Mad Detective - 神探 [2007]

Title: Mad Detective
Released: 29 November 2007
Genre: Drama
Director: Johnnie To, Wai Ka Fai

Casts:
Lau Ching Wan
Andy On
Gordan Lam
Kelly Lin
Flora Chan
Eddy Ko
Lam Suet
Cheung Siu Fai
Jay Lau

Synopsis:
A missing police pistol is connected to a recent series of heists and murders. Its owner WONG (Lee Kwok Lun) vanished earlier while pursuing a suspect in the mountains. His partner CHI-WAI (Lam Ka Tung) miraculously returned unharmed.

Hotshot Regional Crime Unit inspector HO (Andy On) is in charge if the serial murder investigation. He knows the only chance he has in cracking the case is to ask for help from his mentor/former boss BUN (Lau Ching Wan).

Bun is recognized as a gifted criminal profiler until he went mad several years ago. At his superior’s farewell party, Bun sliced off his right ear and offered it as a present. Bun lives in seclusion with his beloved wife MAY (Kelly Lin) ever since.

Bun has the gift to see into a person’s inner personality. This is where the subconscious desires, emotion and mental state are laid bare. For Bun, they are the key to unlocking a killer’s identity. But for Ho, Bun’s unorthodox approach has put doubt in his mind.

Bun comes to conclusion Chi-wai has a total of seven personalities. The cop’s alternate identities are responsible for his murderous behavior. However, Ho feels betrayed when Bun’s investigation went beyond his imagination. Chi-wai’s lies have managed to penetrate and corrupt his vulnerable self.

What begins as a quest for answer has now taken a schizophrenic turn where truth and lies, reality and delusions intertwine.

* eSeong Network User Reviews *

* ) It's pretty good. You'll be surprised and confused at the same time.

I give 5 star rating. Better than those no name movies.]

* ) Movie is kinda good.But some parts are confusing.I had to re-watch few times....

* ) The concept in Mad Detective was quite ingenious, but the film sort of lose track when Lau Ching Wan goes on his detective work. His character becomes uninteresting. Also Andy On's character gets a bit lost in the film also.

But I guess it is the film's style to have characters with lacked emotions which draws it apart from other crime dramas from Hong Kong at the moment.

Worth the watch for the mystery to unfold. But the ending? Hhhmmm.

3/5