Eye in the Sky (2007 film)

Last updated

Eye in the Sky
EyeintheSky2007film.jpg
Directed by Yau Nai-hoi
Written byYau Nai-hoi
Au Kin-yee
Produced by Johnnie To
Tsui Siu-Ming
Starring Simon Yam
Tony Leung Ka-fai
Kate Tsui
CinematographyTony Cheung
Edited byDavid M. Richardson
Music byGuy Zerafa
Dave Klotz
Production
company
Distributed by Sundream Motion Pictures
Release date
  • 21 June 2007 (2007-06-21)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryHong Kong
Languages Cantonese
English
Box officeUS$1,792,872 [1]

Eye in the Sky (traditional Chinese :跟蹤; simplified Chinese :跟踪, Literally: Tracing) is a 2007 Hong Kong action thriller film [2] starring Simon Yam, Tony Leung Ka-fai and Miss Hong Kong pageant winner Kate Tsui in her film debut. Yam and Tsui play surveillance operatives on the trail of a gang of professional robbers led by Chan Chong-Shan (Leung). The title is derived from the casino surveillance tech "eye in the sky". It marks the directorial debut of Yau Nai-hoi, a long-time screenwriter for films directed by Johnnie To, who co-produced the film with his production company Milkyway Image. Eye in the Sky premiered as an Official Selection at the 2007 Berlin International Film Festival, and as an Opening Film at the Hong Kong International Film Festival. It was released in Hong Kong on 21 June 2007.

Contents

Plot

The story begins with a group of organised burglars successfully robbing a jewelry store. Wet-behind-the-ears new recruit Piggy (Kate Tsui) is plunged at the deep end in her first surveillance assignment working alongside her mentor, Sergeant Wong (Simon Yam). They work for the Hong Kong Police Force's Criminal Intelligence Bureau. After reviewing the jewelry store surveillance videos recordings, the force attempts to track down one of the robbers by staking out the neighborhood they think he lives in.

Fatman (Lam Suet) is identified and tracked without his knowledge through a combination of tails, surveillance footage, and data-mining, including accessing his Octopus card. The force ambush is established at the scene of the next robbery, but the elusive Hollow Man (Tony Leung Ka-fai) notices the police. As the robbers flee, some are killed by a Police Tactical Unit, but the rest escape. Chan kills a uniformed police officer as he flees, and Piggy stops to give first aid rather than continue the pursuit.

The surveillance unit is then called to another case; a kidnapping. Piggy is staking out a phone booth where the kidnapper may make a call, when she sees Hollow Man go by. She recognises the kidnapper from Fatman's apartment building and allows the police to rescue the kidnap victim, while she pursues Hollow Man. After a tense confrontation in a cafe, where Hollow Man confronts her, she escapes suspicion, but Hollow Man notices Sergeant Wong and stabs him in the neck with a pair of scissors. Wong convinces Piggy to continue to follow Hollow Man as he slowly bleeds to death.

Piggy follows Hollow Man to his hideout and calls for the Police Tactical Unit again. Meanwhile, Wong survives his injury and gets medical attention. In the raid on the hideout, Hollow Man flees down a dock and wounds himself mortally in the neck running past a hanging hook, and the other robbers are captured.

Cast

Reception

The film received generally favourable reception and was hailed for the plot's authentic and dark atmosphere, and realistic use of surveillance tech to make the story believable. One criticism was that the film was too short and therefore not enough for those looking for something more. [3]

Perry Lam of Muse magazine writes, 'If the ending of the movie is more than a little contrived and predictable, there are enough surprises along the way for us to savor before we get there.' [4]

Festivals and awards

Eye in the Sky premiered as an Official Selection at The 2007 Berlin Film Festival and as an Opening Film at The Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations
CeremonyCategoryRecipientOutcome
27th Hong Kong Film Awards Best Film Eye in the SkyNominated
Best Director Yau Nai-hoi Nominated
Best ScreenplayYau Nai-hoi, Au Kin-yee Nominated
Best Actor Simon Yam Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Maggie Shiu Nominated
Best New Performer Kate Tsui Won
Best New DirectorYau Nai-hoiWon
Best Film EditingDavid M. RichardsonNominated
2nd Asian Film Awards Best Film EditingDavid M. RichardsonNominated
Golden Horse Film Awards Best Director Yau Nai-hoiNominated
Best Supporting ActressMaggie ShiuNominated
Best Original Film ScoreGuy ZerafaNominated
Best Film EditingDavid M. RichardsonNominated
14th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards Best Actor Tony Leung Ka-fai Won
Film of MeritEye in the SkyWon

Remake

A South Korean remake titled Cold Eyes starring Sol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung and Han Hyo-joo was released in 2013. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Election</i> (2005 film) 2005 Hong Kong film

Election, is a 2005 Hong Kong crime film directed by Johnnie To. Featuring a large ensemble cast, the film stars Simon Yam and Tony Leung Ka-fai as two gang leaders engaged in a power struggle to become the new leader of a Hong Kong triad.

<i>All of a Sudden</i> (1996 film) 1996 Hong Kong film

All of a Sudden is a 1996 Hong Kong crime mystery film directed by Herman Yau and starring Simon Yam and Irene Wan.

<i>Men Suddenly in Black</i> 2003 Hong Kong film

Men Suddenly in Black is a 2003 Hong Kong sex comedy parody of Hong Kong triad films directed by Pang Ho-Cheung. The sequel Men Suddenly in Black II was released in 2006.

<i>The Legend of the Condor Heroes</i> (1994 TV series)

The Legend of the Condor Heroes is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel of the same title. The series was first broadcast on TVB Jade in 1994.

<i>Crazy Romance</i> 1985 Hong Kong film

Crazy Romance (求愛反斗星) is a 1985 Hong Kong romantic comedy film directed by Tommy Leung and starring Natalis Chan, Sylvia Chang and Leslie Cheung.

<i>I Corrupt All Cops</i> 2009 Hong Kong film

I Corrupt All Cops (simplified Chinese: 金钱帝国; traditional Chinese: 金錢帝國 is a 2009 Hong Kong crime drama film directed by Wong Jing. The English initials of the film spells out ICAC.

<i>State of Divinity</i> (1996 TV series)

State of Divinity is a Hong Kong television series adapted from Louis Cha's novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer. It was first broadcast on TVB in Hong Kong in 1996.

<i>Forensic Heroes</i> (franchise)

Forensic Heroes is a series of TVB police procedural television dramas written by Choi Ting-ting (I–III), Chan Ching-yee (I–II), Leung Man-wah (III-IV), Yuen Mei-fung (IV), Sin Chui-ching (IV), Yip Tin-shing (V) and Sin Siu-chun (V), and produced by Mui Siu-ching (I-IV)and Ben Fong (IV-V). The series follows a group of Hong Kong forensic scientists working together with the Hong Kong police to solve murders through physical evidence left over from crime scenes. Currently, two serials and three reboot installment were produced.

<i>Cold War</i> (2012 film) 2012 Hong Kong film

Cold War is a 2012 Hong Kong police thriller film directed by Sunny Luk and Longman Leung, starring Aaron Kwok and Tony Leung Ka-fai, and guest starring Andy Lau. The film was selected as the opening film at the 17th Busan International Film Festival and released in Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China on 8 November 2012.

<i>SDU: Sex Duties Unit</i> 2013 film by Gary Mak

SDU: Sex Duties Unit is a 2013 Hong Kong action comedy film directed by Gary Mak and starring Chapman To, Shawn Yue, Matt Chow and Derek Tsang. SDU: Sex Duties Unit was one of the films to be presented at the 2013 Hong Kong FILMART. This film was released on 25 July 2013 in Hong Kong.

<i>Rule No. 1</i> 2008 Hong Kong film

Rule #1 is a 2008 Hong Kong horror film directed by Kelvin Tong and starring Shawn Yue, Ekin Cheng, Stephanie Che and Fiona Xie.

<i>Man Wanted</i> (1995 film) 1995 Hong Kong film

Man Wanted is a 1995 Hong Kong action thriller film directed by Benny Chan and Steve Cheng and starring Simon Yam, Yu Rongguang, Christy Chung and Eileen Tung.

<i>The Shootout</i> (film) 1992 Hong Kong film

The Shootout is a 1992 Hong Kong action film directed by Michael Mak and starring Aaron Kwok, Fennie Yuen, Bryan Leung and Sean Lau.

<i>Police on the Road</i>

Police on the Road is a 1991 Hong Kong action police procedural television series produced by TVB and starring Gallen Lo and Wan Yeung-ming. With a total of 13 episodes, the series contains a different story in each of the episodes. Originally aired from 5 October 1991 to 1 February 1992 on TVB Jade, the show had a rerun on the channel, TVB Classic, from 4 to 12 June 2015 as a part of the special, Our... Gallen Lo (我們的...羅嘉良), that ran from 20 March to 12 June.

<i>92 Legendary La Rose Noire</i> 1992 Hong Kong film

92 Legendary La Rose Noire is a 1992 Hong Kong comedy film written and directed by Jeffrey Lau and starring Tony Leung, Maggie Shiu, Teresa Mo, Wong Wan-sze and Fung Bo Bo. The film was nominated for eight awards at the 12th Hong Kong Film Awards, where Leung won his second Hong Kong Film Award for Best Actor and Fung won her first Hong Kong Film Award for Best Supporting Actress. 92 Legendary La Rose Noire was ranked number 75 of the Best 100 Chinese Motion Pictures at the 24th Hong Kong Film Awards. The film was followed two sequels, one released in 1993 titled Rose Rose I Love You, with Leung reprising his role but with a new storyline, and another released in 1997 confusingly titled Black Rose II, also featuring a new storyline and a different cast.

<i>Its a Wonderful Life</i> (2007 film) 2007 Hong Kong film

It's a Wonderful Life is a 2007 Hong Kong comedy film written, directed by and starring Ronald Cheng, who makes his directorial debut. The film co-stars Tony Leung, Vincent Kok, Alex Fong, Teresa Mo and Louisa So.

<i>Mo Min Kap Sin Fung</i> Hong Kong television series

Mou Min Kap Sin Fung, also known by its alternative title File Noir, is a 1989 Hong Kong action crime thriller television series produced by TVB and starring David Siu, Kitty Lai, Donnie Yen and Francis Ng. Originally released overseas in September 1988 and aired from 1 to 26 May 1989 on TVB Jade, the series reran on TVB's Network Vision channel from 25 January to 29 February 2016 as a part of the special, Our... Donnie Yen (我們的...甄子丹), that began running on 11 January 2016.

<i>Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch</i> 2019 Hong Kong film

Chasing the Dragon II: Wild Wild Bunch, previously known as Master of Ransom, is a 2019 Hong Kong crime action film directed by Wong Jing and Jason Kwan, starring Tony Leung, Louis Koo and Gordon Lam, with Simon Yam making a special appearance. The film is a sequel in-title-only to the 2017 film, Chasing the Dragon, and features a new storyline and new characters.

Kar-Yee Lam is a former actress from Hong Kong. Lam is credited with over 120 films.

References

  1. ↑ "Box office by Country: Eye In The Sky Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2012-06-04
  2. ↑ "Eye in the Sky (2007) - Yau Nai-hoi". AllMovie.
  3. ↑ hkcinemagic quick review
  4. ↑ Lam, Perry (June 2007). "Eye in the Sky". Muse Magazine (5): 75.
  5. ↑ Ji, Yong-jin (8 February 2013). "Police Are Hot in Pursuit of a Kingpin in COLD EYES". Korean Film Council. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.