movie review - The Corrupter
the journal of Michael Werneburg
twenty-eight years and a million words
Toronto, 1999.03.03
This flick starts out on pretty shaky ground, with a cliched corner-store explosion, a BANG BANG BANG shootout in a lamp shop, and a couple of badly overracted bit parts. I was ready to leave in about fifteen minutes. But suddenly - about a quarter of the way through - it becomes a surprisingly decent flick.
I've actually got a modicum of respect for Wahlberg's acting. I've haven't seen Boogie Nights yet, but The Big Hit was watchable, and he clearly understands that acting is more than simply mugging, which seems to pass for the likes of the interminable Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, or - god help us - Keanu Reaves.
Chow is great as always (well, Replacement Killers was a godawful waste of time).
Recommended.