedy into the epic sweep of the story. His cast is more than up to the task. Built on the ensemble foundation of Yam, Koo, and Cheung, the cast shines throughout both chapters in this saga. In a time when superstars like Chow Yun-Fat, Jet Li, and Jackie Chan have moved on to projects in the United States, it's refreshing to see their talented peers -- not as well known internationally, but every bit as celebrated in Asian movie theaters -- given the chance to showcase their talents. Cheung is especially noteworthy given his limited screen time as a tortured character who doesn't know where his loyalties lie, but must learns to think for himself. Comic relief comes at the appropriate moments, too, never sapping from the narrative drive that builds to the sequel's stunning conclusion. As Big Head, Lam Suet defuses some of tenser moments with some well-placed humor.

Of course, it can't be a gangster movie without some violence. But this is no "bullet ballet" a la John Woo; there is no gunplay or over-the-top kung fu action. The violent content is quick and to the point. As with the best of gangster epics, the Election films center on the interpersonal dramas that unfold as loyalties are tested, old ways confront new realities, and human nature reveals itself yet again to be corruptible to the core.

Ultimately, Election and Triad Election showcase Hong Kong action-driven drama at its finest, tackling the corrupting nature of greed and lust for power. The struggle between a code of honor among gangsters and the will to rule prove the undoing of all concerned.

 

In their DVD presentations, both movies offer "making of" featurettes that spotlight director To and cast as they give their perspective on why they chose to do Election and Triad Election. With a nod to the epic's finale, they comment on the state of Hong Kong after its handover from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China in 1997.

Johnnie To's fans are clamoring for a possible third installment of Election. It would be a fitting end to the most charismatic gangster trilogy in recent international cinema.
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