To Be No. 1 (1996)



	To Be No. 1		Return to Review Archive - T
	Year:	1996
	Director:	Raymond Lee Wai-Man
	Writer:	Nam Yin
	Cast:	Julian Cheung Chi-Lam, Simon Yam Tat-Wah, Allen Ting Chi-Chun, Ben Ng Ngai-Cheung, Cheng Ka-Lei, Danny Lee Sau-Yin, Chan Wai-Man, Ng Chi-Hung, Wan Yeung-Ming, Wu Ma (cameo)
	The Skinny:	Comparatively serious triad drama that does what few others do: indict the triad lifestyle.
	Review by Kozo:	The 1996 triad parade continues with this gritty triad drama from Raymond Lee (Dragon Inn, Police Confidential). The story concerns a young triad played by Julian Cheung, who tries too hard to climb the ladder, resulting only in tragedy and pain for he and his buddies. He works hard for Brother Piu (Chan Wai-Man), but his overzealous attitude puts he, his friends, and eventually Brother Piu in trouble. Danny Lee puts in a cameo as a cop (what else?) who’s watching Cheung, and Simon Yam appears as a veteran triad. Allen Ting, who appeared in Summer Snow before doing exclusive triad movie work, appears as Cheung’s best friend Jose. This film is easily the most serious of the triad dramas, and one of the few to indict the triad lifestyle, thus giving it some points over the others. In the increasingly triad-heavy HK movie market, a film that does something else besides glorify the triad life is helpful. Still, this film will be lost among all the others, as the triad glut shows no signs of stopping. (Kozo 1996)
	Availability:	DVD (Hong Kong) Region 0 NTSC Ocean Shores Home Video Widescreen Cantonese and Mandarin Language Tracks English and Chinese subtitles

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