Three

2016 1h 28m CN

😐

6.0

MID

★6.0TMDB · 89

ActionCrimeThriller

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Realising that he will be defeated in no time during a police showdown, a thug shoots himself to force the cops to cease fire and take him to the hospital. In the hospital, he claims human rights to refuse immediate treatment in order to buy time for his underlings to rescue him. The detective in charge sees through his scheme but decides to play along so as to capture his whole gang once and for all.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Zhao Wei
Dr. Tong Qian
Louis Koo
Chief inspector Ken
Wallace Chung
Shun
Lo Hoi-Pang
Chung
Cheung Siu-fai
Dr. Fok
Lam Suet
Fatty
Mimi Kung Chi-Yan
A&E Department Nurse
Timmy Hung Tin-Ming
Chak

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Johnnie To
Writers: Lau Ho-Leung, Mak Tin-Shu, Yau Nai-Hoi
Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
Countries: China, Hong Kong

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

88 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 10 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: China, Hong Kong.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Johnnie To, shot by To Hung-Mo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Xavier Jamaux. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor David M. Richardson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Zhao Wei and Louis Koo and Wallace Chung carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Johnnie To directs. To Hung-Mo behind the camera. Xavier Jamaux scores. David M. Richardson cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in China, Hong Kong. Dialogue in English, Cantonese, Mandarin.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

188 minutes exactly — the "classic feature" runtime most directors aim for.
2Released 10 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin.
4International production across 2 countries: China, Hong Kong.
5Directed by Johnnie To, shot by To Hung-Mo. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Xavier Jamaux. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor David M. Richardson shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Zhao Wei and Louis Koo and Wallace Chung carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt4379728 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 89 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.