Directed by: James Foley
Written by: Robert Pucci
Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Mark Wahlberg, Ric Young, Byron Mann
Year: 1999
Country: USA
Running time: 110 mins
BBFC Classification: 18
Perhaps Chow Yun-Fat’s best effort from his foray into the world of Hollywood filmmaking, The Corruptor is a mean, lean, and very underrated crime thriller worthy of reappraisal. Yun-Fat is no-nonsense cop, Nick Chen, who patrols the mean streets of New York’s Chinatown. At once protecting the people of the area and trying to shut down rival gangs aiming to take control, Chen’s grip on the streets and his shaky alliance with local gang bosses are put in jeopardy when rookie cop, Danny Wallace (Wahlberg), is put on his team. Green behind the ears and worried he won’t fit into the Asian community; Chen is concerned Wallace may be a liability, especially as rival gangs close in on one another causing violence on the streets. Chen is also worried Wallace may be there for ulterior motives, Chen’s policing methods not always following legal procedure.
Yun-Fat’s first Hollywood flick was the fun but frivolous The Replacement Killers, that capitalised on the actor’s cool image and knack for stylized action from his Hong Kong films. However, the actor was also known for gritty, totally immersive performances, usually of cops or gangsters pushed to the edge and that’s what The Corruptor allows Yun-Fat to do, albeit in a Hollywood movie. There is still plenty of gun blazing action here but it’s Yun-Fat’s sizzling performance as the good but occasionally bad cop. He’s as good here as he was in any of his Hong Kong films and keeps the film on track even throughout various hokey parts when the tight grip slips slightly. Obviously relishing a meaty lead in a Hollywood film, Yun-Fat is worth seeing the film for alone.
But it’s not just Yun-Fat that makes The Corruptor great as director James Foley must be given credit for shooting the film in such a creative and gritty way. The Glengarry Glenross and (underrated) Jim Thompson adaption, After Dark My Sweet helmer shoots from the hip mixing it with music video styling giving the film its own identity: the camera almost a character in itself. There’s grit for sure, though Foley wisely isn’t trying to imitate the likes of Scorsese or Lumet, pulling pack enough to know when to entertain and deliver the action goods. The shoot-outs are fierce and copious (though less flashy and intricate than those in Yun-Fat’s Hong Kong action flicks) and he orchestrates a stonkingly intense car chase through the crowded streets of Chinatown that’s the highlight of the film.
The amalgamation of gritty cop drama and flashy action may not always successfully gel (and seem a tad dated) and the intense grip on proceedings does waver towards the final stretch, The Corruptor is nevertheless a thrillingly entertaining action thriller. There’s also great support from the likes of Ric Young and Byron Mann as flamboyantly intense gangsters, Juan Ruiz Anchia’s cinematography still dazzles, but it’s Chow Yun-Fat’s lead performance and James Foley’s tight direction that really sell The Corruptor.
Good stuff.
Toy Robot will release The Corruptor on 4K UHD & Blu-ray 9h November 2026.
Special Features
- NEW 4K restoration from the original camera negative – fantastic upgrade that really accentuates the popping neon colours of Chinatown and highlights Juan Ruiz Anchia’s dazzling camerwork.
- NEW The Music of Chinatown, interview with composer Carter Burwell – fantastic interview with the very likable Burwell who talks about his career, his work with the Coen brothers, and how one of his first movie music gigs was working with Anthony Perkins on Psycho III. Cool! He then discusses how he incorporated Chinese instruments and music into The Corruptor score and his working relationship with director James Foley. Fascinating stuff and could have listened to him talk about his career for much longer!
- NEW Turning Toronto into Chinatown, interview with production designer David Brisbin – a brief but insightful interview with Brisbin who seemed to have all but forgot about working on the film until he was asked to rewatch it for this interview. He talks about how they had to recreate a chunk of New York Chinatown in Toronto and talks fondly of working with Foley and is rightly proud of the film, which really does hold up!
- NEW Chow’s Right-Hand Man, interview with action director Robert Samuels – cool interview with former Sammo Hung protégé Samuels, who talks about his career in 90s Hong Kong films (The Gambling Ghost, Red Wolf) and how he was asked to participate on The Corruptor helping with the action design and being Chow Yun-Fat’s personal assistant/interpreter on set. Very cool character who shares some fun anecdotes about the making the film.
- Archival Audio Commentary with director James Foley – interesting commentary from the sadly now passed Foley, talking about the intricacies of making the film, filming real stunts, and the visual style he was going for.
- From the (Under)Ground Up, archival featurette of the making of The Corruptor – excellent behind the scenes making from when the film was made featuring all the principals talking about the film, with some great scenes showing the action actually being filmed and what a massive undertaking some of it was. Unfussy and unpretentious, this is what makings of should be like.
- UGK “Take It Off” Music Video – very retro and dated music video form the film’s soundtrack featuring clips from the movie.
- Theatrical Trailer – cool old school trailer that certainly sells the action aspects but not so much the complex nature of the two leads relationship.
- TV Spots – fast and fun spots that sell the film as a sleek and sexy action thriller, the type of adverts we used to see a lot of on TV back in the day but rarely get now.
