Bullet Points: Contract Killer (1998)

I am not exactly sure when the last time a Jet Li movie was reviewed here on Bulletproof Action, which is a good indicator that we were long overdue for some Jet Li coverage.

Using the handy search feature on my Roku device, it only took a matter of seconds for me to come across a Jet Li movie that had not been covered previously on the site, AND a Jet Li movie that I had never seen before… 1998’s Contract Killer!

• The Night the Lights Went Out in Hong Kong: Japanese businessman Tsukamoto is enjoying some female companionship and an old war movie in his penthouse suite, when suddenly the power to the entire Tsukamoto building is cut! Security guards scramble as a masked man on a mission, who we will eventually learn is the King of Killers, makes his way up to the penthouse. Tsukamoto activates the penthouse’s security measures, and silences his panicking companions in permanent fashion… moments later Tsukamoto comes face to mask with the man that is about to kill him. Tsukamoto offers to pay the King of Killers triple, but no deal. Tsukamoto then tells the King that he will be hunted down, as Tsukamoto already had a plan in place in the event he was murdered in the form of a 100 million dollar reward to the person who can track down and kill his killer… this does not phase the King of Killers, who proceeds to kill Tsukamoto!

• All in the Family: Tsukamoto’s grandson, Eiji, believes that the family should be the one to track down his grandfather’s killer, instead of hiring outsiders to do it. Of course, Eiji also thinks it’s a good idea to pour some of his grandfather’s ashes down his throat, so he may not be the best decision maker in the Tsukamoto family, but he certainly is the most bold… Despite Eiji’s beliefs, the executors of Tsukamoto’s murder clause reach out to several agents from around the globe and invite them to Tsukamoto HQ. Props to the Hong Kong police, specifically Lt. Chan Kwan (Simon Yam, Wake of Death), for being on top of the situation, thanks to some quality intel. However, there are two individuals at the meeting at Tsukamoto HQ that have Chan Kwan extra curious.
• The Odd Couple: When word hits the streets of Hong Kong that there’s the potential to make 100 million dollars, you are going to have a lot of interested takers… including fresh off the boat rube, Fu (Jet Li, Kiss of the Dragon). Fu left mainland China for Hong Kong with dreams of making enough money to buy his mother a mansion. When Fu shows up to Tsukamoto HQ, he sticks out like a sore thumb. When the security guards ask for his invitation, Fu doesn’t have one and it looks like he’s about to get thrown out on his ass… until a fast talking con man, Ngok Lo (Eric Tsang, Skiptrace) steps in and claims to be Fu’s agent and more importantly Ngok Lo has an invitation. And thus begins the unique partnership between Fu and Ngok Lo.

• Fake It Till You Make It: Lo fronts the entry money for Fu to gain entry to the 100 million dollar meeting, takes Fu shopping so he looks the part, tests Fu’s fighting skills and hooks Fu up with his first job as a contract killer at an amusement park. You could say that Fu didn’t understand the assignment, because instead of killing the target, Fu actually saves lives! Another would be assassin ends up dead however during the incident at the amusement park, which lands Fu and Lo in jail. It is at the police station where we first meet Lo’s daughter Kiki (Gigi Leung). Kiki and her fiancé David come down to bail Lo out… and Lo gets them to bail out Fu too. Kiki is immediately intrigued by Fu, since he’s unlike any of her father’s other friends. Kiki eventually asks Fu to keep an eye on her dad, and to promise to let her know if her dad’s life is in danger.
• You Reap What You Sow: As Fu’s agent, Lo will take a percentage of the 100 million dollars if Fu can kill The King of Killers… but it’s not all about the money for Lo! Like any con artist, Lo has ulterior motives. One of Lo’s recent cons links him to the murder of Tsukamoto. It’s a link that might make an irrational person like Eiji, believe that a two bit con man like Lo is The King of Killers! And that’s exactly what happens… with Fu’s help, Lo survives numerous attempts on his life ordered by Eiji, which of course only adds fuel to the fire that Lo is The King of Killers. This case of mistaken identity takes the movie full circle as the final showdown between Eiji, his henchman (with a light up ring) and henchwoman against Fu, Lo and the real King of Killers goes down in the penthouse of Tsukamoto HQ!

Contract Killer had a lot of moving parts, but to its credit, the movie tied them all up in a nice little bow by the end. The action is exactly what I was expecting from a Jet Li movie so it did not disappoint. What was a bit surprising about Contract Killer was the tone of the movie. With a title like Contract Killer you’d expect a straight up action bonanza, but the movie has just as many moments of humor and heart as it does action.

The Jet Li/Eric Tsang made for a great tag team, much like one of my reviews and some Bonus Bullet Points…

• AKA: Contract Killer is also known as Hitman.
• If You Ever: …wanted to see Jet Li dress up like Léon the professional, Contract Killer is the movie for you.
• Bastard Count: There were two “bastards” in Contract Killer.
• If You Ever: …wanted to hear Jet Li admit that a teddy bear saw him naked, Contract Killer is the movie for you.