the fresh films reviews

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Once a Thief (1996) (TV)

Director:
John Woo
AKA
John Woo's Once a Thief
COUNTRY
Canada

Genre
Action/Crime

NORWEGIAN TITLE
John Woos Violent Tradition

RUNNING TIME
92 minutes

Producer:
Wendy Grean
Screenwriter:
Glenn David
William Laurin


Cast includes:

CHARACTER ACTOR/ACTRESS RATING
The Director Jennifer Dale
Carruthers Mark High ½
Li Ann Tsei Sandrine Holt ½
The Godfather Robert Ito ½
Victor Mansfield Nicholas Lea ½
Graves Alan Scarfe
Michael Tang Michael Wong ½

 

Review

Fun remake from John Woo of his own 1990 Hong Kong movie with the same name. In this Canadian TV version, the critically acclaimed filmmaker shows his flair and trickery as an action director. He lifts an otherwise cliched plot through solid craftsmanship and a little dose of irony. Still, the film is dragged down by typical 1990s TV production levels in the acting and production design departments.

Copyright © 07.04.1997 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang
(English version: © 22.10.2020 Fredrik Gunerius Fevang)