A dance with death, and scotch, in Johnnie To's Life Without Principle.
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Life Without Principle
107 min. Fri 11/9, 8 PM, and Sat 11/10, 3 PM. Gene Siskel Film Center
Johnnie To's second film of 2011 about the investment banking industry (after the romantic comedy Don't Go Breaking My Heart) is one of his very best, an entertainment that also offers an impassioned critique of corruption in contemporary life. Structured like a fugu7e, it weaves together three stories—about a low-level hood, a naive young banker, and a stoic police detective, all of whom get sucked into the speculation economy—and To moves fluidly between tragedy and comedy even as he steadily builds suspense. Despite having very little on-screen violence, this Hong Kong import often feels like an action movie, its portrayal of the financial markets as tense and exhilarating as any of To's celebrated gunfights. In Cantonese with subtitles.
Related Films
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Life Without Principle
- Rated - Crime drama, Drama, Suspense/Thriller
Related Locations
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Gene Siskel Film Center
- 164 N. State St., Chicago Loop IL 60601
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312-846-2600
- siskelfilmcenter.org
- (based on 1 user review)
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