Ringo Lam’s Undeclared War (1990) finds the action film auteur bidding for the international market. Throughout the eighties the popularity of Hong Kong genre films grew steadily in western markets largely due to video store culture. Undeclared War capitalizes on this trend with an international cast and Lam himself pulling in on the reins of his kinetic style. The resulting film is neither as inspired as City On Fire (1987) and Full Contact (1992) nor as sedated as Lam’s first American production Maximum Risk (1996).
Lam’s toned down style makes the formulaic plot of Undeclared War all the more apparent. Lam trades in his usual rapid fire cuts for sweeping tracking shots and slow pans, emulating the American films of the period. The story of a culture clash between two law enforcement officers (Danny Lee and Peter Liapis) as they go about busting a master criminal and his cronies (Vernon G. Wells and Olivia Hussey) offers few unique spectacles. Undeclared War is a film that is elevated by the performances of this eccentric ensemble and Lam’s ability to maintain a sense of suspense throughout the proceedings.
A lot happens in Undeclared War and very quickly. Yet, Ringo Lam’s approach never feels rushed or insincere. Every beat, even the most gratuitous scenes of violence, feels measured and deliberate. Part of this is due to the fact that Lam, having withdrawn from his quick paced cutting, prefers wider angles in Undeclared War. These wide and two-shots make Lam’s usual inserts unnecessary while also reflecting on the uneasy pairing between East and West.
One thing that’s really interesting about Undeclared War and other Hong Kong films of that era is that America (or the CIA in this case) is depicted as a ruthlessly sadistic institution whose only purpose is to safeguard the interests of Western Imperialism. Few national cinemas are as critical of the United States in their genre films as Hong Kong was in the eighties and nineties. Of course. this depiction of governmental interference by the United States is totally justified and earned. But in a global media dominated by Hollywood the politics of Undeclared War seem almost shockingly subversive.
On a lighter note, one of the most enjoyable aspects of Undeclared War is its villain Hannibal (Wells). Hannibal, the anarchist assassin for hire, is a master of disguise. Over the course of the film Hannibal dons a nun’s habit and an old man’s beard and mustache. In both instances, bizarrely outfitted, Hannibal springs into white-knuckle action. Ringo Lam clearly relishes the camp factor here and does all he can to make Hannibal the James Bond villain that Roger Moore never got to face.
While there are obviously points of interest in Undeclared War (both in terms of its historical context and its aesthetics), the film is primarily an enjoyable excursion into the action genre. The recent Blu-Ray release from the incomparable Vinegar Syndrome is exquisitely packaged and boasts an excellent 2K restoration. The supplements provide further context and appreciation as well. All in all, Undeclared War from Vinegar Syndrome is a “must have” for every cinephile.
