A darker, more grueling, Godfather-esque sequel to his acclaimed 2005 crimer… distinguished by intelligence, wit and violence.
VARIETY
Epic scope, bountiful casts, multiple story lines and political shadings…Mr. To has built a dazzling brilliant career out of cinematic mayhem; here he rises to the challenge of that legacy with a metaphor about capitalism, men and meat that is perfect in its simplicity and barbarism.
THE NEW YORK TIMES
In “Election 2” the trio strips what remains of the Triad mythos—its image as a heroic, loyalty-based brotherhood. Jimmy turns out to be every bit as ruthless and brutal as Lok or the deceased Big D, and this discovery is where much of “Election 2’s” drama lies. This sequel is considerably darker, literally and figuratively, than its predecessor, and the prevailing sense of dread and simmering danger is palpable.
THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Triad Election is equal in precision to its predecessor, exuding a perpetual sense of danger. To’s camera adopts the point of view of a prowling animal throughout…the director is still operating in top form, cradling character and location as if he were holding the world in the palms of his hands
SLANT
To’s rangy camera circles its cagey subjects like prey, sometimes drawing in for a close, almost tender framing of his cut-out characters, sometimes yanking back to find them swallowed by the grandeur of both urban and rural China; each angle—and To’s take on the plight of the modern gangster—is inspired.
VILLAGE VOICE
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Thanks to Johnnie To, Triad society now gets its own epic statement, and the result is nothing short of a landmark. With this two-part tale of an underworld organization’s biennial election for top boss—and the literal backstabbing that accompanies the process—To hasn’t just made another rise-and-fall fable; the director rejuvenates the genre by connecting the dots between a criminal subculture and a much bigger sociological picture. He’s finally given HK cinema its very own Godfather films.
TIME OUT
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