The Detective (2007 film)
The Detective is a 2007 Hong Kong neo-noir mystery thriller film directed by Oxide Pang, and starring Aaron Kwok as a private investigator hired to track down a missing young woman who may be linked to a series of murders in Thailand. The film was followed by a sequel, The Detective 2, which was released in 2011.
| The Detective | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Traditional Chinese | C+偵探 |
| Simplified Chinese | C+侦探 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | C Jiā Zhēn Tàn |
| Jyutping | C gaa1 zing1 taam3 |
| Directed by | Oxide Pang |
| Written by | Oxide Pang Thomas Pang |
| Produced by | The Pang Brothers |
| Starring | Aaron Kwok Liu Kai-chi Wayne Lai Shing Fui-On |
| Cinematography | Decha Srimantra |
| Edited by | Curran Pang |
| Music by | Jadet Chawang Payont Permsith |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Universe Films Distribution Company |
Release date |
|
Running time | 109 minutes |
| Country | Hong Kong |
| Languages | Cantonese Thai |
| Box office | US$2,151,820[1] |
Plot
Tam (Aaron Kwok) is an impoverished private detective. One day, a guy nicknamed Fatty asks Tam to find a lady who wants to kill him. He leaves Tam a portrait and a large amount of cash without giving any other details. Tam cannot resist the offer and so his investigation starts.
Knowing that Sum, the lady in the picture, is a frequent visitor of a store where the picture was shot, Tam tries to get hints of her whereabouts from the storekeepers. He is told to find her through her mahjong playmates. Tam starts with Ming, but when he arrives at Ming's home, he finds Ming hanged in the living room.
As Tam continues to search for other mahjong playmates of Sum, he is shocked to find each of them murdered every time he is about to contact with them. He discovers a half-burned photo at one of the scenes. Tam realizes the suspicions behind the deaths and decides to protect the next target of the invisible murderer. The photo is the only clue for Tam to solve the case.
Cast
- Aaron Kwok as Tam
- Liu Kai-chi as Inspector Fung Chak
- Wayne Lai as Sai Wing
- Kenny Wong as Kwong Chi-hung
- Shing Fui-On as Fei Lung
- Jo Koo as Yin
Reception
| Awards and nominations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient | Outcome |
| 27th Hong Kong Film Awards | Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated |
| Best Film Editing | Oxide Pang, Curran Pang | Nominated | |
| Best Art Direction | Anuson Pinyopotjanee | Nominated | |
| Best Costume and Makeup Design | Surasak Warakitcharoen | Nominated | |
| Best Original Film Score | Payont Permsith, Jadet Chawang | Nominated | |
| Best Sound Design | Wachira Wongsaroj | Nominated | |
| Best Visual Effects | Suchada Somasavachai | Nominated | |
| 44th Golden Horse Awards | Best Actor | Aaron Kwok | Nominated |
| Best Art Direction | Anuson Pinyopotjanee | Won | |
| 14th Hong Kong Film Critics Society Awards | Film of Merit | The Detective | Won |