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HONG KONG - He's mastered the gangster and action thriller genre that Hong Kong is known for. So what's next for director Johnnie To?
The answer is "Mad Detective," To's delightful tale of a mentally ill detective whose ghost visions help him solve crimes, made in partnership with fellow filmmaker Wai Ka-fai.
The unique blend of suspense and quirkiness proves To is currently Hong Kong's most creative and innovative director.
To seemed to have reached his artistic pinnacle with the epic gangster series "Election" (2005) and "Election 2" (2006) and the stylish gunplay in another film, "Exiled" (2006).
But he's managed to break new ground with "Mad Detective," which was shortlisted for the top Golden Lion Prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year.
In Hollywood terms, "Mad Detective" is "Monk" _ the U.S. TV series about an obsessive-compulsive detective _ meets "The Sixth Sense," the M. Night Shyamalan thriller starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment.
But To and Wai fashion a unique movie with this unusual formula.
Ace detective Bun (Lau Ching-wan) leaves the police after becoming mentally ill. A former colleague seeks him out for advice on an unsolved case of a missing police officer.
Bun's methods are unorthodox _ he deciphers motives by listening to the different personalities of each person, which manifest to him as live people.
To and Wai brilliantly mix Bun's visions with reality _ each character is presented in the forms of several people. The result is a dizzying but captivating sequence of shots.
The directors weave together a complex plot that leaves the audience guessing at every turn.
"Mad Detective" again highlights To's economy and efficiency.
It's not a long or epic movie _ only 91 minutes _ nor does it feature any exotic locations. The entire story is set in Hong Kong.
But through great storytelling, moody lighting and tasteful set design To and Wai have created a nifty and original movie that defies conventional cinematic genres.
The only pitfall is that Bun and his quirky behavior of a mentally ill patient are slightly caricatured, such as re-staging crimes with an imaginary gun and talking to his imaginary wife. And Bun's room plastered with newspaper reports of various crimes with random scribbling on them is an utter cliche.
But Lau brings a lovable, vulnerable charm to his portrayal of Bin that outweighs his character's stereotypical symptoms.
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