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Johnnie To is a Actor, Director, Original Film Writer, Producer and Co-Director Chinois born on 22 april 1955 at Hong Kong (Chine)
Johnnie To Kei-Fung (22 April 1955) is a Hong Kong film director and producer. Popular in his native Hong Kong, To has also found acclaim overseas. Intensely prolific, To has made films in a variety of genres, though in the West he is best known for his action and crime movies, which have earned him critical respect and a cult following (which include Quentin Tarantino, who once said that he really loves to watch To's gangster films).
To's biggest international successes include Breaking News, Election, Election 2 (aka Triad Election), Exiled, Mad Detective and Drug War; these films have multiple international film festival appearances, been distributed theatrically in France and the United States, and been widely sold to foreign countries.
His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society. Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylized visual and acting elements.
To heads the Hong Kong-based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-Fai.
En 1993, il se fait internationalement connaître avec The Heroic Trio. Une suite sera coréalisée la même année avec Ching Siu-tung, Executioners. Par la même occasion, les occidentaux découvriront le trio d'actrices Anita Mui, Michelle Yeoh et Maggie Cheung.
Johnnie To souhaite réaliser des films plus personnels, par conséquent moins rentables. La solution vient en 1996, et avec son compère Wai Ka-fai, auteur de nombreux scénarios et coréalisateur sur de nombreux films de Johnnie To, ils fondent la société de production Milkyway Image. C'est ainsi que pour pouvoir produire des films originaux comme Election ou Sparrow, il réalise des films à succès comme Needing You... ou Turn Left, Turn Right.
Au sein de la Milkyway Image, Johnnie To produit de nombreux polars qui ne sont pas signés de son nom mais portent sa marque : Beyond Hypothermia de Patrick Leung, The Odd One Dies, Expect the Unexpected et The Longest Nite de Patrick Yau.
The Mission, sorti en 1999, est le film avec lequel Johnnie To s'impose comme le nouveau maître du polar. Ce film, qui est le premier film du cinéaste distribué en France (en 2001), est considéré comme son meilleur film avec PTU et le diptyque Election. Dès lors, il est invité dans les grands festivals : en 2004, Breaking News fait partie de la Sélection officielle, hors-compétition, au Festival de Cannes, puis en 2005 Election participe à la compétition officielle.
Breaking News est remarqué pour le long plan séquence qui ouvre le film. Judo est un hommage au premier film d'Akira Kurosawa : La Légende du grand judo. Il décrit l'univers des triades dans Election et Election 2. Sorti en 2006, Exilé est un polar très stylisé qui est une variation autour de The Mission.
En 2011, il est membre du jury des longs métrages présidé par Robert De Niro lors du Festival de Cannes.
Source : Wikidata
Johnnie To
Birth name To Kei-fung
Nationality Chine
Birth 22 april 1955 (69 years) at Hong Kong (Chine)
Creator of Milkyway Image
Awards Medal of Honour, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
Nationality Chine
Birth 22 april 1955 (69 years) at Hong Kong (Chine)
Creator of Milkyway Image
Awards Medal of Honour, Hong Kong Film Award for Best Director
To's biggest international successes include Breaking News, Election, Election 2 (aka Triad Election), Exiled, Mad Detective and Drug War; these films have multiple international film festival appearances, been distributed theatrically in France and the United States, and been widely sold to foreign countries.
His films, often made in collaboration with the same group of actors, screenwriters and cinematographers, frequently explore themes of friendship, fate and the changing face of Hong Kong society. Sometimes described as "multifaceted and chameleonic" due to his ability to switch tones and genres between movies, To is nonetheless seen as having a consistent style, which involves mixing subdued realism and social observation with highly stylized visual and acting elements.
To heads the Hong Kong-based production company Milkyway Image with his frequent co-director Wai Ka-Fai.
Biography
Né le 22 avril 1955 à Hong Kong, Johnnie To commence sa carrière à 17 ans au sein de la chaîne de télévision TVB où il produit et réalise de nombreuses émissions. En 1980, il réalise son premier long métrage de cinéma : The Enigmatic Case. C'est en 1989 qu'il remporte son premier succès en tant que réalisateur avec le film All About Ah-Long, pour lequel il sera nommé au titre de meilleur réalisateur, tandis que Chow Yun-fat remportera le prix du meilleur acteur, lors des Hong Kong Film Awards de 1990. Le film sera un gros succès au box-office.En 1993, il se fait internationalement connaître avec The Heroic Trio. Une suite sera coréalisée la même année avec Ching Siu-tung, Executioners. Par la même occasion, les occidentaux découvriront le trio d'actrices Anita Mui, Michelle Yeoh et Maggie Cheung.
Johnnie To souhaite réaliser des films plus personnels, par conséquent moins rentables. La solution vient en 1996, et avec son compère Wai Ka-fai, auteur de nombreux scénarios et coréalisateur sur de nombreux films de Johnnie To, ils fondent la société de production Milkyway Image. C'est ainsi que pour pouvoir produire des films originaux comme Election ou Sparrow, il réalise des films à succès comme Needing You... ou Turn Left, Turn Right.
Au sein de la Milkyway Image, Johnnie To produit de nombreux polars qui ne sont pas signés de son nom mais portent sa marque : Beyond Hypothermia de Patrick Leung, The Odd One Dies, Expect the Unexpected et The Longest Nite de Patrick Yau.
The Mission, sorti en 1999, est le film avec lequel Johnnie To s'impose comme le nouveau maître du polar. Ce film, qui est le premier film du cinéaste distribué en France (en 2001), est considéré comme son meilleur film avec PTU et le diptyque Election. Dès lors, il est invité dans les grands festivals : en 2004, Breaking News fait partie de la Sélection officielle, hors-compétition, au Festival de Cannes, puis en 2005 Election participe à la compétition officielle.
Breaking News est remarqué pour le long plan séquence qui ouvre le film. Judo est un hommage au premier film d'Akira Kurosawa : La Légende du grand judo. Il décrit l'univers des triades dans Election et Election 2. Sorti en 2006, Exilé est un polar très stylisé qui est une variation autour de The Mission.
En 2011, il est membre du jury des longs métrages présidé par Robert De Niro lors du Festival de Cannes.
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Filmography of Johnnie To (70 films)
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Code Name: Melville (2008)
, 1h16Directed by Olivier Bohler
Origin France
Genres Documentary
Themes Documentary films about war, Documentary films about historical events, Political films, Documentary films about World War II
Actors Jean-Pierre Melville, Johnnie To, Masahiro Kobayashi, Masahiro Kobayashi, Pierre Grasset, Bertrand Tavernier
Roles Self
Rating72%
Jean-Pierre Melville, born Jean-Pierre Grumbach, was of Alsatian Jewish descent. Having to flee Nazi-occupied France during World War II, he joined the French Resistance and took the pseudonym Melville, in tribute to American novelist Herman Melville. He subsequently retained his war name as his stage name, once the war was over. This personal experience of the war and in particular of resistance fighting impacted Melville's formative year and has an influence which can be seen in his films.
Expect the Unexpected (1998)
, 1h27Directed by Johnnie To, Patrick Yau
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime, Romance
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films
Actors Simon Yam, Sean Lau, Lam Suet, Hui Shiu-hung, Johnnie To
Rating70%
Une course-poursuite après un des trois bandits qui viennent de commettre un casse, va amener Ken, Sam et la police dans un bâtiment où a élu domicile un sordide chef de criminels qui séquestre une mère et sa fille.
The Royal Scoundrel (1991)
, 1h29Directed by Johnnie To, Jonathan Chik
Origin Hong kong
Genres Comedy, Crime
Actors Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Ng Man-tat, Wong Yat-fei, Wong Tin-Lam, Johnnie To
Roles Taxi Driver
Rating52%
The Banquet (1991)
, 1h37Directed by Tsui Hark, Clifton Ko, Joe Cheung, Alfred Cheung
Origin Hong kong
Genres Comedy
Actors Eric Tsang, Carol Cheng, Sammo Hung, John Shum, Tony Leung Chiu-wai, Tony Leung Ka-fai
Rating57%
Developer Tsang Siu-Chi (Eric Tsang) and his agent (Jacky Cheung) have bought two of a group of four properties. Rival developer, Boss Hung (Sammo Hung) has secured the other two properties. Both aim to buy all four so they can knock them down and build hotels.
Director
Office (2015)
, 1h57Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Comedy, Musical
Themes Musical films, Films based on plays, Films based on musicals
Actors Chow Yun-fat, Sylvia Chang, Eason Chan, Tang Wei, Stephanie Che, Cheung Siu-fai
Rating60%
Billion-dollar company Jones & Sunn is going public. Chairman Ho Chung-ping (Chow Yun-fat) has promised CEO Winnie Cheung (Sylvia Chang), who has been his mistress for more than twenty years, to become a major shareholder of the company. As the IPO team enters the company to audit its accounts, a series of inside stories start to be revealed.
Office (2015)
, 1h59Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Comedy, Comedy-drama, Musical
Themes Films about music and musicians, Musical films
Actors Chow Yun-fat, Sylvia Chang, Eason Chan, Tang Wei, Stephanie Che, Cheung Siu-fai
Rating60%
Hong-Kong, 2008. Le jeune idéaliste Lee Xiang et la surdouée Kat Ho font leurs débuts chez Jones & Sunn, une multinationale sur le point d’entrer en bourse. Alors que la banque Lehman Brothers fait faillite aux États-Unis, la tension commence à se faire sentir au sein de l’entreprise. Lee Xiang et Kat Ho vont petit à petit découvrir le monde extravagant et outrancier de la finance…
Don't Go Breaking My Heart 2 (2014)
, 1h53Directed by Johnnie To
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Louis Koo, Miriam Yeung (杨千嬅), Gao Yuanyuan, Daniel Wu, Lam Suet, Lo Hoi-pang
Rating55%
L’histoire reprend là où elle était restée dans le film précédent. Les cloches du mariage semblent sonner pour Cheng Zixin (Yuanyuan) & Fang Qihong (Daniel Wu). Pourtant, leur romance prend un tournant lorsque Chen Zixin retombe sur Zhang Shenran (Louis Koo), qui semble encore avoir un faible pour elle, malgré le fait qu’il sorte avec Yang Yang Yang (Miriam Yeung), la patronne de Chen Zixin…
Blind Detective (2013)
, 2h10Directed by Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Romantic comedy, Action, Crime, Romance
Actors Andy Lau, Sammi Cheng, Gao Yuanyuan, Guo Tao, Lo Hoi-pang, Lam Suet
Rating63%
Forced to leave service after turning blind, former detective Johnston Chong See Tun (Andy Lau) ekes out his living by solving cold cases for police rewards. During a case involving the search for the culprit who throws acid off roofs, he meets an attractive hit team inspector Goldie Ho Ka Tung (Sammi Cheng). When Ho notices Johnston's impressive investigative mind despite lack of vision, she enlists his help in a personal case she is unable to solve on her own. The two work together to solve the case as well as other cold cases.
Drug War (2012)
, 1h45Directed by Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Action, Crime
Themes Medical-themed films, Films about drugs
Actors Louis Koo, Sun Honglei, Wallace Chung, Guo Tao, Li Jing, Lo Hoi-pang
Rating69%
Choi crashes his car into a restaurant and when he revives he is captured by Captain Zhang Lei. Realizing that he will receive the death penalty for his crimes, he bargains information on his colleagues to survive. First, he introduces Captain Zhang Lei as "Uncle Bill", to become a supplier to Haha, who owns a port and can distribute drugs to other countries. Then Captain Zhang Lei poses as Haha to the real "Uncle Bill". Then they go to Choi's factory where they meet the mute brothers. Then they setup the real Haha and catch him. However, an attempt to capture the mute brothers at the factor fails, and they escape through a hidden path. Captain Zhang is livid at Choi for withholding this information at the cost of the lives of several police team members. Choi pleads for a second chance as "Uncle Bill" is really just a front for seven other powerful Hong Kong gangsters whom he did not wish to rat out because 2 of them are his relatives: one is his brother, and another is his godfather. The next day Captain Zhang poses as Haha again and meets with "Uncle Bill". They negotiate a deal to distribute drugs using his port, meanwhile Choi identifies the 7 gangster bosses. Later they discuss terms of the deal at a nightclub, where Captain Zhang, posing as Haha, accuses "Uncle Bill" of being a cop and takes him into custody. The big 7 then confront him in the parking garage, revealing their identities and confirming their business relationship. The next day, Choi leads the big 7 and their entourage to exit 441 and they arrive at a school. Choi removes his wires and reveals to the big 7 that he has ratted them out and they are surrounded by cops. A shootout ensues and nearly everyone is killed except Choi, who escapes in a school bus. However, he crashes into the escaping mute brothers who believe Choi to have ratted them out and another shootout ensues. Captain Zhang, wounded, arrives with several other wounded comrades to stop Choi. They are all killed by Choi, but Captain Zhang is able to handcuff himself to Choi's leg before he dies. Choi is then captured by SWAT reinforcements before he can escape. The film ends with Choi begging for another chance to live by trading more information on other gangsters before he is killed by lethal injection.
Don't Go Breaking My Heart (2011)
, 1h55Directed by Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Origin Hong kong
Genres Comedy, Romantic comedy, Romance
Actors Louis Koo, Daniel Wu, Gao Yuanyuan, Lam Suet, Terence Yin, Selena Li
Rating64%
Chi-yan (Gao Yuanyuan) is an analyst who just broke up with her boyfriend (Terence Yin) as he was having a baby with another woman (Selena Li). Sean (Louis Koo), a CEO of a broker firm, knew Chi-yan as her office is just opposite of his. He liked Chi-yan all the while, but knew that she was in a relationship and did not want to interfere, and started to take action as he saw what happened in the bus between Chi-yan, her ex, and his current wife. However, Kevin (Daniel Wu), an architect, who dressed shabbily, and an alcoholic, helped Chi-yan out when she was heartbroken by her ex. With Chi Yan's support and, Kevin decided to pick up designing again, and dated her to meet up again a week later. Chi-yan totally forgot about it as she was starting out with Sean, but it did not work out as Sean had a one-night stand with Angelina which started with a misunderstanding and ended his relationship with Chi-yan. Sean later shifted his office as the economy crisis caused him to lose a big sum of money and went over to US. Three years later, Sean comes back into her life as her boss. He tries to win her heart again, but she is put off, because he would be easily seduced by women. Chi-yan becomes disappointed him and right around this time, Kevin also comes back into her life. Subsequent their last meeting, he successfully started an architecture firm and moves to where Sean's old office was located. Both guys court her and she must choose between the aggressive "flower-hearted" Sean or the sincere Kevin.
Life Without Principle (2011)
, 1h47Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Thriller, Action, Crime
Actors Sean Lau, Richie Ren, Lo Hoi-pang, Cheung Siu-fai, Lee Siu-kei, Felix Wong
Rating68%
Teresa, employée de banque ordinaire, incite ses clients à faire des investissements risqués pour remplir ses objectifs financiers. Panther, escroc à la petite semaine, plonge dans le monde de la spéculation boursière dans l’espoir de gagner facilement de l'argent pour payer la caution d’un de ses amis qui rencontre quelques soucis avec la justice. Enfin, l’inspecteur Cheung est un flic honnête. Jusque-là satisfait de son modeste train de vie, il a tout à coup un besoin d’argent criant lorsque sa femme verse un acompte pour acheter un appartement luxueux au-dessus de leurs moyens. Tout sépare ces trois personnages jusqu’à ce que leur rapport à l’argent – et un mystérieux sac contenant cinq millions de dollars volés – les poussent à prendre des décisions cruciales malgré leurs cas de conscience. Trois vies bouleversées par le monde turbulent de Hong Kong, en plein marasme économique et financier.
Vengeance (2009)
, 1h49Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Thriller, Action, Horror, Crime
Themes Sports films, Martial arts films, Gangster films
Actors Johnny Hallyday, Anthony Wong, Gordon Lam, Lam Suet, Simon Yam, Sylvie Testud
Rating65%
In Macau, three men break into a house, shoot a French woman (Sylvie Testud) and kill her husband and two children. The woman's father, Francis Costello (Johnny Hallyday), arrives to visit his daughter who is now suffering from serious injuries. She is nevertheless able to tell her father that there were three shooters and that she shot one of the killers in the ear. At a hotel, Costello meets Kwai (Anthony Wong), Chu (Lam Ka-Tung) and Fat Lok (Lam Suet), a trio of hitmen who are hired to murder the unfaithful wife of Triad crime boss George Fung (Simon Yam). After overhearing the murder in a hotel room, Costello reaches an unspoken agreement to walk away. Costello later tracks down Kwai's syndicate, hands them a stack of Euros and his watch, and asks them to help him avenge his daughter's family's deaths. Before doing so, though, he takes a Polaroid picture of each of the hitmen, and writes down their names, so that he will not forget what they look like. Together, the four make their way to the apartment where the shooting occurred and surmise the weapons used.
Linger (2008)
, 1h28Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Romance
Actors Li Bingbing (李冰冰), Maggie Shiu, Lam Suet, Roy Cheung, Wong You-nam
Rating48%
Dong (Vic Chou) was dating Fan, but was infatuated with Yan (Li Bing Bing). Dong suddenly dies in a fatal car accident, and Yan is badly affected. She relies on medication to escape from the reality and her true feelings toward Dong. Three years pass, and Yan takes advice from Dr. Yuen (Roy Cheung) to finally relinquish the medication. She starts seeing Dong repeatedly in her dreams and begins to suspect that her encounter with Dong is real. At the same time, she realizes that she is slowly falling in love with Dong. At last, Yan frees her true self to Dong and he fades away gradually as they both defeat the affliction within their hearts.
Sparrow (2008)
, 1h27Directed by Johnnie To
Origin Hong kong
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy, Romance
Actors Simon Yam, Gordon Lam, Lo Hoi-pang, Lam Suet
Rating66%
Kei (Simon Yam) is the experienced leader of a team of pickpockets.(Pickpockets are also known as "Sparrows" in Hong Kong slang). He enjoys a carefree lifestyle taking photos with his vintage Rolleiflex. One day a dashing beauty, Chun-Lei (Kelly Lin), suddenly appears in Kei's viewfinder. Kei is mesmerized. Every member of his team has an encounter with her.... But behind Chun-lei's attractive facade lies a mysterious past and a mission to set herself free.
Mad Detective (2007)
, 1h29Directed by Johnnie To, Wai Ka-Fai
Origin Hong kong
Genres Thriller, Action, Crime
Actors Sean Lau, Andy On, Gordon Lam, Jo Kuk, Lam Suet, Cheung Siu-fai
Rating70%
Chan Kwai-Bun (Sean Lau) is a brilliant detective with a supernatural gift seeing a person's "inner personalities," or hidden ghosts. However, he is forced into retirement after severing his ear and presenting it to his retiring boss.