Brian Cox, Byron Mann, Chow Yun Fat

Nick Chen (Chow Yun-Fat) is not your average New York cop. Working in Chinatown has its multifarious cultural nuances and its fair share of ubiquitous enticement, both of which are reflected in detec...( read more  read more... )tive Chen's weary face. He had to get into bed with the highest echleons of the Chinese Mafia as a way of augmenting his own career, while maintaining a semblance of control over the dime-a-dozen hoods who proliferate on this turf. To make matters worse, he now has to break in rookie detective Danny Wallace (Mark Wahlberg), who has asked to be assigned to the Chinatown division. Apparently Wallace is infatuated with all things Chinese, or is suffering from "Yellow Fever," as his fellow colleagues would have us believe. Chen, not one to suffer fools gladly, takes young Wallace under his protective wing, oft-warning the shady powers of the neighborhood not to sink Danny into their sordid pool of corruption. But before he knows it, both he and Wallace are caught in a deadly ring of double-crosses, shady-dealings, murders, and car chases. And all of this under the suspicious eye of Internal Affairs.

Part Serpico and part Hard Boiled, this film seems at first to be a major departure from director James Foley's previous work. However, Foley has frequently revealed a keen eye and understanding for emotionally complex relationships, especially between teacher and pupil (Glengarry Glen Ross) or father and son (At Close Range). This movie is no different. In fact, Foley's meticulous attention to the relationship between the wise, morally burdened Chen, and the naïve, innocent Wallace morphs this otherwise tedious plot into a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Hats off to Chow Yun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg, whose sympathetic chemistry creates an authentic and deeply personal connection, a factor that proves crucial to the film's poignant, disturbing finale. --Jeremy Storey

Flixster Users

45% liked it

8,424 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

45 critics

R, 100 min.

Directed by: James Foley

Release Date: June 1, 1998

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DVD Release Date: September 4, 2001

Stats: 266 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (266)


  • January 23, 2008
    didnt like it
  • October 16, 2007
    An explosive crime thriller. Gritty, stylish, gripping, unpredictable and unforgettable. Searing suspense and non-stop action fuell this outstanding and heart-pounding adreniline-rush. It's Serpico meets Hard-Boiled. Chow Yun-fat and Mark Wahlberg give powerful, emotionally compl...( read more)ex and sensational performances. Shocking, riveting and exhilerating all the way to it's devestating conclusion. This is James Foley's finest film.
  • September 3, 2007
    Insipid and forgettable attempt to imitate Hong Kong cime flicks.
  • May 25, 2007
    Another of Chow Yun Fat's decent but unspectacular early forays into Hollywood, it has a nice gritty feel and an interesting culture clash backdrop. Not up to the standard of his HK films, but a creditable cop thriller.
  • January 14, 2007
    it was alright could've been better.
  • October 9, 2009
    Whoah I just watched this. Its a pretty funky movie. Chow Yun Fat is The DUDE! He was kickass and always teaching Whalberg wee lessons and there was some racial tension. in the beginning, but they became good friends. I was pretty impressed with it. Give it a go, if you like acti...( read more)on movies, I guess
  • July 19, 2009
    A good solid cop film. The film has a great story and good action. ChowYun-Fat and Mark Wahlberg are both excellent in this. Plus the performance of actor Ric Young as the main mob boss in China town was great. He was very sinister. A story of a dirty cop wanting to do the right ...( read more)thing. If you like the television show the Shield then watch this film.
  • July 17, 2009
    This was quite good actually. It took abit to get into - mostly because I couldn't understand what they were saying half the time, but it got really really good and there were moments that were just abrupt and funny which made great for a night in.

    Again, Mark rules the que! ?Lo...( read more)ve him. He's got such a cute smile hahahahaha! (I couldn't help but mention)
  • July 8, 2009
    pretty good asian gang/cop movie. Kind of like 'training day' only in china town.
  • June 2, 2009
    If you happen to like movies about dirty cops it's going to interest you, not to mention the constant action.

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Hard Boiled, directed by the master of the genre, director John Woo, is a cult favorite. The Corruptor isn't in that league. full review

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The Corruptor Trivia


  • name the actor or actress who starred in the following movies, The Corruptor,Anna and the King, The Replacement Killers, and Bulletproof Monk?  Answer »
  • What actor co-stars with Chow Yun-Fat in the cop drama The Corruptor?  Answer »
  • The 1999 cop thriller The Corruptor, centered around what NYC neighborhood?  Answer »

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