Hard Boiled

John Woo’s “Hard Boiled” is a kinetic ballet of violence, where a grief-stricken cop, Chow Yun-fat’s Teah, channels his anguish into relentless pursuit of the gun smugglers responsible for his partner’s death. Teaming up with an undercover cop masquerading as a gangster hitman, the film revels in its use of excessive force, elevating the choreography of gunfights to an art form. Explosive, balletic action sequences and a palpable sense of loss underscore a narrative that’s as emotionally raw as it is visually stunning.