Fulltime Killer (2001)

56% of critics liked it
(32 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(8,058 ratings)

Following up on his two-fisted 2000 flick The Mission, Johnnie To, along with Wai Ka Fai, directs this high-octane shoot 'em up about a pair of hired killers vying for their reputation and for a beautiful girl. O (Takashi Sorimachi) is a reclusive, highly disciplined assassin who is considered the… More Following up on his two-fisted 2000 flick The Mission, Johnnie To, along with Wai Ka Fai, directs this high-octane shoot 'em up about a pair of hired killers vying for their reputation and for a beautiful girl. O (Takashi Sorimachi) is a reclusive, highly disciplined assassin who is considered the top killer of Hong Kong. Since the murder of his comely housekeeper, with whom he secretly has fallen in love, he has grown even more inward. For him, any connection to the outside is fraught with danger, usually leading to death. Tok (played by pop star and heartthrob Andy Lau) is the polar opposite of O -- brash and eager to be number one. Chin (Kelly Lin) is O's part-time housekeeper -- a replacement to her murdered predecessor -- and current obsession. When Tok seduces her -- in between knocking off gangsters in a Bill Clinton mask -- he forces O out of his seclusion and into a confrontation with his rival. Meanwhile, Interpol, lead by Inspector Lee (Simon Yam of Bullet in the Head fame), is hot on their trail. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 38 min.
Directed By: Johnnie To, Ka-Fai Wai
Written By: Joey O'Bryan, Ho Cheung Ping
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International

In Theaters: Mar 21, 2003 Limited
On DVD: Jun 17, 2003
Studio: Palm Pictures

Critic Reviews

Ted Shen, Chicago Reader
Full of visual and verbal references to action and noir favorites, but burdened by a knotty story line and existential dialogue about fateful coincidences, it has trouble locating its own emotional core.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
So what is the point? Lovingly choreographed bloodshed taking place in a pristine movie neverland, basically.
Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News
Manages to be original, even though it rips off many of its ideas.
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter
There's a fine chemistry of contrasts between Lau's exuberance and the quiet, slow-burning intensity Takashi Sorimachi brings to his role.
Manohla Dargis, Los Angeles Times
There's undeniable enjoyment to be had from films crammed with movie references, but the fun wears thin -- then out -- when there's nothing else happening.
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
The tale of Tok (Andy Lau), a sleek sociopath on the trail of O (Takashi Sorimachi), the most legendary of Asian hitmen, is too scattershot to take hold.
Jurgen Fauth, About.com
Strangely dull.
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
The movie should be building to a stunning conclusion, but somehow it loses momentum.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
There's very little sense to what's going on here, but the makers serve up the cliches with considerable dash.
Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The dreamy flow back and forth through time and memory and the shifting point of view across four narrators casts the sleek stylistics of 21st-century Hong Kong cinema between tortured existential heroics and tall tale.
Edward Havens, FilmJerk.com
Fans of the modern day Hong Kong action film finally have the worthy successor to A Better Tomorrow and The Killer which they have been patiently waiting for.
, E! Online
Killer has killer style, but it ain't worth killing two hours of your life on it.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Lee ?

Stylish action-thriller that may not be rife with originallity but does deliver an entertaining and cool time-filler. Really good action scenes helped along by snazzy camera work and a great charismatic performance by Andy Lau. The whole competing hitmen thing has been done before… More
Stylish action-thriller that may not be rife with originallity but does deliver an entertaining and cool time-filler. Really good action scenes helped along by snazzy camera work and a great charismatic performance by Andy Lau. The whole competing hitmen thing has been done before but there's enough in this one for any Hong Kong action fan to enjoy, but it's not among the directors best efforts.
Bruce B

This is a very enjoyable action / thriller movie from Hong Kong, though not as much action as some I have seen from the west (West of me.) it still holds a good story line and enjoyable moments. Two assassins are pretty much pitted against each other. One is O (Takashi Sorimachi) who… More
This is a very enjoyable action / thriller movie from Hong Kong, though not as much action as some I have seen from the west (West of me.) it still holds a good story line and enjoyable moments. Two assassins are pretty much pitted against each other. One is O (Takashi Sorimachi) who is the top hit man in the far East and is know for his professionalism. He has a cleaning lady who he is in love with clean an apartment he never lives in. The other assassin is Tok (Andy Lau), who is a show boater when it comes to killing. Sooner or later they must face each other and this provides for a action packed movie, that rates 4 stars.
Tsubaki S

Starts well until it becomes exactly what is trying to make a parody from, but duller. Andy Lau was fun to watch here, Simon Yam is awfully wasted.
Adam M

story gets so ridiculous and boring, the dialogue starts alluding to it; loses any deeper layer and amounts to an exercise in glorifying violence with above-average style; high angles for the first 20 min (!) and good crane shots
Duncan R

This action/thriller from Hong Kong is a bit thin on plot, but like "Underworld", the cast and cinematography are it's saving graces. Kelly Lin in particular is wonderfully over the top as the eccentric villain Chin, and Takashi Sorimachi portrays the hitman-with-morals… More
This action/thriller from Hong Kong is a bit thin on plot, but like "Underworld", the cast and cinematography are it's saving graces. Kelly Lin in particular is wonderfully over the top as the eccentric villain Chin, and Takashi Sorimachi portrays the hitman-with-morals O with quiet, reserved dignity. If you like a good action movie, and don't mind reading subtitles (and trust me, in this one, you need them even when they speak English) then give it a look.
alan j

another fine johnny to offering...nice play between the two leads...interesting styles between the two killers...almost as in 'heat'...with a girl in the middle...suspenseful, interesting watch
Christopher B

Awesome hitman film from the great Kai Fai Wai and Johhny To. Almost like an update of Duel to the Death with the Hong Kong vs Japan angle, but this is a non-stop film with great characters and action setpieces. Highly recommended.
Patrick D

The narrative is really interesting here. It kind of jumps around with points of view and focus, and really seems like the filmmaker didn't even know, or maybe he fully knew what he was doing, because it really makes an incredibly unique feel. The thing to watch in this film is… More
The narrative is really interesting here. It kind of jumps around with points of view and focus, and really seems like the filmmaker didn't even know, or maybe he fully knew what he was doing, because it really makes an incredibly unique feel. The thing to watch in this film is the action. It's done actually as a sort of acculmanation (sp?) of a bunch of styles making one think of older HK films and even the film Thriller, with it's slowing down of the action but it infact creates itself it's own style. Andy Lau's character is also a cinephile and therefore allows for a sort of comment and self reflexivity to the film.
Kevin "

Awesome movie, not as deep a story as Infernal Affairs, but still a good action movie. What makes it better is the cocky ego Andy Lau displays in this movie. This movie is the reason I say, "Awww, no Hong Kong Snoopy."